Hunt Safe, Hunt Legal was relaunched in Tamworth on Tuesday as part of a renewed push to stop illegal pig dogs and their owners in their tracks, with fears the growing hunting culture and illegal activity is on the rise.

The experts met in the city as part of a Rural Crime Advisory Group meeting where the campaign was discussed.

Dr Andrew Moriarty from the DPI’s game and licensing unit said, while there were many hunters who did the right thing and had the appropriate game licences, it was concerning that illegal pig dogging activity still happened on private property.

“What we’re seeing in rural and regional areas like Tamworth is a rise in the number of illegal pig dog activities,” he said.

“One of the things police and the DPI wish to do in this space is an awareness campaign so we can open the dialogue with pig doggers about being responsible, safe and, most importantly, talking to them about the impact their illegal activity has on landholders.

“What we’re seeing in parts of NSW is an increase in illegal hunting and there seems to be a bit of a pig-dogging culture increasing in rural and regional areas.”

Dr Moriarty said one of the major points of the campaign was for hunters to ask for permission before they entered a property that wasn’t theirs.

He also pushed for hunters to be aware of diseases such as brucellosis, a disease common in pigs which can be transferred to humans and dogs with devastating effects, with cases recently reported in areas including Gunnedah.

With 12 DPI inspectors specialising in illegal hunting across the state and one based in Tamworth, Dr Moriarty said the DPI had added firepower, with every police officer being a trained inspector in relation to illegal hunting.

Member for Tamworth and chairman of the advisory group, Kevin Anderson, joined Dr Moriarty at the campaign re-launch on Tuesday and said included in the campaign was a guide that outlined the impact illegal hunting activity had on the community, landholders and their families.

The guide also includes tips for managing disease risks to hunting dogs, along with stickers, kit bags and a dog lead.

“There are plenty of ways people can legally hunt for pigs in NSW and this new program highlights those ways for hunters who want to be responsible and ethical while hunting feral pigs,” Mr Anderson said.

“There are 170 state forests where hunting pigs with dogs is allowed during the day, and also 19 state forests where hunting is allowed during the day and at night.”

Mr Anderson said penalties for illegal pig dogging include on the spot fines, the seizure of hunting equipment, dogs and vehicles, as well as the cancellation of licences and even court action.