Authorities in central California say a hunter was wounded by his best friend, a female Labrador retriever.
The Merced County Sheriff's Department says hunter had set down his shotgun to pick up some duck decoys.
The dog stepped on the gun, releasing the safety and causing it to shoot.
The hunter was hit in the back by some shotgun pellets.
He was treated and released from a local hospital.
Authorities aren't releasing the names of the hunter or the dog.
