Soldier's hunting death a warning - police

  • 01/04/2016
The area where Danny Jordan was shot dead yesterday (Police)
The area where Danny Jordan was shot dead yesterday (Police)

The open bush where a soldier was killed in Hawke's Bay yesterday is a prime example of how easily hunting deaths can happen, police say.

They've released a photo of the scene in the Ruahine Ranges where 23-year-old Danny Rion Jordan was killed accidentally by a hunter outside his party.

Mr Jordan, who was based at Linton Military Camp, was with two other Army friends and a dog when he was shot. The dog was also injured in the incident.

The trio were had sat down on the Sparrowhaw bivouac walking track while on their tramp into their hunting area when the shooting happened.

Detective Sergeant Jason Crowe says while most hunting accidents happen in rugged terrain or dense bush, this one happened in open bush on a Department of Conservation track.

"The shooting is an example of what can happen when firearms safety rules are not followed and hunters don't identify their targets properly," he says.

Hunting season for red deer, called 'the roar', runs from March 20 to April 20, and police want hunters to not let the excitement get the better of them.

"Don't let the excitement of the roar affect your ability to make the right safety decisions.  As this case illustrates, a small mistake can have fatal consequences," Det Sgt Crowe says.

Mr Jordan's friends stayed with the body in the bush overnight and it was removed earlier today.

Police have formally interviewed all those involved in the incident as part of their ongoing investigation.

They say it could be some time before a decision is made on whether to lay charges.

Newshub.