Controversial game draft

Press, 8 May 1985, Page 3

Controversial game draft

By

DERRICK ROONEY

Limitations on the number of game animals that may be stocked on pastoral land used for safari hunting, and surrender to the Crown of any pastoral land deemed “unsuitable for grazing” as a condition of the issuing of licences for safari hunting are controversial provisions in a draft policy on gameanimal management, prepared for the Land Settlement Board.

The draft policy also calls for the control by a permit system of all recreational hunting on unoccupied Crown land. The board has released the policy for public comment, and has set June 30 as the deadline for submissions.

It says the policy has been prompted by recognition that increasing pressure is being placed on the game-animal resource by recreational hunting, guided safari hunting, and commercial recovery of live deer or carcases for venison.

It has been recognised

also that several species of game animal, previously thought of as pests warranting extermination, are valuable assets.

Deer farming is now widespread, and commercial deer-recovery in many areas has reduced deer numbers to levels that would otherwise have been impossible to achieve because of the costs.

Deer, thar, and chamois are also becoming increasingly important as resource stock for recreation and tourism, the board says. Its 1980 high-country policy statement contained provision for wild-animal control and hunting on highcountry Crown land, but in recognition of changing attitudes, the board says, it has now developed a policy to apply to all Crown land under its control.

The new policy says the board recognises that game animals can be managed as a sustainable resource for recreation or commercial production or both. However, it insists that

the management of game animals — all deer, chamois, thar, goats, and pigs — on Crown land will be allowed only to the extent that it is compatible with other values such as conservation of water and soil and vegetation, with adjacent land management, and with statutory requirements for the control of wild animals. The board will have the power to order control measures over animal numbers on pastoral land where they are not being managed as farm or safari hunting stock, and it says that it will encourage the lessees or licensees of such land to allow recreational hunters access for hunting game animals.

All management plans prepared for Crown land areas will be required to include provision for the control or management of game animals, but in all proposals for sustained management of the animals soil and water, ecological, and vegetation values will

have priority. Recreation permits will have to be obtained when game animals are used on leasehold or unoccupied Crown land for commercial safari hunting or tourist operations. On pastoral land, animals managed for safari hunting must be confined within stock-proof fences.

All hunting on unoccupied Crown land will be subject to a permit from the Commissioner of Crown lands, or from the Conservator of Forests where he acts as the commissioner’s agent.

Recreational hunters will be required to obtain for each hunting trip a fresh permit, on which the names of all members of the party are listed, with one identified as party leader. Commercial safari operators will be able to obtain blanket permits for specific areas for three months.

Recreational or safari hunters will not be permitted to shoot game from helicopters over Crown land.