According to police, the boy and a friend were in possession of a .22 rifle when it discharged, causing a a round to ricochet into the boy’s face.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Stephen Pollard said the 12-year-old was hit by the bullet on the left side of his face with the bullet continuing on through his shoulder, leaving two entry and two exit wounds.

After ambulance officers were notified, the boy was driven by road to meet officers before being transported to Young Hospital.

He was later airlifted to Westmead Children’s Hospital where he remained in a stable condition.

While police said they did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances involved, gun shop owner Andrew Butts said it was clear someone had done the wrong thing.

“You need to keep a gun unloaded until you need it,” Mr Butts said. “You can make all the rules in the world, but you can never legislate against stupidity.”

Officers from Cootamundra Local Area Command established a crime scene at the Thuddungra property as inquiries into the incident continued.

James Buckle from Firearm Owners United said even though a 12-year-old could get a junior shooter’s licence, there was still a strict need for parental supervision.

“If you’re looking at getting a licence for a child you need to sit them down, explain what a firearm is, what it does, the effects and the potential danger as we’ve sadly seen,” Mr Buckle said. “Shooting is statistically the safest sport in Australia.”

Cootamundra Greens candidate Jeffrey Passlow, himself a farmer and firearm owner, said safety was nothing to be toyed with.

“I totally sympathise with the family and hope the boy makes a full recovery, but safety can’t be taken for granted,” he said.

“There’s a need for firearms, but they need to be strictly controlled.”