A Maffra man has been caught allegedly illegally hunting deer and trespassing in the Dargo area. The 61-year-old had his firearms seized and licence suspended. He is also expected to be charged on summons with failure to store firearms and failure to notify police with change of details.
The man was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into trespassing on private property in the area and the use of spotlights from the road to hunt deer, which breaches the Victorian Firearms Act 1996.
Police have been working closely with landholders to ensure greater detection and reporting of offences. Community members have been encouraged to report illegal hunting, trespassing or any other illegal activities on or around their properties to their local police.
SSAA Victoria condemns any illegal activity in relation to firearms or hunting and acknowledges the damage it can cause to the reputation of the sector. It encourages members to look out for any illegal or irresponsible behaviour and report it to the authorities.
Report illegal behaviour to the Game Management Authority online or by calling 136 186. It can also be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
When reporting illegal activity, gather as much information as possible, regarding location, take down the names of any nearby crossroads or the GPS co-ordinates for reporting. Be sure to also note the number of people involved, the vehicle description and the description of incident.
SSAA Victoria is a proud supporter of the Victorian Government’s Responsible Hunting campaign and does not tolerate illegal hunting.