In the hunting scene, as in society more broadly, we owe so much to the men and women who have put their lives on the line in the service of our country.

So many of those who served and returned embraced the challenges of deer hunting. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s the Australian deer scene really began to grow as men who had returned from war had the requisite skills, access to cheap firearms and ammunition and, for the first time, access to personal vehicles which allowed them to regularly enter the forest in pursuit of wild deer.

The Australian Deer Association’s first Life Member, Arthur Bentley, was one of those who served, having seen action in the South Pacific in World War II. One of our newest Life Members, Bob Gough, saw active service in the Middle East in the recent Iraq conflict.

Both men, and so many others, took the skills acquired in service and applied them for the betterment of the wild deer and hunting scene in Australia. 

Sadly, many did not return and many who did are irrevocably changed by their experiences. Some of those scars are obvious and others cannot be seen.

Soldier On is one of the great organisations supporting our current veteran community in really practical ways. They are currently running an ANZAC Day fundraiser which is a simple way that we can show our gratitude to those who have given so much.  

Picture:

Captain Frederick Harold Tubb VC after a succesful deer hunt in Berwickshire UK whilst convalecing from injuries.

Captain Tubb was awarded the VC for his most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine on 9 August, 1915.

Captain Tubb later returned to battle in Belgium where he was killed.