THE inaugural Narooma HuntFest hunting festival has been deemed a success by its organisers from the South Coast Hunters Club.

More than 500 visitors had attended by Sunday morning checking out the displays, activities and 26 stalls inside and outside of the Narooma Sports and Leisure Centre.

There was no sign of any anti-hunting protest or opponents of the festival outside over the weekend.

There were no firearms or actual hunting and Narooma HuntFest is based on hunting festivals of that name in the United States and elsewhere, but it is the first of its kind in Australia.

Club president Dan Field said other than locals checking it out, many of the attendees had come from the Canberra area, as well as further afield.

A number of hunting clubs from Sydney had stalls while Queensland business Gold Coast Shooters Supplies had travelled the greatest distance.

“We’re more than pleased,” he said.

“There’s been a huge response and we’re getting positive feedback from the public and we are planning to attract more people and more stalls next year.”

Major road works and the construction of the large roundabout on the Princes Highway was a bit of an obstacle, but people were still able to find their way around.

Exhibitors of note included the Shooters and Fishers Party with its MP Robert Borsak present, as well as the state licensing authority the Game Council.

But it was the Nepean Hunters Club and Australian Deer Association that were signing people up to R-class hunting licences at the festival.

More than 600 entries were received festival’s photographic and video competition, with a selection pinned up for viewing.

The winners of the different photo categories, as well as the festival’s fishing competition, were due to be judged on Sunday evening at O’Briens Hotel.

Demonstrations included local black smith Ian Hamilton making hand made Damascus steel knives using his portable forge, “Vicpig” with their cooking demonstrations using their uniquely designed camp cooker that looks like a pig, and “Auspit” showing their battery operated rotary spit cooking a roast over a slow fire.

Mr Field said while club had anticipated protest, given the petition submitted to Eurobodalla Shire Council protesting the festival and some vocal letter writing, and was prepared with security, there had been no sign of any opposition.