Responsible recreational shooters are concerned they have been "tarred with the same brush" as those acting outside the law following recent reports of illegal hunting in the Illawarra.
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Yesterday, the Mercury reported police were investigating the discovery of beheaded deer on a property near Helensburgh, while an 18-year-old man had been charged after he allegedly shot and killed two deer near suburban homes in Figtree.
Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia Illawarra branch secretary Mark Banasiak said hunters acting legally were the first to suffer whenever reports of poaching emerged.
"Mud sticks and even if it's not you that does that, you get tarred with the same brush," Mr Banasiak said.
He said positive work of association members, such as eradicating feral animals from private properties, was overshadowed when illegal activity was uncovered.
"We've shown we can act responsibly and we're the first to complain when someone does something wrong because it brings our name into disrepute," he said.
Mr Banasiak called for the reintroduction of the NSW Game Council, that was disbanded in July after a Department of Primary Industries report found the council roles of hunting regulator and promoter conflicted.
An immediate suspension of recreational hunting in state forests was implemented following the decision.
Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said the state government was now working through the recommendations contained within the report, and expected new regulations for hunting in state forests would be introduced by the end of the year.
She said the report's findings of the Game Council had been "less than complimentary".
Once established, the new system would mean compliance would be managed by the DPI, while recreational hunting promotion would be undertaken by an eight-member board and funded by hunting licence holders.
Meantime, NSW National Parks Association campaign co-ordinator Justin McKee said the shooting fraternity's inability to stick to its own laws was why the Game Council was disbanded in the first place.
He said the National Parks Association opposed hunting on public land.
"There is a whole lot more at stake to consider due to the level of different use by different people on public land," he said.
"So it's best left under a management plan delivered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service."
A trial allowing recreational hunters into 12 NSW national parks will begin in October.
In sights
• Recreational shooters were previously allowed in state forests until a NSW government report found in July that the NSW Game Council was conflicted in its role as both promoter and regulator.
• Shooters are now only permitted to operate on private land, with the permission of the landowner, and must hold a current hunting licence.
• The NSW government is expected to draft new legislation regarding hunting in state forests by the end of the year. The Department of Primary Industries will act as the regulator.
• A trial of recreational shooting in 12 NSW National Parks will start in October, however the parks have not yet been identified.
