Two men have been arrested near Glenorchy after residents worried about poaching in the area contacted police.
As a result, half a dozen officers went to to the area late on Tuesday and stopped a vehicle in which a man and his stepson were travelling on the Glenorchy-Paradise road. Police allegedly found a loaded firearm in the vehicle.
A 43-year-old man was charged with drink-driving, after allegedly recording a breath-alcohol level of 671mcg, and unlawfully possessing ammunition.
A 20-year-old man, who had a firearms licence, was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm, as the gun was allegedly loaded inside the vehicle.
Sergeant Steve Watt said the pair had been spotlighting on Department of Conservation land and private land, which is illegal without a permit.
It follows a warning this week by Doc to hunters not to spotlight on conservation land, especially during the stag roar, which began last month.
Doc Central Otago area manager Robin Thomas said Doc would be working closely with police in a bid to catch people hunting unlawfully and would prosecute anyone caught doing so.
Mr Thomas said it was especially important over the Easter period, when campers would be staying in the area.
Sgt Watt said yesterday poaching, mainly of deer, had been a problem near Glenorchy and police would be keeping a close eye on the situation.
Offenders risk losing their firearms, equipment and firearms licence.
• "White power" and other racist slogans were tagged on commercial buildings in Queenstown on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Vandals used yellow spray paint to paint slogans including swastikas, "white power" and "666" on walls, fences and commercial vehicles.
Sgt Watt said yesterday graffiti was "not prevalent in the Queenstown area".
Police were looking into the incident, he said.
