A bird hunter was shot in the buttocks after his dog stepped on a shotgun laid across the bow of a boat.

Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Potter said the 46-year-old man from the US state of Utah was duck hunting with a friend when he climbed out of the boat to move decoys.

Mr Potter said the man left his 12-gauge shotgun in the boat and the dog stepped on it, causing it to fire. It was not clear whether the safety on the gun was on at the time.

Mr Potter said the man was hit from about 10 feet away with 27 pellets of birdshot.

He said the man was not seriously injured, in part because he was wearing waders. The man was treated at a nearby hospital.

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