Deer Deer Hunting in Victoria
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Victorian Hunting Guide 2012 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Quick-find reference tables 3. Licensing 4. General information 5. Compliance and enforcement 6. Use of gundogs and hounds for hunting 7. Duck 8. Deer 9. Stubble Quail 10. Introduced game birds 11. Protected wildlife 12. Pest animals 13. Australian Hunter Survey 14. Where you can hunt 15. Firearms safety 16. Contacts list 17. Sunrise and sunset times (Melbourne) during the 2012 duck season Victorian Hunting Guide: Introduction Welcome to the 2012 Victorian Hunting Guide Victoria offers game hunters world-class opportunities to hunt duck, quail and deer. The Victorian Government is committed to providing even better opportunities for Victoria’s 40,000 licensed hunters to enjoy their recreation and to promote the growth of hunting businesses in regional areas across the State. We will continue to encourage more people to interact with the natural environment and to take advantage of the outstanding opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities that Victoria has to offer. We will work closely with the hunting community to achieve these outcomes based on the sustainable management of our game species. To support this new effort, the Victorian Government established Game Victoria as the State’s new game management authority within the Department of Primary Industries. Game Victoria will operate in a similar way to the successful management of recreational fishing in Victoria and reports to me as the responsible Minister. Game Victoria will support promotion of the game hunting sector, particularly focusing on: promoting game hunting as a popular recreational activity, important traditional pastime and generator of jobs developing improved hunting opportunities fostering the development of game-related businesses supporting and contributing to conservation and research projects delivering education and compliance programs developing strategies and policies for sustainable harvest of game species. Additionally, the Government will improve consultation with hunters by establishing a new Game Management Council that will advise me on game management. The Game Management Council will be established by mid-2012. The Victorian Government, working with the Game Management Council, will investigate some key initiatives for delivery in the short term, including the development of a Victorian Hunting and Game Management Strategy to guide future direction and set priorities for investment and allocation of resources to conserve and perpetuate game resources and hunting opportunities in Victoria. This year looks set to provide some of the best game hunting seen in this state for the past 20 years, as conditions continue to improve following years of drought. Surveys show that game duck and quail populations have increased strongly in 2011 and are set to boom in 2012. I encourage all hunters to take to the field, invite a friend and support our regional towns and hunting industry. I trust that the Victorian Hunting Guide 2012 helps you to understand the game hunting arrangements for 2012. I wish you a safe and successful year of hunting. Peter Walsh MLA Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee Report During 2011, the Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee (HAC) has been actively working to improve game hunting opportunities for Victorian Game Licence holders. In July, the HAC held a workshop with key deer hunting organisations to explore options for balloted Hog Deer hunting on Snake Island. This workshop was instigated by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change. The Minister requested that the HAC provide advice for Hog Deer hunting on Snake Island in the context of park values, sustainability, economic benefits and public safety. The HAC provided advice informing the Minister of the following: Victoria is world-renowned for its Hog Deer hunting opportunities. Victorian hunters currently have limited opportunities to hunt Hog Deer on public and private property, as well as entering balloted hunting on select public land. There is a large self-sustaining population of Hog Deer on the island. In October, some members of the HAC, along with key hunting organisations, met with Mr Peter Walsh, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, and Dr Bill Sykes, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security. The meeting was arranged to discuss the transfer of Game Management from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The transfer forms part of the current Victorian Government’s election commitment. The HAC welcomed the opportunity to contribute to discussions regarding the future structure of game management. More recently, the HAC provided advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change that a 2012 duck and quail season could be sustained and that a slight increase in the daily bag limit could be justified. This advice was based on evidence that eastern Australia has now emerged from long-term drought with two years of average to above average rainfall and flooding across large areas. Consequently, game bird habitat has increased dramatically, stimulating extensive breeding, and enabling the daily bag limit to be moderately raised to take advantage of the increased harvestable surplus. In formulating this advice, the HAC considered presentations from DSE, as well as Field and Game Australia and Sporting Shooters Association of Australia. For the future, the HAC will continue to provide input into the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2001 review. The review of the game regulations has been extended until the 11 September 2012. The HAC will also assist in the development of the proposed Victorian Game Management Council. Please enjoy your recreation safely, responsibly and in an ethical manner. Ross McPherson Chairman, Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee Committee contact: Mr Stewart McGlashan – Executive Officer Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee 1 Spring St, Melbourne, 8001 Ph: (03) 9658 4310 Game Management News for 2012 Game Managers in Victoria Three regionally-based Game Managers have been facilitating targeted projects aimed to better manage game species and their habitats, and involving community groups in on-ground conservation works. Game Managers are based in Wodonga, Swan Hill and Bairnsdale, and have worked across the State with landholders, hunting groups and government agencies on conservation activities to improve biodiversity and hunting opportunities. Waterfowl habitat in state game reserves Nesting box at McLeod Morass After years of below-average rainfall across Victoria, our State Game Reserve system had been depleted of the water it needed to flourish. With increased rainfall across the State and a number of flood events, the majority of the 180 State Game Reserves transformed back into the magnificent wetlands they once were, providing critical habitat for game ducks and other wildlife. In response to an increase in the quality and extent of wetlands and waterways, waterfowl numbers increased dramatically. Over the past 18 months, ideal conditions have led to many breeding events for our game species, especially Grey and Chestnut Teal. Breeding for many Australian waterfowl is linked to rain events and water levels. For example, Grey Teal lay eggs within a few days of water level rise. Biologically, the link to water rise is due to the bloom in algae and aquatic invertebrates which provide a highly nutritious food supply necessary for egg production and successfully raising chicks. Game Managers regularly visit State Game Reserves and liaise with Parks Victoria and volunteer hunters for habitat enhancement and pest control. A range of water plants and quality open water is important for habitat. Projects that provide shelter, cover, food and nesting places for waterbirds are encouraged. Continued above average rainfall and flooding across eastern Australia means Victoria’s State Game Reserves will provide fantastic duck hunting opportunities for the 2012 duck hunting season. For more information on any of the 180 State Game Reserves, go to the DPI website or contact one of DPI’s Game Managers. New interpretation board New panel at the Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve. Interpretation panels have been erected in Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve highlighting the importance of game hunting. Jack Smith Lake was the first State Game Reserve, declared in 1958, and hunters have been actively involved in its management ever since. The board describes their community contributions, including tree planting, installation and maintenance of nest boxes, fox drives and working bees. Jack Smith Lake, along the iconic Ninety Mile Beach in Gippsland, is only flooded in years of high rainfall but maintains a population of Chestnut Teal and a range of other native birds that feed and breed in the estuarine environment. It is only one of six State Game Reserves where Hog Deer hunting is permitted. The area also provides an area for self-sufficient bush camping. The boards were completed in a partnership between Game Victoria and Parks Victoria, and inform visitors of the natural and recreational values of the Reserve. Estimates of Game Harvest for 2011 A telephone survey of Victorian hunters was conducted during the 2011 hunting season to determine the total harvest and amount of hunter effort for deer, duck and quail. Game Licence holders were randomly sampled and interviewed by telephone at intervals