Police from the New England Police District Rural Crime Prevention Team have conducted an operation over the weekend (December 7 and 8) targeting illegal hunting and associated offences in Moree and surrounding areas.
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Patrols were conducted of various properties, state forests and national parks in the Moree, Gurley, Bellata, Berrigal and Terry Hie Hie areas.
At 8.30pm on Friday night police observed a red Toyota 4x4 travelling through the Couradda National Park.
The vehicle had two hunting dogs on board which were fitted with breast plates, and another two dogs were running nearby.
The driver and passenger, both 28-year-old males from Narrabri, are expected to face charges for 'hunt animal in park' and 'have control of dog with hunting collar/breast plate/tracking equipment in public/park'.
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The driver was also found to have a large hunting knife attached to his belt and was in possession of a small amount of cannabis.
He is expected to face additional charges of 'carry knife in park' and 'possess prohibited drug'.
At 10.40pm on Friday night police stopped a white Holden Rodeo dual cab utility on Mellburra Road near the Moema National Park.
As police approached the vehicle, a small package containing cannabis was seen to be thrown from the window.
The driver, an 18-year-old man from Narrabri, was spoken to and was later issued a court attendance notice for the offence of possess prohibited drug.
Police conducted checks on three hunting dogs which were on the rear of the utility.
Two passengers were issued with infringement notices for dog registration offences.
The Rural Crime Prevention Team is continuing these operations over coming months and if you're hunting illegally, you can expect to be caught.
Anyone with information about illegal hunting can report information anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
