Hog deer ballot continues to deliver for hunters and habitat

The balloted hunts in Victoria’s public land hog deer ballot for 2021 concluded recently with hunters reporting great experiences and a healthy success rate overall.

For some hunters it was a long lead time with COVID restrictions derailing the hunt periods in 2020 and the organisers (the Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Group) taking the unprecedented decision to roll hunts over to 2021.

Across the three hunt areas and thirteen hunting periods balloted hunters took thirty-five stags and eleven hinds.

The co-operation, assistance and co-ordination from the Game Management Authority (GMA), Parks Victoria (PV) and the Snake Island Cattlemen’s Association (SICA) are critical to the smooth operation of balloted hunting. These opportunities continue to exist because stakeholders with varying viewpoints work together.

The Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Group (BBHDAG) is a non-for-profit organisation which is run by representatives of Victoria’s hunting organisations.

The BBHDAG makes recommendations to Government on ballot periods and settings, conducts the ballot bookings and draw and arranges the final allocations and emergencies.

Being independent of Government allows the BBHDAG to direct profits from the ballot directly into projects on the hunting reserves which will directly benefit hunting opportunities and deer management – all with an eye to also delivering benefits to the environment and other stakeholders.

Over the past year the BBHDAG has worked with Government agencies to develop a major track clearing program for Snake Island which will aid access for land managers, conservation workers, the Snake Island Cattlemen and, of course, ballot hunters. At Blond Bay a commitment has been made to fund a significant weed and invasive control program which will help to protect three endangered plant species, improve biodiversity and improve the hog deer hunting prospects.

Entries for the 2022 hog deer ballot will open in August.