Field & Game Australia magazine, issue 32, December 2023 by Field.and.Game.Australia

FIELD & GAME

GUNDOGS IN FOCUS: Q&A; PANTHER’S RESTING PLACE FOUND; RETRIEVING TRIALS ROUND-UP

CONSERVATION • HUNTING • CLAY TARGET

Issue 32 December 2023 – February 2024

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RESPECT HUNT RESPONSIBLY

From the Editor

ere we are at the end of another year, and I must say that for me – and I’m sure all the FGA staff, board members and volunteers – it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. Starting with the uncertainty over when the duck season would be announced, and in what format, then everyone trying to fit a proper hunting season into just over four weeks, followed by inquiries into recreational native bird hunting in Victoria and South Australia and the mountain of work those processes required both public and behind the scenes, then more or less straight into planning the biggest clay target event this country has ever seen, and then moving the national office a couple of hundred kilometres – well, I reckon it’s about time for a break! Looking back at the past year, I think we can count as successful even the things we had hoped would turn out better. For example, even though our duck hunting season in Victoria was drastically shortened this year for no science-based reason, the figures released by the Victorian Game Management Authority in early November told a positive story: The short season encouraged frequent hunting from our members and other hunters which resulted in harvest figures of duck that were very similar to the harvest over a full 12-week season in 2022. The quail season, on the other hand, was much more successful and harvest figures were elevated due to habitat availability and a massive breeding event. With regards to the inquiry into native bird hunting in Victoria, while the end result did not recommend the continuation of a duck hunting season, this was only achieved by one of the inquiry panel members being obliged to vote along party lines, when in fact personally she is in favour of keeping a duck hunting season – and wrote a separate report as testament to that fact. At the very least, many of our often-circumspect members made the effort to make their views on hunting known, and for that we thank them. Now, with a new Victorian Labor premier who hails from the country, and with the Liberals and the Nationals in Victoria pledging their support for hunting and promising to overturn any ban on duck hunting, should they be elected, there is yet hope for the continuation of our much-loved traditions. As we approach the end of this busy 12 months, I hope everyone is able to take the time to enjoy whatever it is that the festive season has in store, and I wish you a safe and very happy Christmas and new year. Until next edition, see you around the traps!

Wendy Russell

Editor – Field & Game Australia If you have feedback of any sort or would like to contribute to Field & Game magazine in any way, drop us a line at Editor@Fieldandgame.com.au Or, you can give us a call on (03) 5799 0960. Field & Game (ISSN: 2206-0707) is published and printed by McPhersons Printing (76 Nelson St, Maryborough VIC 3465) under licence from Field & Game Australia Inc www.fieldandgame.com.au

Field & Game Australia Lucas Cooke – Chief Executive Officer Glenn Falla – Conservation & Hunting Manager Wendy Russell – Editor & Media Co-ordinator Shelly Pole – Office Co-ordinator Clara Hatch – Administration and Membership Officer Mitchell Parsons – Administration and Membership Officer

FGA Board David Anderson – Chairman Trent Leen – Vice-Chairman Glenda Anderson Adam Carson Vicki Norris Paul Sharp Michaela Shirley

Magazine Production Team Jacqui Maskell – Graphic Designer Wendy Russell – Editor & Media Co-ordinator Lucas Cooke – CEO Glenn Falla – Conservation & Hunting Manager

External Contributors Ray Agg Rod Berger Adam Carson Alison Coombs Gordon Cowling Karen Davies Paras Kakridas Reuben Patience Trevor Stow Robert Sturzaker Kevin Walshaw Rod Watt

Print Production Deb Shields – General Manager Deanne Martin – Account Manager Tammie Jones/Deepika Khadgi – Customer Co-ordinator Craig Jennings – Estimating and Sales manager Trent Small – Prepress Manager Andy Shayler - Production Manager Gary Chaplin – Warehouse/Mailing Supervisor Peter Fletcher – Despatch Supervisor Alex D’Ambrosio – Warehouse/Dispatch Manager

Contents

December 2023 – February 2024 Issue 32

Page 6 FGA Chairman: David Anderson

Page 8 FGA Chief Executive Officer: Lucas Cooke

Page 10 Conservation: FGA branches contribute to Goulburn Valley Water lakes project.

Page 14 Ask an expert: Rod Watt answers your questions about gundog training 4

2023 ASF National Carnival

Page 16

Page 42

Page 54

Hunting: Unearthing the joys of a ferreting trip

Gun dogs: Dogs on trial at S.A. Championships

Branch news: Seymour hosts successful Come-&-Try day

Page 20

Page 44

Page 55

Hunting: The all-purpose gundog, with Kevin Walshaw

Clay target: The 2023 FGA National Carnival

Page 36

Page 48 Clay target: Benalla FGA holds annual schools’ championship

Gun dogs: 2023 Retrieving Trial Championships in W.A.

Page 39

Page 51

Gun dogs: Interview with master handler Ray Ashenden

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Clay target: Sale hosts secondary schools from Wellington Shire

Hunting: Member Paras Stavrianakos seeks to promote hunting through children’s book

Page 56 Hunting: Robert Sturzaker hunts the plains of South Africa

Page 60 Gun dogs: Little bit of digging uncovers story of a beloved champion

10 Conservation

16 Hunting

56 Hunting

Gundogs

Page 62

Page 70

Vet Talk: Karen Davies says vigilance is key to avoiding grass seed dramas

Branch news: Cobram holds its annual Fred Jones Memorial shoot

Page 64

Page 74

Hunting: Hunter and chef Reuben Patience recounts his very first duck hunt

Page 67 Food: Reuben Patience shares his recipe for black duck pie

Page 68 Branch news: Grampians welcomes grants and awards Life Memberships

Branch news: Donald members scrub up well for “Frocktober” charity event

Page 78 Branch news: Echuca Moama celebrates its 32nd anniversary

Branch News

Page 82

Cover Photo:

Back page musings: with Lucas Cooke

Adam Du Rose is the winner of the 2023 Field & Game Australia ASF National Championship. FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

FROM THE CHAIRMAN David Anderson

A challenging but productive year I

t’s been only a couple of months, but I’ve had a smooth transition into the role of chairman. I would like to thank the board for their support in appointing me to the role and congratulate Trent Leen in becoming vice-chair. Additionally, I welcome Glenda and Michaela to the board as new members, adding strength to our organisation.

I would like to pass on my appreciation to outgoing chairman Danny Ryan for his past service to Field & Game Australia and wish him well in his future endeavours. Our office at Connewarre Wetland Centre has opened with a solid start, with fresh faces and new ideas and enthusiasm by way of two additional staff who are stepping into their roles in a professional manner and are learning our business very quickly. There are plans in play to further staff the office to help manage the workload and be more efficient in what we deliver. You may be wondering: With a new chair in the business, what will change? I think the best way to explain it is that we have had an extended period of interruptions and distractions over the past three to four years with COVID-19, the ongoing threat to native bird hunting with the bigger picture of outdoor recreational activities in the line of fire, and our relocation and staffing of our head office having all played a part in our being somewhat lacking in some areas. The best place for us to start is to regroup 6

as a board and focus on the basics until they are solid and operating smoothly, such as servicing our clubs’ needs, supporting our members at every level, and by keeping our focus on hunting, conservation, and clay target shooting. As we move through the year, we will engage more with club presidents and look forward to receiving ideas about how to grow and where we need to improve as an organisation. Above all, our role as a board is to ensure our CEO is successful, because when a CEO is successful the organisation is successful – and we must play a supporting and guiding role so that we may achieve the best possible outcomes. Overall, as a team alongside our staff, the board has a vision to grow the Field & Game Australia membership and be creative in offering more to our members so that we become the organisation of choice for our conservationists, our hunters, and our clay target shooters. At the start of November, I had the pleasure of attending the 2023 FGA National Carnival – and what an impressive and resoundingly successful event it was. There were a few hiccups here and there, as you would expect from an event of its size – and let’s not forget that with 670 competitors it was possibly the biggest clay target event this country has ever seen – but overall, the feedback has been very positive.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

I send my congratulations to all the workers, the sponsors, the competitors and of course the winners and placegetters, and we look forward to doing it all again next year and hope that the exceptional support we received from everyone this year will be ongoing. In closing, I’d like to wish the board, staff, and our members a safe and very merry Christmas with family and friends, and I look forward to more good things from our association in 2024. David Anderson, FGA chairman

Field & Game Australia Membership

It’s that time again! Field & Game Australia memberships expire on March 31 each year. If you have already renewed online or by phone, there is no need to do anything; however, if you’d like to check your membership’s expiry date you can do so by logging in online. 1.

1: Visit www.fieldandgame.com.au

2: Select “Sign in” or click on “Already a member? Access your profile!” from the homepage. Either way, you will be directed to log in.

3: Follow the prompts. If you don’t know your username, follow the prompt “Forgot login details?”.

Once logged in, you will be able to view your membership status, expiry date, and if required you can use “Renew” to go ahead and renew your membership until March 31, 2025. PLEASE NOTE: You do not have to pay online or with a credit card to use this method. This process will result in an invoice being issued to you via email. If you wish to pay via cheque or bank transfer, the details will be provided along with a reference number to use so that we can identify your payment. If you do not use the reference number when you make your payment, we will not know who the payment is from. Payment methods available are: Debit/ Credit Card; Bank deposit; Cheque; or Credit Card (on paper). We are aware that not everyone will be able – or want – to renew this way, but it is available for those who wish to use it. If you have family members connected to your membership, you can also see their memberships and renew them online as well if you choose. Online renewals save paper, resources and time. It is secure and fast. If you wish to call the national office to discuss your membership, for assistance, or just to renew over the phone, please feel free to do so on (03) 5799 0960 – just bear in mind that it is a busy time for our membership officers Clara and Mitchell. You can also email our membership officers at: membership@fieldandgame.com.au Or, you can drop in to the national office at Connewarre Wetland Centre, 605 Lake Rd, Connewarre, Victoria (just south of Geelong).

Thu 23 Nov 2023

Fri 31 Mar 2024

FROM THE CEO Lucas Cooke

Farewells and new beginnings D ear Field & Game members,

As we approach the end of another eventful year, I want to take this opportunity to connect with you all and share some important updates from our Field & Game community.

First and foremost, I am delighted to announce that we have welcomed new staff members to our team. They are eager and dedicated individuals who are looking forward to assisting our branches and individual members across the country. Their enthusiasm and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and success of our organisation. However, with new beginnings also come farewells, and it is with mixed emotions that we bid adieu to Kathryn Rohde. Kathryn has been a steadfast presence in our Seymour office, serving as an administration and membership assistant

for the past two years. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for her unwavering dedication and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

In other exciting news, our office has relocated to Connewarre, a positive move for our organisation. The office is now located at Connewarre Wetland Centre, which not only offers us an excellent space but also lays the foundation for future expansion of this unique site. We believe this change will allow us to better serve our members and continue to grow as an organisation. Our annual National Carnival, held from November 3 to 6, was a resounding success. This year, we witnessed the largest field of shooters ever, with a remarkable 670 competitors completing the 150-target shoot over the course of two days. Additionally, over 250

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

participants stayed on to engage in the English sporting pairs event on Monday. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers and staff, who put in an enormous amount of effort to make this event a reality. It was truly heartwarming to see FGA members come together to enjoy this event, which continues to grow and solidify its status as the pinnacle of sporting clay shooting in Australia. We are already looking forward to delivering an even better event in 2024!

On a sombre note, I'd like to extend our deepest condolences to the Jennings family on the tragic loss of Craig Jennings. Craig was on his way to compete at the Nationals when he was involved in a traffic accident, and we sadly lost him. To his family and friends, please accept our heartfelt sympathy for your loss, and know that the entire FGA community grieves with you.

In October, we held our annual board election and AGM, where six highly qualified candidates vied for the opportunity to represent Field & Game members on the board. I am pleased to announce that the successfully elected candidates were Michaela Shirley and Glenda Anderson. Congratulations to these remarkable women, and I eagerly anticipate working with them and the rest of the board to guide FGA into a prosperous future. I would also like to express my gratitude to Danny Ryan for his three-year tenure on the board, including two years as Chairman. Although he was not re-elected, I am confident that Danny will remain actively engaged in his branch and the broader shooting community. Our fight to preserve hunting continues, and we are actively engaged in discussions at state and federal levels. In South Australia, I am hopeful of a positive

outcome, with politicians recognising that game bird hunting is not only sustainable but also contributes significantly to conservation and the economy. In Victoria, the government has yet to announce its intentions regarding the farcical report handed down by its parliamentary committee. With five of the nine committee members in support of the continuation of hunting, we remain hopeful that the government will take a sensible approach to preserving and utilising Victoria's state game reserves for both wildlife conservation and hunting purposes. The Victorian Liberal and National parties have expressed their support for the continuation of hunting. A Liberal party forum in Craigieburn attracted over 400 supporters who showed unanimous support for hunting and signed an open letter to the Victorian premier Jacinta Allan imploring her to announce the

continuation of hunting into and beyond 2024. At time of writing, we are continuing to seek engagement with Labor MPs and have plans to attend several more political forums in the near future. We will keep you posted on any developments. As we head into the festive season, I would like to wish all FGA members a safe and joyous time. Remember to be kind to one another, and I look forward to seeing you all in 2024, whether it's on a clay target range, a state game reserve, or anywhere our shared interests take us. Together, we will continue to protect and promote the traditions we hold dear. Thank you for your unwavering support, and let's make the upcoming year one filled with camaraderie and success. Warm regards, Lucas Cooke CEO, Field & Game Australia

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

CONSERVATION Dunyak Moira project

Proud involvement in project Shepparton Field & Game has been fortunate to be involved in a project with Goulburn Valley Water at the decommissioned Merrigum water treatment plant.

n partnership with Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club, GV Water has transformed the disused water treatment plant into a new space named Dunyak Moira, where people can access water-related recreational activities in Merrigum and reconnect with nature.

The branch’s David Cox said GV Water had shown much support for the conservation work undertaken by the branch, and branch members felt privileged to be included in the project. “GV Water has done an amazing rehabilitation of the site,” David said.

Works to transform the site began in mid“They have also created beautiful areas for 2021 and included the rehabilitation of both humans and wildlife. two storage lagoons – one 50 megalitres and the other 12.5 megalitres – and the “Shepparton FGA have loved being part of complete revegetation of the site not only the project,” he said. on land but also in the water where aquatic plants have helped to create animal refuges. “It will be an outstanding area for the Merrigum community and the Burnanga Donated concrete pipes and root-balls fishing club.” from storm-damaged trees were installed on the lake beds to create fish habitat, and Dunyak Moira was opened on October 11 almost 100 large native fish – including by Goulburn Valley Water Board chairman Murray cod and golden perch – have been Mark Stone. relocated into the lakes in partnership with the Victorian Fisheries Authority. Mr Stone said he hoped Dunyak Moira would leave a lasting legacy for the The development of the site also involved community. partnerships with a number of local businesses and organisations, including “Dunyak Moira is testament to what can Shepparton Field & Game which was be achieved through a shared vision, instrumental in installing duck nesting collaboration and a passion to create boxes on both lakes. beneficial outcomes,” he said. 10

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club president Corey Walker sees by Dunyak Moira as an opportunity to promote the preservation of culture and mental wellbeing – goals that Field & Game Australia wholeheartedly supports. He said the opportunities offered by Dunyak Moira would continue to create positive impacts for many local groups and communities. “This will be great for the Merrigum community and for the broader local fishing community as well to have a new fishing spot,” he said. “These lakes will also help us encourage more people to get out fishing, including young people, and will create opportunities for us to pass down knowledge to younger generations.” The lakes will be catch-and-release only, to help protect the native fish. To find out more about Dunyak Moira, including opening times, visit gvwater.vic. gov.au/dunyak-moira

Eight henhouses and six nesting boxes are in place at the two Dunyak Moira fishing dams.

Dunyak Moira offers pontoons from which catch-and-release fishing activities can be enjoyed.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Dunyak Moira is a place where people can access water-related recreational activities in Merrigum and reconnect with nature.

Shepparton FGA’s David Cox mans the FGA stand at the opening of Dunyak Moira.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

David Cox with examples of the henhouses that have been installed across Victoria.

Henhouse construction under way.

Henhouses help breeding success Field & Game members installed henhouses and nesting boxes at the two Dunyak Moira dams in December 2021 and July 2022. “We have eight henhouses and six nesting boxes on the two dams,” David said. “Virtually one breeding season they have been in use; we have had outstanding breeding success with 33 clutches hatched: 23 Pacific black duck, seven grey teal and three chestnut teal.” Dunyak Moira was opened on October 11 by Goulburn Valley Water Board chairman Mark Stone.

The wooden boxes were made by students engaged in Pit Stop – a program which aims to increase work and life skills of young people – funded by a grant obtained by Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project, while the henhouses were made and funded by Shepparton and Seymour Field & Game branches and FGA’s Wetlands Environmental Taskforce. David said at one point the henhouse project was in real jeopardy across the Shepparton region because of predation by crows. “The worst area for predation was at the GV water dams,” David said. “We lost 12 clutches including two clutches from boxes. I thought we may have to take the henhouses down, if we couldn't keep the crows out.” Faced with this problem, David designed “crow stopper” boxes – which have no perch – in the hope it would solve the issue. “At this early stage they have been a great success, with no egg losses recorded,” he said. So successful has the “crow stopper” been in fact, Shepparton Field & Game has heard that US hunting and preservation organisation Delta Waterfowl is considering doing trials with similar designs to boost clutch survival during the incubation period of North American waterfowl.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

ASK AN EXPERT CONSERVATION

DOG TRAINING with Rod Watt

Born a dog, died a gentleman Question: I recently had an email from Freddie who lives in Cooma, New South Wales. He firstly apologised for not asking a question about gundog training, then went on to ask about how to replace a gundog that he had hunted with for the past 10 years. She passed away a couple of months back and Freddie is doing it hard; like losing a member of his family, he said – and yes, it is. Recently, I too lost a oncein-a-lifetime dog. Fred’s question is: “Do I wait for a year or two, do I take the first pup I see advertised, or do I go back to the original breeder of my old girl?”

Answer: Firstly, my deepest sympathies to you Freddie. The saddest part of owning a gundog is that we normally outlive them. The guys that we hunt with probably wouldn’t agree, but we all think our own working gundog is just perfect; not only do they perform out in the fields but they are a most important part of our family and family life. And so, it goes without saying that there is untold heartache when that faithful friend who sat with you in a duck swamp for hours becomes old, full of arthritis, and looks at you with those sad eyes that say “it’s time for me to go”. That’s when you have to let them go, in fact we owe it to them, they have been such loyal hunters and companions to us that we have to say goodbye and give them the end they deserve. So, Freddie, if you don’t have another dog in your backyard to ease the pain, then my advice is to start the process now. If your old dog didn’t have any hereditary faults and was relatively easy to train, then give the breeder a ring, you could end up with a great-great-grandson! If that fails, talk to other hunting people about the different breeders, find out who is breeding quality gundogs. You want to look for generations within the line that consistently win field or retrieving events 14

or are proven field workers. Personally, I won’t have a gundog unless it’s line bred. But that’s another story. Freddie, go and get yourself another best friend as soon as possible. You will always miss your departed mate, but a new pup will give you a new lease on life.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

“Born a dog, died a gentleman” is what will go on the headstone of my old boy. Good luck and good hunting to all. – Rod Watt

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RESPECT HUNT RESPONSIBLY

HUNTING by Wendy Russell A tracking collar makes finding a wayward ferret easy.

No firearms needed for this hunt On a bleak morning in late October, I joined three Field & Game members for a hunt in a paddock south of Geelong. Our quarry: rabbits. Our weapon of choice: ferrets.

s a born and bred country girl, of course I had some knowledge of ferreting. My dad had recounted ferreting trips he’d made as a boy, and I’d even had a ferret as a pet for a short time when I was young, before my mum decided she couldn’t stand the smell of it lingering in the backyard any longer. But I’d never been on a ferret hunt until this day.

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 odour that seemed to hang in the air. I was thankful for the breeze and tried my best to stay upwind of them at all times.

The day was not the best. You’d think late October would produce a fairly pleasant kind of day. But no – it was cold, windy, overcast and occasionally wet. But it didn’t bother my three teachers – 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.

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 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 by the waiting hunters and speedily dispatched. 16

I’m not sure what I expected, and 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. Then the first rabbit burst from the warren,

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

then another and another – occasionally with a ferret in hot pursuit – and this went on for some time. After about half an hour one of the beadyeyed 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 apparently enjoying things a little more and had not reappeared from the depths of the warren. This is where technology made an entrance on 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.

The big boys come out to play.

Peter Gibson with one of his ferrets, “Skinny”.

The traps are set over the exits to the warren.

The final tally was 18 rabbits.

Peter Gibson searches for the tracking collar signal.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

>> We moved to a different spot, and a different pair of furry rabbit-stalkers disappeared into earth. Again, the explosive exit of bunnies occurred – and this time one managed to escape the wire cage and hightail-it off over the paddock and into the relative safety of some boxthorn. 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, then a long net was wrapped around the stakes making a rabbit-proof barrier. Now, it was the big boys’ turn to get down to business, and the two burly ferrets were sent into the pile. Various rustlings, shuffling and highpitched squeals could be heard, before once again the speedy evacuation of rabbits from their hiding places and 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 me 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 I’d like to thank Peter Gibson, Morris Riddle and Peter Warner for inviting me along to share the hunt – and its harvest! Morris Riddle, Peter Warner and Peter Gibson set a net around the perimeter of a likely rabbit hideaway.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

A rabbit keeps an eye on the proceedings from the safety of the burrow entrance.

Helping teach resilience and persistence

eter Gibson and Morris Riddle are proud to have been involved with Cottage by the Sea at Queenscliff – an organisation which aims to empower young people by providing them with inspiration, fun and opportunity through four tailored programs sponsored by the Anderson family (APCO Geelong). One of those is the Mentor program, which teaches the youngsters various skills that will help them as they journey through life, particularly persistence and a willingness to try new things. A favourite off-site part of the program for mentors, staff and

volunteers alike is an outdoor adventurebased camp situated in bushland by the banks of the Edwards River at Moulamein – and it is this program that Peter and Morris have been involved with. Across the week the outdoor education sessions are packed with activities including fishing, captaining the tinny, canoeing, swimming, yabbying, bonfires, telling stories around the campfire, and – a favourite of all – ferreting. Peter said the kids were fascinated by the process, and quite willing to be involved. He said it was rewarding helping to teach the young people about things they might never have otherwise had the chance to experience, and he was especially pleased to see the girls taking just as much interest – and often even more – than the boys!

A photo-book presented to Peter Gibson and Morris Riddle as thanks for being involved in Cottage by the Sea’s Mentor program.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

Carnival a huge success Bigger than Ben-Hur.

hat was our prediction for the 2023 Field & Game Australia National Carnival held at Clunes Field & Game at the start of November – and so it proved to be.

This year’s ASF National Championship was the biggest clay target event Australia has seen in decades, with an almost full field of 670 competitors across 112 squads nominating to vie for the 150-target title across November 4 and 5, and more than 240 taking to the 100-target English Sporting course on the Monday, November 6. This year’s carnival offered all the makings of a magnificent event for shooters and spectators alike, and it did not disappoint. A special feature this year was a dedicated Vendors’ Day on the Friday prior to the event-proper kicking off on the Saturday, with trade stands from all supporters of the carnival including Beretta Australia, Bronze Wing /NSI/Laporte, Outdoor Sporting Agencies, Outdoor Trading

Company, Winchester Australia, Sulun Arms, My Mates Outdoors and Top Shot Industries, offering all manner of goods including firearms, traps, cartridges, shooting apparel and accessories, camping gear, fishing rods, reels and lures, outdoor cooking equipment and more. There was something on offer to interest every shooter, fisher or outdoor enthusiast, and many took the opportunity to ease into the weekend with a stroll around the vendors’ wares and the chance to stop and chat with mates from near and far before the action turned more focused on the following days. As was the case last year, there was plenty of good food on offer from the canteen, a couple of coffee vans servicing those unable or unwilling to forgo their caffeine hit each day, a 5-stand practice ground operating all weekend, and a crowdpleasing top-10 shoot-out that was not only entertaining but was a perfect showcase of the clay shooting talent in attendance.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

New to the carnival this year was the Sunday High Tea, which proved very popular and will likely become a fixture going forward. The weather was fine and sunny, although windy and a little cool on the Saturday, but there was no rain, and the breeze did help to keep Sunday and Monday from becoming too warm for most. Despite the very large numbers in attendance, the championship event finished in reasonably good time on the Sunday and a large crowd stayed to watch the shoot-offs, top 10 shoot-out and finally the presentations. Pleasingly, most have declared the 2023 carnival a massive success – and with this resounding stamp of approval from our members, Field & Game Australia is already under way with preparations for the carnival in 2024, which will once again head to the plains and gullies of Clunes Field & Game.

Adam Du Rose takes title The 2023 FGA ASF National Championship attracted 670 competitors this year, but there can only be one winner of the 150-target event – and this year the shooter who claimed the High Gun throne was Westernport Field & Game member Adam Du Rose.

t was not the first time Adam had won the title, having also scored victory in 2012.

Finishing day one on a score of 90/100, Adam was three targets in arrears of the day one leader Michael Baldwin on 93, but Adam and his Miroku MK-38 pulled out all the stops on day two to score 48/50 and bring his total to 138/40 – two targets clear of the field. Coming in with scores of 136 were last year’s overall winner Adam Hirchfield,

Chris Brown, and Adam Du Rose’s son Mark Du Rose, who finished first, second and third respectively in AA grade after a shoot-off was conducted to determine the final placings.

all the effort of everything that’s gone in (to the running of the event).

“Thank-you very much to all the shooters,

“I’m absolutely over the moon.”

“Magnificent shoot; to me, bloody hard – but that’s me. Thank-you to Mark (Adam’s son Mark Du Rose), he was the one that pushed me all the way, I was convinced he Adam Du Rose, who took to the presentation stage with his baby grandson, was going to win it because he’s a much better shot than me. said the targets were “bloody hard”.

Adam Du Rose in action on day one of the 2023 Field & Game Australia ASF National Championship event.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

Lyndall’s great year continues The 2023 Field & Game Australia ASF Ladies’ champion hails from Colac Field & Game.

yndall McNeil shot 113/150 to take the title in a tight contest from Charlie Hudson on 112 and Bianca Norris on 109.

“Thanks to Clunes Field & Game and the other clubs that set up the grounds,” Lyndall said. “It’s been a great weekend!” Lyndall has been shooting for 10 years – and it appears that she is hitting her straps now, with this being Lyndall’s second national title win this year. She said it would take a while to sink in. “So many emotions … surprised, shocked, humbled, grateful, happy, proud.

“Whilst I wasn’t totally happy with some of my rounds over the weekend, I am proud of myself for continuing to plug away to then be fortunate enough to come out on top at the end of the weekend,” Lyndall said. Lyndall said it was “amazing” to have 40 ladies competing in the category, and she praised FGA, the Clunes branch and all the volunteers for their efforts in running the event. “It definitely had the carnival feel,” she said. “A top effort to have 670 shooters plus spectators come and shoot well presented grounds.”

Lyndall also had special thanks for those who personally make her sporting journey possible. “A big thank-you to those family and friends that continue to support me week in week out, barracking from home or on the range,” she said. “Special thanks to my biggest supporters, (husband) Craig McNeil and (son) Charlie, to my mum Jenny Dew for looking after Charlie over the weekend, and the continued support from Lee at Outdoor Trading Company and Steve (Haberman) at SH Shooting.”

Eddie bowls over competition for hat trick The 2023 FGA ASF Veterans Champion Eddie Magee has taken a hat-trick – winning the Veterans’ title for the third FGA Nationals in a row. In fact, Eddie has now taken out Veterans five times – in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022 and 2023 (no national titles were held in 2020 and 2021).

urrently a member of Geelong Field & Game, Eddie has been a keen clay shooter for many years and can be found around the traps most weekends.

Last year he told us he didn’t have any special routine to follow in the lead-up to a big event – but 22

whatever it is that Eddie does, it appears to be working! Eddie took this year’s title with a score of 128/150 – one target ahead of Ron Rhook on 127 and two ahead of Chris Charleson on 126. “I’ve had a great weekend,” Eddie said. “I had a good squad … in the end it was a great weekend and I’d like to thank all of the Clunes people and everybody else who’s had a hand in this in any way – it was brilliant. You’ve done a great job – and I hear you’re going to do it again next year and I’m sure it will be just as well done.”

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Keen to take the next step

The 2023 Field & Game Australia Junior Champion, Nate Palubiski.

It’s been a reasonably fast ride to the top of the Junior ranks for 16-year-old Nate Palubiski, who is this year’s FGA ASF National Junior Champion.

ate edged out his competition by one target to clinch the title with a score of 125/150, ahead of Bailey Gatt on 124 and Ryan Saliba on 123.

Nate also won the Junior category in the English Sporting event on Monday, capping off a successful weekend for the young shooter who took up the sport when he was 12. It’s a great result for the Wodonga Albury branch member, who was unable to compete at the 2022 nationals at his home club due to a shoulder injury. Nate credits his dad Simon for introducing him to clay target shooting, after following Simon around the shooting ranges as a youngster. Nate said watching the Olympics – especially Rio 2016 and watching James Willett shoot – was also a big motivator to take up the sport. He said he very much enjoyed the targets across the 2023 National Carnival. “There definitely was a mix of everything,” Nate said.

“I found the really close rabbit and rocket challenging because I’ve never shot them that close before. But now I just have the incentive to practise those targets, so when I see them again, I will have full confidence to take them on.” Nate said he hoped to continue to enjoy his shooting into the future as much as he does now. “I also love being a part of the amazing shooting community,” he said. “I have met so many incredible people.” And what of his goals competition-wise? “My ultimate goal would be to win Juniors at a world championship and also to win the junior team event at a world championship,” he said. Nate also hopes he can pass on some of what he’s learned along the way, as a mentor for young shooters. “In the future I would like to see myself as becoming someone that the future juniors would look up to.”

Variety is part of the fun

n yet another tight finish in the categories at this year’s ASF National Championships, Matthew Nedinis of Ballarat branch won the title of National Sub-Junior Champion with a score of 108/150, three targets ahead of Marcus Keirl in second place with 105, while taking out third place was Tom Norton on 103. Matthew was about 13 when he began clay target shooting but had been around the ranges a long time before that, scoring and pressing the buttons while his dad Steven had a shot. Fast forward 18 months or so, and 14-year-old Matthew is loving it. In the past year he has been practising frequently, and it’s not unusual for him to shoot four or five times a month. He and his dad try to visit as many different clubs

The 2023 Field & Game Australia SubJunior Champion, Matthew Nedinis.

as they can, so the experience is always different – and it’s that excitement and uncertainty of what might be encountered at each event that draws Matthew in. He enjoys the anticipation of different grounds and testing himself against new target presentations. “You don’t really know what you’re going to shoot each week,” Matthew said. But despite having shot around the state,

Matthew’s home club Ballarat is still his favourite. “It’s a lot of different stuff … little stuff on the floor like little trees, and then you’ve got the big paddock and a lot of big targets – it’s very versatile.” Looking to the future, Matthew would love to shoot at a world championship one day. “I just maybe need to apply myself a bit more,” Matthew said.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

Field & Game Australia

National Championship results Field & Game Australia ASF National Champion: Adam Du Rose

138/150

2023 Field & Game Australia ASF National Champion Adam Du Rose (holding his grandson) is presented with the prize for High Gun by OSA’s Rod Laidlaw as FGA CEO Lucas Cooke watches on.

AA-grade 1st Adam Hirchfield (shoot-off 20/20)

136

2nd

Chris Brown

136 (14/20)

3rd

Mark Du Rose

136 (12/20)

Mark Du Rose, Adam Hirchfield and Chris Brown.

A-grade

B-grade

1st

James Humphries

126

1st

2nd 3rd

Robbie Rainone

124

Darren Sasse

123

Darren Sasse, Robbie Rainone and James Humphries.

117

1st

2nd

Matthew Offer

113

3rd

Jimmy Melville

112

Jimmy Melville, Timothy Friend and Matthew Offer.

Adam Hirchfield.

C-grade

Timothy Friend

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Shane Cann

2nd

Brian Smith

3rd

Nicholas Squires

Nicholas Squires, Brian Smith and Shane Cann.

Chris Brown.

Mark Du Rose.

Michael Baldwin accepts the winner’s prize for the National Handicap event – a Beretta Silver Pigeon – from Beretta’s Gemma McNabb.

Veterans 1st 2nd

Eddie Magee Ron Rhook

128 127

3rd

Chris Charleson

126

Chris Charleson, Ron Rhook and Eddie Magee.

Ladies 1st

Lyndall McNeil

113

2nd

Charlie Hudson

112

3rd

Bianca Norris

109 1st

Michael Baldwin

AA1

135 (+6) / 150

2nd

Mark Du-Rose

AA1

136 (+5) / 150

3rd

Brian Smith

88 (+53) / 150

4th

Luke Willemsen

AA1

134 (+5) / 150

5th

Adam Shale

AA1

132 (+6) / 150

6th

Adam Du Rose

AA0

138 / 150

7th

Grant Sandford

AA1

132 (+6) / 150

8th

Jack Gibbs

AA1

131 (+6) / 150

9th

John Kanellos

AA1

131 (+6) / 150

10th

Bart Brighenti

AA1

131 (+6) / 150

11th

Timothy Friend

117 (+20) / 150

12th

Adam Hirchfield

AA0

136 / 150

13th

Robbie Rainone

124 (+12) / 150

14th

James Saliba

AA1

130 (+6) / 150

15th

Mick Keirl

AA1

130 (+6) / 150

16th

Aaron Brett

AA1

131 (+5) / 150

17th

Matthew Offer

113 (+23) / 150

18th

Chris Brown

AA0

136 / 150

19th

Shane Cann

94 (+42) / 150

20th

Stephen Spencer

AA1

129 (+6) / 150

108

21st

Hugh Hocking

AA1

129 (+6) / 150

22nd

Jeff Zammit

AA1

129 (+6) / 150

23rd

Jimmy Melville

112 (+23) / 150

24th

James Humphries

126 (+9) / 150

25th

Darren Sasse

123 (+12) / 150

26th

John Younger

AA0

134 / 150

27th

Jason Allitt

116 (+18) / 150

28th

Frank Cefai

AA0

134 / 150

29th

Charlie North

AA1

128 (+6) / 150

30th

Simon Sammut

AA1

128 (+6) / 150

Bianca Norris, Charlie Hudson and Lyndall McNeil.

Juniors 1st

Nate Palubiski

125

2nd

Bailey Gatt

124

3rd

Ryan Saliba

123

Bailey Gatt, Ryan Saliba and Nate Palubiski.

Sub-Juniors 1st

Matthew Nedinis

2023 Field & Game Australia ASF National Handicap (OTG score plus handicap in brackets):

2nd

Marcus Keirl

105

3rd

Tom Norton

103

Marcus Keirl, Tom Norton and Matthew Nedinis

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

luxury

Lapping up a bit of

igh Tea was on offer on the Sunday at this year’s National Carnival, and it proved a real hit with almost 50 eager participants enjoying a spectacular spread catered by Nosh & Bevvy, along with sparkling wine generously supplied by Anna Shredrina of Bronze Wing Australia. Anna also supplied the bottled water for the entire carnival.

High Tea sponsor Anna Shedrina enjoys a treat or two.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

English pairs format testing for many The Monday of the 2023 FGA National Carnival dawned fine, warm and sunny in a pleasant contrast to the kind of weather often encountered in the birthplace of the day’s event – English Sporting.

he 100-target event attracted 250 shooters who were keen to continue their weekend of competition, and it proved one for the stayers – the Veterans – who featured heavily at the top end of the table with three of these gentlemen among the top six scorers. The overall winner, however, was a little younger at 21 years old – Mark Du Rose from Westernport Field & Game. Mark shot 87/100 on a testing course which proved difficult for a many a shooter, particularly Ground 1, and took home a $1000 cheque for his efforts courtesy of Anna Shedrina from Bronze Wing Australia / NSI / Laporte.

Mark Du Rose in action.

English Sporting event High Gun winner Mark Du Rose accepts a $1000 cheque from Anna Shedrina of Bronze Wing Australia / NSI / Laporte, as FGA CEO Lucas Cooke looks on.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

English Sporting event AA-grade placegetters, Brett Jory (3rd) and Jack Gibbs (1st). Absent: Adam Shale (2nd).

English Sporting event A-grade placegetters, Rami Teffaha (2nd), Darren Sasse (1st) and James Humphries (3rd).

English Sporting results SCOREBOARD: English Sporting, 100 targets High Gun: Mark Du Rose

87/100

AA grade:

1st

Jack Gibbs

2nd

Adam Shale

3rd

Brett Jory

A grade:

English Sporting event B-grade placegetters Ian Waldron (3rd) and Mauro Conti (1st). Absent: Timothy Friend (2nd).

English Sporting event C-grade placegetters Ivan Mladenovic (3rd) and Brian Smith (1st). Absent: Mark Bracken (2nd).

1st

Darren Sasse

2nd

Rami Teffaha

3rd

James Humphries

B grade:

1st

Mauro Conti

2nd

Timothy Friend

3rd

Ian Waldron

C grade:

1st

Brian Smith

2nd

Mark Bracken

3rd

Ivan Mladenovic

Ladies:

English Sporting event Ladies placegetters Charlie English Sporting event Veterans placegetters Chris Hudson (2nd), Bianca Norris (1st) and Emalene Charleson (3rd), Trevor Beach (2nd) and David Munro (3rd). Paterson (1st), with carnival organiser Danny Ryan.

1st

Bianca Norris

2nd

Charlie Hudson

3rd

Emalene Munro

Veterans:

1st

David Paterson

2nd

Trevor Beach

3rd

Chris Charleson

Juniors:

1st

Nate Palubiski

2nd

Logan Mart

3rd

Cooper Dunn

Sub-Juniors:

English Sporting event Junior placegetters Cooper Dunn (3rd), Logan Mart (2nd) and Nate Palubiski (1st).

English Sporting event Sub-Junior placegetters Luca Goodchild (2nd) and Matthew Nedinis (1st). Absent: Phineas McBurnie (3rd).

1st

Matthew Nedinis

2nd

Luca Goodchild

3rd

Phineas McBurnie

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

Success depends on support of sponsors

“H

uge, massive weekend that will be talked about for a very long time,” was the description of the 2023 FGA National Carnival by FGA’s Danny Ryan during the presentations on Sunday evening.

Major sponsor Beretta Australia’s Gemma McNabb described the carnival as “fantastic”. “Thank-you to FGA for putting on a great event,” Gemma said.

“To date, no-one has ever run a shoot this big.” “This is personally my first Field & Game Nationals, and I will definitely be back. But events such as this don’t just “Thank-you to all the sponsors – not only magically happen, and FGA is grateful for Beretta – our sport does not run without the ongoing support of our very generous that help.” sponsors who make it all possible. “The sponsors and trade – thank-you very much for your support, it’s been absolutely brilliant,” Danny said. “It makes our organisational efforts so much easier when we’ve got awesome sponsors.” 30

Giving extra value to shooters, Beretta Australia’s display tent offered free servicing of Beretta, Benelli and Franchi firearms during the event. Outdoor Trading Company’s Lee Berger – a long-time supporter of Field & Game and

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

other clay target events across the country – said “huge congratulations” were due to Clunes Field & Game on the successful staging of the event. “It’s been an incredible event, it’s obviously the biggest we’ve had in Australia, so well done to you guys, well done to Field & Game.” Lee urged everyone to support all the sponsors as much as they were able to. “Please get behind all those who support the sport,” he said. Another long-standing sponsor of Field & Game is Winchester Australia. “Winchester always answers the call,” Danny Ryan said.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

>> “They are obviously a massive supporter of all the shooting industry right across Australia – all clay target shooting events and other shooting events as well.” Winchester’s George Filippidis thanked Field & Game Australia for the opportunity to display their products and talk to the shooters. “It’s been a great weekend,” he said. “Congratulations to Clunes Field & Game for the volunteers and everyone involved; thanks to the Ballarat boys for setting up our Browning and our Winchester fields – great targets, well done.”

Steve Haberman of SHS Shooting in his Caesar Guerini display tent. Dean Crouch of Top Shot Industries in Queensland chats with Ken Triffitt, who attended from Tasmania.

Anna Shedrina from major sponsor Bronze Wing Australia / NSI / Laporte kept it short and sweet when thanking not only FGA but the shooters who turned out in droves to support the event. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do, without the support that you guys give back to us – so we’d like to thank you,” Anna said. Before presenting the major prize of the weekend – a Blaser F16 – to the High Gun winner of the National Championship, OSA Australia’s Rod Laidlaw thanked everyone involved for putting on a fantastic event. “It’s no mean achievement to run an event for 650-plus people … it’s just a monumental effort … congratulations to you all,” he said. “You’ve created a tremendous atmosphere; I think all the traders who set up there were well supported.” Rod said the OSA set-up was wellfrequented across the weekend. “I appreciate all the people who came in and made themselves known and made inquiries.” He said holding events such as this one involved a certain amount of risk and they didn’t always work out as planned, but such risks were necessary in order for an event to grow and improve. “Otherwise, you’d just get the same mundane events served up to you year after year,” Rod said. “For the good of the sport – well done to the risk-takers.” 32

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Stockmaker Lewie Carpenter.

The OSA Top 10 Shoot-off competitors: (from left) Adam Shale, Mark Du Rose, Adam Du Rose, Adam Hirchfield, Chris Brown, Luke Willemsen, Frank Cefai, John Younger, Grant Sandford and Michael Baldwin.

OSA Shoot-out offers show of skill “We always try to bring something a little bit different, a little bit more detailed year on year,” FGA’s Danny Ryan said.

Adam Hirchfield give a fist pump after hitting the winning target in the OSA Top 10 Shoot-out.

Adam Hirchfield on his way to winning the OSA Top 10 Shoot-out.

e said the OSA Top 10 Shoot-out, first introduced in 2022, had been sharpened up into a more pacy format this year. “I must admit, I was quite happy to sit there for another 10-15 minutes and watch those guys shoot – it was just outstanding,” he said. “It’s great that we can have a little bit of fun and everyone gets to see the best of the best.” Sponsored by OSA, the shoot-off featured the competitors with the top 10 scores off-the-gun from the two-day main event (decided by count-back where necessary) in a knock-out battle for the prize – 10 slabs of cartridges, with the winner taking all.

Frank Cefai has his eyes on the high bird.

The shoot-off took place on the Sunday afternoon prior to the national championship presentations, with a massive crowd of onlookers eager to watch the weekend’s best in direct competition with each other. Adam Shale, Mark Du Rose, Adam Du Rose, Adam Hirchfield, Chris Brown, Luke Willemsen, Frank Cefai, John Younger, Grant Sandford and Michael Baldwin were the 10 contenders in a battle which kept everyone on the edge of their seats, but there was only one winner and that was Adam Hirchfield after a head-to-head battle with Frank Cefai. FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2023

Big job takes a team effort “Brilliant targets.”

The chief ground-setters for the 2023 National Carnival, Simon Hore, Peter McCormick, Jamie Baird and Peter Hall. Absent: Jody Wallace.

“Magnificent shoot.” “Challenging but enjoyable.” “Great mix of presentations.”

hese were just some of the multitude of positive comments that came from shooters across the three days of competition – and those comments are due fairly and squarely to the combined efforts of the ground-setters from a number of different clubs who all worked together to produce a course well worthy of a national event – led by Jamie Baird from Clunes, Peter McCormick from Ballarat, Nick Stebbing from Ararat, Jody Wallace from Daylesford Sporting Clays, and last year’s ground designers Simon Hore and Peter Hall.

“On behalf of my crew from Ballarat, I’d love to thank everybody that actually took time out to thank us,” Peter McCormick said. “It has been a big commitment and I’ve got a brilliant committee and we stick together – but we are getting a bit older, so we were very strong in our opinions that we were taking ground one and ground two with less hills in it! “Thank-you very much to my crew, you’re tops.”

Jamie Baird said his club had inquired about running the nationals in 2024 – “but here we are this year!”

last two weeks out here … if you could have anybody in a club, he’s the bloke you’d want.”

Simon Hore acknowledged the “technical “It was a big step … it’s been a testing brains” and their products who kept things time, but we’ve got this far. But without Danny and Lucas and Pete and Simon, well, working. they’re easy to get along with and talk to, “Planning something like this is huge,” and Ballarat, Daylesford, Ararat – it’s run Simon Hore said. very smooth. “But probably one of the most important “The girls, Jodie and the crew in the canteen things to us as ground-setters is not so – an amazing job feeding everyone … Kenny much the challenge of setting 90 different on the practice trap … Phil Toose – the targets … it’s people like Grant Sandford of Bowman, Karl Kivinen of KivTronics that amount of work Phil has put in over the

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

we rely on so much. “Without them … we couldn’t achieve what we do.” Peter Hall thanked everyone for attending the 2023 National Carnival and trusting the target setters to put on a good show. “Yes, there was some tough targets out there, but by gee, they were all shootable … it was quality plus.” He thanked the Clunes element in particular for their work. “Phil Toose, and Tess, and Jamie – the hard work they’ve done when no-one was here, for us, was fantastic. “All the clubs ... Ballarat was fantastic, Ararat, everybody was fantastic,” Peter said. “Daylesford broke their back as well. It’s great to see a club – Daylesford, which is not an FGA club – come in, bring their traps in, and work together. Because at the end of the day, shooting is about everybody together ... we’re a team.”

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

GUNDOGS National Retrieving Trial Championships by Trevor Stow

Cream rises to the top at trials T his year the National Retrieving Trial Championship for Gundogs was held in Western Australia near the attractive small town of Toodyay, about an hour’s drive east of Perth in the wheat belt area. This part of Western Australia features some beautiful pastoral country. Crops are mainly wheat and canola and are grown in undulating countryside among the native trees and bushland, while the town itself has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s when it was established as a military post. Today it is very popular with tourists.

This year’s national championships offered a retrieving trial bonanza, with the Western Australian trialing community running retrieving trials over three weekends in the lead-up to the three-day national event, including the WA State Championship. Two experienced championship judges officiated at the national event: Queensland’s Ron Jackson, who during his 47 years in the sport had previously judged three national championships, numerous state championships and many all-age events; and Western’s Australia’s Allan Bartram who, like Ron, had previously judged a national championship as well as numerous state championships – in total almost 200 stakes. The Toodyay area is graced by the Avon River which meanders through the valley for many miles flanked by native bush including wattles, kangaroo paw and other wildflowers – although they were not at their peak during the trial. The Competitors, judges and stewards at the 2023 Nationals.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Co-judges Ron Jackson (left) and Allan Bartram (right) with championship winner Ray Ashenden.

setting is ideal for the running of retrieving trials, which aim to replicate true hunting situations – and the organisers were fortunate also to have the co-operation of the farmers who allowed these trialling events to be run on their properties. A field of 28 dogs saluted the judges this year. Although this number was down on previous years’ events, the National Championships nevertheless attracted some of the best gundogs in Australia. Dogs that were present included Adderslot Maggie May and Adderslot Digger, both run by Greg Pleydon; Nativerun Angus (Gus), run by Ray Ashenden; Reva, run by Karl Britton; Terranaut Biscuit, run by Joe Vella; Boomer Magic Flare, run by Maggie Hankinson; and Nativerun Bracken Blue, run by Paul Littlejohn. All these dogs have won state and/or national championships.

Alex Deasy takes delivery of the bird from her golden retriever. Alex is fairly new to the sport but doing very well.

During the first two days of trialing the judges split the field in half and set their own runs, whittling the field down to 11 dogs. On the final day, with the result hanging in the balance, the remaining competitors fronted up for the final two runs with both judges officiating together. On the first run, three competitors were eliminated: Paul Littlejohn from Tasmania, Greg Pleydon with Digger, and Mark Davis >> from Victoria.

Mark Davis sends Beereegan Double or Nothing for the bird.

Paul Littlejohn and his dog Nativerun Bracken. Paul and his wife Marg travelled from Tasmania to compete. FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

>> Going into the final run of the championship, the following handlers were left in the competition: Bob Pickworth (dog run by Bob’s friend Joe Vella, after Bob suffered a nasty fall at the weekend); Ray Ashenden; Joe Vella; Carol Christensen; Karl Britton; Margaret Sullivan; and Trevor Stow with two dogs. The judges set a very challenging final run on the banks of the Avon River, designed to separate the field. They placed a “blind” rabbit on the left-hand side amongst the trees, at about 100m, and the dogs were placed in a hide while the competitors shot at the blind. The dogs were then called up by their handlers and shown a “mark”, straight ahead at 150m. They were also shown a mark that went into the river on their right at about 80m. The dogs were required to pick up the water bird, followed by the long mark, followed by the short blind to the left. All dogs completed this run, but the cream came to the top. Many dogs required handling, which lost them valuable points. Ray Ashenden, Margaret Sullivan and Carol Christensen and their charges all performed strongly, while the other five dogs struggled.

Joe Vella of NSW receiving the bird from Terranaut Pawsey.

The final result saw Ray Ashenden the winner on 412 points, ahead of Karl Britton (398), Carol Christensen (388), Joe Vella (386) and Margaret Sullivan (386). Also finishing the trial were Bob Pickford and Trevor Stow (two dogs). The teams competition was won by Greg Pleydon, Joe Vella and Trevor Stow. Following the event, it was announced that next year’s National Championship will be held at Bairnsdale in Victoria, to be judged by Di McCann and Greg Pleydon.

Ray Ashenden with his champion dog Nativerun Angus (Gus). Ray won the 2023 National.

Trevor Stow and Adderslot Georgie about to head into the water.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

GUNDOGS with Rod Watt

Interview with a gundog master

Ray Ashenden.

Ray Ashenden and his dog Gus (Nativerun Angus, bred by Margie and Paul Littlejohn from Tasmania) have won the most prestigious retrieving trial in our country, the 2023 Australian National Championship Retrieving Trial for Gundogs.

his event is held in a different state each year, with 50 to 60 gundogs coming from all over Australia to compete; in 2023 it was held in Western Australia.

people retreat to enjoy the coolness of the mountains). We would then clean the parrots that I harvested and grilled them over the fire while at the same time heating water in the copper for a bath.

I met Ray way back in 1978 when I visited South Australia to compete in an event with my gundog, and it was evident then that he was a special man with dogs.

“I was a member of the Port Adelaide Rifle Club at 12 years of age, and I was still going to primary school and shooting 600 yards with peep sights.

Ray has hunted game for most of his life, starting off with a slug gun at the age of nine.

“My present for my 15th birthday was a Lithgow single shot rifle with which I brought down pigeon and rabbit.

The fact that Ray understands the hunting of wild game is, in my opinion, what has helped to make him a master with gundogs.

“In my life I have been lucky to have had my dogs with me when I was at Marnoo, near Meningie (a town on the Coorong in South Australia). While we were shifting irrigation pipes the dog would indicate when there were birds in the area. Giving the command ‘work it up’, I would follow the dog with the same command, and when the birds were produced I would give the command “stay”, then praise. It soon became a game of ‘find’, ‘flush’ and ‘watch’ with the gun being used later with steady results. Because the dog ‘found’, ‘flushed’ and ‘watched’, when the game was shot, they marked accurately from 75 metres onwards.

I was fortunate enough to be able to sit and ask Ray questions about himself and his sport of hunting and gundog trialling, which I am sure will interest many readers.

When did you start hunting with gundogs? “I started shooting under my father’s critical eye at the age of nine, and firearm safety was taught at home. “I was allowed to go hunting on my own with my Daisy air rifle on my uncle’s farm at Mylor (Mylor is one of those small, quiet villages in the Adelaide Hills where

“Bill, my lifelong friend, was given a pup from each mating of my bitch every, say, five to six years. This was like a backup

bitch, in case I lost mine. “ ‘Work it up’ was the only command I used in the field. If we changed direction the dogs worked around to the front of us. “Bill’s bitch, Penny, had real bird sense. When we would enter a paddock, she would head straight to where the birds were. She had an uncanny bird instinct and kept us on our toes. “As a rule, the dogs were single-minded when working and ignored each other until game was down. I would walk on the right with Bill on the left; and if Dick Ayres was with us, we would put him in the middle. Dick loved to shoot over the dogs and would try to make the duck opening each year. “When we got to the paddock, we would discuss where we would walk, taking the wind and time of day into consideration. We didn’t just walk around aimlessly; we had a plan. “All my Labradors pointed or held game when the birds were on the ground, and I moved them on quickly when trialling. “Early in the 1970s I was share-farming at Marnoo, the property opposite Dodd’s where the Meningie Cup is held yearly (2023 is the 46th year this year). The >> owner of this property owned a dog called

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Ray and Gus in action at a field trial.

>> ‘Pantherdell Kooka’ (or Panda) a black Labrador that he moved on to Kingston with. As the dog fretted so much, I had to bring her back to the farm and eventually bred from her. “However, Panda was stone deaf and so we would spotlight rabbits with no rifle. It was pretty basic with no back door on the Nissan, spotlight in right hand, dog’s head over my shoulder. We would spot a rabbit, then give Panda a cue and out the back of the Nissan she would fly; never ran through the light, but a curve and came in from the side, rolling the rabbit, handing me the game, dispatched, and head over the shoulder for the next one. “If I had to go to Adelaide, I would go out the night before and take down a couple of fish boxes full of rabbits to distribute in the pubs.”

What is your preferred breed of dog and why? “My gundogs have only been Labs, familyfriendly, live for the gun, and in my opinion in my first 20 years they are far and away the best field dogs. “Walking a paddock with my mate Bill with our two Labs and working quail are some of my greatest memories. 40

“From Panda I bred Pandell. As a pup she would be with me while I was shifting irrigation pipes and learning to be steady when we flushed quail and rabbit. We were in the environment daily, so training was continuous. The same method applied with my dog Lyra as well.”

What type of game do you prefer to hunt with your dogs? “In the south-east of South Australia, we mostly hunted quail, rabbit and ducks. My dog, Prize, was in the station country between Hungerford and Bourke and she was good on the goats and pulling down a wounded roo. She would then turn her mind to retrieving trials and came fifth in the 2003 National Retrieving Trial Championship.”

Did you grow up with dogs?

five dogs and then quietly call up one at a time and work five sheep in a five-acre paddock. Each dog had half an hour. A great learning lesson for me. “I had a foxy that was a legend on rabbits, flushing them out, and when rolled would jump over the rabbit and into the cover for the next one. “My first gundog was Panda, the Labrador.”

What is your philosophy on gundog training? “Bonding, patience and repetition in training. A well-bred gundog will retrieve and hunt instinctively. However, it’s important that you mould the dog the way you expect it to work. You don’t break the eagerness and drive, rather steer it in the direction you require.”

How did you feel when you won the Australian National Retrieving Trial?

“We always had dogs as pets. My early memory of trained dogs goes back 70 years when we would go out to Gawler to great-uncle Fred’s where he trained and leased out dogs to drovers. His dogs were border collies and named after the stars in the Southern Cross: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon.

“Winning the National with Gus was the ultimate reward for him. As a six-year-old he has been an exceptional dog and a beautiful friend; winning the National was the Everest. My feelings were extreme pride in my dog.

“He never raised his voice and would sit the

“Gus as a six-year-old has won 48 All

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Age Retrieving Trials, three separate State Championships and of course, the coveted Australian National Retrieving Trial Championship. “There is a big difference between a trialling dog and a shooting dog. My dogs from mid-1970 until 2010 could run in a field trial and compete in a retrieving trial the next weekend, successfully. “I believe retrieving today is line running and obedience. However, years ago, the judge would be up a ladder and once the dog was sent for the retrieve it would be out of sight within 20 yards. The dog had to mark and hunt using their natural instincts. “The pleasure of watching your dog on a diving, wounded bird for 15 minutes until it was retrieved is something you can’t replicate in a retrieving trial. “

Apart from the National, what are some of the other highlights in your career in gundog trialling? “I could write a book on this. In the early 1970s I inherited a Pantherdell bitch (Panda) and she was that good at hunting that I was able to keep a couple of pubs in Adelaide stocked with rabbits.

“I decided to breed from her and kept one of her pups, Pandell. She was born in May 1975, and became a retrieving trial champion in 1978. In 1980 she gained the title Australian Field Trial Champion. In both years she was awarded the Certificate of Merit, which is only handed out for dogs with outstanding natural ability. In 1981 she won the SA State with a Certificate of Merit and came second in the 9th Australian National Retrieving Championships in 1978. “And then there was Lyra, titled in 1981, and Cindy, awarded the Retrieving Title 1984 and Field Title 1985 and then Prize gained her Retrieving Trial Champion in 2005, and the list goes on. All these dogs were a joy to shoot over, quail, rabbit and duck in the field. “From the mid 1970s until 2014 when I lost Prize, shooting was the priority; only in these later years have I been putting more time and effort into trial training. “Today, 80 per cent of food on my table has been sourced by gun or hook.”

What dog gave you the most problems and what was the result? “I bought a dog with American lines and that dog worked for himself. At nine

months of age, the breeder and I spent some time with him, and we both agreed that he was not my type of dog, so he was placed elsewhere. “A good friend of mine told me once, that when you are out walking and your dog is in front a bit, slip behind a tree and hide, if the dog comes back looking for you, you have a good bond to work with. The abovementioned dog kept going. You had to go and find him.”

What’s one piece of advice that you would give someone starting out in the sport? “The one thing I preach to people wanting a working gundog is the importance of breeding. Spend some time looking at the pedigrees; the four generations of breeding going back. It will give you some idea of what you may get in your pup. Please remember it is not all the dog, the pups will carry more of the bitch’s genes than the male dog. “If you are going to get a gundog it will be part of your life for a minimum of 12 years, so training 10 hours a week by two years is around 1000 hours – so it might as well be spent on something that has a good chance.”

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

GUNDOGS SA Retrieving Trials by Trevor Stow

Maggie May, run by Russell Whitechurch, was the winner of the South Australian Retrieving Trials for Gundogs State Title.

Triallers tested in SA The South Australian Retrieving community ran two successful trials in August, drawing competitors from five states. The first was a lead-up trial over a weekend, followed by the two-day state championships the following weekend.

oth trials were held at the Barmera Moorook Field & Game waterway at Loveday in the Riverland area of South Australia. Due to heavy rains and flooding of the Murray River in 2022, the lagoons were full to overflowing – making the location ideal for conducting retrieving trials.

Good fields were present on both weekends, with most of the best retrieving dogs in Australia present for the state championships on the second weekend. Thirty-one dogs saluted Victorian judge Di McCann, who presided over six championship runs over the two days of the state titles. 42

Four runs were conducted on Saturday and these really sorted out the dogs, with only eight remaining in the field heading into the second day of competition. A further competitor was eliminated on Sunday, with seven in total completing the championship. The winner was Russell Whitechurch and Maggie May with 330 points, followed by Karl Britton and Reva (324), Joe Vella and Biscuit (316), and Trevor Stow and Georgie (313). Also finishing were Richard Carr, Russell Best and Bob Pickworth. Full results from the SA trials can be found at https://raftcosa.weebly. com/2023-results.html

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Margie Littlejohn and Stauntonvale Blyton of Nativerun.

Trevor Stow’s Elle in action.

Karl Britton and Reva.

Russell Best and Richfield Rubys a Gem.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

IN THE FIELD by Kevin Walshaw

Axel draws up on snipe in the field.

The all-purpose gundog January 1967 arrived, and I began my hunting career with German shorthaired pointers. Immediately I was to discover that these gundogs were an excellent choice for my all-round field hunting. At that time, in the main I was a serious gamebird hunter.

he following 50-plus years I owned, hunted with, and bred German shorthaired pointers. I became totally enthralled and amazed at how biddable, courageous, intelligent, hardworking and high-class these field gundogs were; they truly fitted the all-round hunter. ***

The cold air coming from the snow-capped mountains arrived exactly on schedule. It was also accompanied by a soft, wispy, white fog drifting silently in on the moon’s searchlight beam. I had finalised arrangements with a landowner during the week, allowing me to hunt on his property with my dogs for gamebirds and rabbits. Arriving home from my building construction works, I loaded up the necessary paraphernalia for the ensuing day’s jaunt, as this would allow me an early departure. Setting forth next morning prior to daylight, my dogs Zachary and Axel and I travelled the 60 miles, arriving at my designated destination where I had performed various 44

building works. The chosen property was close to the Victorian border and a stone’s throw from the Snowy River. Given the all-clear by the farmer – “Kevin, go wherever you like” – I motored down three-quarters of a mile, halting upon a rise of land six or eight feet above a large and very damp grass meadow containing the odd tea-tree here and there. The dogs and I eased ourselves out of the vehicle; they sauntered about as I put my gun together and placed on the cartridge belt loaded with 1 1/16 oz 8 shells, and we set forth in our search for snipe. These small birds are attracted to wettish landscapes. Their food intake requires soft and moist soils containing earthworms and invertebrates – and this day my selected site was in perfect order. Over a period of time the farmer had allowed some 40 head of Angus cattle on this meadow, up until about a month ago – and the cattle’s droppings assisted enormously in supplying the snipe’s required food intake. The hunters of these elegant gamebirds are aware that snipe are very conservating

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

in both habitat and surroundings. Indeed, once snipe have selected a suitable patch they quite simply can and do reappear on it regularly. Breathtaking scenery across the high country with its views, its silence and the river below tends to restore one’s appreciation for this vast Monaro region, while your road journey affords an unrivalled timeframe for dispensing with any and all the cares of work. Snipe are affected by the moon, so with that being the case I usually arrange my hunting day following a clear moonlit night as best I can. Chiefly feeding during night-time, snipe gorge food ravenously; then, once daylight arrives these birds tend to lay well for a hunter and his dogs. With a cool and tantalising breeze upon my back as I set off, I travelled downwind. Zac and Axel are veterans on snipe, quartering in their usual windscreen patterns some twelve to fifteen years to the front and a similar distance either side. Snipe at this time of the year can be

Not content with just despatching the fox, Zac brings it back too. plentiful on my chosen site – and within no time our first bird erupted from the boggy dancefloor. He lifted, emitting his renowned ‘scarp scarp’ call, then at my shot’s sound he dipsy-doodled to earth, dead. Axel performed a nice retrieve to hand.

is slightly out on my right. A bird bursts up, and as a pattern of lead connects with the snipe he corkscrews to earth dead.

Speed of hand and eye are vital when gunning these ultimate speedsters; this is the hunter-gatherer’s test with dogs and birds. I enjoy the challenges associated with snipe; they are jinking rockets of ultimate speed, testing the steadiness of nerves and concentration.

A further 30 yards on is another ‘scarp scarp’ and as I gun at the sound more snipe catapult skywards and a pattern of lead ends in a double retrieve with both collected for my snipe carrier.

Head held high, Zac slows and freezes. He

I detect a smile from Zac when I take his prize delivered ever-so-gently to hand.

Reaching the end of our 700-odd yards marched, I had accounted for seven birds plus a number of misses.

Exiting the dampish meadow, I proceeded to set forth up onto the higher and dryer flat grass area and turned into the breeze for quail. My two four-legged bird-finding machines performed bronze-statue-like, pointing and backing. Upon my flush command, five quail exploded and both my gundogs were indeed pleased when two fell on my single shot. Zac raced out, collecting both birds at once for his retrieve to hand. Axel was on point with his own rock-solid discovery, and when ordered to flush up came a single; a shot rang out then Axel tore out and back with >> his prized retrieve.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Zac surprises and despatches a fox during a hunt.

Zac and Axel, the best of mates.

>> We returned to our vehicle with seven snipe and five quail. A rest time was taken for coffee, with a few biscuits shared; the dogs devoured at least half.

Zac and Axel are classical top-class allrounders and both have had an enormous amount of experience upon all gamebird species.

Arriving on the plateau, the weather decided to change. On top of the world, mist commenced adding to the atmosphere and snipe materialised one after another, arriving with slick demonstrations of speed and aerobatics – and due to the mist, fast gunning plus accurate retrieving became the order of the day.

A few quail here and there scarper, crisscrossing about, however my two ultimate reliables nail each one.

I am indeed a very fortunate gent to hunt here with the land and scenery ever so stunning. Sneaking back to our original site, I decided to move across 80 to 90 yards and go trudging away at an angle of 45 degrees. Birds rose skywards spasmodically, with an odd one now and then placed into my carrier. Quite a number of other rises were well out of range and they tore off into the distance and out of sight. We go out once more, coursing grassland, dogs locking up on quail, and once flushed I observe them race away unharmed. 46

The lunch-time break arrives and I sit on the LandCruiser’s tailgate, stroking my partners’ heads while informing them how pleased I am with each’s performance. The dogs – well, they are just itching for less talk and more birds and gunworks. Rabbits generally are a real nuisance on any farm. They are a source of constant annoyance. They can and will do a deal of damage unless farmers are energetic with controlling their populations before they explode, and most farmers are not against receiving assistance from a hunter with dogs in their culling of rabbits. For an experienced gundog man the hunting of these pests affords an excellent challenge in gunning them over rough country cover as they dart about speedily. Zachary was out on my right at the edge of a tussock; he created a point, then eased

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

forwards and froze. A fox stood up three yards in front from behind a large tussock – and Zac dashed forward and catapulted into the fox, knocking him over, then pounced and killed him instantly before he came trotting back to me, retrieving his kill, eyes shining. To be honest, I almost collapsed with delight – and Axel was dumbfounded. Fact is, this was not the demon’s first ever kill. We continued hunting through this tussocky area, the dogs producing a number or rabbits, and both enjoying their time as this breed seems to do when targeting rabbits – they seem to be mesmerised by rabbits and the feeling of fur when retrieving them. Three o’clock arrived, and inside my vehicle I had a few decoys, so dogs and I scarpered down to the Snowy River. Setting four decoys into an eddy’s backwater, then three upon a grass strip by the water’s edge, the dogs and I plonked ourselves into an outcrop of tallish bushes. Now and then teal came winging in high and fast overhead on their way towards the snow-covered mountains. Black ducks bored in, circled tight then plummeted down, landing gear extended. I awarded

Zac retrieves a rabbit.

them two clouds of size 5 lead; three stayed and the balance zoomed off to Victoria. Both dogs rocketed into the river, completing their duties in excellent form. Teal came roaring in from nowhere and jetted directly into our set of decoys. The gun spoke twice and two hit the water belly-up, dead as doornails. With them retrieved I had the grand total of five. The daylight was fading as I gathered the decoys and returned to our vehicle, loaded up ducks and gear, towelled the dogs dry, started the motor and drifted up to the farmers working in their shed. I expressed my gratitude for the day and handed over snipe, two black ducks and four rabbits, all cleaned and dressed. We drove away, heater on, and hit the blacktop. Headlights ablaze, dogs and I skedaddled for home. *** My hunting from January 1967 has given me almost 60 years spent with Zachary, Axel, Rusty, Georgia, Thor and Peg – a most wonderful lifetime with the shorthairs, hunting and gunning over each

of them on quail, snipe, ducks, pheasants, partridge and rabbits. These dogs were intelligent, trustworthy and courageous, filled to capacity with all the arts and class crafts required of genuine field-bred dogs of distinction. They gave me their lifetimes, and we spent thousands and thousands of days and hours hunting together; days that afforded me a rare and exciting life that I guess very few gentlemen have experienced. Out upon the plains country the grass cover stretches to the horizon and my two rip-snorters are tearing over their ground. Slam-bang, they are on point. I dawdle forwards, as silently as a fox. A whispery thundering sunburst of brown feathers explodes as quail bombard the air. I check on my heart, for it’s in my throat. Beautiful birds are found and taken with beautiful dogs and guns. My life with each of my dogs has been compiled with explosive and exciting times, and I have loved every second of every minute and every hour. Together during field times, dogs and I have traversed and covered thousands of miles during rain, snow, wind and heat. When each day’s ending arrived, I sat peacefully on the

tailgate with the dogs and wondered just what it was that those poor people not as lucky as I had been doing that day. The facts of life are that my mind skips back, recalling especially associated days, when all the dogs sneak up and we spend a little quiet time; I reach out patting and caressing them. I gather my best thoughts, get the gun from the case, assemble it, and take a handful of old paper-cased shells – and off we go into the beautiful golden field of autumn’s colours. We are all alive once more. For me it becomes ever so difficult to place into words just what a magnificent and full lifetime has been mine. Dog and bird photographs are locked away in my head, and I admit to one and all that odd times occur with me when a tear slides gently down a cheek. Today though, I reach out and can stroke Drummer, my pointer – and he is a ripsnorter. Young boys dream; old men remember. Kevin A. Walshaw Sale Field & Game

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BRANCH NEWS Benalla schools championship

High Gun, Nate Palubiski.

Students battle it out at Benalla On October 10, Benalla FGA hosted a successful schools’ clay target championships, for which 103 students nominated to participate.

ccording to the dates on the perpetual trophies, in particular the Charlie Whitla Shield, the championships started in 1962, at which time Charlie was teaching firearm safety at Benalla Technical School; however, other trophies are dated 1964. This event eventually became the North East Zone Championships. In 1984, Noel O’Connor and Rod Berger, both then teachers at Benalla College and FGA members, were asked to take over the running of the competition. They changed the format from DTL to Field & Game ASF.

During that time Benalla College organised the competition and Benalla FGA hosted the event at its Reef Hills Park complex – affectionately known by many as the “little club in the scrub”. The event has run continuously to the present day, except for the one-in-100year flood in 1993 when a large portion of the town was under water, and during the three COVID-19-affected years in which the event went into recess. The event this year was wholly organised and run by Benalla FGA, with students from 14 schools attending. Normally about 250 students would attend the day, but as no competitions had been conducted during the past three years the organisers were very happy with the turn-out.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

The categories for the perpetual trophies were: High Gun; Old Girls and Old Boys (competitors who had shot prior to the current year); New Girls and New Boys (competitors who commenced shooting this year); Old Teams (four ‘Old’ members); New Teams (four ‘New’ members); and Champion Team. Thanks goes to all the volunteers who helped make the event possible, teachers, parents and FGA members from other clubs for their assistance on the day. Special thanks also to the sponsors: Winchester, which has sponsored the shot shells since 1984; and Outdoor Trading Company for suppling Promatic clays for >> the event.

Benalla FGA RESULTS: 39th Annual Benalla Clay Target Championships, 20 targets

Open Benalla Field & Game Trophy

1st Nate Palubiski (Rutherglen High School)

Champion Team, Alexandra Secondary College.

Old Boys D. Comensoli Trophy

1st Phineas McBurnie (Trinity Anglican College Albury) 2nd Marcus Kierl (St Joseph’s College Echuca)

New Boys Horace James Trophy

1st Chase Kennedy (Broadford Secondary College) 2nd Connor Brown (Wangaratta High School)

Old Girls Miss Olholm Trophy

1st Izabelle Kierl (St Joseph’s College Echuca) 2nd Emmie Clark (Alexandra Secondary College)

New Girls Jean Whitla Trophy

1st Abbey James (Wangaratta High School) New Teams champion, Wangaratta High School.

2nd Emma Jory (Wangaratta High School)

New Teams H.H. Foster Trophy plus four individual trophies

1st Wangaratta High School (Connor Brown, Anthony Chisholm, James Chisholm, Ned James)

Old Teams C. Behrendt Trophy plus four individual trophies

1st Alexandra Secondary College (Harry Morley, Caleb Carden, Coen Miljkovic, Blake Coward)

Champion Team Charlie Whitla Shield (to be held by Benalla FGA) plus four individual trophies

1st Alexandra Secondary College (Harry Morley, Caleb Carden, Coen Miljkovic, Blake Coward) Old Teams champion, Alexandra Secondary College.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Second in Old Boys, Marcus Keirl.

First in Senior Girls, Izabelle Keirl.

First in Old Boys, Phineas McBurnie.

First in New Boys, Chase Kennedy.

Second in New Boys, Connor Brown.

Second in Senior Girls, Emmie Clark.

First in Junior Girls, Abbey James.

Second in Junior Girls, Emma Jory.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BRANCH NEWS Sale region schools championship

Students’ skills on show

John Byers refereeing a Maffra Secondary College student.

On a cool and showery Monday at the Sale Field & Game range, 106 students from the five secondary schools in Wellington Shire gathered to participate in the final inter-school shooting event for the year – the Wellington Schools Greg Gonzalez Memorial Shoot – which followed on from the Howard & Schuback Gippsland Interschool Simulated Clay Target Championships shoot which was held in June.

he competing schools at the October 16 event were Maffra, Sale and Yarram secondary colleges, Catholic College Sale and Gippsland Grammar, and although the weather could have been better, the showers failed to disrupt the proceedings and the young shooters nevertheless enjoyed the day.

barrel targets at each stand. A referee and a scorer accompanied each squad of shooters, handing a shell to each competitor when it was their turn to shoot. The targets were different at each stand and included incoming, crossing, outgoing, springing, and even a ‘rabbit’ target.

This event has now been running for 16 years, with the aim of bringing the schools together early in Term 4 to enjoy the sport of simulated field clay target shooting.

A special mention must be made of the Gonzalez family members for their generous sponsorship of this event, for which the Sale branch is very grateful.

Students were grouped in squads of five and shot two rounds of 10 ASF targets across five stands, with two single-

Greg Gonzalez Senior, a long-time Field & Game member, passed away earlier >> this year and his family was keen to

The winning team from Gippsland Grammar is presented with the Greg Gonzalez Sr Trophy by Greg Gonzalez Jr.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Senior Boys winner Alex Whitehead from Maffra.

Senior Girls winner Ella O'Doherty, from Gippsland.

Junior Girls winner Darcee Young, of Gippsland Grammar.

Junior Boys winner Oliver Witt, Catholic College Sale.

A team from Gippsland Grammar, with Geoff Glass and Jack Kelly.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

SCOREBOARD Wellington Schools Clay Target Shoot 2023, 20 targets

A team from Maffra Secondary College, with Carl Johnson.

Senior boys:

1st Alex Whitehead (Maffra Secondary)

2nd Jole Hooper (Gippsland Grammar)

17 + 6/6

3rd Sam Ditchburn (Gippsland Grammar)

17 + 5/6

Senior girls:

1st Ella O’Doherty (Gippsland Grammar)

15 + 4/4

2nd Grace Scott (Maffra Secondary)

15 + 1 /4

3rd Tenille Leadoux (Yarram Secondary)

13 + 4/4

Junior boys:

The team from Catholic College Sale.

Greg Gonzalez Junior presented the prizes for the day after giving a short address in memory of his father, expressing what the event would have meant to him. The day ran like clockwork; targets and ammo were provided by the Sale Field & Game branch, along with referees, scorers, armoury officials, office staff

18 + 4/4

2nd Braith Stayley (Gippsland Grammar)

18 + 3 /4

3rd Jett McMahon (Catholic College Sale)

16 + 11/12

Junior girls:

1st Darcee Young (Gippsland Grammar)

16 + 4/4

2nd Poppy Baldwin Bland (Yarram Secondary)

16 + 4/5

The canteen was staffed by Sale members who kept everyone well fed; teachers watched over their young charges and their equipment; parents were in attendance to support their kids in their endeavours; and presiding over all was a very efficient yet relaxed Gary (Pud) Howard – all of which contributed to a rewarding time for everyone involved.

3rd Imogen Carpenter (Gippsland Grammar)

16 + 3/5

Equal 2nd Catholic College Sale

77/100

Gordon Cowling, Schools Shoots Coordinator, Sale Field & Game

Equal 2nd Gippsland Grammar #2

77/100

>> commemorate Greg Snr’s love of shooting; so, when this event was mentioned, the family was overjoyed to give their dad's name to something that encourages the younger generation to be involved in the sport he loved so much.

1st Oliver Witt (Catholic College Sale)

and trap setters with help also from FGA members from across Gippsland.

Teams:

1st Gippsland Grammar #1: Nathaniel Shelton, James Westman, Sam Ditchburn, Jole Hooper, Braith Stayley 86/100

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BRANCH NEWS Seymour Field & Game

Come & Try a triumph On a beautiful July day in Avenel, Seymour Field & Game held its annual Come & Try day, which drew 62 keen participants eager to find out what our sport involves.

feedback, with many participants not only expressing surprise at how much fun they’d had, but indicating they were keen to learn more about the sport.

n the day, following registration all participants were taken through a safety briefing before being divided into groups of about six and heading off with a committee member around the ground, where they were able to have a shot or two at each stand of varying difficulty.

“The key thing here, I think, was the power of Facebook,” Seymour Field & Game’s Alison Coombs said.

Pleasingly, there was a lot of very good

“We posted the flyer up on our local

community pages, and within three days had 45 registered! “We eventually had to put a cap on numbers, so will definitely be holding another.” The club thanks its valued members who freely gave their time to showcase our sport.

Seymour Field & Game’s Come & Try day attracted 62 participants who were keen to find out more about clay target shooting.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

The Hunter and the Greenie by Paras Stavrianakos

ackson loved the outback. He adored the great outdoors! Hunting was his favourite, On the wetlands’ duck-filled shores!

Then one day she noticed Someone working at the zoo, He was caring for the habitats Of the koalas and emu.

Jackson gasped in horror. ‘Oh no!’ he said at last, ‘You’re an anti, aren’t you?’ Sammy nodded, still aghast.

He could pick the Aussie wood duck From the grey and chestnut teals, And the black duck from the mallard At a hundred meters afield.

‘Hello,’ said Jackson with a start, When he saw the lovely lady. Sammy’s smile was bright, And her hair was long and wavy.

They launched into an argument About their different views, Jackson spoke of his experience, Sammy of what she saw on the news.

Farmers thanked him for the help In managing a pest, His friends enjoyed the casseroles At dinners that impressed.

The hunter and the greenie Went out on a date, The greenie ordered Duck a l’Orange, The hunter a nice steak.

But as their tempers tempered And they talked a little more, They learned the things they had in common Were far more than what they abhorred.

His uncles and his cousins, Plus mates from Ballarat, Shared good times and adventures When they donned their camo hats.

They talked about their passion For the environment, Their endeavours for a better world, With love and excitement.

‘Perhaps,’ said Jackson hopefully, ‘We can continue our acquaintance? ‘We both care for the environment ‘And want to help maintain it.’

But it wasn’t just the company, The four-wheel driving or the camping, It was the wetland’s atmosphere That was the most enchanting.

‘Next time,’ Jackson offered, ‘I’ll cook duck for you! ‘I’m famous for my cooking!’ Sammy beamed and said, ‘Thank you!’

‘We may have different opinions,’ Sammy agreed finally, ‘But I think we both love nature. ‘We can agree on that, can’t we?’

For when Jackson stood on the banks Of Lake Donald or Kerang, His decoys right before him And his dog waiting command,

So Jackson made his famous stew Of slow cooked duck with wine, It made the whole house smell – Quite simply, divine.

So, the greenie and the hunter, Quite an unlikely pair, Focused on the interests That the both of them shared.

His senses were alert And his shotgun at the ready, He felt at one with nature As the ducks began their medley.

‘This casserole’s amazing!’ said Sammy, As she dipped in some bread, ‘Did you say it was sustainably sourced, ‘Organic and grain-fed?’

For though their opinions differed, They chose to show respect, For deep down they were both Keen environmentalists.

Sammy loved the outback, She loved the environment! (From the comfortable armchair Of her inner-city apartment).

‘Of course!’ said Jackson proudly, ‘I went to Moulamein! ‘I brought you back the cleanest meat ‘You’ll ever, ever find!’

About the author

She’d only eat red meat That was grass-fed and free-range, With organic veggies That were sustainably obtained.

Sammy frowned a little bit, Her mind was simply racing. ‘Jackson,’ she asked slowly, ‘What butcher are you saying?’

Her creams and her cosmetics Were in recycled packaging, She hated plastic straws And all sorts of waste mismanaging.

‘Butcher?’ asked Jackson, Seeing that Sammy looked suspicious, ‘I hunted for this meat myself, ‘Which is why it’s so delicious!’

But the one thing Sammy hated Even more than needless waste, Was that there were many people Who killed ducks just for the chase.

Sammy clutched with horror At her small vegan handbag, ‘I can’t believe you’re a hunter!’ She said with devastation.

For Sammy was a greenie And it broke her gentle heart, To hear of ducks being hunted Instead of fed at the park.

‘Is that a problem?’ asked Jackson, Looking quite confused, ‘You said meat should be sustainable – ‘This was the best that I could do!’

She quite strongly believed That hunters were bad people, (Not that she’d ever met one, But still, they sounded evil).

‘A hunter!’ lamented Sammy, ‘You kill ducks for fun! ‘You said you were an environmentalist, ‘Not a thug with a gun!’

“I am a mum, a primary school teacher and the wife and daughter to two of the most passionate duck hunters I have ever met,” Paras Stavrianakos says. “My dad, Ioannis Kakridas, has been a member of Field & Game for over 40 years, I believe, and he encouraged me to reach out to you.” Paras is hoping to turn her poem into a picture storybook, and perhaps use it as a way to help raise money to assist Field & Game Australia in its efforts to preserve hunting for future generations. Paras’s father-in-law Kostas Stavrianakos, her husband Giannis Stavrianakos holding their son Kostas Stavrianakos, and Paras’s dad Ioannis Kakridas when they came back from a hunting trip during the 2023 season.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

HUNTING by Robert Sturzaker

Wing-shooting adventure in South Africa In the arid rocky country of South Africa’s Northern Cape sits a hidden gem. Kalahari Oryx is, at 86,000 hectares, the largest privately owned hunting concession in the country. It features 5-star accommodation and an airstrip that will take a 737 jet – if you have one.

ony and John Pratt, Chris “Rockjaw” Rhodes and I had travelled to Kalahari Oryx to hunt sandgrouse under the watchful eyes of our professional hunting guides Dylan Holmes and Glen Haldane of Bird Hunters Africa.

After a cold exit from Melbourne, we settled into our rooms and headed out in 20 degrees of magnificent sunshine for an evening shoot.

was a fizzer as no sandgrouse appeared and we had to settle for a few warm-up doves instead. Dinner at Kalahari Oryx is an event with three courses and a variety of game meats on offer. They have their own meat processing facility, and we dined

Typically, sandgrouse shooting is a morning activity featuring a majority of Burchell’s sandgrouse. Evening shoots are likely to consist of doves, and, if you are lucky, some ground-hunting jet fighters called double banded sandgrouse. On our trip out to the waterhole we saw sable, cape buffalo, white rhinos with calves, reedbuck, steinbuck, kori bustards and golden oryx. Settling into our chairs while waiting for the sun to go down, the excitement was palpable. Every sunset in Africa seems to be special, and when you are waiting for the birds to turn up it is even more special. Sadly, our first evening

Kalahari Oryx is a privately owned hunting concession in South Africa.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

on eland, kudu, oryx, waterbuck, impala and of course sandgrouse. The game meats were delightful melt-in-themouth morsels with the consistency of fillet steak. I have not eaten better game meats than I did on this trip. The next morning, fortified by a cooked >> Doves were the target while the group waited for sandgrouse to appear.

Enter if you dare: The lion gate advises the presence of about 30 lions within this very large enclosure.

Giraffes were just one of the myriad species of animals that were observed during the bird hunt.

A Blaser F16 and its take of sandgrouse for the morning.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Tony Pratt, Chris Rhodes, Robert Sturzaker and John Pratt with the spoils of a morning’s wing-shooting.

>> breakfast, we headed out past the usual procession of animals, adding cape fox (an insect-eating species) and springbok to our list. We reached an impressive set of high gates with warning signs all over letting us know we were entering the lion enclosure. Comforted by the fact that there were only 30 lions in a very large area, we opened the gate. We were set up early at a waterhole; the sandgrouse turned up on time and we made inroads as singles and pairs zipped in for a drink. With little wind, the birds came in high and fast from all sides and cries of “over your head” and “coming on your side” sometimes helped and sometimes didn’t. Things became progressively more frantic as mobs appeared from all directions. As the morning warmed up, jumpers were removed and finally bird numbers petered out and we started collecting. We were using Blaser 7.5 shot in 25 grams, and while I had brought my Beretta SO4 the others had hired Blaser F16 U/O in 12 and 20 gauge. All seemed to work well, when the shooter was up to it. On a post-prandial stroll, John discovered a black snake which correctly identified him as an intruder and retreated to a bush. We were advised that it was either a harmless

mole snake or a venomous spitting cobra.

lookout for the lions!

On our way to the hunt again next morning we added ground squirrels, meercats, mongoose, nyala, blesbuck, roan antelope, copper impala, bat-eared fox and red lechwe to our list along with the usual characters. We entered the lion enclosure again and set up camp at a shaded waterhole where we interrupted eight giraffes having a feed. They are magnificent creatures, taller than the trees and with a languid manner which suggests they have some anti-lion spray.

Pre-dinner drinks that evening featured barbecued lamb tails out in the dunes with a crackling fire and crisp cold drinks while the sun set in the distant hills. The rolling sand dunes and red soil are reminiscent of Australia’s red centre, but rather than miles of flat country the rocky hills let you know you are not in Tibooburra.

While we waited, I was stalked by a steinbuck – a petite and dainty antelope about 45 cm at the shoulder. The wee fellow wandered past me, ears and tail twitching all the time. His progress was slow and full of sudden stops to see if I moved. I didn’t and he travelled past me at about 15 metres distance. They are a picture of caution, and while I was wearing camo gear including gloves and a mask, the steinbuck was clearly looking for movement and disregarded the amorphous blob in the chair in plain sight. Our marksmanship improved, and with some lower birds whipping through the trees we added to the tally. I could have done better, but, taking heed of the steinbuck’s caution, I was using one eye to

Rain fell overnight and in the cooler overcast conditions the sandgrouse flew later, presumably as they could access water closer to home. We settled in a 150 m wide trough between sand dunes, John and Tony at one end Rockjaw and me at the other. Rockjaw has longer barrels than most and likes to test the limits, which makes shooting opposite him challenging at times. A pre-lunch thunderstorm put on a show with impressive lightning and rolling thunder, and a few millimetres of rain. The guns were packed away, and we celebrated with champagne as John and Tony’s horse won the Furphy Robert Sangster Group 1 in Adelaide. Another superb lightning storm after dinner entertained us as we packed our gear for the next leg of our hunting journey.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

GUN DOGS The story of Pantherdell Panther

Fitting farewell to an old friend

y story begins in 1967, a year in which many significant events took place: Geelong was defeated by Richmond in the VFL Grand Final thanks to Fred Swift marking a shot at goal behind the goal line (allegedly) while the great center line of Bourke, Barrot and Clay won the day for the Tigers; Field & Game was in its infancy and the Geelong branch had just established its shooting ground at Murghebuloc; and the great retrieving gundog Pantherdell Panther was tragically killed in a road accident.

A plaque commemorating Panther’s hillside resting place by his owner, George C. Daniell, is the catalyst for my story.

The hunt begins I’d never heard of George Daniell or Pantherdell Panther up until November 2022. At that time, I was working on my house and required some roofing steel. My local supplier, Greg, took the order and I went back a week later to pick it up. While I was there, I asked if Greg would mind putting a couple of lids on some nesting boxes I had just made, using some scrap steel – which he did. One thing led to another, and we talked about nest boxes, hunting and so on. Greg wondered if – through my contacts in Field & Game – I might be able to help him discover some information about an old plaque he had. He told me he had been hunting at Morrison’s (near Meredith) about 35 years ago and had come across three young boys who were attempting to prise a metal plaque off a post. Greg gave them the short shrift, and as the plaque was then just hanging from the post, he removed it and brought it home with him. Upon reading the emotional inscription which spells out the love George had for his prized gundog and hunting companion Pantherdell Panther, Greg had hoped to find George or the family – but eventually he reached a dead end in his search. Bearing in mind the lengthy passage of time, Greg asked if I would I be able to do some further digging. 60

George and Panther George had lived in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh and was known as an excellent breeder of Labrador gundogs. His hunting companion was a black Labrador named Pantherdell Panther – a puppy bred from George’s prized black Labrador bitch, Pantherdell. Pantherdell Panther was whelped on 5/6/1956; other Patherdell names I found mentioned were Pantherdell Tiger, Pantherdell Puma and Pantherdell Cheetah. I’ve been told by breeders that these dogs were also champion retrievers. A search on Google turned up a list of the achievements of Pantherdell Panther. Turns out, this was no ordinary black Labrador buried on the hillside. His achievements were many and included 31 field and retriever trial stakes wins overall, encompassing: seven field and retriever trial championship stakes; four interstate retriever trial stakes in succession (195862) between NSW and Victorian dogs; and the most retriever trial championship stakes in succession – 1961 NSW, 1962 Victoria, 1962 NSW and 1963 Victoria. Patherdell Panther was the only dog to ever win three different types of championship stakes for field work and was the only dog to win the Victorian

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Field Championship and Retriever Trial Championship double in the same year. Panther must have given George immense pride over the years not only with the championships he won, but also as a true and faithful hunting companion – and George evidently felt the loss of his old mate keenly after Panther was tragically killed in a traffic accident. George buried his mate at his “happy hunting ground” at Morrison’s, and a plaque bore witness to the old dog’s final resting place, its wording a testament to the love George held for Panther: PANTHERDELL PANTHER HERE LIES MY GREAT LABRADOR GUNDOG PANTHERDELL PANTHER WITH WHOM I HAD SPENT MANY YEARS OF EXCITING AND HAPPY HUNTING EXPERIENCES WATCHING HIM WORKOUT GAME OVER SIMILAR TUSSOCKY HILLS AND VALLEYS TO WHERE HE NOW LIES HE ALSO WON THE AUSTRALIAN RECORD NUMBER OF 31 GUNDOG TRIALS INCLUDING 7 CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES FOR FIELD WORK MAY HE REST IN PEACE ALONE ON THIS HAPPY HUNTING GROUND HE WOULD SEEK GAME HERE AND SEEK GAME THERE

HE SOUGHT GAME EVEN ANYWHERE WHETHER IT BE HILL SWAMP OR DELL MY GREAT GAME FINDING GUN DOG PANTHER FROM PANTHERDELL AND I KNOW HE’D FIND TEARS THAT CAME TO MY EYES AS I BURIED HIM HERE ON THIS HILL NEAR THE SKIES. GOODBYE OLD FELLA THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT YOU DID ANYTHING TO HURT ME. HIS OWNER

Contact made

More than a hunting mate

I kept digging, and with the help of another Field & Game mate I was able to get in touch with the farmer at Morrison’s, where Panther is buried. As the plaque was taken from his land, the owner of this property is the plaque’s legal owner.

I have never owned a gundog myself; however, I have hunted over dogs owned by my mate Macca for many years and never lost my love and respect for GSPs Ben and Kahn, and black Labrador Tara.

I went to Morrison’s, where the landowner’s family remembered George and his Labradors; George and Panther had enjoyed many visits hunting quail, ducks and rabbits in the area. Using Greg’s directions and Google Maps I was able to precisely identify the location of Panther’s burial site. I’ve been told that George died in 1972; he did not get to enjoy the honour of having his beloved mate inducted into the Gundog “Hall of Fame” in 2000.

Gundogs are fantastic hunting companions; they provide wonderful memories of their retrieves over many years of hunting, and they become part of their owner’s family. I can say with certainty that Panther was no ordinary gundog; he was special, and I’m sure George would have felt there would never be another like him. They must have been an amazing team, and I wish I could have met George and Panther and experienced a day hunting with them. Ray Agg Geelong Field & Game

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

VET TALK with Dr Karen Davies

Small seed, big problem We’ve talked about this before, but with a fairly wet early spring, particularly in Victoria, grass growth is now rampant, and that means there is increased risk for our pets from grass seeds.

hile frolicking in the great outdoors, dogs often encounter various natural elements, including grass seeds. These seemingly innocuous seeds, however, can pose significant risks to our beloved pets. The barbed structure and sharp edges of certain grass seeds can cause a multitude

of problems for dogs, ranging from discomfort to severe medical issues. Recognizing the signs and understanding how to manage these risks is crucial for every dog owner. There are two main seed types that we see in the clinic: awns and arrowheads, and

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

some even have a curl in their tails. The awns are made of several segments that wedge in each other like a series of ‘V’s. When they move, they wriggle and walk themselves through the coat and into the skin. From there they can walk anywhere throughout the body.

• Trim long fur: Pay particular attention to trimming the fur between the toes, around the ears, and near the eyes to reduce the risk of grass seed attachment. • Preventative consultation: Your vet can provide guidance on preventative measures, recommend grooming techniques, and examine your dog for any potential issues. Regular inspection of your dog: • Examination: Regularly check your dog's paws, ears, eyes, and coat for grass seeds, especially after a field hunt or in grassed open bush.

The arrow heads often have a barb and in some instances a tail with a spiral feature. Once embedded in the coat or skin this spiral rotates the head of the grass seed, drilling it through the flesh. Sounds brutal? Well, they can be. I have seen them lodge behind the eye, migrate

into the heart and up the nose into the brain. In 30+ years of being employed as a vet, I have seen them in all kinds of places, even up the male dog’s prepuces – and now I have your attention!

The dangers of grass seeds Grass seeds are designed for dispersion and propagation, but their structure can also make them problematic when they come in contact with dogs. The barbed shape and fine point of these seeds enable them to easily latch onto a dog's fur, skin, or embed themselves in their paws, ears, eyes, nose, or throat. Once attached, they can migrate through the dog's body, leading to various health issues.

Signs to watch for Persistent limping or pawing: Dogs might show discomfort, limping, or continuously paw at an affected area, shake the head or hang it to one side. Localised swelling or lumps: The presence of a lump or swelling could indicate a grass seed's entry point and the formation of an abscess. Excessive scratching or shaking: This might signify an irritant or foreign object, like a grass seed, in the ears. Agitation or restlessness: Dogs might display signs of distress or discomfort.

• Professional inspection: If you suspect a grass seed has lodged in your dog or notice any unusual symptoms, seek veterinary care immediately. It can be helpful if you can trim the hair around it or mark the area with a marker pen to make it easier to find when you visit the vet. Make sure that you don’t trim the tail of the grass seed though, as this can make it harder to remove. Prompt removal of seeds: • If you spot a grass seed: Carefully remove it – if necessary use tweezers, or seek veterinary assistance immediately if it's embedded or causing discomfort.

Vigilance is key Grass seeds might seem harmless, but they can lead to significant health concerns for dogs. Understanding the signs, taking preventive measures, and promptly addressing any issues can greatly reduce the risks associated with these seeds. A vigilant eye and proactive care can go a long way in ensuring your furry friend's safety and wellbeing in their outdoor adventures. Remember, when in doubt, always consult your veterinarian for the best guidance and care for your beloved pet. Happy hunting, folks. Oh, and keep an eye out for the “nope ropes”, “danger noodles” and “wriggly sticks”, as we are seeing plenty of these this year.

Excessive licking or chewing: Persistent attention to a specific area can indicate discomfort or an embedded seed.

Managing grass seed risk Prevention is the first step: • Groom regularly: Brush your dog's coat regularly to remove any grass seeds or other debris. FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

HUNTING with chef Reuben Patience

Planning and execution I’d like share with you the story of my first duck hunt.

lthough I had been around hunting as a child, I did not pursue it through my twenties; I really came back around to it through some friends when I was in my early 30s.

Two chefs who I worked with encouraged me to get my licences, get down to the local clay target club for some practice, and to join them for a hunting season. Through some great connections we had access to a string of agricultural properties with a decent house to use as a base camp, and this is where the adventure really began.

was positioned to catch the birds on their flight path out of the valley. We got into position and James sprang a small flock of wood ducks, which circled and flew straight past me. I wiped the sleep from my eyes, chose two of them and fired both barrels for a clean double miss. It sure woke me up. I spent the walk to the next dam muttering to myself and being a hindsight genius.

The bag limit for the season was five birds per person.

We moved up to the next dam. As we got into position under the dam wall, we gave each other the nod and closed our guns. Then, as we both crept up over the wall, all hell broke loose. A giant wood duck flock took off in front of us. My friend missed his first shot then landed his second (apparently) on the same woody I was shooting at, at exactly the same time. I was closer to it, so I was pretty confident I’d hit it; but James claimed it and I didn't really have a problem with that because he’d invited me out there, and my second shot dropped a beautiful grey teal. My first duck!

I was to pair up with my friend James, while the others went to a different section of the property. When we got to the first dam, we made a plan for me to stay back under a tree while James walked up on the dam. I

We hopped four or five more dams on the way up the valley into the back corners of the property with little success – because we kept getting busted by wood duck sentries on the approach.

The night before season opening, we met at the house with the intention of being out on the water and ready as the clock ticked over for legal shooting time the next morning. The plan for the day was to walk from dam to dam, putting the birds up in the air and trying to take good shots.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Hunter, fisher and chef, Reuben Patience.

We started to make our way back in about eleven, and crossed into one of the dams in a cluster of three that we had already been through. I went low and moved ahead to wait under a big old gum tree while James pushed up on the dam. He sprang a small group of three teal, which was unexpected as it had looked clear, and they came up from against the near-side bank. The birds flew way out and around, then swooped back towards me – and I managed to drop one at roughly 30m. Two teal for the day! We climbed to a ridge on the way back and I got to check out a few dams in the next valley through the binoculars. On the way back down, we put in a few stalks but nothing came of it as we kept getting busted. On the last dam I set up on top of a ridge by a wood pile watching a huge flock of wood ducks below. James walked way around to the opposite side of the dam to hide while I waited for about 20 minutes. Once he got in position, I started to approach. I'd taken about ten steps down the hill when I looked to my right, and there – about 20m away – were two bloody great big blond bulls that had stood

Reuben also scored a nice fat black duck during the weekend of his first ever duck hunting experience.

up and started flexing at me. I held my composure, kept my pace, and the bulls left me alone. The birds, meanwhile, took off at a rightangle and we never got a look-in. After lunch we went to a different patch

but had pretty much the same plan. There wasn’t much action on the first two dams, but on the third when we popped over the top of the wall we found a teal which wouldn't fly, it just hopped into the water. James walked a bit closer until it finally took to the air and I got a shot in. My third bird for the day, and that was going to be all we saw.

We’d had a great walk and we’d seen some beautiful landscapes, but we didn’t find any more successful hunting opportunities that day. We made our way back to the house to pluck our birds and settle in for >> a fireside chat.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Reuben Patience with three teal taken on his first ever duck hunt.

>> The plan for the following day was to be out at first call again, hit the hills until about 11am and then head back to the house. We would have a big cooked breakfast, then clean up and head for home. We got out as planned, but the first property we hit had almost nothing on any of the dams. I have a feeling the other half of our group had shot there the day before. Never mind; onward we went. We went back to the property where I’d shot my third duck the day before. As we moved up higher in elevation, we were getting a bit deflated. We tried another two dams but there were no birds; the rain had set in, and it was just foggy and miserable. We pulled in around the bottom of a paddock to begin the climb to our third dam on this block. Coming into an alley of shrubs, we could see rabbits scatter. One stopped about 45m away. We stayed still, and James whispered to me, “When I used to hunt rabbits with my dad, he would say that if you moved very slowly you could close the distance on them.” He began taking tiny little steps, edging closer and closer to the rabbits. He took his time inching forward while I stayed back. After a few minutes he whispered to me, “How far do you think that is?” “About 35m,” I whispered back after counting out three lots of ten and adding some fat for variance. He carefully took aim and let a shot off, dropping his target on the spot. We went up for a look and as he turned his rabbit over, I said to him: "Is that another one?" It was. The #4 steel shot had passed through the first rabbit and picked up the one behind it that we hadn't seen. Two for one. Winning! He was chuffed. He might as well have dropped a trophy red stag – it was that exciting! After some handshakes and some time to let the nerves settle, we moved up into the hills to hit the high dam. When we sprang the bank, three birds took off from underneath us. I let off a shot on my target and then another which knocked the bird out of the sky. Next, a huge pacific black duck got up; I got off a clean head shot, and it was over. After that we moved down to the final dam for the trip. As I came up over the wall a lone teal took off away from us. It flew 66

away and then started to circle back. I thought, “surely not” – but it wasn't trying to come back to this dam, but rather to fly past us to get to another. I lined it up from miles away; and as it flew into range, I had a perfect lead. I ended up with four teal and one black duck for the trip, while James secured one wood duck and two rabbits. We went back to the house to pluck our birds and eat a big meal of bacon and eggs, the champagne of victory. After the clean-up I made my way home knowing I had just discovered a passion I would have for the rest of my life. What a great weekend. I love it when a plan comes together!

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

With a long interest in hunting, fishing and food selfsufficiency, chef Reuben Patience is keen to teach others the tricks of butchering and cooking wild game. Visit https://naturallysufficient. com.au/product/wild-game-meatcooking-butchering/ to find out more and signal your interest in attending Reuben’s workshop.

FOOD with chef Reuben Patience

Black Duck Pie

his has got to be one of my favourite wild duck recipes. What you end up with is a great casserole with a rich brown gravy. This is quite an investment of time and labour, so if you have large enough pots and enough ducks, I suggest you multiply the recipe and make a big batch. You can freeze it and defrost it later down the track. It can be used as the recipe describes in a pot pie; you could make pastry pies; or serve it as a stand-alone dish or with your choice of starchy sides.

Ingredients: • 3 brown onions • 6 medium carrots • 3 celery sticks • 1 orange • 4 sprigs of summer savoury (or other strong herbs to substitute such as rosemary, sage, thyme or oregano) • 1 Pacific black duck • 1 bottle of red wine (I used a Californian Tempranillo) • 1 big handful of dried porcini mushrooms, soaked in water for an hour • 3 large sweet potatoes • 2 cloves of garlic • salt/pepper • 2 soup spoons each of butter and flour

Method: 1. Start by making a stock. Roughly chop 2 carrots, 1 onion and the celery sticks. Leave the skins and ends on. 2. Slice the skin off the orange. Eat the fruit and throw the vegetables and orange skin in a big stock pot. 3. Pluck the bird but don’t be too pedantic. All the solids will be drain off later and be discarded. Just do a quick job of it and then into the pot. 4. Fill the pot with water and bring it to the boil, then reduce the heat. You don't want it rolling along like a witch’s brew – just a gentle simmer. 5. Peel and finely dice the rest of the vegetables. The onion and carrot skins can go in the stock pot too.

6. After 90 minutes, pull the duck from the pot, allow it to cool for 20 minutes, then strip all the meat off the frame. Throw the bones back in the stock pot and reserve the meat. 7. Put the peeled and roughly chopped sweet potatoes in a different pot and cover them with water. Rapidly boil them in preparation for making a mash. 8. In a third pot, fry off the rest of the vegetables except the dry mushrooms in a little oil on a high heat until they start to brown and stick to the bottom of the pot. 9. Throw in half the bottle of red wine and simmer it until it has reduced to a syrup. 10. Add in the porcini mushrooms, soaking liquid and all. 11. The stock should have been simmering by now for around two to three hours, but longer is no problem at all. In a restaurant I would simmer this overnight for 12 hours or more. 12. Strain the stock through a tea towel in a colander, into the smaller pot with the vegetables.

used for thickening soups and sauces. 15. Add the chopped duck meat to the main pot and simmer it down until it looks to be a good liquid-to-vegetable ratio. Adjust the salt and pepper levels now until it tastes good. 16. Add a small amount of the liquid from the main pot to the roux pan and stir it in until you have a thick paste. Now start to add the paste, bit by bit, to the main pot. You may not need all of it, and it will continue to thicken as the flour cooks out. Once thickened and seasoned, turn off the heat and set it aside so it can cool a little before assembly. 17. Strain the water off the thoroughly cooked sweet potatoes and mash them well with some salt and pepper. 18. Time to assemble the pies. This is a pot-style pie with no pastry. Start by ladling the brown mixture into the pie dish until it is fairly full, maybe half a centimetre to a full centimetre below the top.

13. Add the summer savoury at this point. This herb is from my garden and goes particularly well with game birds, but if you don't have it just put a bit of whatever in; rosemary, oregano, thyme ... whatever.

19. It's a delicate process covering the top with mash, and the best advice I can give you is to make sure the mix is cold and use a latex spatula to spread the mash firmly up against the edges first so the pie mix underneath can't be pressured upwards to spill over. Big thanks to Mum for giving me a duckthemed pie dish for my duck themed pie.

14. Throw 2 soup spoons of plain flour and 2 soup spoons of butter into a small frying pan and fry it off, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon until it turns white heading towards brown and a playdough consistency. Set the pan aside. This is called a roux and is

20. Bake the pie in a preheated oven at 170 degrees C. This should take around 45 minutes but every oven is different. Everything is already cooked, you are really just going for a good colour on top, and to pull some of the moisture out of the mash. Enjoy!

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BRANCH NEWS Grampians The back view of the new Grampians Field & Game vests.

Golden opportunity for Grampians Christmas came early for Grampians Field & Game this year, when it was the recipient of not one but two grants that have resulted in a muchappreciated boost to the club’s resources.

Grampians Field & Game’s president Paul Webster with the club’s new Promatic trap, purchased thanks to a grant from Stawell Gold Mines.

he first windfall was a grant from Stawell Gold Mines, which enabled the club to purchase a new Promatic 400 Falcon trap. The club was also successful in receiving a uniform grant from Northern Grampians Shire Council. “Our members really stand out in the new shooting vests at our home ground, and at other clubs,” Grampians Field & Game secretary Therese Schram said. “This really helps fly the flag for Grampians. “The club is really going forward, and it can only be done with the support from grants.” Therese said the club wished to thank Stawell Gold Mines and Northern Grampians Shire Council for their generosity and support.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Roy Schram sports one of the new Grampians Field & Game vests.

BRANCH NEWS Grampians Life Memberships

Fantastic four receive Life Memberships It’s been a landmark year at Grampians Field & Game, with four members having been presented with Life Membership: Gordon Smith and Max Waller received the honour on May 28, while Mick Greenwood and Anthony Holley had their turn on June 10.

ll four members played a huge part in the formation of Grampians Field & Game in 2010, even donating cash to get the club up and running.

Gordon Smith is into his 12th year in the position of club treasurer; Max Waller has been running the canteen right from the club’s inauguration; Mick Greenwood was instrumental in finding the ground that is the current site of the club; and Anthony Holley has not only done stints as club president and vice-president but also maintains the traps. All four members have been on the club’s committee from the start and have helped the club grow from a simple barbecue trailer and tent – putting in many volunteer hours to improve the facilities to the standard now enjoyed today. As well as helping with the set-up for every club shoot day, these four club stalwarts also love encouraging new shooters and welcoming new members to the club. All four have also been instrumental in running fox drives during the winter months to raise more money for the benefit of the club. Grampians Field & Game congratulates Gordon, Max, Mick and Anthony on their Life Memberships.

Above: Gordon Smith (left) and Max Waller. Below: Mick Greenwood (left) and Anthony Holley.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BRANCH NEWS Cobram

Fred fondly remembered On September 17, Cobram Field & Game held its second annual Fred Jones Memorial Shoot, honouring the memory of a man widely described as a gentleman of the sport.

member of Field & Game for more than 40 years, as well as being a keen clay target shooter Fred was also an active hunter – and was still chasing foxes into his mid-80s.

Fred passed away in August 2021, just shy of his 88th birthday.

The day of the memorial shoot this year dawned mild and sunny, drawing 112 shooters to Cobram Field & Game for the 100 targets on offer. Winner on the day by a clear margin of seven targets was Nick Guerra.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Fred Jones in 2019, supporting a charity shoot.

High Gun winner at the Fred Jones Memorial Shoot, Nick Guerra.

SCOREBOARD: Cobram Field & Game, 100 targets. High Gun: Nick Guerra

95/100

AA grade:

1st

Adam Shale

2nd

Tom Bilney

3rd

Brett Jory

A grade:

1st

Nathan Corrone

2nd

Mark Irvine

3rd

Russell Taylor

B grade:

1st

Ian Newell

2nd

Aimee Attwood

3rd

Jack Johnson

C grade:

1st

Jeremy Guerra

2nd

Nigel Page

3rd

Daniel Theodoulou

Sub-juniors:

1st

Kobe Baldwin

2nd

Archie Doyle

Juniors:

1st

Nate Palubiski

2nd

William Edge

3rd

Jayden Arnold

Ladies:

1st

Lyndall McNeil

2nd

Jazmine Ahmat

3rd

Gaye Shale

Veterans:

1st

Trevor Beach

2nd

Rocky Furci

3rd

Sam Attardi

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BRANCH NEWS Donald

The Shooting Frockstars! (Back row) Gavin Krause, Max Waller, Roy Schram, Therese Schram, Charlie Jardine, Megan Jardine, Kailie Krause, Michaela Shirley, Wayne Piera, Ben Krause, Vicki Chaplin; (front row) Peter Pendlebury, Jeremy Jardine, Jim Sawyer, Robert Adams and Sarah O’Brien.

Anniversary shoot has special dress code

The fabulous celebratory cake made by Donald member Sarah O’Brien.

Donald Field & Game welcomed 63 shooters to help the club celebrate its 26th anniversary on October 1 with a 100-target event.

he club was also supporting the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation’s “Frocktober” campaign, and quite a few shooters frocked up for the shoot.

The OCRF supplies grants to leading research facilities in Australia and New Zealand to assist in the early detection, treatment, and management of the reoccurrence of ovarian cancer. In Australia, one woman dies from ovarian cancer every eight hours. Currently, the overall survival rate for treatment of the cancer is 49 per cent; OCRF wants to lift this to at least 90 per cent and its ultimate goal is to eliminate this cancer altogether. 74

In support of Frocktober, Donald Field & Game created a team called the Shooting Frockstars – and through the club’s October shoot raffle, infringement notices for ‘Not Frocking It’ and other contributions a tally of $1655 was raised for the OCRF. The club thanks all who contributed to the cause, and one shooter offered special thanks: During her speech for taking out third place, Minyip Field & Game member Katrina Fallon expressed her gratitude to Donald Field & Game for raising funds through Frocktober and increasing awareness around Ovarian Cancer. Katrina’s mother Wendy Fallon battled ovarian cancer for two years before passing away on August 27, 2013.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Thanks also went to the day’s major sponsor Liston Newton Advisory, as well as minor sponsors Wimmera Trophies & Gifts, The Jeffcott Hotel, and Donald Hardware. Due to Liston Newton Advisory’s sponsorship, the club was able to offer a NOCO jump starter as the day’s lucky door prize, which was won by Shane Odgers from Clunes. Once again the club’s ladies worked tirelessly in the kitchen to ensure everyone was well fed, and the set-up crew received plenty of compliments on the targets. To top off a great day and help celebrate the club’s birthday, Donald Field & Game member Sarah O’Brien made a creative >> ‘duck’ cake for all shooters to enjoy.

Jim Sawyer in action.

Lucky Door Prize winner Shane Odgers with president Jeremy Jardine.

Grampians members Darren Hosken, Mark Gallagher, Roy Schram, Michael Heffernan, Therese Schram and Max Waller.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Donald Field & Game vice-president Wayne Piera and president Jeremy Jardine are frocked up and ready to shoot.

Kailie Krause is pretty in pink.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Sarah O’Brien and Robert Adams having a laugh.

Donald Field & Game vice-president Wayne Piera.

Wayne Piera (left) with sponsor representative Kelly Petrie (centre) and High Gun winner Chris Charleson.

SCOREBOARD

Donald Field & Game, October 8, 2023. 100 targets High Gun: Chris Charleson (Swan Hill)

90/100

AA grade:

Three generations of the Krause family – Kailie, Ben, Gavin and Stephen Krause – rocking their frocks.

1st

Peter Mitchell (Donald)

2nd

Greg Deutscher (Minyip)

3rd

Roy Schram (Grampians)

A grade:

1st

Stephen Krause (Minyip)

2nd

Tyson Chaplin (Donald)

3rd

Peter Chace (Ararat-Stawell)

B grade:

1st

Jeremy Jardine (Donald)

2nd

Shane Odgers (Clunes)

3rd

Gavin Krause (Minyip)

C grade:

1st

Andrew Donnellon (Donald)

2nd

Michael Heffernan (Grampians) 64

3rd

Ken Sloane (Donald)

Ladies:

1st

Michaela Shirley (Clunes)

2nd

Carey Brennan (Donald)

3rd

Katrina Fallon (Minyip)

Veterans:

1st

Ray Gould (Minyip)

2nd

Ken Schurmann (Minyip)

3rd

Dick Gallagher (Donald)

Juniors:

Andrew Falla frocking it and smashing it simultaneously.

1st

Ben Krause (Minyip)

2nd

Kailie Krause (Minyip)

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BRANCH NEWS Echuca Moama

Sweet time at anniversary shoot

The promise of freshly-cooked donuts was the icing on the cake for the 114 shooters who ventured out to Echuca-Moama Field & Game on Sunday, October 15, for the club’s 32nd Anniversary Shoot.

n only its second shoot back after not being able to use its grounds for a year thanks to extensive flooding – which is still having an impact on the usable shooting area – the club was thrilled to welcome shooters to help celebrate the milestone.

This year marks five decades since Echuca Moama Field & Game was formed, with the very first meeting having been held on May 9, 1973; October 2023 marked the 32nd anniversary of shooting taking place at the ground. “It's been a ripper day!” club secretary Emma Keirl said. “Great to see so many people back enjoying our club.”

The day was sponsored by Bronze Wing Australia, which meant generously stocked prize tables for the winners and placegetters as well as those lucky enough to have purchased a winning ticket in the raffle. The club wished to thank Anna Shedrina and her team from Bronze Wing Australia for making such an extensive prize array possible, while other contributors to the successful running of the day were Joanne, Gayle and Barb in the canteen; Moama Bakery which generously donated freshly baked bread and rolls to help feed the hungry hordes; and the “legendary” Wayne Stiff who baked fresh hot cinnamon donuts onsite that magically disappeared almost as soon as each batch was

produced. Rumour has it that some people enjoyed not only seconds, but third and fourth helpings of the delicious melt-inyour-mouth treats! As for the shooting, there were two grounds with a great variety of targets on offer, one designed by Kev and Chris Thommo, and one by Peter and Ian – and once again the club wished to thank all the helpers to volunteered across the weekend to make the event possible. “We truly can't have these events without you,” Emma said. Four possibles were shot on the day; on target were Steve Norris, Mick Baldwin, Anthony Panetta, and Chris Charleson who also took out High Gun with the very impressive score of 96/100. >>

Echuca Moama Field & Game president Ricky Keirl in action.

Echuca Moama Field & Game is still largely inundated by floodwater. FGA board member Vicki Norris.

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

Wayne Stiff, who kindly made fresh donuts for everyone after he’d finished shooting for the day.

SCOREBOARD:

Echuca Moama Field & Game, 100 targets High Gun: Chris Charleson

96/100

AA grade

1st

Anthony Panetta

2nd

Ricky Keirl

3rd

Mick Baldwin

A grade

1st

Clint Storer

2nd

Tim Price

3rd

Dean Edge

B grade

1st

Billy Stratis

2nd

Willy Spedding

3rd

Jason Betts

C grade

1st

Clinton Riches

2nd

Nathan Beal

3rd

Caleb Portwine

Veterans

1st

Roger Kerslake

2nd

Shane Norris

3rd

Russell Cook

Ladies

1st

Bianca Norris

2nd

Demi Shale

3rd

Vicki Norris

Juniors

1st

Izzy Keirl

2nd

Will Edge

Sub-juniors

1st

Phineas McBurnie

2nd

Marcus Keirl

3rd

Declan Hawking

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

BACK PAGE YARNS with Lucas Cooke

The hypocrisy of opposing hunting

ield & Game Australia is an organisation filled with passionate, proud, and generous members who often find themselves in passionate debates and disagreements. What sets us apart? We are conservationists who understand the value of sustainable use, clay target shooters who see our sport as more than just a game, and hunters who care deeply about the habitats our quarry call home.

population of all Australian natives – game and non-game alike. There is no force of recreational hunters fighting to maintain these habitats, resulting in dams being built to restrict water access to shallow temporary wetlands, water being sold, and wetlands being left to dry. Entire species suffer due to a lack of habitat where there are no recreational hunters, yet somehow, hunting is unfairly blamed.

FGA has rightfully become synonymous with duck hunting, as it was the very foundation of our organisation. The hunting of native game birds in Australia has been a tradition for tens of thousands of years. Sixty-five years ago, those who had a deep connection to the land and native game bird populations recognised habitat loss as the primary issue and took action to preserve it. Sustainable use was a core principle of these conservation efforts. By sharing and savouring the use of game, wetland habitats were secured by hunters – not just for game animals, but for all Australian native animals and plants.

In Victoria in 2023, a parliamentary select committee investigating native game bird hunting received unequivocal evidence from experts that habitat loss is the root cause of game bird population decline. However, a minority of selfrighteous opponents to hunting proposed evicting hunters from the habitat they’ve preserved for the past 65 years as state game reserves. Their plan? Develop those reserves by building campgrounds, boat ramps, and removing logs and habitat. This destructive approach is touted as preserving habitat, when in fact it is disturbing it at best and destroying it at worst. This is hypocrisy at its most absurd.

Fast forward to 2023, and some individuals with inner-city ideologies, disconnected from the realities of the land, have taken it upon themselves to be the saviours of Australian native waterfowl. They assert that what hunters have been doing for 35,000 years is unsustainable, irresponsible, and will lead to the extinction of game birds. Sadly, their own opinions and self-righteousness blind them to the facts. In states like NSW, where recreational hunting is not permitted, native waterfowl habitat has rapidly declined, affecting the

While some blame agriculture, it’s important to acknowledge that irrigation infrastructure can be both a problem and a lifeline for waterfowl. Native ducks are hunted on agricultural crops to protect them and ensure a healthy, sustainable, and ecologically responsible food supply for non-hunters and vegans alike. This is hypocrisy at its most blind. In 2022, Eastern Australia experienced extensive flooding, leading to low bird counts. Experts explained that there was too much water for accurate counting or

FIELD & GAME | December 2023 – February 2024 | www.fieldandgame.com.au

population estimates. Birds were thriving in abundant habitat and likely breeding at record rates; however, ideologists focused on low count numbers, proclaiming that native game birds were on the brink of extinction. Come 2023, the NSW Department of Primary Industry estimated a 1600 per cent increase in the Pacific black duck population. That’s right, a 1600% increase! Counters in the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey reported high numbers of waterfowl and reasonable breeding numbers despite drying conditions. Helicopter counts are suggesting similar results in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. The key to it all? Habitat. When you have water, you have ducks. Australian waterfowl are remarkably adapted to our country’s “droughts and flooding rains” and respond with incredible breeding events. Yet, ideologists and activists remain silent. Hunting game birds under sensible bag and season limits has always been sustainable. It is as ethical as any form of food harvesting, including the cultivation of vegetable crops that often require the exclusion or eradication of agricultural pests. It’s time that those who care for Australia’s environment and animals end the hypocrisy and embrace hunting as a sensible, modern food-sourcing activity and a responsible resource management tool. If you have a topic you’d like to discuss, or a question you’d like to ask and have discussed here, send it through to Editor@Fieldandgame.com.au

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