Hunting is one of the most controversial "sports" on the planet and has been repeatedly slammed by animal rights activists.

But it's not just a dangerous pastime for the animals pursued, it can also put the hunters themselves in danger, regardless of how unlikely it may seem.

Now, a hunter has lost his life after being killed by an elk that he had previously wounded with a bow and arrow.

The Hillsboro man passed away on Sunday morning in Tillamook County, Oregon Live reports, after being fatally gored by an elk that he had shot the day before.

Mark David, 66, had been hunting on private property on Saturday evening in Tillamook County when he hit the bull elk.

Oregon State Police later reported that he was unable to find the animal before darkness fell, and he went out the next morning to try and locate the elk with the property owner.

David located the injured animal at around 9:15AM and attempted to put it out of its misery by shooting it with his bow and arrow.

However, this did not go to plan and the elk charged at David, goring him fatally with its antlers.

While the property owner did try to help David after the attack, he was unable to save the hunter after he was gored and David passed away.

The elk, pictured above, was killed after the incident and its meat was donated to the Tillamook County jail.

This story comes after a hunter was left hospitalized with horrific wounds after the buffalo he was trying to kill carried out one final attack before dying.

Sharing his story and graphic injuries to Facebook, 35-year-old Chris McSherry from Gove in Australia revealed that he was bow hunting in Port Bradshaw - just off the northeast coast of the Northern Territory - when he spotted the 1700lbs beast.

Per The Sun, the dad-of-five said that he thought he had killed the water buffalo after hitting it with several arrows. However, when he went to check out his prey, the giant gored him twice, in a final attack that sent McSherry flying.

McSherry says he was left with a hole the size of a can of Coke above his right knee, as well as an eight-inch gash under his buttocks.

Writing on Facebook, the hunter said: "Ok thought I would give an update on my situation for anyone interested.

"I was bow hunting on Saturday morning when I put a couple of arrows into a nice buff."

The father then says he followed the blood trail for "a few hundred meters" before he came across "the beast" stuck in a thick bush.

However, after his friend hit the buffalo with "a couple more bolts" from their crossbow (to "put the animal out of misery"), the buffalo charged at McSherry.

After suffering "some decent wounds", McSherry reveals that he was transported to Darwin hospital, where he has undergone two surgeries and may have to undergo further skin grafts.

Hunting is one of the most controversial "sports" on the planet and has been repeatedly slammed by animal rights activists.

But it's not just a dangerous pastime for the animals pursued, it can also put the hunters themselves in danger, regardless of how unlikely it may seem.

Now, a hunter has lost his life after being killed by an elk that he had previously wounded with a bow and arrow.

The Hillsboro man passed away on Sunday morning in Tillamook County, Oregon Live reports, after being fatally gored by an elk that he had shot the day before.

Mark David, 66, had been hunting on private property on Saturday evening in Tillamook County when he hit the bull elk.

Oregon State Police later reported that he was unable to find the animal before darkness fell, and he went out the next morning to try and locate the elk with the property owner.

David located the injured animal at around 9:15AM and attempted to put it out of its misery by shooting it with his bow and arrow.

However, this did not go to plan and the elk charged at David, goring him fatally with its antlers.

While the property owner did try to help David after the attack, he was unable to save the hunter after he was gored and David passed away.

The elk, pictured above, was killed after the incident and its meat was donated to the Tillamook County jail.

This story comes after a hunter was left hospitalized with horrific wounds after the buffalo he was trying to kill carried out one final attack before dying.

Sharing his story and graphic injuries to Facebook, 35-year-old Chris McSherry from Gove in Australia revealed that he was bow hunting in Port Bradshaw - just off the northeast coast of the Northern Territory - when he spotted the 1700lbs beast.

Per The Sun, the dad-of-five said that he thought he had killed the water buffalo after hitting it with several arrows. However, when he went to check out his prey, the giant gored him twice, in a final attack that sent McSherry flying.

McSherry says he was left with a hole the size of a can of Coke above his right knee, as well as an eight-inch gash under his buttocks.

Writing on Facebook, the hunter said: "Ok thought I would give an update on my situation for anyone interested.

"I was bow hunting on Saturday morning when I put a couple of arrows into a nice buff."

The father then says he followed the blood trail for "a few hundred meters" before he came across "the beast" stuck in a thick bush.

However, after his friend hit the buffalo with "a couple more bolts" from their crossbow (to "put the animal out of misery"), the buffalo charged at McSherry.

After suffering "some decent wounds", McSherry reveals that he was transported to Darwin hospital, where he has undergone two surgeries and may have to undergo further skin grafts.