Senior Constable Don Trice and the semi-automatic rifle, fitted with a silencer, and bolt action rifle a Warburton man had been using to hunt with close to residential properties.By Monique Ebrington
WARBURTON has been relieved of a silent threat that has prompted police to again target illegal hunting.
Warburton Police have arrested and charged a man for hunting, within 200 metres of residential properties, with an unregistered semi-automatic rifle that had been fitted with a silencer.
The 64-year-old Warburton man was the passenger in a utility stopped by police as part of a routine check on Wednesday 25 March at 10pm.
During discussions with the men Warburton Police discovered the semi-automatic rifle, fitted with a silencer, half hidden in the back of the utility and a registered bolt action rifle on the back seat of vehicle.
Warburton Senior Constable Don Trice described the action of hunting close to residential areas with an illegal firearm as silly.
“We’re aware that there’s a small element of hunters out there that will hunt near residential areas illegally, endangering members of the community,” Sen Const Trice said.
The dangers of shooting close to building areas was tragically brought home to Warburton residents when local man Gary Paterson was killed while walking his dog in the Yarra State Forest in February 1999.
The 20-year-old was mistaken for game and accidentally shot by a hunter in dense bushland off McDonald Track, near Woods Point Road.
Mr Paterson was taken to Warburton Private Hospital by the two hunters involved but died later in hospital.
In 2006 the Department of Sustainability and Environment were requested by the Victorian Police to close an area between Wesburn and Warburton to all forms of deer hunting.
Police were concerned that illegal hunting threatened the safety of residents. In a statement released in 2006, DSE spokesman Mark Winfield said the closure created a buffer for nearby residents and families.
“The deer hunting area, being closed, surrounds townships and it was determined by Victoria Police that there were too many risks to local landholders and their families,” Mr Winfield said.
“While the behaviour of deer hunters in recent times has generally been of a high standard, in this area, there have been complaints to police over a long period regarding hunting too close to the town, hunting on private property without permission, illegal spotlighting and trespassing.”
Police will continue to curb the dangerous and illegal trend of hunting close to residential properties in and around Warburton.
Senior Constable Trice said that the best way for hunters to avoid penalties when hunting was to familiarise themselves with the rules and regulations of hunting through the DSE website.
For further information on hunting in Victoria contact the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or visit the DSE website at www.dse.vic.gov.au
