Images reopen hunting debate in NSW

Disturbing photos of a kangaroo and a brush-turkey with hunters' arrows embedded in them have reopened the debate over hunting in NSW state forests.

The plight of the native animals has prompted welfare group WIRES to call on the government to get tough on hunters.

Introduced game and feral animals are allowed to be stalked and hunted in 200 of NSW's state forests.

But WIRES says some hunters are not following the rules.

The animal welfare organisation has responded to two cases of animals wounded by arrows in the past week.

The first, a male adult brush-turkey, was spotted by a Central Coast resident on Thursday.

A day later, animal rescuers went to a property in the Mogo State Forest on the South Coast where an Eastern Grey Kangaroo was found with an arrow through its leg.

Both animals fled and WIRES staff said they "face a slow death".

"It'll be really infected where the arrow is," WIRES spokesman Justin McKee said of the injured roo on Tuesday.

"It'll slow down ... then it won't be able to forage for food properly, it'll be really vulnerable to predators."

Mr McKee said hunters were supposed to have "a clean shot" and "if something as large as a kangaroo is getting in your way, you shouldn't have a licence".

But Primary Industries minister Katrina Hodgkinson says existing laws are enough.

"The NSW government has in place strict regulations and safety measures to ensure recreational hunting in state forests is conducted in as safe a manner as possible," she said.

The minister called for witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The NSW government reopened about 200 NSW state forests to recreational hunters in February after a six-month risk review.

A trial of hunting in 12 of the state's national parks also began this year.

Mr McKee said the maiming of native animals in state forests showed "the government has its work cut out for it policing the hunting practices it is permitting".