Jock Davies, 21, died in a hunting incident on Stewart Island in October. Photo / Facebook
A hunter who fatally shot 21-year-old Jock David Grant Davies on Stewart Island fired at a “dark shadowy image” moving through thick native bush without positively identifying his target, police say.
The detail is contained in a summary of facts released to the Herald after 39-year-old Ashburton builder Paul William John Stevens pleaded guilty in the Invercargill District Court yesterday to careless use of a firearm causing death.
The shooting occurred on July 6 this year during a planned seven-day hunting trip to Rakiura/Stewart Island involving a group of eight, including Davies’ father and brother.
Police say the group arrived at the South Lords Hut on July 4 after travelling by charter boat from Bluff.
The trip had been planned for about a year, with permitted access granted to the South Lords River hunting block.
The night before the shooting included diving for pāua, a shared evening meal and the consumption of alcohol by members of the group, including Stevens and Davies.
Plans were made to split into smaller parties the following day, with some members going hunting and others fishing.
Davies was dropped off from a dinghy on the morning of July 6 and began hunting his way back toward the hut through the bush.
Stevens and another associate went in the opposite direction to hunt.
According to police, Stevens later told investigators the terrain was particularly difficult and unfamiliar.
He described the bush as “gnarly” and extremely thick, rating it seven out of 10 for density.
Although Stevens said he had been hunting deer since the age of 16, he told police this was his first time hunting on Stewart Island and his first experience hunting white-tailed deer.
At one point, Stevens discussed with his associate the possibility of turning back and finding less challenging terrain.
After walking for a period, the pair stopped at a fallen tree, sitting and facing in opposite directions in the hope of spotting deer.
While sitting there, Stevens told police he heard a shuffling noise about 20m away, which he believed sounded like a kiwi scratching in the bush.
Moments later, he saw what he described as a dark, shadowy image move into view through the vegetation.
Stevens told police the figure appeared larger than a sheep but smaller than a red deer and believed it was a white-tailed deer due to its brownish colouring.
Police say Stevens observed the movement briefly before the figure began to walk away.
Confident it was a deer and not wanting to miss the opportunity, Stevens chambered a round and fired a single shot from his scoped Tikka .308 rifle, aiming for what he believed was the neck area of the animal.
A police scene examination later confirmed the shot was fired from approximately 20m away.
After firing, Stevens bush-bashed toward where he believed the deer had been.
On reaching the spot, he realised he had instead shot Davies, who was hunting back toward the hut and was wearing camouflage clothing.
Police say Stevens initially thought someone should not have been hunting in the area, before realising the victim was Davies.
At 10.44am, Stevens activated the first of two emergency position-indicating radio beacons, alerting the Rescue Coordination Centre to the incident.
A Heli Otago air ambulance was dispatched from Mosgiel shortly after 11am, with paramedics arriving at the remote scene around 1pm.
Davies was pronounced dead at the scene.
In his explanation to police, Stevens described shooting through the bush as a “dumb move” and said he had failed to properly identify his target.
The summary of facts also notes Stevens told police the last thing he expected to see was Davies, as the victim was supposed to be hunting back toward the hut and Stevens and his associate had travelled further left than their intended hunting direction.
Stevens faces a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment or a $4000 fine.
He has been remanded at large for sentencing in March.
The court has ordered a full pre-sentence report and authorised restorative justice.
An order is also being sought for the forfeiture of the scoped Tikka .308 rifle and ammunition used in the shooting.
Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.