But it was an image that Adam Greentree, 38, of Merewether, uploaded to Instagram that landed him in hot water with the Department of Primary Industries. 

Greentree, who is represented by barrister Bill Hussey and solicitor Chris O'Brien, avoided a conviction in Newcastle Local Court on Monday after he pleaded guilty to hunting and killing a red deer and possessing a compound bow in the Towarri National Park in 2017. Greentree was out hunting near his 300-acre property north of Scone in March or April, 2017, when he posted photographs and footage of himself with a large red deer, declared a "game animal" by the DPI, but also managed as a "pest" where they are causing harmful impacts. 

The DPI's Game Compliance Unit viewed the images on Greentree's social media and later, while conducting operations in the national park, located a red deer carcass. 

They recorded the GPS coordinates, compared the location to the images Greentree had posted and found that Greentree had crossed over from his property into national park land. 

When police spoke to Greentree in April, 2018, he admitted to killing the deer but said he was on his neighbour's property and not on national park land.  

The matter was listed for hearing, but Greentree pleaded guilty to both charges when he could not prove where he was when he took the shot. 

The charges each carry a maximum fine of $3300, but Magistrate Andrew Eckhold said Greentree's good character and contribution to the community meant he should not receive a conviction. 

"It must be recognised that the animal that you killed was a feral animal and one that has the potential to cause some harm to the environment," Magistrate Eckhold said. "But there has to be control of what is happening in national parks. You have got people walking in there… it's important that national parks are protected in this way. Even highly skilled hunters make errors."