Ananova:

A man out hunting in Iowa was shot in the leg - by a dog.

The accident happened after James Harris, 37, put his gun on the ground to retrieve a fallen pheasant, reports the BBC.

One of a pack of hunting dogs following behind stepped on the trigger, and up to 120 birdshot pellets hit Mr Harris in the left calf at short range.

Mr Harris was treated at Grinnell Regional Medical Centre and later taken by helicopter to University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, following the accident in Poweshiek County.

A local official told a news agency the injury was "not life-threatening, but will give him trouble for a long time".

Alan Foster, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said it was not uncommon for hunters to be shot by their dogs.

"I hear about it a couple times a year," he said.

"They'll step on the trigger assembly and, if the gun for whatever reason wasn't on safety, it doesn't take a whole lot to trip a trigger."