Hunter fatally shot near Dannevirke: Gregory Brown named as victim

Dannevirke Senior Constable Wayne Churchouse says hunters need to be conscious of 'buck fever' – the desire to shoot a stag that can lead to fatal mistakes - especially around the roar. Photo / NZME

A hunter fatally shot by another man from a different hunting party in bush near Dannevirke has been named.

He was Gregory Paul Brown, 44.

A death notice posted online called Brown a dearly loved father, son, brother and uncle who was “tragically taken” in the shooting in the Ruahine Range on Friday.

A service for Brown was set to be held in Feilding on Monday.

A karakia was held at the site on Monday morning and a rāhui was put in place until 11am on May 11.

Police confirmed an investigation into the circumstances of the death was underway.

They told Hawke’s Bay Today this week that the shooting was accidental.

Dannevirke Senior Constable Wayne Churchouse said Brown was hunting alone when he was shot by another hunter, who the police said was in a party of two during the roar in the Ruahine Range on April 10.

Churchouse said the roar, or rut - typically from mid-March to the end of April - was prime time for people hunting stags.

A man hunting in the Ruahine Ranges near the Traverse Hut was shot dead by another hunting party of two people. Photo / Department of Conservation

There were numerous cars of hunters at the carpark below the Traverse (A-Frame) Hut when the shooting took place nearby, Churchouse said.

Churchouse, who is also the co-ordinator for Police Search and Rescue, said the Palmerston North and Hawke’s Bay rescue helicopters were notified.

He said the Palmerston North helicopter lowered a paramedic on to the track.

But clouds moved in and the helicopter was unable to airlift anyone out, including the paramedic on the ground.

“We sent a hasty team from Tararua Land Search and Rescue up there to extract the paramedic, the two hunters and the paramedic’s gear.”

Further members from Tararua Land Search and Rescue, Palmerston North Search and Rescue, and Police Search and Rescue were sent to retrieve the man’s body.

Churchouse said the walking track was a “gradual climb up” but it was a challenging extraction.

“It was difficult for our initial teams, because they had the deceased and the other traumatised party, and they had to walk out.”

Many members of the search and rescue team had also hunted the area before and were wary of their safety during the extraction because of the number of cars in the carpark, Churchouse said.

He said hunters needed to be conscious of “buck fever” – the desire to shoot a stag that could lead to fatal mistakes – especially around the roar.

“You get a lot more inexperienced people going.

“They want to see animals, want to believe they are stalking something, and then the mind will play games.

“It’s certainly a life-changing decision; you squeeze that trigger, you can’t get that bullet back.

“People just need to follow the basic firearms rules, and in this case, clearly identify your target and what’s beyond it.

“It’s going to have lifelong consequences for both the victim and his family and the shooter and his friend and their friends and family.”

Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager said the death was “deeply tragic”.

“My thoughts are with his loved ones and all impacted by this heartbreaking event.

He asked everyone to keep seven key rules at the forefront of all hunting.

Seven key firearm safety rules:

1. Treat every firearm as loaded
2. Always point firearms in a safe direction
3. Chamber a cartridge only when ready to fire
4. Identify your target beyond all doubt
5. Check your firing zone
6. Store and transport firearms and ammunition safely
7. Avoid alcohol or drugs when handling firearms