Teenage hunter dies after slipping on snow

A teenaged solo hunter died after apparently slipping on snow and tumbling down a 200m slope while hunting in South Canterbury, say police.

Ryan Kelvin Jopson, 18, from Otematata, 25km southeast of Omarama, was found at 5.30pm yesterday near an area known as The Blue Slips, near Mt Peel, said Senior Constable Mike Stephens of Geraldine police.

It appeared Mr Jopson slipped on snow and tumbled down a 200m slope.

Police were "99 per cent sure" Mr Jopson went hunting on Sunday afternoon.

A co-worker discovered he had not returned home the following day.

Mr Jopson's motorbike was found at the base of a hill and the subsequent search for him involved two helicopters.

Mr Stephens said it was "not horrendous" country and Mr Jopson had hunted in the area before and knew it well.

The death has been referred to the coroner.

Meanwhile, a duck hunter accidentally shot himself in the foot in the Waikato yesterday.

The Otorohanga man tripped while he was hunting near Hangatiki, 11km north of Te Kuiti, and accidentally fired his shotgun.

The blast fractured bones in the man's left foot and left numerous shot-pellets lodged in the tissue.

- NZPA