The issuing of a two-year trespass notice this week to a suspected poacher, and covering 127 farms in Waitaki and Central Otago, should send a message that the activity will not be tolerated, Omarama police say.
On Wednesday, a 51-year-old Oamaru man was found on Omarama Station, allegedly poaching.
Constable Nayland Smith, of Oamaru, said the man was apologetic when spoken to by police, saying he was ''unsure exactly what was public land and private land''.
But that excuse was not good enough, Const Smith said.
''Any hunter ... should know exactly where they are going prior to their excursion,'' he said.
''The fact that he has not made any attempt to clarify exactly what was private property and public land indicates that he was taking a gamble and hoping not to be caught.
''If I was him, I'd be pretty embarrassed.''
The man's trespass notice includes all farms covered by the Southern Police Anti-Poaching Scheme.
His suitability to hold a firearms licence was being reviewed by police, Const Smith said.
The Oamaru man is the first to be issued with a two-year trespass notice since the Southern Police Anti-Poaching Scheme was extended to Waitaki about three years ago.
The anti-poaching scheme was established in partnership with farmers and police.
Under the scheme, farmers grant police authority to issue trespass notices to people found on their land without permission.
''The trespass notice includes not just their land, but all farms on the Central Otago and Upper Waitaki scheme,'' Const Smith said.
There are 25 farms on the Upper Waitaki scheme and 102 in Central Otago.
The more farmers who became involved, the more successful it would be, he said.
''This is a timely reminder to anyone engaging in this type of criminal activity that their behaviour will not be tolerated by landowners or police,'' Const Smith said.
''If apprehended, they will be prosecuted, trespassed and their firearms licence revoked.''
