TRAER – Officials say the victim of a hunting fatality in northern Tama County over the weekend was a 12-year-old girl.

Liesel Casto of rural Traer was identified as the victim in the hunting accident that occured near Traer.

“Liesel died after being struck by a bullet from a muzzle-loader rifle as she was preparing to hunt with others. The death is the first hunting fatality reported in Iowa during the 2014 season,” said Kevin Baskins with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

According to officials, the DNR and the Tama County Sheriffs Department responded to a report of a hunting accident at about 7:40 a.m. Saturday along Ridge Road, west of Traer. The investigation remains ongoing.

The girl was a seventh-grade student at GMG in Garwin.

“Liesel was a very special girl and will be missed at GMG by classmates and teachers. It was a very tragic accident,” said GMG Principal Mark Polich.

She was a member of the Tama County Young Guns 4-H Club and was known for her love of horses and showing them at the Tama County Fair. She is survived by her parents, Josh and Joie Casto and a brother, Conner.