Following reports of poaching in Central Otago, South Otago police have issued a warning.
Senior Constable Jane Whitmore, of Balclutha, said while the last report of poaching was in September, it remained an issue in South Otago.
She said a privately owned trophy fallow stag was illegally shot and killed on a private hunting block in the Milton area last September.
The stag was worth $3000 and was one of many stags which were bred to allow paying overseas hunting clients to stalk trophy heads.
The man identified for illegally killing the stag was ordered to pay $3000 reparation for the animal, she said.
''This is a warning to others - unless you have a valid hunting permit for a specific hunting area or permission from the landowner to hunt on private property, your actions in hunting on that land is illegal,'' Snr Const Whitmore said.
Police would deal with any such incidents seriously and identification of those clearly offending would result in prosecution and the revoking of their firearms licences.
There are numerous offences identified throughout legislation, the most serious being theft of an animal under the Crimes Act of 1961, with a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment.
Other offences are also identified under the Wild Animal Control Act 1977, Arms Act 1983, Summary Offences Act 1981 and Conservation Act 1987.
