Hunter who shot companion to face charges

Charges are likely to be laid against a deer hunter who accidentally shot his companion in the arm.

The shooting happened northeast of Taihape on Monday.

The victim, a 22-year-old Taihape man, was in a stable condition in hospital, Taihape police said.

Police were investigating and firearms charges were likely to be laid.

It was a timely reminder for hunters to make sure they had identified the target beyond all doubt, Inspector Marty Parker of police central communications said.

A good rule of thumb was to assume any shape, colour, movement or sound was a human until proved otherwise, he said.

In December last year a Palmerston North man had his left arm amputated after he was shot by his hunting companion in the Ruahine Ranges.

- NZPA