About 8.15pm, two men – a 49-year-old and a 50-year-old – had been pig hunting with a 49-year-old woman on a private property.

After the trio packed their four-wheel-drive at the end of the day, the 50-year-old man sat in the front passenger seat of the vehicle, police said in a statement. 

"The woman had possession of a .308 hunting rifle and stumbled as she placed the firearm in the rear passenger side foot-well," police said. 

The rifle discharged and the 50-year-old man was struck in the lower back by the bullet, which travelled through the seat.

Ambulance Paramedics were immediately called and the group drove towards emergency services from their remote location.

The injured man was eventually airlifted to Canberra Hospital for surgery and is in a critical but stable condition.

Police from Cootamundra Local Area Command have seized the vehicle, which has been towed to Young Police Station for forensic examination.

The rifle and three others have also been seized as part of the investigation while the 49-year-old man and woman have been interviewed at Yass Police Station.

The three people involved in the incident were all licensed hunters.

Inquiries into the shooting continue.