Challenges to hunting access can take many forms. SSAA Victoria has recently worked with Parks Victoria to ensure that key wetlands will be accessible to hunters with retrieving dogs for the forthcoming Victorian duck season.
Last week, a member informed SSAA Victoria of 1080 baiting notifications at State Game Reserves in Gippsland. The baiting program to control foxes was slated to run until the end of July, well past the end of the duck season. The presence of 1080 baits in an area effectively rules out hunters working with off-leash dogs.
SSAA Victoria generally enjoys an excellent working relationship with the land manager (Parks Victoria), so the Association’s Hunting Development Manager contacted Parks Victoria to raise hunters concerns. Within one working day, Parks Victoria responded with the following welcome advice…
“The Fox 1080 baiting program in the Lake Wellington Wetlands (Dowd Morass, Clydebank Morass, Heart Morass, Andrew Bay-Grebe Bay GLR) and Bairnsdale area (Macleod Morass and Jones Bay) will cease four weeks before duck hunting starts (baits removed four weeks before opening, signs will remain in situ for four weeks from removal). The program will recommence again after the season closes.”
The signs in the area will be edited shortly to reflect this change.
