Police may bring in extra staff to North Otago to deal with an increase in poaching.
Senior Constable Nayland Smith, of Omarama, said police had recently received "quite a few" complaints about illegal hunting in the Omarama and Lindis Pass areas, including one incident in which a cattle beast had been shot in a probable case of "mistaken identity".
As result he had changed his own roster and asked for extra police staff for Omarama, Kurow and Lindis Pass to target poaching.
Anyone caught trespassing on private land could be imprisoned or fined up to $100,000, he said.
Firearms licences could also be revoked and firearms and vehicles seized.