A kangaroo is recovering from surgery after being shot with a bow and arrow in central Victoria about nine days ago.

Volunteers at Wildlife Victoria Helen Round said residents in Ashbourne contacted the organisation to report an injured kangaroo.

"The kangaroo had been peacefully living there, co-existing with the neighbours; he's a big beautiful gentle boy," she said.

"The residents of Ashbourne were absolutely devastated to see that this boy had been attacked."

Ms Round said rescuers have been unable to get within 30 metres of the kangaroo, known by locals as Spot, to fire a tranquilliser.

"We couldn't catch him, my partner [an animal rescuer] was employed by Wildlife Victoria to try to capture Spot, but the kangaroos there have been on high alert and we just couldn't get close enough," she said.

"These kangaroos have been so traumatised that it was almost impossible to approach them."

Ms Round said they were finally able to dart the kangaroo at 8:00pm on Wednesday night.

"We got him to Lort Smith Animal Hospital [in Melbourne] at around 11:30pm last night, and he underwent surgery by the wonderful staff there," she said.

"We were really worried because the arrow wasn't moving or bouncing as if it was through the skin, so we thought it was through the skull, but fortunately it seems to have gone through the base of his ear and was attached in the gristle."

"Spot" the kangaroo just before undergoing surgery to have an arrow removed. ( Supplied: Lort Smith Animal Hospital )

Dr Russell Harrison, of the Lort Smith Animal Hospital, said the kangaroo was "incredibly lucky" the arrow missed its skull.

"Our veterinary surgeon removed the arrow and cleaned and flushed the wound," he said.

"After waking Spot up, we administered painkillers and antibiotics.

"It is miraculous that the arrow didn't kill the kangaroo, or do any permanent damage.

The kangaroo is now recovering at a wildlife shelter in Kilmore, where it is likely to stay for six weeks.

"He's in with a real chance, he's a big strong healthy boy, who's done remarkably well for himself considering his injury," she said.

"I'm just praying he can recover and that we can reunite him with his family because kangaroos live in complex family structures and his mob will miss and need him."

Dr Harrison said vets from the hospital will do a follow-up check in six weeks.