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.
