A MAN has been slapped with a $500 fine as police warn there is no excuse for hunting in national parks.
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Officers were patrolling the Pilliga West National Park at 10.15pm on Friday when they spotted a grey Toyota Hilux driving at low speed.
"Two dogs were allegedly seen running along in front of the Hilux," state rural crime co-ordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said.
Police stopped the vehicle and observed a medium sized dead pig (sow) in the rear of the utility.
The dogs were scanned and one was found not to be microchipped, with neither dog having a name tag on their collars - in breach of the rules.
The man was issued a $500 fine for hunt/shoot/injure/capture etc or possess animal in park. Official warnings were recorded for other offences including dog not wear collar/name tag and not identify companion animal as prescribed.
"There is no excuse for hunting in a national park, particularly when there are half a dozen state forests within an hour's drive which allow night time hunting with dogs," North-West Rural Crime Zone Co-ordinator, Detective Sergeant Bennett Nolan said.
"Anyone who is caught illegally hunting will be on our radar and may face confiscation of vehicles and equipment."
Detective Sergeant Nolan also warned hunters that their pig dogs must been correctly identified in accordance with NSW laws.
"All hunting dogs must be microchipped, registered, and wear a name tag in public," he said.