A Glen Martin resident and his wife who regularly ride in the Uffington and Wallaroo State Forests are concerned about the lack of signage for game hunters.
Jeff and Kerry Coombes and a friend were riding their horses in Uffington State Forest, about 50 metres in from Woerdens Road near Clarence Town on June 19, when they came across and man dressed in a camouflage outfit, orange cap and a rifle slung across his back.
“But what shocked me was that he dropped his head and turned away from us and kept walking,” Mr Coombes said.
“I didn’t know what was going on so I told the girls to keep riding. I found what I believed to be his vehicle and I took down the number plate and the name printed on an envelope lying on the seat.
“We didn’t have our mobile phones with us so I had to wait until I got home to contact the police.
“They rang me back and said it was a game park and he was within his rights to be there.”
There are approximately 400 declared State forests and Crown land areas available for hunting access under the Game Council NSW game hunting licence system.
These include both Wallaroo and Uffington State Forests as well as Chichester and Fosterton State Forests near Dungog.
Rabbits and foxes can be hunted in Uffington while goats, deer, hares, cats and dogs are also included in Wallaroo.
Holders of a restricted game hunting licence provided by Game Council NSW can hunt in allocated areas if they have a written permission note from the game council.
Mr Coombes said he doesn’t have a problem with the game shooters, it is the lack of signage around the area which is the problem.
“There are no signs at any of the entrances to the parks, and there is also a 50 metre section of the fence which has been pulled down along Woerdens Road,” Mr Coombes said.
“A lot of people ride in the park and there are even young people who train for cross country events here too.
“I spoke to the Game Council and they put me onto Forests NSW and they in turn put back to the Game Council. It appears that no-one knows who is responsible for what.
“All I want to see are the broken fences fixed and signs placed at all the entrances to the parks.
“We will continue to ride in the forest but will certainly be more aware of game hunters.”
A Game Council NSW spokesman said Uffington State forest is a declared State forest for conservation hunting and has had no problems recorded to date in relation to conservation hunting working harmoniously alongside other forest uses, including horse riding.
“Game Council NSW and Forests NSW take community concerns seriously, and if there is significant public interest in providing more signage at Uffington State forest, this may be considered in the future,” he said.
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