Police have identified the Westford man accidentally shot by his hunting companion in Stowe Tuesday afternoon.

Police say Joshua Fitzgerald, 31, was shot by Avery Cochran, 24, of South Burlington, while Cochran was attempting to unload his rifle.

Police say it happened on Brownsville Road shortly before 5 p.m. in the area of Mccall Pasture Road. They say the two men were returning to their vehicle after hunting. Police say Cochran was inside the truck when the rifle went off and the round hit Fitzgerald as he was standing outside.

Fitzgerald Wednesday was reported in serious, but stable condition.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter Tuesday said it appeared the hunters were not following guidance on the safe handling of firearms.

Mandatory hunter training is credited with helping to reduce over the years the number of hunter-involved shootings. Vermont has not seen a hunter shooting fatality since 2011.