Man admits illegal hunting in Rayonier Forests block at Te Haroto

A hunter will be sentenced in May after he was caught hunting illegally in Te Haroto. Photo / File

The only thing a Napier hunter caught was an appearance in front of a court judge after he was found illegally hunting in a rural part of Hawke's Bay.

Jacob Michael Lee Green , 23, appeared in the Napier District Court before Judge Geoff Rea on Wednesday, pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful hunting.

On March 18 this year, Green along with another hunter and a trained pig dog, headed out to State Highway 5.

They pulled up alongside a layby area near the Turangakuma Block , managed by Rayonier Forests Ltd.

But the pair were spotted by a security officer who was patrolling the area and who watched them walking the internal roadway of the forest block.

Once realising they were spotted, they tried to hide from the officer, but then eventually gave themselves up, walked out of the block and gave the officer their details.

Green admitted knowing that he was poaching on private property and had previously appeared before the court for similar circumstances.

According to the summary of facts, unlawful hunting offences continue to plague both landowners and occupiers across rural Hawke's Bay.

"The offending produces a significant risk to landowners/ occupiers, their employees and members of the public due to the practices associated with the hunting style involved and the generally careless attitude displayed by the offenders by responsible."

Green's defence counsel Peter Austin told Judge Rea that Green had lost his job, suffered from dyslexia and was also a father to three children.

He suggested community work as a possible outcome to the offending.

Green will be sentenced in May.