COURT HANDS DOWN PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL HOG DEER HUNTING

HUNTING ABOUT

In a significant judgment handed down by the County Court of Victoria, South Australian man Christopher Ross Long has been ordered to pay $120,000 in damages after illegally trespassing onto a Gippsland property and participating in the illegal hunting of hog deer. The court found Mr Long liable for two separate trespass incidents at Lake Reeve Ranch, resulting in both general and aggravated damages.

The Lake Reeve Ranch, owned by cattle farmer Neil Page and his partner Corrie De Visser, is a 3,000-acre property located between Ninety Mile Beach and the Gippsland Lakes. The couple has invested years of effort into managing the property to support a flourishing population of hog deer, attracting licensed hunters from across the globe through a Game Management Authority-approved management plan.

However, in December 2019 and again in December 2020, Mr Long was found to have unlawfully entered the property with at least one other person. On both occasions, the court accepted that hog deer were illegally shot, though it could not be conclusively proven that Mr Long himself pulled the trigger. Nevertheless, Judge Tran found that Mr Long was a “knowing participant” in poaching expeditions that directly interfered with the rights of Mr Page and Ms De Visser.

Mr Long’s actions were aggravated by his use of a rifle fitted with a suppressor, the covert nature of the trespass, and his subsequent boasting via social media and private messages. Notably, photos of Mr Long posing with dead deer taken on the Ranch and messages boasting of poaching were submitted as compelling evidence.

In response, Mr Page sought compensation for trespass, focusing on vindicating his right to control access to his land rather than claiming ownership over the deer themselves (which are classed as wild animals under Victorian law). While no direct financial loss was established, since the Ranch remains fully booked for legal hunts through to 2030, the court acknowledged Mr Long had wrongly appropriated the use of private land.

Judge Tran awarded $10,000 in general damages for the unauthorised use of the property, $5,000 for each trespass event. However, an additional $110,000 was awarded in aggravated and exemplary damages: $55,000 per trespass. These elevated penalties were intended both to compensate the landowners for the emotional impact and to punish Mr Long for conduct described as “callous, dangerous, and criminal.”

The judgment highlighted the fear and distress caused to Mr Page, Ms De Visser, and their family, particularly after discovering rotting carcasses of decapitated deer and learning Mr Long had boasted of the killings. The court was also critical of Mr Long’s dishonest use of artificial intelligence-generated legal cases in his defence submissions.

Judge Tran concluded the ruling with a stern message: trespass for the purposes of poaching, especially involving firearms, is a serious civil wrong deserving of strong punishment. The court's decision sends a clear signal that such conduct will not be tolerated, particularly where it undermines tightly regulated hunting systems and endangers others. The matter of legal costs remains to be decided.

In late June, the Honourable Lisa Neville wrote to stakeholders who contributed to the Great Outdoors Taskforce to notify them that the Taskforce had submitted its Recommendations Report to the Minister for Environment for government consideration.

Throughout the course of the taskforce, the Australian Deer Association has worked tirelessly to ensure that no large-scale land tenure changes would be a recommendation and that current levels of public land access would be maintained. This included attending workshops, making a submission, and presenting in person to the taskforce.

These considerations were well received by the Taskforce, which, before submitting its recommendation, confirmed that it would not be recommending any large-scale land tenure changes.

This came as great relief to many recreational deer hunters and the wider public land user community. Public land access is cherished, and the fight to maintain it never stops.

The Australian Deer Association will continue to engage with government once the report is released to ensure any response to recommendations align with public land access values.

The Game Management Authority (GMA) and Victoria Police have recently seized two vehicles involved in separate alleged illegal spotlighting offences in eastern Victoria — one near Benambra-Corryong Road in Omeo, and the other in the Rose River area near Whitfield.

Illegally spotlighting deer at night is dangerous and may cause serious harm as it’s difficult to see what is beyond the deer, such as any people, wildlife or livestock.

If caught illegally spotlighting, you may be prosecuted and lose any equipment used in the offence — including firearms, spotlights, and vehicles.

In the two recent cases, officers seized firearms, thermal clip-on scopes, ammunition, and thermal monoculars. Game and firearm licences were immediately suspended. The individuals involved are now facing multiple charges, including:

• Hunting at night

• Using spotlights and firearms in recognised deer habitat

• Hunting from a vehicle

To legally hunt deer in Victoria, you must hold a valid Game Licence issued by the GMA.

If you see or suspect illegal spotlighting, report it to the GMA website or call 136 186.

Cold weather in the Goulburn doesn’t stop the hounds, who stay nice and warm under the tarp and in the hay.

Samuel Fazl sent in the photo of a sambar calf recently.

"After getting 'Honked', I tracked the hoof prints left by the deer I had just spooked. Moments later this beautiful little calf emerged from the lush green undergrowth alongside of the game trail I was now following. In that moment I never imagined the following 15 minutes would be one of the most memorable and closest encounters with a sambar I have experienced to date."