Hunting in VIC - where are the FORESTS?

[<<Genesis93>>]

Hunting in VIC, is generally unrestricted in ALL FORESTS, all State Forests thats is, even game species (deer) with the game licence...so we are quite lucky... we can even hunt in a few National Parks, subject to seasons (be aware of when and where you hunt).

A common question raised around here is WHERE is the state forest...... even before you think about where the deer are...

Answer;

DO NOT try finding the forests with GOOGLE maps.. for some strange reason , and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they simply dont have the info/data/resources to correctly identify and label every piece of public land...... but the cynic in me say theres an ulterior motive..

Example; the recent story of the Sambar or Red deer crossing the murray into VIC side to inhabit the Gunbower State Forest..... search google maps; nothing, it will come up with a reference to Gunbower Island State Forest (none such) and #google# will direct you to the Gunbower NATIONAL PARK!..(can you see the problem there??). There is a Gunbower Island Forest Drive through forest and park.... but no G.I.Forest. There certainly is a Gunbower State Forest, and its around that area, but google wont tell you....

If you want to find where the forest is you need to use the Game maps, or the Forest Explorerwebsite, both State Government run.....

GMA maps, follow either 'grampians' or 'eastern Victoria' links a few lines down...

The Game maps are handy if you can read the grid references, as the penalties are nothing to sneeze at if you head into a no-go zone.... speaking of zones, there are stacks of areas within the SF plantation areas that have public safety zones that you are excluded from, and can be driven out of by rangers or forestry types....

There are many categories of public land, State Forest, Nat Park, state Park, sanctuaries, reserves, even game reserves... a good resource is the hunting guide... I'll have to find a link....

Moral of the story, google is not your friend.
For forest locations, dont rely on google, go to the source (as above)...

I might send a note to google about this one, and highlight the significance to the error to hunters... in Vic...

Happy hunting

[Gwion]

Good points and I was about to post a similar thread.

You could always go the old fashioned way by building a collection of VicMaps in 1:100,000 and the 1:25,000.

Research your target species. Habitat, habits, classic sign.

Then find somewhere on the maps with the right terrain and go camping. Leave your firearms at home. Go for a walk. How many people do you see? How many feral critters? What sign of feral critters?

Make notes at camp.

When you get home: did you have fun?

Eventually, you'll figure out where the good spots are.

[<<Genesis93>>]

Good points and I was about to post a similar thread.

You could always go the old fashioned way by building a collection of VicMaps in 1:100,000 and the 1:25,000.

Research your target species. Habitat, habits, classic sign.

Then find somewhere on the maps with the right terrain and go camping. Leave your firearms at home. Go for a walk. How many people do you see? How many feral critters? What sign of feral critters?

Make notes at camp.

When you get home: did you have fun?

Eventually, you'll figure out where the good spots are.

If you mean the maps bought at the DSE store /shopfront (which has since been renamed a few times...) the game maps, at least in the deer regions, all east vic and grampians are a better option, but only if you have access to an A3 printer say at work so that someone else can pay for it(just saying for the tightasses ) or go to the local print place...

OR go buy hardcopies from the local office (does the GMA have an office even??) not sure if theyre laminated or what stock theyre printed on....,

As far as fun.... even if you dont take a shot at something.... it is great to walk through the Victoria forests (and NPs) and contrary to all the noise about non-shooter safety..... I have never seen a hiker/walker/ whatever they call themselves, have seen bike roaring through. All the tard who object to firearm, hunting, trying to save the leadbeater etc; they have NEVER left the confines of the concrete jungle.

[Gwion]

Haha.. Bentaz... Classic!

Yes, Genisis, I do mean buy the hard copies. I've been collecting them for years. State Parks are well marked and if you cross reference them with the Game Maps online you will see where you can shoot.

As for going for a walk: if you can't find s**t with out a firearm, then there's no point having one in the first place. On the other hand, if you find something and you don't have a rifle with you, it will make you focus one observing and give a better chance when you go back with the bang bang.

[sbd3927]

Might be a good thing the definition is missing from Google Maps. The armchair environmentalists can sit back and think they've succeeded in converting all state forests to national parks. Let's not point out the few hectares they've missed.
There should be a requirement for all national park lobbyists to permanently fund the maintenance of their proposed parks (not from public coffers) that would stop them in their (-overgrown, inaccessible fire-) tracks.

[southeast varmiter]

Would be handy if the VIC authorities published GPS maps like NSW so all hunters can be sure where they are allowed to shoot.

[<<Genesis93>>]

Would be handy if the VIC authorities published GPS maps like NSW so all hunters can be sure where they are allowed to shoot.

What do you mean by GPS maps? Game maps have N/E grids; you can read of your hand held

[southeast varmiter]

Would be handy if the VIC authorities published GPS maps like NSW so all hunters can be sure where they are allowed to shoot.

What do you mean by GPS maps? Game maps have N/E grids; you can read of your hand held

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting/educa ... oad-guides

[<<Genesis93>>]

Would be handy if the VIC authorities published GPS maps like NSW so all hunters can be sure where they are allowed to shoot.

What do you mean by GPS maps? Game maps have N/E grids; you can read of your hand held

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting/educa ... oad-guides

hmm, interesting..... not for A-gps phones...no signal. no gps

[southeast varmiter]

Would be handy if the VIC authorities published GPS maps like NSW so all hunters can be sure where they are allowed to shoot.

What do you mean by GPS maps? Game maps have N/E grids; you can read of your hand held

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting/educa ... oad-guides

hmm, interesting..... not for A-gps phones...no signal. no gps

Thats right. To hunt in NSW you have to carry the GPS with the maps.
At least it protects the shooter and gives peace of mind.

[BBJ]

DO NOT try finding the forests with GOOGLE maps.. for some strange reason , and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they simply dont have the info/data/resources to correctly identify and label every piece of public land...... but the cynic in me say theres an ulterior motive..

I really doubt Google gives a rats ass about hunting in Australia... Zero consideration given when they did their maps I'd bet.

[southeast varmiter]

I just use lat/long coordinates and look at the terrain. That's about all it can really help you with.

[<<Genesis93>>]

DO NOT try finding the forests with GOOGLE maps.. for some strange reason , and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they simply dont have the info/data/resources to correctly identify and label every piece of public land...... but the cynic in me say theres an ulterior motive..

I really doubt Google gives a rats ass about hunting in Australia... Zero consideration given when they did their maps I'd bet.

No they dont..... but being part of the global corporate community, they push the pc diversity harmony movement which of course would not support firearms and their use..... nothing would surprise me anymore...

[southeast varmiter]

Or you can buy rooftop brand adventure maps which cover most of Vic and clearly show all the state forest areas and boundaries.
They have them on the site below.
https://www.mapworks.com.au/acatalog/Tr ... gions.html

[Antie]

DO NOT try finding the forests with GOOGLE maps.. for some strange reason , and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they simply dont have the info/data/resources to correctly identify and label every piece of public land

This is just my observation/guess but it looks to me like they only accurately have relatively well travels road recorded with accuracy. Once you get more remote or are talking about little side roads in areas further away from metro areas they either drive past or skip the area and just get fall back data from who knows where

[happyhunter]

.

[<<Genesis93>>]

Well.. it turns out even the State Government's forest explorer cant be trusted either.....

Alberton West SF - listed, but not marked on FE. Google doesnt label it, will take you there though
Annya SF - listed + labeled on FE, only labeled on Google if seeking directions to it.
Appin SF - listed on FE but labeled as Leaghur State PARK....??;

"The Victorian Government increased the size of the Leaghur State Park by including the Appin State Forest and Leaghur Wildlife Reserve into the State Park, in June 2010 to protect and enhance the River Red Gum forests in Victoria."

This was part of the protecting the Red gums from us push of a few years ago.... thats how they work, Red gum here, leadbeaters there, yellow bellied red billed pink crested something or other at the NEXT location, like creeping socialism (actually, thats what it is) slowly removing our domain....

Right or wrong, its great to see our very well paid government and public servants keeping this kind of inconsequential stuff up to date.....


So, try another map, go via the responsible Gov Dept; DELWP Dept of Environment, Land, Water and Planning... AKA department of slash and burn.... Public Access Map is available,but is the same as Forest Explorer with a few different colours... says try Forest explorer - but then advises it is archived??? email into DELWP...

There are plenty of static maps..... (I would expect the reply will sound)

[<<Genesis93>>]

DO NOT try finding the forests with GOOGLE maps.. for some strange reason , and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they simply dont have the info/data/resources to correctly identify and label every piece of public land

This is just my observation/guess but it looks to me like they only accurately have relatively well travels road recorded with accuracy. Once you get more remote or are talking about little side roads in areas further away from metro areas they either drive past or skip the area and just get fall back data from who knows where

Forest and Parks are not mapped by driving, they start with a title base to precisely locate titles, eg, I have an Autcad file series that contains every title, to the mm, to the grid base....

[<<Genesis93>>]

Online sat maps are great. They provide a fast and easy way to investigate the landscape and look for valleys and rises where deer may choose to bed down and feed. If you are worried about designated boundries being clearly defined it's a nobrainer that AI generated maps aren't going to be trustworthy accurate.

As above, titles are definitively defined... its the label of the land... I'm not overly concerned about the location myself, I usually keep well away from boundaries and GPS lets me know where I am... But in Vic the difference between keeping in the SF and 'stepping' into the SP or NP, is significant from a lawful/firearm perspective, and you shouldnt expect the Rangers or Police to give you the benefit of the doubt.

[Fry]

Plus Google Maps is really about roads for driving, not forests for off-roading.

A block of forest is just a block of forest to them, even if there are boundaries through it separating state forest and national park designations.

If they have the roads surrounding a forest I reckon they'd say that's job done.

[rsj223]

Just looking around the net and found this.
http://www.feralscan.org.au/feralpigscan/map.aspx

[Chickenhawk]

Maybe SSAA could spend some of out membership fees on doing accurate maps for us...

[Skitz]

Thanks for the info man

[YoungBuck]

Desperate for a post count increase Skitz? C'mon man stop reviving dead threads, this one died in Nov 2015...