A POLICE boss has hit out at farm trespassers after alleged illegal hunting on an Upper Murray property.
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Several duck and deer carcasses were found at the Maragle rural estate between Tooma and Tumbarumba.
A Sydney man, 35, has been charged with failing to keep his firearm safe and dealing in or attempting to deal in a protected animal as a result.
Police were initially called to the area after receiving reports of a vehicle undertaking spotlighting about 9.30pm on August 20.
After patrolling they drove into a Maragle Road property and found the dead duck and deer at the home and rifle and ammunition in an unattended vehicle.
After speaking to the 35 year-old man at the home, police seized the firearm and two rounds of ammunition due to poor storage.
Then last Wednesday at 10.30am, police went to the man's home at Greenacre in western Sydney and gave him a summons outlining his charges.
The man has been bailed conditionally to front Tumbarumba Court on November 7 and had his firearms licence suspended.
Riverina police district commander Superintendent David Noble issued a blunt warning in the wake of the charging.
"Every police officer in regional and rural areas is concerned with rural crime and illegal hunting and we will prosecute offenders," he said.
"Don't come onto someone's property without permission.
"You are not welcome."
The case coincides with the NSW government introducing a bill to parliament which has a penalty of three years in jail for trespassing on farms and up to $22,000 in fines.
Now in NSW the penalty for trespassing does not involve imprisonment.
The moves follow cases of animal rights' activists entering farms.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy has hailed his government's action.
"This ground breaking piece of legislation, introduced by the NSW Liberal and Nationals government will create a clear deterrent to any would-be vigilantes considering unlawfully trespassing on farming properties in the Albury electorate," Mr Clancy said.
"Importantly, it will also for the first time recognise a farmer's inherent right to farm and provide safeguards against nonsense nuisance claims."
Deputy Premier and NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro said "if you invade a farm in NSW you'll face the toughest penalties in the nation and three years potential jail time".
The bill introduces a new offence of inciting or causing a trespass and acknowledges aggravating factors such as trespassing in a group, property damage and wilfully releasing stock.
It will also recognise a farmer's right to farm.
That allows farmers to use a defence of lawful business to halt neighbours suing with so-called nuisance claims.
This would mean a court could not order an injunction against activities such as trucks moving chooks or crops being sprayed.
