ISSUE 8 - MARCH 2017 Doctors 1t1eddle in firear1t1s policy

Research needed to find dispersed ducks Measuring sustainable A message from action Australian Deer Association Field & Game Australia welcomes the President release of the Victorian Government's Sustainable Hunting Action Plan David Voss (SHAP) and we will assist in any "It can promise different groups different things, but it cannot way to deliver real ou tcomes for the promise them contradictory things. thousands of hunters we represent. It must accept that there are times when it cannot satisfy both constituencies and that it has no choice but to identify 's hunting culture is effective ut1l1sation. either with the outer suburbs and regions or w ith the inner metropolitan voter'.' unique in Australia for its long and Funding should be supported collaborative history of access with published criteria to The Brompton Report-A new approach for Labor. and improvement of public land, measure the effectiveness and Commissioned by the CFMEU Forestry and Furniture products and for the conservation ethic success of implementing the division in the wake of Labor's 2004 Federal Election defeat. that underpins it. SHAP The above advice was given to the federal Labor party in The va lue placed on game The whole-of-government response to a situation concerning Tasmanian forestry back in in Victoria has allowed this approach to the SHAP is 2004. It could equally apply to those governing Victoria in 2017 conservation ethic to achieve recognised as crucial to success practical outcomes through The Victorian Forest Industry Taskforce was an attempt to promise and the responsibilities of each contradictory things to different constituencies. At the 2014 the provision of specially agency or department involved managed habitat to encourage Victorian State Election the (then) incumbent made a commitment in implementing policy must be to refrain from creating any new National Parks during the next the production of more w ildlife. clearly defined, preventing any Game management and the term of Government. The Labor Party did not go that far and, duplication of effort and avoiding instead, promised to establish a Forest lndustry Taskforce. preservation of habitat will be contradictory approaches. even more important in the " Labor strongly supports a consensus approach in the We remain supportive of the future to offset the continuing establishment of any new national parks. We will facilitate original intent for the GMA as decrease of wildlife in Austra lia and support the establishment of an lndustryTaskforce the expert voice to Government caused by the destruction of to provide leadership to reach common ground on the in setting a clear path for the breeding places on land used future issues facing the industry, job protection, economic delivery of responsible and for intensive agriculture and activity, protection of our unique native flora and fauna sustainable hunting in Victoria. forestry. and threatened species, such as the Leadbeater's possum. Organisations including Field The vision of 'sustainable hunting" The taskforce will have members from the forestry and & Game Australia (FGA) and defines the critical criteria against forest products industry, unions, environmental groups and the Australian Deer Association w hich to test performance. scientists, threatened species experts, land owners, timber (ADA) lobbied successive "Sustainable" 1s defined (source: communities and other relevant stakeholders'.' Oxford Dictionaries) as: governments for more than Our Environment, Our Future. Victorian Labor Election Policy, 2014. 20 years to create a statutory • Able to be maintained at a authority to manage game and certain rate or level (adJective), W hen the Taskforce was established a number of relevant game hunting in Victoria. The or stakeholders were omitted including land owners, recreational creation of the Victorian Game users, indigenous owners and expert land managers. The • Conserving an ecological exclusion of important groups is not even the most significant Management Authority (GMA) balance by avoiding depletion in 2014 was a significant first flaw in the makeup of the Forest lndustryTaskforce- it's most of natural resources serious flaw is that it gives equal weight to stakeholders who step in achieving that vision. (synonyms). don't have equal importa nce to society. Small green activist We remain disappointed that It's in this context we, FGA and groups with a handful of members are given equal billing w ith the GMA's regulated scope is ADA. have developed criteria to employers upon whom thousands of Victorian rely for their almost entirely on licensing measure the progress of SHAP livelihood. Ideologically driven lobby groups are given equal and enforcement rather than Hunters contri bute significantly billing with businesses with tens of millions of dollars invested on game management and to the equation in the forest industry. growing opportunities for game through land management and hunters. We see the adoption The practical consequences of the ongoing uncertainty being active conservation such as generated by the indefinite continuation of this Taskforce is and implementation of an action enhancing breeding success plan as vital to begin to correct thousands of blue collar jobs and entire communities having through nest box programs and their very tutu re placed under a cloud. that imbalance. control of feral predators. The We note that funding for the reward for that effort is the This is not a choice between the environment and industry, all draft Action Plan, approved early opportunity to hunt sustainably of the evidence makes it clear that as a society we have the in 2016 and well in advance of during a regulated season and wit and the means to get that ba lance right This is a choice delivery of the details of the SHAP, maintenance of that opportunity between being responsive to the whims of elites in the inner w ill require careful monitoring should be a foundation pillar of suburbs or the needs of blue collar workers and communities of actions and accountabilities SHAP and any later assessment in the outer suburbs and the regions. across agencies to ensure of success. David Voss- ADA National President

Field and Game Australia inc. Australian Deer Association 65 Anzac Avenue (PO Box 464), Seymour, PO Box 299, WarragL1l, Victoria, 3820 Victoria, 3661 www.austdeer.asn.au www.fieldandgarne.corn.au (031 911 1 0102 (031 5799 0960 [email protected] [email protected]

2 Conservation 6 Hunting Policy doctors CPI Strategic director and Field & Game Australia and Australian Deer Association adviser Rick Brown questions why firearms policy needs medical intervention.

During the first week of January, the Given this example you might ask also what For years firearms policy in Australia, Australian Medical Association (AMA) are the facts and data on which the AMA and other parts of the world, has been released a firearms policy. The AMA has based its policy and the experts upon dominated by emotion, ignorance, prejudice. supports the decision to re-classify lever whom they relied to produce this policy. and ideology. action shotguns and believes that the Another good question. If this policy is We also see this in decisions made private ownership of firearms should an indicator, the AMA does not feel the concerning duck seasons. be restricted to use for agriculture and need to be limited by facts and data when Over the latest three or four years. FGA. the regulated sport. producing policies, which are not part of its ADA and others have insisted that firearms Bye bye recreational shooters. including core business. policy, like any other area of policy, should those who assist farmers in pest Interestingly, when the AMA's national be based on facts and data. management, and security guards president Dr. M ichael Gannon campaigned However, Rome was not built in a day and supervising the collection of large sums. to get this job, he said that the AMA was it will take time to have this approach not You might ask why the AMA is competent spending too much time on non-core issues only accepted but adopted. such as refugees. to pontificate on firearms policy. Good Meanwhile, while political parties and question. On the face of it, the AMA is FGA has written to Dr. Gannon asking him anti-gun ownership crusaders talk about about as qualified as Field & Game Australia ten questions about various statements in the powerful gun lobby periodically, it is (FGA) is to claim expertise on Medicare the AM.A:s media release. clear that they do not believe it. funding policies or the apparent over-use of Perhaps the most significant statement The Adler experience is a reminder that some specialist. medical services. is the AMA's support for banning semi­ the major parties think that they can ignore The fig leaf upon w hich the AMA relied was automatic weapons and pump-action or the facts and data and play politics. to say that gun possession in the broader lever action rifles. They are more focused on the suburbs of community is a risk to public health. There is much more to the re-classification Melbourne and Sydney than they are on Presumably, this assertion is Ju stified by of lever action shotguns than the Adler, law-abiding shooters-even though there the statement that. of the 253 gun-related which is why FGA, the Australian Deer are more than 800 000 licensed shooters in deaths in 2014, 185 were determined to Association. the firearms industry, and Australia. others invested so much time opposing be suicide. Relying on minor parties to solve this this change. The AMA says that restricting access problem is not a solution. They are not a to firearms would reduce the number The re-classification of lever action shotguns silver bullet and, as the Adler campaign of suicides. provides a platform for bureaucrats and demonstrated, can be part of the problem. police to pursue the The AMA does not produce any facts or What is required is for shooters to educate re-classifying of lever action and research to support these claims. Neither politicians about the facts and to persuade pump-action rifles-a desire they does it say how the cause of the death them that firearm owners expect to be have had for many years. was determined and by whom; how many treated the same as any other group in suicides were committed in 2012; the other The fact that the AMA has linked these rifles the community and have policies affecting means by which suicides were committed; to semi-automatic firearms is a sign that the their recreation and sport determined by and how many of those who used a firearm campaign has begun. facts and data. to commit suicide would have found The AM.A:s adoption of a policy on firearms This is every shooter's responsibility another means of ending their life if a sends another message, which is fallout and cannot be left to a few people in firearm had not been available. from the Adler affair. head offices.

Conservation 6 Hunting 3 education The Connewarre Wetland Centre on the urban fringe of Geelong, "We now have a facility as a base for education so the wider community can Victoria's second biggest city, will be a hub for Field & Game Australia to share our passion for wetland environments educate the community on wetland environments and conservation. and their continued conservation." Geelong Field & Game president Trent Hundreds of people attended the official "There's a quote that I like from a well Leen said the development couldn't opening which was the culmination of a known environmentalist, T here wasn't a have progressed w ithout the support of huge volunteer effort. National Park system until 1966 in Victoria, volunteers and many businesses that Field & Game Austra lia, the there was no land reserved for wildlife, it donated time, money and services. Environmental Taskforce (a public fund was the duck hunters who imposed a levy on themselves that really preserved the "This was part of our old family property and established by FGA in 2002 to purchase I joke w ith my wife that I spend more time first land in Victoria for wildlife' that was Tim and restore wetlands). and Geelong Field here now that we don't own it," he said. & Game have been generously supported Flannery speaking in an interview in 2012," by the Hugh D. T W illiamson Foundation, she said. "The community engagement and education is the key to this project but it also provides BugBlitz and Winchester to build the facility. " I think it is really important for those of us a base for the branch and access to who love outdoor pursuits to push back on The Centre sits on 36 hectares of wetland managed hunting." adJoining Hospital Swamps, w hich is part of the dominance of saying that you can't be the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve. involved in outdoor pursuits like hunting The wetland already used to assist research and fishing and be an environmentalist." into Avian Influenza Virus. AIV is present Parliamentary Secretary for Regional in wild duck populations but little is known " I think hunters and conservationists are Victoria Danielle Green cut the green ri bbon about how the virus changes and spreads. one and the same." to open the Centre, and said it was a boost AIV poses a very real threat to the poultry for wetland conservation and hunters alike. FGA chairman Rob Treble described it as an industry and the World Health Organisation "Since Victoria's State Game Reserve incredible achievement. is concerned about the potential for system was introduced, hunters have "Geelong Field & Game are a family and an emergent strain to cause a human helped maintain and improve the natural members have a long association w ith the pandemic. habitats at 200 sites, totalling over 60 000 Connewarre wetlands doing conservation, FGA members are volunteering their time hectares across the state," she said. environmental works, carp management, to help researchers gather samples through Ms Green went further, acknowledging the nesting boxes and all sorts of projects:· live trapping and from ducks harvested clear link between hunting and conservation he said. during the 2017 Duck Season.

4 Conservation 6 Hunting Glorious Heart Field & Game Australia's iconic wetland restoration project at the Heart ·· Heart Morass, now an ecologically flourishing wetland and woodland covers ; Morass in Victoria features in the summer edition of the 1336 hectares between Sale Common lifesyle magazine. Nature Conservation Reserve and Heart Morass State Game Reserve. A large part Purchased by FGA. WET Trust in partnership "The vast, magnificent and peaceful of Heart Morass 1s also one of the largest with Hugh Williamson Foundation and environment of Heart Morass near Sale 1s areas ,n Victoria covered by a protective supported by partners Bug Blitz WaterMark the result of an extraordinary undertaking covenant with Trust for Nature." Inc. and the West G,ppsland Catchment by hunters, conservationists, educators The article follows a successful community Management Authority, Heart Morass and government and ,s one of the largest open day to mark the 10th anniversary of ,s now a stunning wetland alive with wetland habitat restoration proJ9cts ,n the Heart Morass proiect. Find out more at waterbirds and wildlife. Australia;· the article begins. www.wet.org.au

.., ....,,... . ----... - . --·

;J;l1e-Glorionslv-Ch1Lstandi11g - ·• -·.. - .. ,•.· • -- - .,./_, - -- .

Geelong back in competition

After a break of more than seven years Gee long Field & Game is again hosting Australian Simulated Field clay target events.

More than 400 people including 234 Temporary setups and the more than competitors attended the first shoot at the seven-year gap without a club competition new ground, a shared complex on the Little demonstrate the importance of sporting clubs River Game Ranch 20 minutes from Geelong having security of tenure. Deniliquin Field & and 30 minutes from Melbourne. Game's New Year's Eve shoot was also the last The relocation including clubrooms and traps it its long term home, again due to the break was supported by a $100000 grant from up and sale of the main property. the Victorian Government's Shooting Sports Geelong's outstanding contribution to Facilities Program. wetland conservation (page 4), is all the more Geelong's last permanent shooting ground impressive given it was achieved without the closed 2004 when the owner sold the property. revenue derived from shooting sports.

Conservation 6 Hunting 5 ....!c ·• '

Birds of a feather? A recent Twitter exchange shows Birdlife Australia (BA) at odds with hunters but the reality is, while the reasons are different, we really want the same thing: facts and data.

Here's the exchange w ith BA CEO Paul of biologica lly meaningful season its 'conditions' had not been met; it Sullivan the night the Victorian duck specifications. withdrew support for waterfowl season was announced. • Better hunter education to protect hunting. non-game species and periodic Which bring us to the organisation's closures. submission to the Game Management • 000¢ Tels:tra 4G 10:19am • A ban on lead shot. Authority on the 2017 Victorian duck < Tweet season. • A vigorous program to increases the It is no surprise that BA opposed a duck Paul Sullivan area of biologically productive wetlands @PaulSullivan_au in Australia and wetland research. season but w ithin the reasoning is this management and conservation statement: "Birdlife Australia would support a move to increase monitoring Looking forward to the day when science programs adequately funded from of waterbird populations and the informs #duckshooting decisions hunting fees, supplemented by consolidated revenue. development of a sustainable harvest @fieldandgame model of Victorian waterfowl as outlined in Ramsey et al (2010). In the absence of Field and Game Aust. @fieldandgame Paul Sullivan @PaulSullivan..au · 6d a comprehensive structured monitoring Full Victorian Duck Season in 2017 @ADADeerPeople @fieldandgame do your program, Victoria continues to rely on fieldandgame.com.au/2017/01/03/171. .. research @BirdlifeOz policies and positions a largely subJective approach to duck are guided by Australia's top scientists and #thefacts harvesting." 3/1/17, 6:12 pm t.l- • At least we agree on something . 1 RETWEET 4 LIKES ADA The Deer People @ADADeerPeople • 6d v Animals Australia and RSPCA (Vic) made @PaulSullivan_au @fieldandgame much of the low game duck abundance " @BirdlifeOz So you agree with Kingsford t.'l index in submissions but BA at least • that duck hunting not a significant factor in Field and Game Aust. @fieldandgame -6d v waterfowl populations? recognised the gaps in the survey model. • @PaulSullivan_au We do too. "While the increase in the total wetland #factsnotfiction #naturesupermaketopens • #surprisingconservationists Paul Sullivan @PaulSullivan..au -6d area index may mean that ducks are @ADADeerPeople @fieldandgame t.l- highly dispersed, and this may account for • @BirdlifeOz policy on is some of the decline in duck abundance, here: birdlife.org.au/documents/POL- ... the decision on whether to allow a duck Reply to Paul Sullivan ... , • season in 2017 should be based on available information, not speculation:' o-· .. J ~ .!. ADA The Deer People Home Not1l.cahons Moments Messages Me @AOAOeerPeopte Again, we agree on something: we need " facts and data. @PaulSullivan_au @fieldandgame @BirdlifeOz 1)Hunters push for, 2)We do, There is a bit of cherry picking of The exchange continued with Mr Sullivan supportive data in the submissions and 3)Done, 4)We do, 5)We do. Why attack directing us to BA policy on waterfowl we disagree with BA that a " ... more hunting. Essentially, the original 1988 practical conseNationists? sophisticated analysis of data from the policy supported duck hunting conditional EAAWS" is needed. on the following outcomes: Our colleagues at the Australia n Deer It is time to admit the whole model is • An annual Australia-wide survey on Association were quick to point out how flawed and we need new monitoring and well we've done. the timing, duration, distribution and modelling that is designed specifically for success of waterfowl breeding events, It was all for naught. In 1994 BA the purpose of managing dynamic and definition of hunter impact and setting reviewed the policy and considered nomadic wild duck populations.

6 Conservation 6 Hunting In the lead up to the opening of the 2017 duck and quail seasons in South Australia, Field 6 Game Australia has been on the ground seeking outcomes for our members and other hunters.

We have officially welcomed Waikerie as Following the season announcement FGA appropriate science and data to manage a new Field & Game branch Joining our asked a number of questions of the SA sustainable hunting. We have consistently other SA bran ches Keith, Kingston SE, and State Government around the assessment called out decisions made in the absence Barmera-Moorook. process and continued closure of Bool of, or contrary to the available evidence and Lagoon, a dedicated Game Reserve, Barmera-Moorook, a conservation based we make no apology for doing so on behalf which seemed at odds w ith the prevailing branch engaged in management of the of hunters. Our approach is consistent and conditions. Loveday wetland wasted no time in visiting as Australia's leading wetland conservation the Waikerie shooting ground to smash This has caused some consternation w ith and duck hunter organisation, it is what our a few clays and get to know their new the Conservation and Hunting Alliance of many thousands of members expect. neighbours. South Australia (CHASA), of which FGA is a We take the same approach in South member; it is no cause for alarm. FGA conducted Waterfowl Identification Australia as we do in any other Jurisdiction; training in Adelaide pre-season, extending In the past two years, we have provided we work with Government and relevant our role as hunter educators in the papers to the SA Government and CHASA Departments on real outcomes. We operate state. We have also worked closely with stating our clear view that seasonal in a respectful manner and prefer to raise Government and the Department of decisions must have a base 1n facts and concerns privately but when issues are Environment. Water and Natural Resources data. already 1n the public domain, we will speak to keep our members informed about the FGA has consistently promoted an adaptive up for the hunters whose interests we progress of issuing permits. management model underpinned by represent. Quail research approved

The University of New England has approved a three-year PhD project looking at the ecology of Australian quail and the potential for an exotic food industry.

PhD candidate lonie Smallwood, a native of Assoc. Prof. Hall said there was a growing and France each produce close to the United Kingdom, has already completed interest in the use of exotic foods in the UK 10 000 tonnes per year. a master's degree in applied poultry science and Europe and the same trend was evident Females are raised for egg production and in her home country. in Australia. the males are grown for their quality meat. The PhD she is now working on at the Australia has some history of captive quail "The PhD is a significant event in quail University of New England in New South breeding. mainly by bird fanciers. research and lonie has the skills to do it Wales is concentrating on poultry nutrition, "The gourmet food industry is always looking with her background," Assoc. Prof. Hall said. w ith a focus on layer nutrition in alternative for something different and the use of wild " It w ill also give us information on diet production systems. food like quail is interesting for the reason Associate Professor Graham Hall, one of that it would be new, novel and potentially and development that w ill help w ith their the supervisors, said confirmation of the profitable," Assoc. Prof. Hall said. management in the w ild:' research project was significant. Currently, the Japanese quail breed is While the finer details of the project are "This would be the first PhD on Australian the largest game bird industry in Australia still being worked through, it w ill certainly quail in at least 50 years," he said. with 6.5million quail processed annually, include capturing stubble quail from a site in NSW to stock a trial facility. "We are still working out the scope of worth $14 million. the research but it will be looking at field Japanese quail were domesticated "We know there are plenty of birds there ecology of brown and stubble quail and first in China, w hich is now the and it is just a matter of capturing enough; whether there is a commercial poultry world's largest producer of quail meat we have a facility here at the university to opportunity w ith stubble quail." (150000tonnes per year) while Spain keep them in a converted poultry shed."

8 Conservation 6 Hunting Snake Island hog deer hunting a win for local community and hunters

A decision by the Victorian Government to allow a trial of balloted hog deer hunting on Snake Island in the States south east is already proving to be a great success, both for the local Corner Inlet community and for the lucky hunters who have secured a unique opportunity.

At 35km2 Snake Island is Victoria's and fauna it holds a large population of wild sixty guests for the weekend and balloted largest sand Island and it lies in the hog deer. hunters are using local charter boats, Nooramunga Coastal and Marine Park, accommodation providers and patronising exposed to Bass Strait on its Southern An education weekend was staged at local retailers, providing a much appreciated side. Amongst a diverse array of flora Port Welshpool in late January, attracting economic boost to local towns.

Heavy weight of regulatory burden

Legitimate firearms owners denied representation in the drafting of We have learned to be wary of decisions proposed new firearm regulations in South Australia will bear a heavy that avoid facts and data and have no scientific or practica l basis. These decisions burden if the draft is adopted without significant change. are often founded on ideologies, instinct or even prejudice. The Australian Deer Association and Field & ADA and FGA sent a joint letter to the While we are encouraged, that feedback Game Australia have jointly submitted a raft SA Police Minister in April 2016 advising is being sought from a limited group of of amendments in response to the Draft we would test changes against a set of shooting industry representatives this is a Firearms Regulations 2017 document. criteria. A request to participate in a closed consultation process during the drafting case of putting the 'cart before the horse'. Within the draft regulations, there are phase was denied. We do not oppose regulation, but we numerous examples of unnecessary and The chief concern of ADA and FGA w ith the do oppose the imposition of additional unsubstantiated changes, w hich add layer outcome to date is that facts and data do unnecessary regulation and particularly upon layer of complexity for organisations, not underpin the reason for changes and measures proposed that would compel dealers, collectors, and individual firearms in many cases the "problem" being solved firearms owners to act as agents of owners. hasn't even been articulated. regulatory bodies.

Conservation 6 Hunting 9 Many hunters would have been bemused by pre-season waterfowl count data that recorded a lot of water and a significant breeding event but didn't locate large flocks of game birds.

So where were the ducks? of up to 50000 at wetlands of It is a critical question and drought refuge (White 1987; the lack of a scientific answer Maher & Braihwaite 1992)." points to the need for more Ms Bauer says the wetlands research so game management important to ducks during decisions can be based on facts drought are known, but there is and data. a lack of knowledge on w here In its submission on the 2017 waterfowl go during periods of duck season, Field & Game above-average rainfall. Australia again ra ised the need "Thus, the overarching aim of for new scientific models, this study was to investigate take overnight movements than normal, and w hat wetlands specifically designed for the where waterfowl go w hen of hundreds of kilometres to are of importance to the purpose of monitoring and conditions are wetter than intercept flood waters flowing waterfowl once they get there. managing the nomadic and average, and w hat wetlands are down dry inland rivers or long dynamic w ild duck populations important during these times'.' "From the results of this project distance movements to isolated and the work of others we in Australia. wetlands in an otherwise The study used counts of know that during periods of Alice Bauer, an honours student hostile landscape (Roshier shelduck, hardhead, wood duck, drought, waterfowl concentrate at the University of New et al. 2006). pacific black duck, pink-eared on sites of refuge in Victoria, England, has just completed a duck, chestnut and grey teal The paper concludes that and following the conclusion paper that used Field & Game and shoveler, all game species the movement ecology of long drought, waterfowl Australia's annual November and the protected Freckled of waterfowl poses many disperse on a mass scale waterfowl counts from 2001 - duck, which is also recorded unanswered questions and from Victoria. 2014 and the available scientifi c in FGA counts. while several theories exist, the literature to look at factors "To where these waterfowl actual outcome as to where the The paper notes significant disperse is not known. Theories affecting abundance in Victoria. ducks go and where they come scientific work (Roshier et suggest nomadic species The period takes in the from has gone unanswered for al. 2001; Roshier et al. 2006; disperse to flooded inland millennium drought, of which about 50 years Mc Evoy 2015) that has rivers. If so, do they return the driest years were from advanced knowledge of the Gaps in the Eastern Australia 2002-2006. again when resources dry? It most nomadic duck species Aerial Waterbird Survey, the is also suggested that locally The paper says this about and their dependence on Victorian Summer Waterbird breeding species disperse to dry periods: inland water. Count and FGA's own counts newly inundated wetlands. "Some species are capable of Analysis of banding returns (wetlands counted are not What wetlands are these? And flying huge distances of up to of grey teal show that some standardised) are noted in again where do they disperse 3200 km in one week to arrive individuals can move, on the paper. to1 And finally, the qualities at favorable habitat (Roshier average, 180 km per day and The conclusion is that more that make a wetland significant et al. 2006). W hereas during cover up to 3200 km in a research is required to build for waterfowl during periods of periods of drought, waterfowl few weeks (Frith 1976). Grey knowledge of where waterfowl 'wetter than average' conditions w ill congregate in numbers teal have been recorded to go w hen conditions are wetter is a topic open to investigation."

10 Conservation 6 Hunting Hunters conserving rare wild places

Professor Paul Shepard of Dartmouth College said in the introduction to Jose Ortega y Gasset's Meditations on Hunting, of the hunter in the field: his minding of the environment, the fluid ...... - ...... ----···Suwinskis Hut~~-la;;; ;;;anaged ~~:; quality of his attention, and the habits of alertness and acuity that by the South-East South · link him in participation with all of creation. Australian Branch ofADA. .

It was the same with Aldo Leopold as he frugal existence, investing his earnings is available for general family use at set forth in the early morning to see w hat into land. His first purchase was all times. had traversed the back forty or for that 20 hectares 10 kilometres north of Adelaide The opportunity for families to go to matter as any hound hunter has done. 'To where he built a small house, next was in Suwinski 's for a weekend to stroll about read the book' to see what has been left for the south-east of the state w here land was and just enjoy this rare and wild place or us to interpret. being opened up for development; it was to partake in the feral animal control work cheap and so he purchased 700 hectares The hunter immerses himself deeply within which is ongoing throughout the year is of scrub. Murray never returned to the the space he occupies and is as one, it is very much part of being a member and South-East, and the property was never in this space that hunting and conservation including one's family in a much greater are as one also. developed. experience than just hunting alone. The rare In the south-east of South Australia there In the early 1990s the South-East Branch and endangered red-tailed black cockatoo is less than six per cent of the landscape of the ADA negotiated with Murray to or the iconic mallee fowl also reside on the that has not been highly modified since purchase his property which had been set property. The wild flowers and especially World War 11 and planted down to improved aside as State Heritage and was never to the orchids in spring are a must see. pastures, crops and plantations. W ild places be cleared. With help from the Australian are rare. places that since settlement have Deer Research Foundation the sale was Recently the South-East Branch applied not seen an introduced grazing animal or successfully completed. for and received a Commonwealth grant to help with the ongoing management the hand of man sweep all before it. This property has extremely high issues that are required to maintain the Murray Suwinski came to Australia from conservation va lues; there are four main intrinsic health of the property and its Poland as Stalin was putting up the Iron landforms and the species diversity relationship w ithin the greater landscape Curtain across Europe; he got work with of both flora and fauna is high. The of the south-east of South Austra lia. Hume Concrete in Adelaide manufacturing South-East Branch were able to build an precast pipes and culverts and did this until accommodation facility for its members to Hunting and the conservation ethic he retired. Murray never married and lived a be utilised at any time during the year and it certainly do go hand in hand.

Conservation 6 Hunting 11 ~"'r).'

JOIN AUSTRALIA'S MOST SURPRISING CONSERVATIONISTS ." ~ · ··• • Ethical • Confident • Liability Insurance OUR MISSION: , 1 • sustainable • • . . ·~' , ,) • Influential • Member Services 11 1 111 "To be the most effective organisation in the promotion of hunting, recreational shooting , 11~ 1., \. l\ '. •r'l Respected and habitat conse1vation. " j' r, ~,1. ,· .., • i1 ' 1 ' '

The respected voice of FGA and its members is heard WHO'S PROTECTING THE FUTURE throughout the country. Strength is found in numbers FOR YOUR FIREARMS LICENCE? - do you belong to Australia's strongest and most Firearm sports in Australia must have: successful shooting association? • Respected representation • A knowledgeable and unified voice • All party support and acceptance fieldandgame.com.au • Consistency in media messages www.facebook.com/fieldandgame • New opportunities to shoot 65 AnzacAvenue (PO Box 464), Seymour VIC 3660 • A code of ethics and high standards P: 03 5799 0960 F: 03 5799 0961 [email protected] of conduct

• Extensive branch network established in every State and Territory • Promoting hunter education and sustainable and safe hunting Australian • Active in wild deer management and habitat conservation Deer • Advocating for fair and equitable access to public land for Association recreational hunting "Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land" www.austdeer.com.au' Aldo Leopold