A fork in the road

Hunters call for reason across the political divide on wildlife management

Victoria’s peak hunting organisations have called for a commitment across the political divide to put reason first in conversations about wildlife management.

This week, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Aboriginal Affairs and Regional Victoria, The Honourable Peter Walsh made claims about hunters that don’t stand up to scrutiny.

Whilst pointing out the secrecy and hyped rhetoric employed by Parks Victoria about their wildlife control programs, Mr Walsh also made claims about the safety of using firearms on public land.

These claims are challenged by the Australian Deer Association and SSAA Victoria.

Sean Kilkenny from the Australian Deer Association supported Mr Walsh’s call for transparency around culling operations but called for him to go further.

“We agree with Mr Walsh that Parks Victoria needs to be open and accountable about wildlife control programs,” Mr Kilkenny said.

“But that needs to be consistent and not limited to some romantic notions about wild horses”.

SSAA Victoria Hunting Manager David Laird there’s a lot about what Mr Walsh said that hunters can get behind.

“But the notion that skilled and licenced shooters cannot operate safely on public land is absurd,” he said.

“It demonstrates a lack of understanding of the basic rules of firearm safety taught to all licenced shooters in Victoria”.

Mr Walsh said, “If a shooter misses, they have no idea where that bullet is going to end up – hopefully in a tree”.

Mr Laird disputed this.

“One of the fundamental rules of firearm safety that all licenced shooters have a demonstrated understanding of is checking not just the target but also the entire firing zone,” Mr Laird said.

“Hunters in the field consider the backdrop of what they are shooting at and take precautions accordingly. Mr Walsh’s claim is alarmist and ignores the realities of firearm licencing and the exceptional safety record of Victoria’s quarter of a million licenced firearm owners”.

Hunting organisations have long been calling for open accountability for Parks Victoria’s secretive aerial culling program for wild deer.

“There are over 50,000 licenced deer hunters in Victoria,” Mr Kilkenny said.

“These people value wild deer in the way that some other people value wild horses; ADA members have even published a book of poetry about the deer, although, to be fair, it does pale in comparison to the prose of AB Paterson.”

“Shooters and hunters are a bit tired of the alarmist rhetoric from both sides of the political divide”, Mr Laird went on to say.

“Whether that is Minister D’Ambrosio making alarmist claims about deer impacts or Mr Walsh questioning the safety of licenced shooters, we would prefer if everyone just took a deep breath and got their facts right before firing off missives”.

Mr Kilkenny agreed.

“These are difficult and complex enough conversations for the public to have,” Mr Kilkenny said.

“When our political leaders keep muddying the waters and using emotive language, it makes it even harder to reach an agreement between the various stakeholders and deliver results on the ground.”