Three hunters in the Lindis have been caught by police shooting a deer on private property without permission.

Central Otago police have received numerous phone calls from the public about suspicious activity in the lead up the roar, highlighting the problem surrounding poaching in the wider area.

Senior Constable Graham Perkins, of Alexandra, said last week that the men who were apprehended in the Lindis were caught on a property, but lied and said they had permission, and showed a map of the area they were operating in. 

They were spoken to by police at the farmhouse and the deer was confiscated.

“They claimed to be out of the boundary without realising it,” Snr Const Perkins said.

Police could also seize vehicles used while offenders were hunting if they thought it warranted it, he said.

During the roar in particular, offenders started targeting properties, driving through gates and leaving them open for stock to escape, as well as disturbing the animals, he said.

Duck shooting season also starts on May 1 bringing more hunters out into the wild, and the message from police was to be aware of where you were shooting and well away from people and activity. 

In other incidents, an increased number of liquor ban offences have taken place in Cromwell recently, including one outside the Victoria Arms Hotel.

Snr Const Perkins said while on pub checks around the town, officers noticed two females drinking RTD’s across the road overlooking the lake. They were both issued $200 alcohol infringement notices and moved on.  

He said there had been an increased level of behaviour recently, whereby people were starting to ‘pre-load’ in public places before entering pubs and hotels, but this was illegal activity.

Down in Ettrick, a man on a drink driving conviction with an alcohol interlock device got caught by police when his tail lights on his trailer weren’t working.

Snr Const Perkins said somehow the man was able to bypass his device and continued to drive, but when pulled over by police had an excess breath alcohol reading of just 66mcg (the limit being zero).  

The normal limit for alcohol while driving is 250mcg.