Man shot after pig hunt in NSW

A pig hunter is in a critical condition after being accidentally shot in the back in the NSW south west slopes region.

Police say three shooters had been out pig hunting on private land near Harden and were packing up to leave around 8.15pm on Saturday.

A 50-year-old man sat in the front passenger side of the group's four-wheel drive moments before one of his companions went to place a .308 hunting rifle in the rear passenger-side foot-well.

Police say she stumbled and the rifle discharged, with the shot hitting the man in the lower back.

He was driven to hospital and later airlifted to Canberra Hospital for surgery.

He was in a critical but stable condition on Sunday morning.

Police say they have seized the car and four rifles and have interviewed the woman and the other man in the trio, a 49-year-old.

The men and woman were all licensed hunters, police say.