Police are again warning hunters against shooting at wildlife near residential areas after a man shot a deer in a Nelson reserve last night.
Three men are being dealt with by police after one of the hunters shot at a stag in Marsden Valley, near Stoke in Nelson about 12pm on Saturday.
The men were near Quail Rise in Nelson when they used a .22 rifle to shoot at the animal from their vehicle.
The animal was wounded.
Tasman District Police sergeant David Lauer from said: "One of the offenders wasn't able to shoot the animal dead so it will be wounded somewhere up there. These deer are tame and are not a test of someone's hunting skills. "
Lauer said police would be taking a "tough line" on anyone using firearms near residential properties as this was not the first time police have warned people against shooting stags in the reserve.
