New Zealand / Regional

Deerstalkers Association mourns hunter

16:52 pm on 24 March 2015

The Deerstalkers Association is mourning the loss of one of its own members, after a hunter was shot on Stewart Island yesterday.

Invercargill man Samuel Phillip Long, 24, was part of a five-person hunting group, but was hunting alone when he was shot by another member of the group.

He died at the scene.

Deerstalkers Association President Bill O'Leary said it was a tragic accident.

He said to prevent such accidents there needed to be a change of mind-set among hunters.

Mr O'Leary said they needed to think that everything they see in the bush was a human being, and positively identify their target before taking a shot.