Silencer plan for NSW park hunting HUNTERS will be allowed to use silencers on guns when shooting feral animals in NSW national parks to minimise disturbance to other users under proposals being considered by the government. The proposal in a leaked draft assessment report would require loosening the state's prohibition on silencers, a ban designed to stop them falling into criminal hands, Fairfax newspapers reported on Tuesday. But Police Minister Mike Gallacher, who was not consulted about the plan, says he does not want existing restrictions to change. The Game Council of NSW has been pushing for hunters to be allowed to use silencers. But National Parks Association of NSW campaign co-ordinator Justin McKee said silencers were a safety risk as they removed people's awareness that hunting was taking place nearby, Fairfax reported. Environment Minister Robyn Parker is overseeing preparation of the risk assessment before declaring 77 national parks and reserves open for amateur hunting of feral animals from May.