"All hunters are reminded that this is a busy time in the bush and it is imperative that you identify your target. If in doubt, do not fire."
Two weeks ago, a father shot his 22-year-old son while hunting near Opotiki in the eastern Bay of Plenty. The Hamilton men and another son were hunting in isolated bush when it's understood the father discharged his high-powered rifle from about 40m.
"We can confirm that this was a classic mistaken-identity shooting," a Whakatane police officer said. "They had mistaken him for a deer."
The father administered first aid for about four hours as his son lay bleeding on the forest floor while his other son went for help.
"We can say that the father will eventually be part of our inquiries around any hunting charges. He was leading the party with his two sons," the officer said. It was "an absolute miracle" the man shot did not die.
Several other hunters have needed to be rescued from the bush by helicopter after being injured in falls or becoming lost.
Nat Every, base manager with the Greenlea Taupo Rescue Helicopter, said the Easter period was a guaranteed busy patch every year, with hunters taking advantage of the long weekends to try to bag a buck.
"Every year at this time of year it always seems there's the same sort of carry-on: people lost, an unfortunate number of shootings. Unfortunately it's a little bit too frequent."
New Zealand Mountain Safety Council firearms and hunter safety programme manager Nicole McKee said "buck fever" made hunters dangerous. "That's the brain telling the eyes what it wants to see.
"People get such an adrenaline rush and they can't help themselves, they think what they're seeing is the target."
The message was simple, Ms McKee said: clearly identify your target and assume everything is human until proven otherwise.
