Have you noticed the negative portrayal by the Greens of
licensed shooters now that there’s a proposal to allow them into national parks
to shoot and kill certain animals?
The greens are up in arms and are cranking the scare machine
into top gear referring to shooters as irresponsible, manic, wasteful,
barbaric, trigger-happy, amongst many others. If the Greens are to be believed then these shooters wantonly
shoot at hikers.
The reality is quite the opposite. Licensed shooters are highly skilled, they respect the
weapon they are using. They are
sensible, not wasteful, as every bullet costs money and they sometimes like to
take the carcus away. They are
respectful of others and the animals they are shooting. They know how to kill it without undue
stress to the animal. Also, lets not forget they are registered, and one false
move results in removal of gun licenses forever. These guys are highly regulated in the storage and use of
their weapon, if they want to keep using it they will use it properly. They are not stupid.
Also the animals they will be allowed to shoot are feral, in
plague proportions and usually introduced species reeking havoc on our
ecosystem.
Shooters are better environmentalists that those who claim
to be ‘green’. These ‘do gooders’
don’t see the bigger picture. An
increase in feral animals equals increased damage to environment and therefore
endangering native animals.
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1 comment:
There appears to be no rationality to the Green position on this one. They themselves acknowledge that feral animals are a problem, because they compete with native wildlife for habitat and food, and are often predatory. They do not so readily acknowledge that kangaroos are in problematic numbers due to human influence, but it is true as well. Trapping and bating are problematic because it is very difficult to avoid collateral damage to native species when implementing these measures. The most surgical response is shooting.
Professional marksmen are useful, particularly with species that are easily herded and can be targeted from the air, such as wild brumbies. They are also good for animals that require a high degree of skill to safely and effectively hunt, such as wild pigs. But there are only so many professional marksmen, they cost money, and they cannot be everywhere all the time.
Pest fauna is no respecter of property or municipal boundaries. No one claims that it can be eradicated completely, and in the case of native kangaroos, no one desires that either. The aim is to reduce numbers and keep them low. But animals are not oblivious to danger, and they tend to avoid places where shooters have recently been active. If hunters operate regularly on certain properties, the animals will move to less tumultuous real estate. If they can be shot everywhere except national parks, guess where they will congregate – the very places meant to be reserved for native and threatened fauna.
Recreational hunters are already permitted to hunt in State Forests. However, a special class of licence is mandated, for which more specialised knowledge is required. There are also additional regulations imposed on shooters in this category. Finally, shooters must arrange long beforehand with the forest rangers, who ensure appropriate signage is in place when shooters are in the park, and who set down the boundaries within which hunting can be carried out. The situation where a family picnic is interrupted by a hail of bullets is thus carefully avoided, not that the Greens were primarily concerned about that possibility until I mentioned it. Hunting in National Parks will be conducted under these same rules, which have been operating successfully and safely for some time.
Hunters only target pest species. There are no native trophy species in Australia, with the possible exception of crocodiles. Deer, pigs and buffalo can be hunted for trophies, but more often for food or as part of a cull, and they are all introduced. Kangaroos are generally culled, but there is a burgeoning meat industry. Rabbits are often eaten, as are goats. Foxes, wild and feral dogs, and feral cats are mercilessly pursued purely to kill them, and no one will be upset if they could be completely eradicated. But possums, koalas, bilbies and sugar gliders enjoy perfect immunity from the hunter’s bullet, though many hunters are also keen photographers and take some wonderful snaps of these beautiful creatures, along with the spectacular landscape we seek to preserve.
LB
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