Hunters Helping Landholders: Conservation Hunting in Action...

Conservation hunting is a legitimate form of feral animal control in NSW and can be an important add-on to other control measures such as baiting and trapping.

By harnessing the efforts of licensed, accredited hunters in a more organised and regulated manner, Game Council NSW will help reduce the impacts of introduced pest and feral animals on our natural and agricultural environments.

ACTION... not just words:

• More than 8500 feral animals already culled on public land by conservation hunters (updated 12/11/07). For example, close to 950 feral animals have been taken by licensed hunters at Pennsylvania State forest (near Cowra), making a dent in local goat, fox and rabbit populations.
• Hundreds of wild deer culled by licensed hunters from private and local government land on the Mid North Coast and in the Illawarra escarpment, as part of community-based working groups (click here for more information);

• New Conservation Hunting Groups have recently been formed at Coffs Harbour and in the Hunter Valley.
• Licensed duck hunters participating in avian influenza research;
• Licensed hunters contributed to a recent fox drive in the Riverina which culled more than 130 foxes.
• Licensed hunters to participate in an endangered Smoky Mouse predator control program at Nullica State forest, near Eden.
• Conservation hunting group currently being formed in the Port Macquarie Hastings area to assist in wild deer and feral animal control on private properties.

• Game Council NSW to assist other pest agencies with data on feral animal populations in State forests and Crown Land areas, including fox surveys.
• Licensed hunters assisting the North Coast Area Health Service with blood sampling of local feral animals for Barmah Forest Virus research.

• 80 licensed and accredited hunters attend a wild deer control workshop at Bombala, hosted by Game Council NSW. Media release