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SUNDAY TERRITORIAN (Darwin, Australia) 05 February 06 Teen shot while hunting toads
A Territory teenager was accidentally shot in the shoulder with an air rifle while out cane-toad hunting on Friday night.
The 14-year-old boy was hunting toads with two friends in the Humpty Doo area when the accident happened about 9.20pm.
Police said a car with other teenagers in it was driving along Doxas Rd and as it approached the trio a .177 air rifle accidentally discharged.
They said it is believed one of the occupants in the vehicle was holding the air rifle when it went off.
The pellet hit the teenager in the right shoulder.
St John Ambulance officers treated the boy at the scene before taking him to Royal Darwin Hospital.
He had surgery to remove the air-gun pellet and is in a stable condition.
Police seized two firearms at the scene and investigations in to possible firearms offences are continuing.
The rural area has become a popular hunting ground for cane toads since the poisonous pests arrived on Darwin's outskirts last year.
Police took a swipe at the behaviour of those involved.
Senior Sergeant Craig Ryan has said the teenagers' behaviour was irresponsible.
"This is extremely dangerous and stupid behaviour to engage in," he said.
"First of all, to be out at night shooting anywhere near a residential area is firstly an offence, and secondly extremely dangerous. And to be thinking about shooting cane toads, there are much better ways of dealing with cane toads than to shoot them."
Teen shot while hunting toads

How ironic it happened in a town called Darwin. If it had been a real gun, natural selection would have taken it's course.