Two women and a man illegally hunting in the Naseby Forest could have started a fire or sparked a tragedy as a logging truck driver was unaware of their presence, Judge Kevin Phillips said.
He made the comments in the Alexandra District Court yesterday as he sentenced the two women, who were jointly charged with the man with hunting pigs in Ernslaw One forestry in Naseby on May 25 without the permission of the landowner.
Kelly Dawn Lee (27), of Oturehua, Katie-Anne Sargent (25), of South Otago, and Carl John Arnoldus Watters (26), farm hand, of Oturehua, admitted the charge.
Lee and Sargent were dealt with yesterday, each receiving 100 hours' community work.
Watters was remanded to appear in the Dunedin District Court on September 4.
Prosecutor Sergeant Ian Collin said there had been an increase in unauthorised access to rural land during the past four years.
An anti-poaching initiative had been introduced by police, farmers and landowners in Otago and Southland, which involved people caught on properties without the landowners' permission being trespassed from all properties signed up to the initiative.
Under the initiative, Watters had been trespassed from numerous forests in 2012, including the Naseby Forest.
The forest covered 2500ha and 700ha was allocated for recreational use. Few hunting permits were issued because of the forest's high recreational use, Sgt Collin said.
The defendants were stopped by police and the Naseby Forest manager in the forest on May 25.
Watters was driving a ute with five dogs in the rear. Sixteen rounds of ammunition were found on the floor of the front passenger seat.
The vehicle was towing another vehicle. Both vehicles were seized by police.
The following day, Watters used a second key to uplift one of the vehicles from the forest. When spoken to by police, the defendants said they did not think they needed to get permission from the landowner to hunt pigs in the forest, Sgt Collin said.
Counsel for Lee and Sargent Justine Baird said both women were keen hunters and part of a women's hunting group.
Lee had a registered hunting permit and thought it included the Naseby Forest. Sargent knew Lee had the permit and thought Lee was permitted in the area with other hunters, using that permit.
In response to a question from the judge, Sgt Collin said no firearms were seized.
Miss Baird said the women did not have firearms licences.
They used their dogs to trap prey and then used knives to kill it.
Judge Phillips said if the women were such keen hunters, they should have been aware of the area covered by the permit.
The charges were serious, he said.
A truck had been transporting logs through the forest that day and the forestry staff were unaware of the hunters being there, so ''a tragedy could have occurred''.
It was alarming some of the defendants were seen smoking in the forest, Judge Phillips said.
With just one misplaced match, a fire could have started and the Naseby Forest had one of the most extreme fire ratings in the country.
Watters also faced charges of trespassing in the forest, of obstructing police and of possessing ammunition without a lawful purpose.
Watters had ''an extended history relating to trespass, firearms and hunting'' and should be aware he was facing a jail term, Judge Phillips said.
