A rifle club captain from the New South Wales Hunter valley accused of accidentally killing a friend during a pig hunt has faced court.

John Butcher, 63, has been charged with manslaughter and using a firearm in a manner likely to injure a person.

Mr Butcher, the captain of the Cessnock Rifle Cub, faced a bail hearing on Thursday morning.

The court heard he was hunting pigs with a friend on a property at Cassilis in the upper Hunter on Wednesday morning.

Police will alleged a 71-year-old man, who had been a friend of Mr Butcher's for 45 years, was on a quad bike in long grass when he was fatally shot.

Mr Butcher's lawyer, Isabel Reed, told the court her client immediately called triple-0 and stayed with his wounded friend for two hours until police arrived.

She said a bullet shot by

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