Game Hunting in Victoria

Registration and identification of scent-trailing hounds Series No 7

Do I need to register my scent-trailing The use of Foxhounds, Harriers and cross-breeds hounds? for scent-trailing Sambar Deer in Victoria is prohibited under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations If you intend to use your scent-trailing hound(s) 2001. for hunting Sambar Deer in Victoria, the hound(s) must be registered with the Secretary to the Department of Sustainability and Environment. How do I register my hounds with the Department? This is an additional requirement to the registration of your dog with your local council Registration of hounds will be recommended to and is only required if you intend to use your the Secretary by organisations approved in hound for scent-trailing Sambar Deer. accordance with the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Hunting. The following document outlines commonly asked questions in relation to registration of scent- Currently three organisations are approved under trailing hounds. the Code of Practice to recommend registration. Hunters should contact the Australian Deer Association, Victorian Deer Association or What are the registration requirements Victorian Hound Hunters Incorporated to have for 2007? hounds assessed for registration. Contact details All scent-trailing hounds that are used to scent- of these organisations are available from the DSE trail Sambar Deer in Victoria must be registered website at www.dse.vic.gov.au. with the Secretary to the Department of Sustainability and Environment. How do I prove my hounds are pure- bred? What breeds of hound may be registered? Hounds that conform to the breed standards Only pure Beagles and pure Bloodhounds are specified by the Australian National Kennel permitted to be registered to scent-trail Sambar Council (ANKC) for Beagle and Bloodhound will be Deer in Victoria. considered to be “pure” for the purposes of registration and official pedigree papers will not be required, although they may be beneficial.

Copies of the ANKC breed standards for Beagle and Bloodhound can be obtained from the ANKC website at www.ankc.aust.com, or contact the Victorian Canine Association on (03) 9788 2500.

Any Beagle or Bloodhound that displays a characteristic outside these standards will not be deemed to be “pure” and will not be accepted for registration.

Also, any hound that displays any signs of aggression towards people, deer or other animals will not be registered.

Registration and identification of scent-trailing hounds

Do I need to register my existing hounds? Do my hounds need to wear an identification Yes, all existing Beagles and Bloodhounds currently collar? registered, and all new Beagles and Bloodhounds that Yes, under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2001, all will be used to scent-trail Sambar Deer will need to be scent-trailing hounds must wear a collar with a metal registered with the Secretary to the Department. tag on which the name and address or name, address and telephone number of the hound owner is clearly How long does registeration last? recorded. Hounds may be registered for a period of up to three years and you will be required to re-register hounds once their registration expire, if you wish to continue to use them for scent-trailing Sambar Deer. In 2007 hounds will be registered for the 2007 season only.

This is to assist the Department in conducting an evaluation of the hound assessment process.

Hounds will also have to be re-registered if the ownership of the hound is transferred to another person.

How much will registration cost? The Department does not charge a fee for registering or re-registering hounds.

Do I need to microchip my hounds? Image 1: Pure Beagle (source: ANKC Illustrated Breed Standards, January 1998). Since 24 April 2004, all hounds over the age of 12 months used for hunting Sambar Deer must be microchipped with either a Destron or Trovan compatible microchip.

Hounds under the age of 12 months do not need to be microchipped, providing they are ear tattooed with their registration number. However, as soon as the hound reaches 12 months of age, it must be microchipped if it is to be used for hunting Sambar Deer.

Under these circumstances, it will be the hound owner’s responsibility to notify the Department of the microchip number as soon as possible after the microchip implanted.

Hounds that do not comply with these requirements can not be registered and must not be used to scent- trail Sambar Deer.

Image 2: Pure Bloodhound (source: ANKC Illustrated Breed Standards, January 1998).

ISBN 1 74106 789 8 Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, February 2007 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2007. Last reviewed February 2007.

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 . Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. Printed by Game Management Unit, 2/8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne

For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. www.dse.vic.gov.au