Searchers are becoming increasingly worried for a missing hunter in Wairarapa.
The 22-year-old man has failed to make contact with his fellow hunters since Monday after he never returned to the hut in Aorangi Forest Park where he was staying.
Land Search and Rescue Senior Constable Peter Cunningham says there's good reason for concern.
"The worrying thing for us is that he has a rifle and he has a radio, one of those little radios, and we haven't heard from him."
Peter Cunningham said eight ground teams and one helicopter would start searching for the man from first light.
