Armed police nabbed five men hunting illegally on a farmer's land stocked with deer in Central Otago overnight.
Police from Omakau and Alexandra responded to a phone call from the farmer who heard a gun shot on his property about 11pm yesterday.
The man kept watch on what police called "poachers" while he waited for police to arrive.
The men apparently fired at an animal but until the farmer had checked the stock it was uncertain if they had hit anything, police said today.
The police took the five offenders into custody without incident and seized firearms and the men's vehicle.
They will face firearms charges and charges under a law dealing with animals, acting Sergeant Dave Greaves of Alexandra police told NZPA.
He said they had been drinking and it was of "grave concern" they had mixed alcohol and firearms.
The farmer who called police was one of a group involved in a co-operative venture between police, DOC and land owners, he said.
"We have made it clear in the past and I want to make it clear again, firearms, vehicles and items used during illegal hunting will be seized."
There had been no reports of illegal hunting or poaching on farms in the particular area involved last night but there been cases in Otago generally, Mr Greaves said.
The five men picked up by police would face no-trespassing notices from every station and run holding in the group venture, he said.
The five would also have their firearms licences reviewed.
