by Wapiti » 06 Oct 2023, 6:18 am
Those of us hunters who are aware of, for example, the problems that were experienced in NZ after deer (and other mammals) were introduced there in the mid to late 1800's, can see why this plan has been formulated and is being pushed as the only way to avoid the same thing happening here. Because it can.
Basically, what occurred was that deer were introduced to bring some of the "old country" to a newly settled land, and initially it was restricted to the gentry (the rich, the entitled), with a focus on hunters and hunting as a drawcard for tourism.
Initially, in certain areas (like the Otago, for example) due to a combination of climate, feed type and availability, the deer genetics developed to unimagined levels, with heads 40 plus inches long and 40 plus wide with 16/18/ even more points were commonplace. Genetics that were never imagined from the introduced herd's Scottish roots.
Great idea however over time, the animal numbers exploded to the point that the forests were stripped bare, thousands upon thousands to animals died of starvation, and animal genetics took a terrible downturn.
From the 1920's, the government instigated a "cull" policy, and employed deer hunters to try and control numbers. This went on for a long time. Eventually it was realised that this had been a failure, and helicopter shooting industry flourished. With the animals meat value increasing, to a point that running helicopters could be financially viable and offset costs and make a profitable business.
Those who want to learn more, and how it can (and will, happen here if not managed properly) should look up a couple of books on the subject, written by people who were there, who love deer and are passionate about hunting. Look up "Deer, the NZ story", by David Yerex, and "Hurricane Tim", by Neville Peat, the story about Tim Wallis who saw what was happening to destroy deer and hunting in NZ and set up the Alpine Helicopters company which operates huge business today. We have friends on Tim's incredibly successful deer business, Minaret Station, and have spent time chasing the deer on his place and over the alps to the west, and have just come back from two weeks there researching the deer for our own interest, including the meat gathering and the trophy hunting industry.
To us, the problem is that there is too much emotion, and too little knowledge from the university educated (can only call them inexperienced "greenies") that are in positions to promote plans like this, without exploring all useful avenues to avoid the same thing happening here.
Of course, there is another issue at play... the gradual demonising of hunting and firearm ownership by socialists that are intent on eventually, gradually, taking away firearms from the "little people", for future control ideals. This gets in the way of informed discussion and proper management.
The hunting and gathering psyche and culture there in NZ is different to here... Hunting for meat amongst people there is fairly accepted, deer are seen as a viable protein source that many eat everyday and that is going to be the principle difference as to whether this is managed properly here.
So much land is available for hunters, not just private sheep grazing country where permission for access is needed, some can be hard country.
Friends of ours there will just go for a walk after work to try and get some venison for the family, and hate the idea of buying it from the supermarkets.
We need to open up more government land, State Forests and National Parks in all states for hunters, and promote the beautiful healthy protein from these animals to be more mainstream food. This can be achieved before the same thing that happened there, occurs here.
Anyone wanting a discussion here, feel free to do so.
I've cut and pasted the summary from the plan below, read through it and imagine the possibilities, and also the impossibilities that the below is the only answer:
This plan applies at the
national level, to guide policy,
strategy and planning to
manage feral deer impacts
in Australia.
For the purpose of this plan, feral deer control
promotes highly experienced ground and aerial
shooters, and commercial harvesters undertaking
culling activities as part of integrated pest animal
control programs. The most important attribute of
a feral deer control program is the timely removal
of enough feral deer to reduce impacts and
sustainability of feral deer populations.
A note on recreational hunting
Feral deer are a game animal in some jurisdictions,
where hunting opportunities are a pastime, hobby,
sport or for consumption of meat.
Feral deer densities and distribution across much
of Australia are increasing, and recreational hunting
programs are not containing feral deer or reducing
feral deer population growth. Recreational hunting
as a component of ground culling removes some
feral deer but on its own, it has been shown to have
little impact on population growth, and additional
tools are required.
This plan highlights opportunities for recreational
hunters and sporting shooters to support feral deer
control programs as a component of ground culling
if programs adopt the following principles:
• prioritising the removal of female feral deer,
• focusing efforts where feral deer are destroying
ecosystems, threatening biosecurity, primary
industries or social amenity,
• hunting feral deer at night with spotlights,
• removing more feral deer than the number
that are born,
• coordinating efforts across property boundaries,
• using equipment that can increase the efficiency
of culling programs (e.g. thermal or night vision
optics and suppressors, as licensed and if
permitted by legislation).
This plan uses the term recreational hunting
when referring to ad-hoc hunting at small property
scales, for purposes of harvesting trophies or meat.
It uses the term ground culling when referring to
shooting services (paid or unpaid) that are specifically
designed and evaluated to reduce more than the
feral deer population recruitment rate each year
over a large area. The latter programs do not involve
harvesting meat or antlers for personal use (as these
are components of recreation hunting).