AN armed 13-year-old boy has been caught driving with high-powered weapons in his clapped-out ute while towing a dead donkey.

NT Police may have not immediately noticed the loaded firearm allegedly sitting beside the boy when they pulled him over for a breath test, nor the shotgun, high-powered rifle or 100 rounds of ammo allegedly lying on the back seat.

The ute was towing behind it in the dust a noticeably deceased donkey.

The boy's 52-year-old father is now facing a slew of charges for allegedly allowing his son to drive unlicensed and possess firearms, reports Northern Territory News.

Sergeant Conan Robertson, of the Southern Traffic Operations Unit, said they were doing a rural patrol on Thursday.

He said they pulled over a Toyota Hilux Dualcab for a roadside breath test on Coniston Rd, about 160km northwest of Alice Springs.

"Police found a 13-year-old boy driving the unroadworthy vehicle with a loaded .22 bolt action rifle in the front seat,'' Sgt Robertson said.

"The rifle had nine rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber.''

"There was also a 20 gauge shotgun and a high powered .243 rifle laying across the back seat with more than 100 rounds of ammunition.''

Sgt Robertson said the ute was unroadworthy and had ``severe damage'' to the front end and the bonnet was held down with a tie-down strap.

It also had a damaged windscreen.

Sgt Robertson said the boy was the only person in the car when they pulled it over.

He was allegedly driving from a nearby station towards the Stuart Highway at the time.

The police took the boy back to the station and spoke to his dad. They say he knew his son was driving the car with the firearms.

Sgt Robertson said the man would be summonsed for offences including delivering a firearm to an unlicensed person, failing to secure a firearm and permitting an unlicensed shooter to possess a firearm.

Meanwhile, the firearms have been seized and the boy will be considered for youth diversion for traffic and firearms offences.

Sgt Robertson expressed concern.

"It is very disappointing to find the child was out there armed with firearms and driving an unsafe vehicle with the full knowledge of his father,'' he said.

"We certainly hope that the fact the father will now face court will make others consider their actions before engaging in such reckless behaviour.''

