Imbil cop Bill Greer speaks on Mary Valley ‘poaching’ dangers

Police are investigating claims of trespassers and illegal poachers in the Mary Valley following reports of a man walking onto a resident’s property carrying a rifle.

A man with a rifle was spotted trespassing a Mary Valley Rd property.

Claims a poacher has been spotted trespassing onto a Brooloo property while carrying a rifle are being investigated by Mary Valley police.

The allegations were raised on social media where one user shared an image of a person they accused of trespassing.

Police said a man was reported entering a Mary Valley Rd property with a hunting rifle about 10.30am Wednesday.

He left on foot shortly after, driving away from the property in a car left parked nearby.

Police said no injuries were reported from the incident.

Imbil Sergeant Bill Greer said poaching incidents are common from late March through to the end of April.

Sgt Greer said it was legal to shoot on many properties with permission from the owner, but shooting or even taking a firearm into a state forest was against the law.

Anyone who did so risked facing charges including trespass, or firing a weapon or killing an animal on someone’s property.

The biggest issue was safety.

“Nobody knows they are there so it poses a significant safety issue,” Sgt Greer said.

Police stock squad officers conduct an operation every year to catch poachers in areas across the state including the Mary Valley.

Sgt Greer said officers congregate in areas for about four weeks from mid-March, even camping out, to work on various issues.

The Facebook post about the alleged incident at Brooloo said poachers and trespassers posed a risk to other hunters permitted on properties.

“It becomes very dangerous for the hunters that are doing the right thing by the landowners and themselves alike,” the post stated.

“This individual was wielding a rifle unknowingly less than a few hundred yards opposite me this morning.

“As cunning as he is, he didn’t know I was there and I doubt he would hesitate to let a shot off if the need arose.”

In the same Facebook group, a separate post pictured a white vehicle captioned with concerns about poaching and asking about the identity of the driver.

“This person has been trespassing and illegally poaching in Brooloo area,” the post stated.

Police urge anyone with information to contact police and refer to QP2300567891.