Mark Field in court for weapons misuse.

A farmer and pig hunter who ‘totally forgot’ to properly store two guns, including a shot gun his children found on the property, has faced court.

A 60-year-old farmer who left two guns propped against a shed wall on his property, and some ammunition in plain sight on a bench, has been fined $500.

Mark Field represented himself in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm, failure to securely store a firearm and failure to take precautions when storing explosives.

In what Acting Magistrate Peter Cooke called “out of character carelessness,” the court heard Field had intended to take one of the guns and ammunition on a work trip.

The court heard Field was a registered weapons holder, but when police entered his property on August 12, 2022 they noticed two guns leaning against a shed wall, with ammunition sitting in plain sight on a bench.

Field told the court he had intended to take one of the guns, a .22 rifle and the ammunition on a pig hunting work trip, but he forgot to pack them when his starting time changed quickly.

“I packed everything else up and totally forgot about the rifle. I didn’t realise I left it behind until police officers rang me,” he said.

Mark Field told the court that he had intended to bury the second shot gun found incorrectly stored on his property.

The second gun, a shot gun, had been found by his children three months ago on the property, the court heard.

Field had intended to dispose of it, but never got around to it.

“It doesn’t even work I don’t think. I was going to bury it,” he told the court.

Mr Cooke acknowledged Field had made an early plea of guilty, and had no previous record.

“I accept that at the age of 60, this is out of character for you,” Mr Cooke said.

“The Weapons Act is in place and applies for everyone. Everyone has to be extremely cautious around weapons so what you’ve done is wrong,

“The shotgun I accept that it was an old weapon and that it wasn’t in working order,” he said.

Forfeiture was sought for the rifle and the ammunition. Field was fined $500 referred to SPER with no conviction recorded.