Police urge vigilance after guns found left in mai mai

POLICE say duckshooters need to be vigilant around firearms and aware of their responsibilities.

Police reported loaded firearms were found unattended in a mai mai in North Otago last week.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said shooters needed to remember their responsibilities when it came to firearms.

‘‘We were working with Fish & Game and travelling together with them,’’ he said.

‘‘They were checking mai mais in the inland Palmerston area and came across one that had the loaded firearms left out and noone around.

‘‘So they seized them and there will be an investigation into why that happened.’’

Also, alcohol and shooting did not mix, and if people were drinking they should plan travel ahead of time, Snr Sgt Bond said.

‘‘The two don’t go together — it’s one or the other.

‘‘If you’re going to be drinking, put the guns away, make sure they’re secure and then have some drinks if you’re going to be, hopefully, celebrating getting some ducks.

‘‘In the rural areas travelling to the bars can be quite some distance and taxis are limited.

‘‘Hopefully, there are some courtesy vans on, but remember not to drink and drive. Police will be around breathtesting. But if you’re drinking and you’ve got a gun around, that can be a very lethal combination.’’

Duckshooters should plan ahead when it came to travel.

‘‘Use the courtesy vans, have a sober driver to get you to and from the pub, and that way your weekend will be memorable for all the right reasons.’’