Not Right

Bears and people look very different.

ROCKPORT, Wash. - A 54-year-old woman was shot and killed Saturday by a boy who was hunting bear in Skagit County, sheriff's deputies said.[...]
According to a preliminary investigation, the woman was stopped on the trail putting something into her backpack when the hunter mistook her for a bear and fired one shot, which killed her.

It is hard to believe that someone putting things in their pack looks remotely like a bear.

The hunter is a juvenile from the Concrete area and was accompanied by at least one adult. He is talking with investigators and no one is in custody at this time.

Detectives from the Skagit County sheriff's detectives, as well as an officer from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, are investigating.

Update an article about Pam Almli, the hiker that was shot.
My condolences to her friends and family.
Update 2: The shooter a 14 year old was with his 16 year old brother. Not an adult as previously reported. The article goes on to state that they were knowingly overlooking a hiking trail.
Another article. 120 yards or 360 feet. It is hard to believe it was a mistake.
Another article.

"You look into a scope, you know what you are firing at -- and really and truly that's all I got to say," said Almli’s neighbor, Freda Slack.

Also:

Washington State law requires all individuals born after Jan. 1, 1972, to show proof of basic hunter education training before purchasing a hunting license, said the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.Classes are offered year-round and there is no minimum age required to enroll in hunter education, but instructors may require a parent or guardian to attend all classes if students are under 12 years of age.Non-resident hunters must also provide evidence that they have completed hunter education training before purchasing a hunting license.In 2007, the Washington State Legislature approved a measure that allows a one-year, once-in-a-lifetime deferral of hunter education training. The deferral option is available to individuals who are accompanied by an experienced hunter who has held a Washington hunting license for the previous three years.

Did the kid get a deferral and not hunt with someone that had a license for three years.