Queensland police who shot a man in a four-wheel-drive on Tuesday believed nobody was inside the vehicle until it suddenly accelerated towards them.

A 29-year-old was shot in the head and arm by the two officers at a property on Priestdale Road in Rochedale South, about 20 kilometres south of Brisbane.

He remains in the Princess Alexandra Hospital intensive care unit in a critical condition.

The two male senior constables were responding to reports of a stolen ride-on mower, which had been tracked to the large property.