Rural crime investigators from the Riverina and Monaro police districts seized and stopped a number of illegal hunting operations in the Kosciuszko National Park during the Labour Day weekend.
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Five men were charged with various offences and a number of firearms, bows and ammunition were seized.
The operation (Operation Brushwood) also involved officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW DPI Game Licensing Unit.
On Saturday September 29, police stopped two males carrying firearms and a compound bow.
These males were illegally camping in one of the national park's huts and hunting in the park.
Their firearms, ammunition and compound bow were confiscated and will face court for illegally hunting.
Also on Saturday, two males were stopped on Welumba Creek Road where they were shooting from the public road onto private property.
One of the males was charged with hunting from public road while the other male was charged with firearm not being kept safe.
Both males had firearms loaded and inside the vehicle.
Both firearms were confiscated by police.
On Sunday September 30, a male was stopped in the Kosciuszko National Park along the Geehi Walls Trail.
He had dogs, firearms and ammunition and covered number plates on his vehicle.
This male was charged with illegally hunting in a National Park and his firearms were confiscated.
On Monday October 1, police confiscated a further two bows were confiscated from a male for having them within the national park.
The Riverina Police District’s Superintendent Bob Noble said the team – two RPD officers and one MPD officer – camped “in crude accommodation during the operation so as to be based near the target area”.
“This contributed to the success of the operation, which should be measured not only in terms of charges and items seized but also on intelligence gathered, as well as the deterrent effect caused by word of mouth among the types of people who engage in such illegal conduct,” Superintendent Noble said.
“Those suspects that police interacted with were generally engaged ostensibly for the purpose of hunting wild pigs and deer.
“However one can never know exactly what occurs and it is quite likely other protected species may be at risk in these situations.
“It is often the case other types of offences may also be committed in an opportunistic fashion.
“There is every chance these other offences may well have been thwarted by the efforts of the Rural Crime Team during Operation Brushwood.”
In a statement, the NSW Police Force said that several campers and families at Kosciuszko National Park were spoken to during the operation and “all were enjoying the long weekend and behaving”.
“Several hunters were stopped over the weekend and licences and firearms checked and all compliant,” the statement reads.
“This is very pleasing.”
Police made further patrols of the following national parks: Bogandyera, Maragle, Jingellic and the Cabramurra township.
In addition, several rural property inspections were made.
“All up, five firearms and three bows and an amount of ammunition were confiscated by police,” the NSWPF said.
“Again, if you are going to hunt please do so legally and responsibly.”
If you are a legal hunter and would like to report illegal hunters, please contact your local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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