FOUR men have been charged over alleged illegal hunting following a joint operation in New South Wales’ central west region, according to NSW Police.

On Sunday 14 December 2025, officers attached to the Rural Crime Prevention Team commenced an investigation following the deaths of two crossbred ewes and the theft of three crossbred lambs from a property at Mullion Creek about 18km north of Orange.

Police said following inquiries, about 6am on Wednesday 9 September 2026, Central West Police District rural crime investigators – with assistance from North West Metropolitan OSG, Riverstone Police Area Command and Southern Zone Rural Crime investigators – executed a search warrant at a home in Quakers Hill.

A 32 year-old man was arrested, and police allegedly located and seized 10 registered firearms, ammunition, mobile telephones and other electronic storage devices. NSW Police said he was taken to Riverstone Police Station, where he was charged with:

Kill cattle with intent to steal (five counts)

Kill, hunt, shoot, poison etc. animal in a forestry area

Possess or discharge a firearm in a forestry area

Not keep firearm safely (not pistol/prohibited firearm)

The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Orange Local Court on Thursday 26 November 2026.

A second search warrant was executed at a home on Merrylands Road, Merrylands, on the same day. During the search, police located and seized six registered firearms, ammunition and mobile telephones.

Following further inquiries, about 1.40pm on Monday 14 September 2026, a search warrant was executed at a home in Bonny Hills Drive, Little Hartley, where police located and seized a blue handled knife.

The next day, about 5.45am (Tuesday 15 September 2026), police executed a search warrant at a home in Wiley Park. A 36-year-old man was arrested and police allegedly located and seized six firearms, ammunition and electronic devices. Police said the man was taken to Campsie Police Station where he was charged with:

Kill cattle with intent to steal (five counts)

Kill, hunt, shoot, poison etc. animal in a forestry area

Holder of Category A or B licence not have approved storage.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Orange Local Court on Thursday 19 November 2026.

About 1.30pm on Monday 19 October 2026, a 51-year-old man was arrested at Granville Police Station. Police said he was charged with:

Kill cattle with intent to steal (five counts)

Kill, hunt, shoot, poison etc animal in a forestry area

Possess or discharge a firearm in a forestry area

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 2 December 2026.

Following further inquiries, about 6am yesterday (Tuesday 20 October 2026), a search warrant was executed at a home in Schofields. A 26-year-old man was arrested and was taken to Riverstone Police Station. Police allegedly located and seized a firearm, ammunition, mobile telephones, and other electronic storage devices. The man was charged with:

Kill cattle with intent to steal (five counts)

Kill, hunt, shoot, poison etc animal in a forestry area (two counts)

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Orange Local Court on Thursday 26 November 2026.