BAY MAN SHOT DEAD

A  Tauranga man is dead after being shot in the head while hunting for turkeys on a Paengaroa farm yesterday.
The 59-year-old man was hunting with two family members on a Ridge Rd farm, about 9km south of Paengaroa, when gun shots were heard by neighbours late yesterday afternoon.
The man was found at the bottom of a steep gully  about 5.30pm.
Other family members overseas were being informed of the tragedy.
A Mount Maunganui ambulance and the Bay Trust Rescue Helicopter from Rotorua were called to a man with a gunshot wound to the head, a St John Ambulance spokesman said.
The helicopter was turned back when paramedics confirmed his death at the scene.
Police northern communications centre Inspector Ian Brooker said police were investigating how the man was shot and whose weapon was used.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said it was still very early in the investigation to elaborate  or to say if charges were likely.
Long time Ridge Rd resident John Clark was shocked when police knocked on his door last night saying there had been a shooting accident on his 160 ha property.
"It's pretty close to home," he said.
The man died about 500m from Mr Clark's house.
"We had been away all weekend and had just got back at about 5pm. It was just before 6pm when the police called in here."
Mr Clark knew little more earlier today but the incident left him anxious.
"I don't know who the guy is, or whether I know him or not," Mr Clark said.
"I know a lot of people in Te Puke and from Tauranga.
"I have been here for 46 years, so there are a lot of thoughts that cross your mind."
Mr Clark said it was common for people to ask the leaseholders for permission to hunt on the land, of which parts were remote and rugged.
Emergency services struggled to access the gully where the man's body lay. Their efforts were hampered by 37.5mm of rain that fell on the farm during the weekend.
Cars were unable to get to the man's body.
Neighbour Scott Paterson offered police his 4WD tractor, equipped with strong lighting. Mr Paterson was with the police until late last night.
Mr Clark said his neighbour had told him he heard gunshots earlier on.
The man's body remained on the farm overnight. A hearse arrived today to take him away.
A post mortem was to be conducted today.
Last year, Tauranga man Nigel Ross, 69, was rushed to Waikato Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest after a hunting accident.