SSAA members still have time to enter the Snake Island Hog Deer Ballot. The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, in August announced that the island would be opened for balloted Hog deer hunting during a two-year trial. The trial, commencing February 2017, will run alongside the established Hog deer ballots at Blond Bay State Game Reserve and Boole Poole Peninsula.
Snake Island will open for seven hunts between February and May 2017, with a maximum of eight hunters on each. The hunts will be confined to weekdays, excluding public holidays and the Easter break. Fifty-six people will get the opportunity to hunt deer on Snake Island during the first year of the trial.
The ballot is open to all valid Game Licence-holders until November 30 for a non-refundable $15 fee per person. Juniors are also eligible to enter and, if successful, they will need to be accompanied by an appropriately licensed adult/guardian who will not participate in the hunt.
Any hunters wishing to apply for the ballot must be aware of the following:
- The Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Committee, which is administering the ballot, will only accept one application per hunter.
- The hunters will be responsible for taking all equipment, food and water on and off the island.
- Camping is permitted on the island.
- No motorised vehicles are allowed on the island.
- Push bikes and hand carts are permitted on the island and there is an extensive track system on the island.
- All hunts are non-transferable.
- Balloted hunters must hunt during their allocated period.
- Anyone who is unable to hunt during their allocated period will be replaced by a reserve hunter.
- The number of animals and the sex of the animals that can be harvested is specified by the Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Committee.
- Hunters must present their animals to a checking station for validation within a certain amount of time. These conditions are listed on the Game Management Authority website.
- The hunts will be overseen and regulated by the Game Management Authority, Victoria Police, Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
- Registration and payment must be received by the close of business on November 30 for a ballot entry to be considered.
Snake Island can only be accessed by boat. Due to the complexities of getting to the island, the committee has encouraged hunters to review their transport before applying for the ballot.
The ballot will be drawn at the Upper Goulburn Branch of the Australian Deer Association on December 10 and successful hunters will be notified via mail.
SSAA Victoria has been actively campaigning for hunting on Snake Island for many years and it welcomes the trial. The Association encourages its members with the appropriate licences to participate in the ballot. For more information visit the Game Management Authority website.