Department of Sustainability and Environment Victorian Hunting Guide 2009 A VictorianVictorian Government Hunting initiative Guide 2009 1 SSAA (Vic) Advocating the Shooting Sports & Ethical Hunting Government Lobbying & Community Responsibility Over 20 Hunting Sub-Clubs, & Conservation including: Deerstalkers Club Field Hunters Club Working Gundog JOIN NOW & access the benefits • 2 Great Metro Ranges • 17 State Branches • Monthly Magazine • Public Liability Insurance • All Shooting Disciplines JOIN NOW (03) 8892 2777 or [email protected] 2 Victorian Hunting Guide 2009www.ssaavic.com.au Welcome to the 2009 Victorian Hunting Guide. Welcome to the 2009 Victorian Hunting Guide. The Guide is designed to provide you with information about Game hunting in 2009 and contains all the information you will need regarding the current arrangements for deer, duck and quail hunting in Victoria. This includes information on bag limits and season dates for all game species in Victoria. In my capacity as Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, I am required to ensure that hunting is conducted sustainably to secure healthy populations of Game for the future. It is in this context — where Victoria continues to experience one of the worst droughts on record and waterfowl and their habitats are under considerable stress — that I have decided to signifi cantly restrict the 2009 duck hunting season by reducing bag limits and shortening the open season. My decision not to close the season entirely is based upon some recovery of some game duck populations and major rainfall events occurring along the eastern seaboard outside of Victoria. From The Minister From In 2008 the Victorian Government took action to improve game hunting opportunities in Victoria by: • Improving safety with a $400,000 contribution towards a Firearm Safety Foundation to administer fi rearm education and $200,000 for the continued implementation of the Victorian Shotgunning Education Program for game bird hunters. • Securing access to hunting reserves through leased grazing land by amending the Firearms Act 1996. • Amending regulations allowing Fallow Deer to be hunted on public land, including in State forest and on unreserved Crown Land. • Allowing deer and kangaroos, culled under permit, to be taken off the property for personal use rather than being left to waste. In addition, the Government, with assistance from stakeholders and the Hunting Advisory Committee (HAC), has been active in Game management by: • Releasing a draft Hog Deer Management Strategy for public comment. This strategy provides a broad framework for the management of Hog Deer, while enhancing biodiversity through the maintenance of native habitat, harvest management and population control of the species. • Initiating a Property-Based Game Management program to provide a framework to better manage and formalise game hunting practices that already occur on privately property. This project will result in improved biodiversity through the improvement of habitat mosaics across privately owned land. • Improving the monitoring of harvested game in order to provide a more accurate picture of game hunting in Victoria. This includes phone surveys of game hunters conducted every two weeks during key open seasons. This information will be statistically analysed and published. The Government is committed to improving the management of duck hunting in Victoria. This year the Government, Field and Game Australia and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia has funded a panel of scientifi c experts to develop a framework for the sustainable harvest of waterfowl in Victoria. This framework will guide management of waterfowl harvesting in the future. The Government looks forward to receiving the independent scientifi c report in 2009. The HAC, chaired by the Honourable Bill McGrath, continues to represent the hunting community by providing advice to the Government on matters of signifi cance to hunters in Victoria. This year the HAC’s membership will be renewed allowing interested stakeholders an opportunity to join the committee. The committee will continue to provide expertise on managing game species across Victoria and contribute to the development of further partnerships between hunters and the community. I take this time to acknowledge the work of current members and thank them for their time. I would particularly like to extend my personal gratitude to the Hon Bill McGrath for seven years of service. Please help to maintain your recreation by adhering to Game regulations and respecting the environment. This is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for hunting in Victoria. GAVIN JENNINGS MLC Minister for Environment and Climate Change Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you, but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without fl aw of any kind or if it 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. At the time of printing, regulatory processes were still being administered to allow the all year hunting of Fallow Deer on public land where deer hunting already occurs. It is envisaged that this will come into effect in mid 2009. Hunters will be notifi ed once regulations have been amended. Publlished by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, February 2009 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009. 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. Authorised by Gavin Jennings, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. Printed by Stream Solutions ISBN 1442-021X For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 Acknowledgment for images used: David Young, Mario Albanese, Ron Waters, Doug Read, Ami Bennett, Graeme Coulson and Al Mcglashan. For advertising enquiries contact JGM Advertising on (03) 9560 0611 Victorian Hunting Guide 2009 3 1 Game Management News for 2009 Hunting Deer With a Bow/Crossbow .27 27 2 Quick Find Reference Tables Sambar Deer – Stalking ...................... Sambar Deer – Hound Hunting ......... 28 Index Game Species, Bag Limits and Red Deer ........................................... 29 Season Dates ............................9 Fallow Deer ....................................... 30 3 Licensing Rusa and Chital Deer ........................ 30 Hog Deer ........................................... 30 Game Licences ................................... 10 Applying for a Game Licence ............. 10 8 Stubble Quail Existing Game Licence Holders .......... 10 and Introduced Game Birds Paying for your Game Licence ........... 11 Introduced Game Birds ..................... 34 Firearms Licences ............................... 11 9 Non-Game Quail and The Bows and Crossbows ......................... 11 Plains-Wanderer 35 4 General 10 Protected Wildlife 36 Use of Firearms .................................. 12 Code of Practice for the 11 Pest Animals 36 Welfare of Animals in Hunting ............ 12 12 Where You Can Hunt No Night Hunting ................................ 12 State Forest and Other Unoccupied Artifi cial Lights (Spotlights) ................. 12 Crown Land ....................................... 38 Use of Dogs in Recognised Deer State Game Reserves ....................... 38 Habitat ................................................ 12 Sanctuaries ....................................... 38 Wildlife Offi cers, Parks Victoria Rangers Melbourne Water Catchment Areas ..38 and Police ........................................... 13 Flora and Fauna Reserves Reporting Offences ............................ 13 and Nature Conservation Reserves .. 38 Hunter Education ............................... 13 National Parks, State Parks, Coastal DSE’s Website .................................... 13 Parks and Wilderness Parks ............. 39 5 Use of Gun Dogs Alpine Resorts ................................... 39 and Hounds for Hunting Leased Crown Land .......................... 39 Dog Breeds Permitted for Hunting Licenced Crown Land ....................... 39 Game in Victoria .................................14 Private Land ...................................... 40 Gun Dogs ............................................14 Areas Closed to Deer Hunting .......... 40 Scent-trailing Hounds .........................14 Duck Hunting and the Murray River ..40 Training Your Gun Dog ........................14 Deer Hunting Maps ...........................40 Training Your Scent-trailing Hounds 13 Firearms Safety 42 ............................................................15 14 Camping and Care Care of Dogs When Hunting ...............15 of the Environment 6 2009 Duck Season Care of the Environment ................... 43 2009 Duck Season Arrangements.......18 Campfi res .......................................... 43 Game Ducks ........................................18 Rubbish, It’s Your Responsibility ....... 43 Open Season and Bag Limits..............18 Caring for Waterways ........................ 44 Opening Times ....................................18 Vehicles ............................................. 44 Waterfowl Identifi cation Test ...............20 Seasonal Road Closures ................... 44 Non-Toxic Shot ....................................21 Parks Victoria