A man has been charged after allegedly hunting on private property in the States west.
About 2am (Wednesday 11 February 2026), farmers were allegedly awoken to a utility which had driven onto their farm on Wyuna Road, at Gunneduh, before the occupants reportedly began hunting.
When the landholders approached the vehicle, the utility allegedly accelerated toward them, swerving away at the last moment. The vehicle then left the property, reportedly carrying three dead feral pigs.
Just after 7am on Wednesday 11 February 2026, officers attached to Oxley Traffic and Highway Patrol and the Rural Crime Prevention Team stopped the utility on Wandabah Road at Gunnedah.
Police spoke with the driver, a 27-year-old man, who allegedly failed to provide a current NSW driver licence. He was subjected to roadside testing which allegedly returned a positive result to cannabis and methylamphetamine.
He was arrested and taken to Gunnedah Police Station where he underwent secondary testing which will undergo forensic examination. He was released pending further inquiries.
The Rural Crime Prevention Team conducted inquiries in respect to the illegal hunting allegations. The three dogs on the rear of the utility were scanned and only one was registered, and infringements issued.
The Rural Crime Investigators from Gunnedah located the three dead pigs in Milroy.
Following inquiries, on Friday 13 February 2026, police arrested the 27-year-old man at a residence in Gunnedah.
The man's Holden Utility was seized and an application made to the court for it to be forfeited to the Crown.
The man was taken to Gunnedah Police Station, where he was charged with enter private land to hunt animal without owner consent, drive motor vehicle menaces another with intent, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, and littering dangerous materials in/on public place.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before Gunnedah Local Court on Tuesday 7 April 2026.
Investigations are continuing.
The Rural Crime Prevention Team encourages all farmers to report all rural crime in a timely manner to assist in positive outcomes, especially illegal hunting, and trespassing.
Please report all matters to your local police and in an emergency call "000".
If you have any information in respect to rural crimes, please call 1800 333 000.
If you know something, please say something.
