Four Maniototo men have been charged after a shotgun discharged, leaving a duck shooter with a ''big hole in his arm'' earlier this year.
The four men, who have been charged with a variety of firearms offences, will all appear in the Alexandra District Court next week.
Police said, at the time of the incident, a group of five duck shooters were travelling in an all-terrain vehicle on farmland near Paerau on May 2 - the opening day of duck-shooting season - when the vehicle went over a rise and one hunter and two shotguns fell out.
One shotgun discharged, hitting the man in the arm.
The man's arm had a ''large entry and exit wound'' as the gun had discharged at near point-blank range.
A police spokesman yesterday confirmed members of the group were charged last month.
Two 25-year-old Ranfurly men were charged with possessing a firearm without a licence, the spokesman said.
A 36-year-old Patearoa man was charged with supplying a firearm to a non-licensed holder and a 23-year-old Ranfurly man was charged with possessing a firearm while his licence was revoked, he said.
As the matter was before the courts, the spokesman would not comment on whether alcohol had contributed to the incident.
The injured man, who the Otago Daily Times understands was lucky to keep his arm after the incident, was discharged from hospital in mid-May.
Police would not confirm if he was among those charged.
All four were remanded on bail to appear in the district court on July 28.
