Shooters and Fishers circle NSW seats

As NSW faces its fifth by-election this year, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party has kicked off its campaign for the Nationals-held seat of Murray, a week after Adrian Piccoli announced he was quitting politics.

The Shooters are set to announce water campaigner Helen Dalton as their candidate on Thursday.

The state government has already faced by-elections in two seats this year: Gosford and Manly were recontested in April, with Labor and the Liberals retaining their respective seats.

Mr Piccoli is the second Nationals MP to quit this year following the early exit of member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson.

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party is circling both regional seats, having wrestled the electorate of Orange from the Nationals in a by-election last year.

There will be a by-election in the Sydney seat of Blacktown as well following the retirement of former Labor leader John Robertson.