David Weaver, a hunter from Lakeview, Michigan, accidentally shot dead his brother Harry who was sitting in a camouflaged hunting blind.

Harry Weaver, 26, died instantly after being hit in the head by the stray bullet.

Harry Weaver, who is from an Amish family, had not told his younger brother David that he was going out hunting on family-owned land in rural Mecosta County in Michigan.

While David Weaver, 23, stalked deer with several friends across rural farmland his older brother took refuge in a hunting blind.

Camouflaged blinds are often used by hunters as it allows them to go unnoticed by deer.

According to police, David Weaver fired three shots at a deer that is believed to have bolted in front of the hunting blind.

David Weaver, a hunter from Lakeview, Michigan, accidentally shot dead his brother Harry who was sitting in a camouflaged hunting blind

All three shots missed their target but Harry Weaver was found dead after he failed to return to the family home to carry out his chores.

Police said the victim was more than 400 yards from his brother across open fields.

The shooter had limited visibility and all he could see was the top of the deer blind.

Police said they are treating the incident as a tragic accident and said it should serve as a warning to other hunters.

Sheriff Todd Purcell said: “Evidence found at the scene initially pointed to the fact that the brother may have been the one to fire the fatal shot.”

Sheriff added that David Weaver is shaken, but cooperating fully with the investigation.

“It’s an accidental tragedy that the hunting community is aware of,” Todd Purcell said.

“The brother did not come back for chores, which threw red flags up to the family, at which point they went out to search for him and they found him.

“The family is doing as best as possible.”

Harry Weaver’s death came two days after Michigan’s 16-day firearm deer hunting season began.