Police are investigating after a 22-year-old man was shot in a hunting incident south east of Opotiki yesterday.
Police have established that a father and two adult sons from Hamilton went out deer hunting early yesterday morning in an area known as Toatoa.
About 10am one of the group discharged a high-powered rifle resulting in the 22-year-old son being shot in the torso.
The father rendered first-aid the other son made his way out of the bush to get help. He reached a family friend with a Personal Locator Beacon which was then activated about 1.30pm.
The injured man and his father were located and flown to Rotorua Hospital where the 22-year-old has undergone surgery and is now in a serious but stable condition.