Two young people will go through the youth justice process for unlawful hunting after two prize stags were shot and killed on private land.
The stags were shot in Central Otago on May 17.
Police from Cromwell and Queenstown executed search warrants this morning at addresses in Cromwell and Lake Hayes.
Two youths were identified for unlawful hunting.
One of the youths was a firearms licence holder. This licence, as well as the firearms, were seized by police during the search warrant.
Police also recovered antlers that were believed to have belonged to the two stags. These will be returned to the owner.
A police spokesperson said they were pleased to have caught the offenders to hold them to account, but disappointed with unlawful hunting occurring in the first place.
“Unfortunately, poaching and unlawful hunting continues to be an ongoing issue across the wider district,” the spokesperson said.
“These are not only for personal safety reasons but also for the flow-on effect from the damage caused to rural residents, farmers’ properties and trophy hunting businesses.
“Hunting without explicit permission from a landowner, farmer, or forestry manager is illegal. On public conservation land, a Department of Conservation permit is mandatory.”
Police urged anybody who has been a victim of poaching to make a report to police via 105 or online.
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