The recently released NSW Police Force's Firearms Registry shows the breakdown of just how many licences and firearms there are by postcode.

Data shows across the Central West 20,140 licence holders have 83,417 registered firearms and while that might average out at four per person, there are some people who have many more.

Orange has 11,586 guns and 3208 licences, while Bathurst not only has the highest number of registered guns at 14,641, it has the most firearms licences at 3392. There are 13,881 firearms in Dubbo (3151 licences).

In Dubbo one licence holder has 200 guns, in Orange the highest ownership is 131 firearms, while Bathurst's top drops to 103.

Orchardist Guy Gaeta owns 12 firearms and uses them for a variety of reasons.

Bats, rabbits, starlings and foxes are among the vermin at his cherry and apple orchards located just outside Orange.

"We've got semi-automatics because the starlings come out and eat your cherries," he said.

"With a five-shot you might drop a dozen or so at a time. When 50 or 100 starlings land on your tree, within minutes that tree is destroyed."

Mr Gaeta said many people are sentimental about their firearms and this is why some own multiple guns.

"I've got a 22 Magnum that looks like a John Wayne rifle that I bought in 1968," he said.

Mr Gaeta said the community should be more worried about unregistered firearms and ones that are stolen.

"Gun theft is a problem, even though we take all the precautions," he said.

"If they're legally owned I really don't see the problem with them because the person who owns them is doing the right thing."

Sport is a significant reason why some people own multiple firearms, Dubbo Clay Target Club president Ben Fairman said.

"Dubbo is a place that lends itself to a lot of sport shooting, we've got three pistol clubs and three clay target clubs all within 50 kilometres of Dubbo," he said.

"We have three different styles of clay target shooting and different ways the clay targets fly, and you need to have three different guns to shoot them well."

While admitting he doesn't know why one individual in Dubbo would own 200 guns, Mr Fairman said it was very common to have multiple guns for different sports, hunting and farm work.

"It's like saying to a woman 'how many shoes is too many'," he said.

Unlike someone who might collect cars, Mr Fairman said every firearm must be registered no matter whether it's used or now.

"We're all traceable and we're all trackable," he said.

"The unregistered ones are more of a concern."