For nearly two decades, Neil Page and Corrie De Visser have invested extraordinary time, energy and money into transforming their 3,000-acre property in East Gippsland into what is arguably the world’s premier free-range hog deer property.
Their efforts, completely destocking the land, restoring vegetation, creating clean water points, and building hides, have had remarkable biodiversity benefits. Kangaroos, emus, other birds and a wide range of native wildlife now thrive alongside the carefully managed hog deer population.
But with success has come unwanted attention from illegal hunters.
On two separate occasions, in 2019 and again in 2020, Christopher Long trespassed onto the property to participate in illegal hunts that resulted in the unlawful killing and removal of several prized hog deer.
Last week, the County Court of Victoria awarded Neil and Corrie a
civil judgment against Long totalling $120,000. If costs are awarded (highly likely), the final bill may balloon to several hundred thousand dollars, an expensive reminder that poaching doesn’t pay.
The trespasses
In December 2019, Long joined an unauthorised hunting party that illegally shot at least two hog deer on the property. He proudly posed for photos with the animals, including one image showing a rifle fitted with a suppressor. Later, he circulated the photos to boost his ego and promote his guiding services, which the court saw as an attempt to profit from his own unlawful conduct.
A year later, Long returned. More hog deer were illegally killed. The court found that Long either fired the rifle himself (despite not holding a firearms licence) or was again involved in a group’s illegal activities. He repeated the same self-promotional routine with trophy photos, again apparently hoping to turn poaching into profit.
The damage done
Long’s actions were more than a violation of property rights; they undermined confidence in lawful firearm ownership, the credibility of the regulatory system, and the integrity of Victoria’s hog deer management framework.
The court found that Long’s trespass violated Neil and Corrie’s rights, jeopardised their safety and that of their family, and directly interfered with their long-standing conservation efforts.
But the damage extends further still, casting a shadow over the broader hunting community and public perceptions of ethical deer hunting in Victoria.
Why civil, not criminal?
Neil and Corrie reported the 2020 trespass to Victoria Police in January 2021. Mobile phone location data obtained during that investigation was used in court. However, enforcement authorities (Victoria Police and the Game Management Authority) were unable to pursue criminal charges.
Faced with an apparent dead end, Neil and Corrie took the extraordinary step of pursuing civil action - a costly, stressful and time-consuming process. While the standard of proof in civil proceedings is lower than in criminal cases, serious allegations like these still demand robust evidence and judicial scrutiny.
Long’s unlawful possession of a firearm, use of a suppressor, and trespass could have led to criminal charges. Instead, it was a civil court that finally held him accountable.
A fool for a client
The old saying goes:
a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client. Long lived up to that adage, choosing to represent himself, apparently relying on generative AI rather than professional legal advice.
The court was unimpressed. In the written judgment, the judge noted:
“Mr Long also relied upon 13 cases said to support the proposition that, in civil trespass proceedings, courts require convincing circumstantial evidence... Of these, 11 did not exist.”
The court concluded:
“It is likely these cases are another example of a litigant’s misplaced reliance upon generative AI to assist them in preparing submissions.”
A cautionary tale followed:
“Generative AI can be beguiling, particularly when the task of representing yourself seems overwhelming. However, a litigant runs the risk that their case will be damaged, rather than helped, if they choose to use AI without taking the time to understand what it produces, and to confirm that it is both legally and factually accurate.”
In other words: don’t let ChatGPT write your submissions to the court - especially when you’re in the wrong.
Why hog deer matter
Hog deer are listed as endangered in their native range by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Victoria is home to the most secure free-ranging population of these deer in the world, a population that commands global attention from hunters and conservationists alike.
SSAA Victoria, particularly through its Deerstalkers Club, has played a central role in their management for over 60 years. From the Para Park Co-Operative to the Blond Bay Project, we have consistently backed ethical hunting and species stewardship.
What must happen now?
Sadly, the allure of illegal hunting is real and growing. So too is the potential damage to landholders, deer lovers, and the reputation of lawful hunters.
Victoria must maintain strong regulatory protections for wild hog deer. The Game Management Authority must be adequately resourced and empowered to take meaningful action against poaching.
Hunters must remain vigilant. Suspicious or illegal activity should be reported to the GMA and, where appropriate, to affected landholders.
SSAA Victoria will continue to champion the ethical management of Victoria’s unique hog deer population and to push for those who put holes in the bottom of our collective boat to be held to account. In the meantime, we commend Neil and Corrie both for their efforts to conserve and promote hog deer and their dogged determination in bringing Long to justice.
