NO "EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE" HERE...OR IT'S HUNTING SEASON FOR LAWYERS IN TEXAS

Vice President Dick Cheney shot and wounded a hunting companion Saturday while on a weekend trip to a South Texas ranch frequently visited by both president Bushes and other top Republican leaders.

The story was originally broken by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times (free registration required), but was not confirmed by the VP's spokesperson until late nearly 24 hours later.

Cheney was hunting with two other companions and property owner Katharine Armstrong about 5:30 Saturday afternoon when one of the fellow hunters, 78-year-old millionaire attorney Harry Whittington came into the line of fire as the veep turned to shoot at quail that had just been flushed. Cheney reportedly did not know that Whittington had approached him from behind.

Secret Service agents who travel with the Vice President tended to Whittington until paramedics arrived. Whittington is reported in stable condition at a Corpus Christi hospital. He received shotgun pellets mainly on the upper right side of his body along the cheek, neck, and chest.

The shooting occured on the 50,000 acre Armstrong Ranch, located in Kenedy County in South Texas. The cattle ranch has been in the Armstrong family for over 150 years, and Katharine Armstrong's parents, who previously owned the property, were very active in the Republican Party. Anne L. Armstrong has been an advisor to every GOP president since Richard Nixon, as well as a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom; she has also served on the boards of directors of a number of major corporations. Her husband Tobin, who died last year, was a Kenedy County Commissioner. In addition to Republican notables, the ranch has also hosted the Rockefellers and HRH Prince Charles.