The annual Bushfest festival was held at Bothwell on the weekend of November 22 and 23, 2025. As in the past, the Australian Deer Association Southern Branch, Tasmania, had a stand to promote the ADA and our Branch.
The weather was perfect, with sunny, clear days, and public attendance was estimated to be the best in the event's history. Our stand attracted considerable attention with its display of the six Australian deer species, as well as a couple of African species that were part of the prize packet in the African Safari raffle that we are currently running. We sold many books of raffle tickets; most people who stopped at our stand bought at least one ticket, with many buying complete books. We received a lot of enquiries about our Association and passed along a lot of information on how to join. Hopefully, we will attract some new members from the exercise.
Our thanks go out to our members who volunteered their weekend to man the stand. John Toohey and Carolina, Craig and Grant Laredo, Rod Hughes, and Simon Kallis all spent considerable time talking to the public and selling raffle tickets and some merchandise. Thanks also to those who helped set up and take down the stand, and to the generous members who loaned trophies for display.
All up, it was considered a great success, and we are resolved to continue representing the Australian Deer Association at the event in the future.
VISIT BY DR TIM NEVARD
Dr Tim Nevard, an ADA Director, flew down from Cairns in North Queensland in late January to spend time in Gippsland familiarising himself with the status of hog deer and sambar management and hunting in the state. Nevard is an experienced hunter himself, but wanted to know more about Victoria’s two most significant deer species given their importance to the future of the recreational hunting industry in the state.
Tim was shown around the coastal habitat of hog deer with a quick diversion into the foothills to gain a glimpse of sambar habitat. During the trip he was introduced to both hog deer and sambar, meanwhile picking the brains of local deer tragics Peter McDonell, Cam Johnson, David Luxford and Ken Slee who also gained new perspectives along the way.
SAMBAR SOIREE
Jamie Stevens’ trail camera has had a steady stream of sambar and other critters coming past.
RUSA RECON
Rob Harvey recently stalked in on a small group of rusa stags after daylight. All was going well in closing the distance when the wild changed and the game was up. They soon lifted their antlers and decided to vacate the small grass clearing. Luck was on my side as I managed to get a few photos. Rob is using the new Nikon Coolpix P1100 camera, with the tripod attached.
HOME FROM THE HILL
Vale Robert ‘Redda’ Worlley, 25/12/46 - 13/01/26
Rob started hunting sambar in the early 1960s with Fred Peddard, Nick Spicer, and Bob and Lenny Bingham around the Yellingbo and Beenak area and the Cockatoo Swamp in the Yarra Valley. This was the start of his lifelong passion of hunting with hounds.
Rob was then conscripted into the army and was subsequently deployed to Vietnam.
On his return from Vietnam, he reignited his passion for hunting sambar and joined Fred Peddard’s crew hunting mainly in the Big River and Eildon Weir State Forest.
During this time, he was involved in capturing sambar to stock the Pendleside deer pens at Woori Yallock and later the export of sambar to New Zealand.
He was a great mentor for many young hunters keen to hone their hunting skills.
Rob was a passionate supporter of the ADA and Victorian Hound Hunters and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
DEER HUNTERS GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE
The Australian Deer Association established a blood donation team with the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood system only a few years ago. This came about because a committed group of hunters who regularly donated blood saw the benefit in creating a collective to help promote the gift of giving, with the aspiration of attracting fellow hunters who may not have previously donated to roll up their sleeves and give it a go.
Since then, the team has grown to over 50 members, and this January of this year alone, they have already made 13 donations, saving 39 lives!
The whole process is usually completed within an hour. This includes a post-donation break and a spot of afternoon tea featuring crowd favourites, party pies, sausage rolls, and even chocolate milk alongside tea and coffee.
It is easy to get involved, just register on the lifeblood.com.au website and under teams search for the Australian Deer Association and join.
Even if you don’t live next to a donor centre, a mobile blood centre will be in town before you know it.
WIN TIKKA T3X LITE + BURRIS SCOPE
With firearms reforms actively underway across Australia, representation for deer hunters matters more than ever.
Join the Australian Deer Association during the campaign period and support experienced representation for deer hunting.
One new or returning member will be drawn to win a Tikka T3X Lite Stainless with a Burris scope.
Membership Benefits Include:
✓ Advocacy - Real Wins on the Ground
✓ Firearm & Public Liability Insurance
✓ Protect Public Land Hunting
✓ Education & Community
Proudly supporting the Australian Deer Association
