HUNTING FOR
CONSERVATION
World Wetlands Day celebrated
App tracks vital nest box info
Sustainable use of species “a moral imperative”
Rabbit hunt reduces a pest and provides for the table
The original conservationists
Field & Game Australia
Field & Game Australia has a long and credible history of wildlife and habitat management. We seek to create, rehabilitate and preserve wetland environments for the benefit of the native flora and fauna that depend on these places to survive.
We also seek to improve habitat so that we may continue our sustainable harvest of free-range, healthy protein for our tables, and firmly believe that hunting in general and native game bird hunting in particular not only has a place in our community but is integral to the survival of hundreds of species, not just native game ducks or stubble quail.
Wetlands Environmental Taskforce
Field & Game Australia’s public conservation fund Wetlands Environmental Taskforce (WET) Trust was formed in 2002 with the purpose of purchasing, restoring and maintaining wetland habitats.
Wildlife scientists admit that the loss of habitat is the single greatest threat to all native birds – and Victoria has lost more than 37% of its wetland areas to activities such as land clearing and draining since European settlement. About 90% of this loss has occurred on private land. If not for the tireless work of Field & Game Australia, WET and countless volunteers since 1958, many more areas would have been lost
For the uninitiated, the practice of hunting may seem a little confronting – but we hope that those who take the time to understand the tangible and immediate benefits that our efforts and our members contribute to protecting and conserving the environments we value so dearly, will see the enormous benefit our activities deliver to the health and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of Australians each and every year.
Field & Game Australia is a legitimate and verified steward in the conservation of wetland and other related habitats for sustainable use by its communities, which include but are not limited to hunters, naturists, and recreationalists who seek an
authentic connection with nature. Through our own acquired wetland reserves and in collaboration with authorities in the preservation of State Game Reserves, Field & Game Australia’s legacy has endured since 1958.
Field & Game Australia freely accepts its custodial responsibilities for these resources, because current and future generations benefit when we do our job well.
through commercial development or total abandonment.
In Victoria, several species of native game birds including the hardhead, blue-wing shoveler, blue-billed duck and the musk duck have been considerably affected through the alteration or loss of habitat, reflecting a continuing need for our wetland restoration and conservation programs. Our role as an environmental advocate and champion of wetland preservation is demonstrated through more than 20 wetland environments that we care for.
In fact, 11 of Victoria’s wetlands are so
important that they are internationally recognised under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Victoria’s Ramsar sites are home to as many as 1,300 species of native plants and 450 of native animals, including more than 100 species of waterbirds.
Our wetlands require long-term ongoing conservation efforts from our dedicated hunterconservationists, and this work must continue if they are to endure.
Dual celebration at Connewarre
What do wetlands mean to you?
With a membership largely interested in either conservation or hunting, we’re pretty sure we know the answer to that question – but on February 11 an open day at Connewarre Wetland Centre offered the chance for the wider public to visit the beautiful Connewarre wetlands and experience this special place for themselves.
The day was a dual celebration – marking World Wetlands Day, which is held annually on February 2, and the official opening of the new Field & Game Australia head office at Connewarre Wetland Centre.
The theme for this year’s World Wetlands Day was “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing” and it’s a sure bet that our members – as well as many members of the wider public –are familiar with the benefits that can come from spending time in our amazing wetland environments.
We were pleased to welcome members, guests, and representatives of the media and government on the day. The weather was a tad on the hot side, but that didn’t stop the demonstrations, the walks, the conversations and the consumption of very tasty game dishes prepared fresh on-site –particular favourites being more-ish magpie goose pasties and succulent venison burgers. If visitors had never tried game foods before, they certainly will be on their radar now!
The day was a fantastic opportunity not only for FGA members to get together but also for the wider community to come along and join in, meet the FGA staff and experience the wetlands. All enjoyed the displays and demonstrations – with the retrieving dog demonstrations proving to be a particular favourite.
We thank those who gave their time on the day, including John Caldow from Bug
Blitz Trust, Ben Scullin and Rob Loats from VR FISH, Axon Corporation’s Arif Iftekhar who displayed a fantastic range of hessian and jute products, the blokes from Trelly’s Fishing World who offered casting demos and the chance to drop a line in the stocked dam on the property, the folks from Corangamite Catchment Management Authority who were there with a wealth of information to share, and volunteers from Wetlands Environmental Taskforce, who give their time to help with the upkeep of this and other wetlands in Victoria.
Also present on the day was Dr Sue Ronco from Porepunkah, who holds a PhD focusing on environmental ethics. She also enjoys cooking with organically sourced game, having a long family association with
wild food harvesting.
“The Wetlands Environmental Taskforce, along with Field & Game Australia are doing an admirable job in conserving wetland biodiversity,” Dr Ronco said.
“It’s great to see the Connewarre wetlands supporting such a diverse range of waterfowl and native vegetation. This wetland is a treasure – and a potential resource for future research into ecosystem resilience.
“Responsible hunting can exist cooperatively with nature conservation, and this is where Field & Game can make a difference – not only in their efforts to conserve our birdlife, but in their role as advocates for ethical hunting practices.”
On the hunt for wetland critters.
Attendees take the chance for a chat while watching the retrieving demonstrations.
Representatives from Corangamite Catchment Management Authority were present with a wealth of information on the area.
App’s where data is at
Once upon a time, the installation of nesting boxes by Field & Game members was usually a quiet achievement, mostly only known by those who did the work, with their locations marked on a physical map, or maybe only marked in a map of the mind. Likewise, the results that sprang from those efforts were often known only to a few, who took quiet satisfaction in the knowledge that they were helping to ensure the sustainability of waterfowl and the other native creatures that occasionally appropriated the nesting boxes.
Moving towards the second quarter of this century, the quiet effort is still there but the structures used and the recording of their locations and results have entered a new age.
Geelong Field & Game is one of the branches that has been active in providing secure nesting places for native waterfowl for decades.
The latest hen houses follow a design pioneered by conservation and hunting organisation Delta Waterfowl in the United States which has proved to be very successful.
As of November 30, 2023, Geelong Field & Game has installed 300 hen houses – and not just in its local area, but right across Victoria, where the statewide count is now more than 500.
“We have hen houses installed in Geelong, Shepparton, Rushworth, Kerang, Seymour,
Clunes, Echuca, Sunraysia, Donald and Bendigo, to name a few,” the branch’s Trent Leen said. “Geelong Field & Game members will continue to work with other Field & Game branches over the next four years and beyond to monitor and maintain these hen houses.”
With 300 hen houses currently in place and many more on the horizon, the method of keeping track of their locations and results needed an overhaul; and again, Delta Waterfowl stepped in to help. Delta Waterfowl’s waterfowl programs director Mike Buxton created a state-of-the-art phone app for FGA staff and volunteers to utilise when installing, monitoring and maintaining nest structures. The data collected is instantly submitted to a database containing a long list of variables such as structure location, duck species using the structure and hatch rate calculations.
The Hen House application – the first of its kind to be in used in Australia – was officially launched at the Field & Game Australia National Carnival at Clunes in November 2023. Two online training sessions for its use have already been completed by FGA volunteers, and it is hoped the app will be further developed in the years to come.
“We are most looking forward to years three and four of the project, as this is when the dataset would be complete enough that
it will enable Professor Marcel Klaassen to analyse the data to develop a breeding index,” Trent said.
Trent said Field & Game Australia’s February duck counts offered a great opportunity to check and maintain the hen houses.
“We will continue to deliver app training to ensure that all hen houses are sufficiently monitored for the next four years,” he said.
“Having a central location like this for all of the data to come back to is an amazing achievement for us.”
Trent said they had also been trialling motion-activated game cameras to capture hen house usage – and hopefully some hatchings.
“The use of these cameras greatly minimises disturbance and allows the ducks to feel comfortable in their new home,” he said.
“The cameras we now have will be the best for our project use, with photos being sent directly back to a phone using an app with a subscription.
“We look forward to what can be learned from this data in future years.”
Trent Leen explains the Hen House app as Field & Game Australia conservation and hunting manager Glenn Falla watches on.
A hen house is installed at a Victorian wetland.
The Hen House app is a fantastic tool for recording the progress of these conservation efforts for native waterfowl.
The use of trail cameras supplements the data that can be recorded in the app.
Hunting for sustainable use
While the commercial hunting of pest species in Victoria continues to be the subject of hot debate in some circles, the principle of “sustainable use” of a resource should always guide the outcome when considering what becomes of culled animals – be they kangaroos, goats, or deer.
The International Institute for Sustainable Development defines sustainable use as “maintaining the long-term use of resources while maximising social benefits and minimising environmental impacts”. Such an approach encourages a balanced perspective on pest management, acknowledging the importance of addressing ecological concerns while also recognising the potential benefits derived from controlled hunting activities, such as improved outcomes for farmers – or the provision of a food source for those in need.
It is with this last point in mind that the Member for Eastern Victoria – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Victoria’s Jeff Bourman – called for the meat from culled deer to be commercially processed and provided to charities helping to feed the
homeless and others in Victoria who find themselves struggling with food security as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.
In November, state parliament – with the exception of the Greens and Animal Justice Party – supported a motion put forward by Mr Bourman that would see the government consider the creation of a pilot program to utilise venison from government-controlled culls for this purpose. The program, “Hunters for the Hungry”, is not a new concept; a similar program has been successful in the United States, and also in New Zealand.
“In New Zealand the Sika Foundation … provides over 100 kilograms a week of wildshot venison to each of a number of local food banks to feed the less fortunate,” Mr
Bourman said in parliament.
He said the similarities between the situation in New Zealand and Australia meant the program would work here.
“Australia and New Zealand share meat processing standards. If it can be done there, it can be done here.”
Deer have a huge detrimental impact in this state which has necessitated culling programs in an attempt to mitigate the damage they cause.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action estimates there are now more than one million deer in Victoria, and the Invasive Species Council suggests they have spread over about 40 per cent of the state.
Parks Victoria says deer impact the environment in a number of ways.
“Deer can cause serious damage to native plants, animals and habitat by trampling and destroying plants, increasing grazing pressure, ring-barking young trees, fouling waterholes, causing soil erosion and spreading weeds.”
They are a problem for farmers – grazing in pastures, plantations, crops, orchards and vineyards – and even appear in home gardens in peri-urban and some urban areas. Their increasing numbers are also proving a menace to drivers.
Currently, deer shot during government culling programs are left to rot.
“Given that it is a community asset being wasted by the government, it is incumbent on the government to put that to better use,” Mr Bourman said.
“What we are talking about here is a winwin-win scenario. We get carcases out of our public land reserves, we get premiumquality meat to families and charities who need it, and we provide income and scale to commercial processors in regional Victoria.
‘Triple bottom line’ is a common buzzword of the government – environmental, social and economic. This proposal delivers triplebottom-line benefits to Victoria.”
Mr Bourman said a lot of culling went on in peri-urban areas – meaning the recovery of
culled deer for utilisation as a food resource would be possible given the proximity of the required infrastructure.
“Getting a PrimeSafe-approved vehicle into a coolroom within the PrimeSafe-approved time is going to be doable in a lot of cases.”
He said as the management of deer populations was already being performed, it was a logical next step to utilise the resources it provided.
“We need to manage wildlife to address negative impacts,” Mr Bourman said.
“Where we can deliver other benefits from doing that it is not only a desirable thing to do, I would argue that it is a moral imperative.”
Flushing out rabbit problem
On a bleak morning in late October, we joined three Field & Game members for a hunt in a paddock south of Geelong. The quarry: rabbits. The weapon of choice: ferrets.
The day was cold, windy, overcast and occasionally wet. But it didn’t bother ferreters Peter Gibson, Morris Riddle, and Peter Warner – and it certainly didn’t bother the ferrets, which appeared to be beside themselves with eagerness to get down to business.
For those not in the know, the practice of ferreting involves deploying a team of ferrets to flush rabbits from their warrens. The rabbits are captured in nets or, in this case, tubular chicken-wire cages, from
which they are quickly extricated and speedily dispatched.
Peter Gibson had brought along six male ferrets. Four of them had been desexed, rendering them thinner and less muscular. The two un-desexed ferrets, on the other hand, were much more burly and powerful, and exuded a pungent and persistent odour; we were thankful for the breeze and tried our best to stay upwind of them at all times.
Two of the smaller ferrets were chosen
for the foray into the first warren, which spanned either side of a fence-line and had a dozen or so exits. With the tubular wire cages positioned to cover each exit, the ferrets were introduced to the warren and quickly disappeared underground.
For a few minutes there was nothing to indicate anything at all was happening except a thin cloud of dust wafting up from one or two of the exits, while the ferreters stood back and waited silently in anticipation, eyes glued to the earth.
A tracking collar makes finding a wayward ferret easy.
The traps are set over the exits to the warren.
Then the first rabbit burst from the warren, then another and another – occasionally with a ferret in hot pursuit.
After about half an hour one of the sinuous and beady-eyed little creatures decided the game was up and lost interest. It appeared he was correct, as only one or two rabbits were claimed from the warren after that point – although there was a human casualty when the electric fence claimed a double strike.
The other ferret, meanwhile, was enjoying things a little more and had not reappeared from the depths of the warren. This is where technology made an entrance to an ancient practice: our wayward ferret was wearing a tracking collar. The purpose of the collar is to locate not only the ferret but also any rabbits that the little hunter may have trapped in a dead-end chamber. His position was easily pinpointed, a shovel was deployed gingerly, and our little mate was extricated in no time – along with a rabbit. We moved to a different spot, and a different pair of furry rabbit-stalkers disappeared into earth. Again, the explosive exit of bunnies occurred.
When it was deemed this warren would produce nothing more, the ferreters moved onto the main area of interest – a large pile
of logs and dead trees in a corner of the paddock. Here, the process was different. The area surrounding the pile was raked free of debris, wooden stakes were driven in around the perimeter, and a long net was wrapped around the stakes to make a rabbit-proof barrier.
Now it was the big boys’ turn, and the two burly ferrets were sent into the pile. Various rustlings, shuffling and squeals could be heard, before once again the speedy evacuation of rabbits from their hiding places into the waiting net.
At the end of the day, the tally was 18 rabbits plus numerous kittens, and Peter Gibson was kind enough to field dress a brace for us as well as offer a fail-safe method of cooking them. It’s always a good day’s hunting when you come away with something for the table – and when the harvest has also helped to decrease the numbers of a pest animal that has an enormous impact on farm productivity in Australia, the result is doubly satisfying.
According to Agriculture Victoria, the impact of rabbits on the Australian environment has been disastrous.
At least 304 Australian threatened fauna and flora species are currently affected by competition and land degradation by rabbits. It has been estimated that rabbits cost Australian agriculture over $200 million in lost production every year.
Peter Gibson searches for the tracking collar signal.
Morris Riddle, Peter Warner and Peter Gibson set a net around the perimeter of a likely rabbit hideaway
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Duck stamps are back!
Harking back to the beginnings of Field & Game, when hunters volunteered to be charged a fee for a game licence – or ‘duck stamp’ – if the money raised would be used for habitat preservation, FGA and its conservation arm Wetlands Environmental Taskforce are once again offering an annual duck stamp, with the funds raised going directly into conservation projects.
WET has always been the driver of wetland conservation in Victoria, and we want this to continue – but we need your help. We know many of our members would love to contribute in person to conservation efforts but are often time-poor – and this is where the duck stamp comes in. Your donation to WET will be acknowledged with a duck stamp receipt and will allow WET volunteers to undertake the work on behalf of our members, delivering boots-on-the-ground projects that will have tangible benefits for our wetlands and for the native fauna and flora that depend upon them for their survival. Make your mark on conservation – and give it your stamp of approval. Donations to WET are tax-deductible.
For more information or to make a ‘duck stamp’ donation, visit https://www.wet.org.au/shop
