Stewart Island slain hunter stalwart of local club

If you lose sight of one or more of your party, you should stop hunting immediately, unload your rifle and not load it again until you have everybody in sight. Photo / Thinkstock

The young Invercargill man shot dead on Stewart Island had helped build a hunters' hut on the island with his father and been on the local deerstalkers association's executive.

Samuel Phillip Long, 24, died at the scene after he was shot by another member of his five-person hunting party, police said.

He was alone when he was shot on Monday.

A New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Southland branch member, Douglas Gordon, said Mr Long and his father, Steven, had a very close association with the hunting club.

"They are both good members of the club and good members of the executive. It will be a sad loss."

He said Mr Long had been introduced to the sport by his father. They had been on many hunts together, especially to Stewart Island.

Mr Long had been through a young hunters' programme with Southland Deerstalkers and often helped out with pest control and other club initiatives. He had also helped build the Martins Creek Hunters Hut on Stewart Island.

Another member, Neville Miller, told the Herald the group were "absolutely bloody gutted", and Nathan Dawson said the association was supporting the Long family.

"We're all putting our condolences out there for the family and Steve."

In April 2014, 25-year-old Adam Hill was shot while hunting in Longwood Forest, 45km west of Invercargill.

Mr Hill's uncle, Rex Sycamore, said the family were still coming to terms with the tragedy and he felt for the Longs.

The roar season, which lasts roughly four weeks from March 20 to April 20, is the most popular time for deer hunters.

Firearms and hunter safety expert Nicole McKee of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council said the organisation advocated parties stop shooting if a member broke away from the main group. "If you lose sight of one or more of your party, you should stop hunting immediately, unload your rifle and not load it again until you have everybody in sight."