Hunting enthusiasts believe New Zealand still has an education problem after the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy.

LISTEN ABOVE: Licensed Firearms Owners chairman Paul Clark joins the Mike Hosking Breakfast with ASB to discuss the education issues around gun use in NZ.

Connor Phillips died when an adult on his hunting party unloaded a firearm at the end of their hunt in Kaingaroa Forest on Sunday.

At the same time, an Invercargill father will be sentenced today, after accidentally shooting his son in March on Stewart Island.

There have been 11 accidental incidents this year .. five of them fatal.

Licensed Firearms Owners chairman Paul Clark said there's a number of factors.

"The message still isn't getting out there completely..I can't see any quick, obvious solutions coming on to the market."

The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association has said it will consider re-prioritising its safety messages after the death.

President Bill O'Leary said it's clear something went wrong.

"Obviously some of the basic rules haven't been followed in this particular instance otherwise it would never have happened."

He said when more is known they'll look at how best to communicate the message of safety.

"There will be changes of emphasis which follows us analysing every one of these incidents. It's really important that our safety messages are appropriate."

Nicole McKee said it should never have happened and it could have been prevented.

"This year has been a blip. There have been eleven firearm, non-intentionals this year and five tragedies, five deaths - unfortunately two of them were quite young lads," McKee said.

"Our older users need to be teaching our younger upcoming hunters how to handle their firearms. It's really, really disappointing that these seven basic principles are not being adhered to."