Two 14-year-olds are in critical condition after being shot by a hunter in the woods near Tamaqua.

According to rescuers at the scene, a male and female, were shot shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday at a location on South Mountain, also known as Sharp Mountain, above the South Ward section of the community.

Paramedics indicated the male was shot in the stomach area and the female sustained a serious leg wound.

The male was airlifted to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, and the female to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.

The teens were shot with a single bullet from a .270 caliber pump action rifle.

The hunter, Anthony Pascoe of Tamaqua, told police he had finished hunting for the day and decided to discharge the remaining bullet into the woods. He said it hit the teens who were unseen in the woods and he heard them scream and called police.

The area, near the border of Tamaqua borough and Walker Township, is accessed via a dirt path leading from the intersection of Green Street and Anthracite Avenue.

Tamaqua Police investigated and are turning the matter over to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Investigating officers for Tamaqua are Cpl. Henry Woods and Patrolman Thomas Rodgers.

Check back for updates and see Wednesday's Times News for complete details.