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A rifle owner opens his gun cabinet.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

A 10-year-old Yukon boy is in serious condition at a Vancouver hospital after being shot inside his home with a hunting rifle.

Whitehorse RCMP say several adults were drinking alcohol on Sunday at about 8:30 p.m. before going hunting and the boy was injured when a 68-year-old male relative fired a rifle.

Sergeant Don Rogers says a bullet grazed the boy's abdomen and struck his left arm, causing severe damage.

He says the child was taken from the rural home to a nearby residence that had phone service so a 911 call could be made.

Sgt. Rogers says the boy was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and then transferred to B.C. Children's Hospital, where he had surgery before undergoing at least two more operations this week.

A 68-year-old man who was arrested and charged with careless use of a firearm and criminal negligence appeared in court on Monday and was released on a recognizance.

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