A hunter remains in hospital after a shotgun left a ''big hole in his arm'' on Saturday.
The 24 year old was shooting ducks near Paerau, with a group of four others, on the opening day of the season when he was accidentally shot, Acting Senior Sergeant Ian Temple, of the Southern District Command Centre, said yesterday.
They were on an all terrain vehicle about 4pm when they went over a rise and the man and two guns fell out of the vehicle.
One of the shotguns discharged and struck the man in the arm, he said.
A St John spokeswoman said the man was transported to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter with a ''large entry and exit wound to his arm''.
His arm was ''pulseless'' when paramedics arrived.
The shot appeared to be ''very close range'', she said.
Senior Sergeant Ben Butterfield said police were still investigating the incident.
The man was in a stable condition in hospital, he said.
''It's too early to say what if any charges will be laid, but we are investigating the matter,'' he said.
Police had seized firearms as part of the investigation.
A 30 year old man was taken to Gore Hospital shortly afterwards, about 4.30pm, when he was struck in the eye by shotgun pellets.
The St John spokeswoman said an ambulance was not required, as the man was driven to hospital.
He was struck in the eyelid by a shotgun pellet but it did not penetrate and the man did not lose his eyesight as a result of the injury, she said.
Acting Snr Sgt Temple said the man was shot by a group of hunters stationed in a mai mai across the pond from him, near Waikaia.
Police inquiries were ongoing, he said.
Otago Fish and Game operations manager Ian Hadland said while the incidents were a ''shame'', opening weekend was a success.
''It's a shame to hear about those. Given that there are 35,000 duck hunters [nationwide] out on an opening day, there's always a chance that there's going to be an accident,'' he said.
Hunters in southern and western Otago collected ''really good bags'' despite less than ideal clear and warm weather.
''Better prepared hunters - the ones that pre fed their ponds to keep the ducks around - did well,'' he said.
The weather was a hindrance for shooters, but nonetheless thousands got out.
Fish and Game had 15 rangers out, who visited 20 to 30 ponds each, he said.
They uncovered four minor offenders, for lead shot possession, and one major offender, for lead shot possession and hunting without a licence.
''None of the ranging crews found anything untoward. If there's any excessive drinking going on and ... firearms not packed away, we usually talk to police,'' he said.
''I don't think there was any firearm use and drinking, as far as we know.''
Mr Hadland estimated about 4000 shooters were out in Otago on the opening weekend.
Six duck shooters were injured when the vehicle they were in rolled down a steep hill east of Waipukurau, southern Hawkes Bay, on Saturday.
One man, aged 24, suffered pelvic and back injuries when he was thrown from the back of the rolling ute on a rural property, and another, also 24, suffered upper body injuries, a spokesperson for the Palmerston North based Rescue Helicopter said.
- Additional reporting NZME.
