Field and Game Australia

Last updated

Field & Game Australia (FGA) is an Australian non-government organization formed in 1958 for conservation, hunting, and clay target shooting. It is based in Seymour, Victoria. [1]

Contents

FGA promotes sustainable utilization and hunting practices aimed at conserving Australia’s native flora and fauna. [2] Each year, FGA volunteers conduct waterfowl counts to help governmental wildlife managers gather data on waterfowl population numbers and locations. [2] These figures are not published but reported to the Hunting Advisory Committee. [3]

FGA members have built and organized the construction of thousands of nest boxes across Australia. These are monitored regularly, nesting numbers are recorded, and introduced species are removed. [4] This work has been successful in breeding birds and educating the wider community of the importance of wetlands and their native inhabitants. [5]

History

The Victorian Field and Game Association was established in 1958 at Sale, Victoria. The name comes from field sportsmen and game management abbreviated to "Field & Game". Field & Game was formed by hunters who were concerned at the loss of wetland habitat for the game birds they observed and hunted. [6]

Other resolutions adopted at that first meeting in 1958 were:

At its first meeting the association adopted the following motto- "The wildlife of today is not ours to dispose of as we please. We have it in trust. We must account for it to those who come after". King George VI [7]

The association initially focused on three wetlands: Winton Swamp near Benalla (now Lake Mokoan), Tower Hill in Western Victoria, and Jack Smith Lake in Gippsland.

Hunters placed a value on swampland, which at the time because of its unsuitability for agriculture, was otherwise regarded as being useless. As a part of this, they proposed that regulated water supply from irrigation systems should be available to wetlands.[ citation needed ]

Building Assets for all Australians

Members of the association lobbied for the introduction of a shooter's license system that would make funds available for the protection of wetland habitats. Under Sir Henry Bolte's direction, the shooter's license was established in 1959 and provided Victoria's first-ever funds for game and wildlife management. The shooters license raises over $4 million annually for conservation efforts. A new game license introduced in 1990 raises another $1 million annually.[ citation needed ] Areas of waterfowl habitat were purchased and the Game Research Station at Serendip near Lara was established – the area is now a wetland education centre.

In 1978 the FGA won the Conservation Council of Victoria's prize for the organization that had contributed the most to conservation over a five-year period.[ citation needed ]

Organizational structure

The FGA has over 15,000 members, over 60 branches and 51 simulated field clay target shooting grounds throughout Australia. FGA volunteers spend thousands of hours on a variety of activities, including wetland rehabilitation and management, shooter education, waterfowl identification courses ("WIT tests"), firearm safety and training, pest and vermin eradication, and organized duck hunts and fox drives.[ citation needed ]

The individual FGA branches are made up of the members of the national body, and the branches' delegates vote at national meetings. Each branch is an incorporated association, with individual members being entitled to vote at branch meetings. The current chairman of Field & Game Australia (national body) is Russell Bate. Its current patrons include former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, former Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker and zoologist Prof. Grahame Webb. Former patrons include the late Sir Henry Bolte, and former Victorian Governor the late Sir Rohan Delacombe. [8]

In 2009, Sale Field & Game spokesperson Gary Howard was found guilty in Sale Magistrates Court on the charges of taking and using water without authority, and with interfering with the flow in a waterway. Howard was fined $1500 and ordered to pay costs of $1500. [9] The Heart Morass adjoins Lake Wellington and water taken from the river was beneficial to the environment and did not deprive any other land users or downstream environments.[ citation needed ] The actions were uncovered by the anti-hunting group Coalition Against Duck Shooting, who monitored Heart Morass after learning that 100 FGA members had paid to hunt on the opening weekend. [10] The police investigation showed that Howard, who is on the committee of management for Heart Morass, had released water onto the property, owned by the FGA, just prior to the opening of the hunting season to attract ducks for better game conditions for paying members.[ citation needed ]

In Victoria, following the 2011 duck season where an illegal protester was shot in the face by a shooter. [11] and in 2012 when other illegal protesters were charged and prosecuted, regulations were changed to increase public safety. New regulations were adopted in September 2012 and will be in place for the 2013 season. [12] The regulations what is known as "human safety regulations".[ citation needed ]

Advocacy of shooter's rights

Field and Game Australia represents members interests with government and legal submissions from time to time.[ citation needed ]

In 2002 the FGA were represented in the High Court in relation to the Yorta Yorta Native Title claim over areas in the Goulburn and Murray Valleys. [13] The Yorta Yorta claim was over 200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi) of land. The Yorta Yorta people gave evidence that they traditionally used the land to camp, hunt, and fish. [14] FGA opposed the claim for exclusive possession as they also used the land to camp hunt and fish. [15]

In 2005–06, the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) proposed five new national parks (Barmah, Gunbower, Lower Goulburn, Warby-Ovens, Leaghur-Koorangie and a significant addition to Murray-Sunset) and five new regional or other parks. This would have significantly reduced availability of public land for camping, fishing and hunting. The proposal would have also restricted boat access to rivers in the area. VEAC's proposals were based on economic assumptions that were shown to be flawed. FGA engaged consultants to challenge the economic assumptions and VEAC's proposals were subsequently rejected by the Victorian Government.[ citation needed ]

Members of Field & Game are included in an insurance scheme that provides them with $20 million public liability insurance and gun insurance.[ citation needed ]

Accomplishments

From 1963 to 1965, the VFGA opposed a proposal by the Victorian Government to drain the Hird and Johnson Wetlands near Kerang. Prior to this event, the organisation has worked to preserve these wetlands.[ citation needed ]

In 1978, the VFGA won the Victorian Conservation Prize for "the defense of Victoria's wetlands, the preservation of wildlife habitat and development of public awareness". The prize is awarded annually to an organization who has shown notable contributions to conservation over the previous five years. The prize was awarded by the Minister for Conservation, but since the 1980s that prize has been replaced by LandCare Awards.[ citation needed ]

Research by the VFGA in Victoria during 1992-1993 showed that lead levels in Pacific black duck at Lake Buloke had reached internationally recognized levels dangerous to waterfowl (waterfowl mistakenly ingest lead pellets along with gravels as gastroliths needed to aid their digestion of food). [16] This prompted the VFGA to work with government and support the phase-out of lead shots for waterfowl hunting, which was completed in 2002. [17]

In 2001, FGA founded the Wetland Environmental Taskforce Public Fund (WET) to raise money to protect wetlands. [18] WET has purchased the remaining Heart Morass wetlands from a private farm. Much of the wetland had been already drained to create pastures, and WET's purchase of the Heart Morass will protect it. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freckled duck</span> Species of bird

The freckled duck is a waterfowl species endemic to Australia. The freckled duck has also been referred to as the monkey duck or oatmeal duck. These birds are usually present in mainland Australia, but disperse to coastal and subcostal wetlands in the dry period. During such times it is common for the freckled duck population to congregate in flocks in the same area, giving the impression that they are more common than they really are.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Duck Stamp</span> Stamps sold for wetland conservation

The Federal Duck Stamp, formally known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, is an adhesive stamp issued by the United States federal government that must be purchased prior to hunting for migratory waterfowl such as ducks and geese. It is also used to gain entrance to National Wildlife Refuges that normally charge for admission. It is widely seen as a collectable and a means to raise funds for wetland conservation, with 98% of the proceeds of each sale going to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey teal</span> Species of duck

The grey teal is a dabbling duck found in open wetlands in Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian wood duck</span> Species of bird

The Australian wood duck, maned duck or maned goose is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. Traditionally placed in the subfamily Anatinae, it might belong to the subfamily Tadorninae (shelducks); the ringed teal may be its closest living relative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ducks Unlimited</span> American conservation organization

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-billed duck</span> Species of bird

The blue-billed duck is a small Australian stiff-tailed duck, with both the male and female growing to a length of 40 cm (16 in). The male has a slate-blue bill which changes to bright-blue during the breeding season, hence the duck's common name. The male has deep chestnut plumage during breeding season, reverting to a dark grey. The female retains black plumage with brown tips all year round. The duck is endemic to Australia's temperate regions, inhabiting natural inland wetlands and also artificial wetlands, such as sewage ponds, in large numbers. It can be difficult to observe due to its cryptic nature during its breeding season through autumn and winter. The male duck exhibits a complex mating ritual. The blue-billed duck is omnivorous, with a preference for small aquatic invertebrates. BirdLife International has classified this species as Least concern. Major threats include drainage of deep permanent wetlands, or their degradation as a result of introduced fish, peripheral cattle grazing, salinization, and lowering of ground water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterfowl hunting</span> Practice of hunting waterfowl for food and sport

Waterfowl hunting is the practice of hunting aquatic birds such as ducks, geese and other waterfowls or shorebirds for sport and meat. Waterfowl are hunted in crop fields where they feed, or in areas with bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, sloughs, or coasts. There are around 3 million waterfowl hunters in the United States alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve</span> Protected area in Victoria, Australia

Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, officially Tower Hill State Game Reserve, is a protected area located in the Australian state of Victoria, approximately 275 kilometres (171 mi) west of Melbourne, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north-west of Warrnambool. It encompasses the dormant Tower Hill volcano and wetland and is 614 hectares in area.

Delta Waterfowl Foundation is a non-profit organization operating in both Canada and in the United States, whose mission is to secure the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting. Charity Navigator has ranked it among the top 10 conservation groups promoting the protection of wildlife and game lands for hunters and fishermen.

In the United Kingdom, the term hunting generally refers to hunting with hounds, e.g. normally fox hunting, stag (deer) hunting, beagling, or minkhunting, whereas shooting is the shooting of game birds. What is called deer hunting elsewhere is deer stalking. According to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) over a million people a year participate in shooting, including stalking, shooting, hunting, clay shooting and target shooting. Firearm ownership is regulated by licensing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Hammock Marsh</span> Marsh in Manitoba, Canada

Oak Hammock Marsh is a marsh and a wildlife management area located 34 kilometres (21 mi) north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The WMA is considered to be a Class IV protected area under the IUCN protected area management categories. The marsh is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) for its globally significant numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds. It is a designated Ramsar site due to its international importance as a breeding and staging area for waterfowl and other migratory birds. It is 3,578.47 hectares in size.

A hunting season is the designated time in which certain game animals can be killed in certain designated areas. In the United States, each state determines and sets its own specific dates to hunt the certain game animal, such as California, in which they designate certain zones, in which each have their own separate dates in order to legally hunt.

Australia has a population of about 26 million while the Commonwealth Government estimating there are 640,000 recreational hunters in the country. There are around 6 million legally owned guns in Australia, ranging from airguns to single-shot, bolt-action, pump-action, lever-action or semi-automatic firearms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Menkhorst</span> Australian ecologist

Peter Menkhorst is an Australian ecologist and an authority on Australian mammals and birds. He is experienced in wildlife management, including management of over-abundant Koalas, and in threatened species recovery; he has developed recovery plans and led recovery teams for a number of species including the Orange-bellied Parrot; Helmeted Honeyeater, Regent Honeyeater, Mountain Pygmy Possum and Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby. Menkhorst is also a natural history author and recently co-authored The Australian Bird Guide.

Lake Buloke is a eutrophic lake in the Wimmera region of north-western Victoria, Australia. The lake is fed by the Richardson River and is located adjacent to the township of Donald. Lake Buloke is also one of the most popular duck shooting lakes in Victoria. The Lake Buloke area comprises wetland habitat of high significance for waterbirds, particularly waterfowl and waders. The bull oak casuarina is found in the Shire and around Lake Buloke.

Currency Creek Game Reserve is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located on the south-western side of Lake Alexandrina in the gazetted localities of Currency Creek and Goolwa North about 0.5 kilometres north-east of Goolwa.

Tolderol Game Reserve is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located on the north-western side of Lake Alexandrina in the localities of Lake Alexandrina and Tolderol about 11 kilometres south-east of Langhorne Creek.

Moorook Game Reserve is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia covering the floodplain on the south side of the River Murray in the localities of Kingston-on-Murray and Moorook immediately south of the section of the Sturt Highway that passes between the towns of Kingston-on-Murray in the west and Cobdogla in the east. It is located about 180 kilometres east north-east of the state capital of Adelaide.

Duck hunting is an outdoor recreational activity practised under a permit system in the Australian state of South Australia. Hunters use shotguns and are provided with permits issued by the Department of Environment and Water. The activity is opposed by animal welfare groups who consider the practice to be unacceptably cruel.

Hail Haor Wildlife Sanctuary is a major wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh. It is one of the most important wetlands in the Sylhet Basin for the resident and migratory waterfowls. It is also important watersource for the inhabitants living around when all other sources dry up during summer. The sanctuary is located in Moulvibazar District, in the northeast region of the country.

References

  1. ↑ "Victorian Hunting Organisations – Department of Primary Industries". Dpi.vic.gov.au. 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Sustainable Hunting – Department of Primary Industries". Dpi.vic.gov.au. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Introduction – Department of Primary Industries". Dpi.vic.gov.au. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Media Releases:: Award Winning Wildlife Conservation". Aefweb.info. 6 October 2006. Archived from the original on 5 January 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Habitat Conservation Info Report No.1/2011" (PDF). Ramsar.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "New Game Shooters' Association" (PDF). Australian Clay Target Shooting News. Vol. 12, no. 1. Australian Clay Target Association. October 1958. pp. 9–11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "Exploring the biodiversity of the UK". UK Wildlife. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "History, Origins & Patrons". fga.net.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "Sale man prosecuted over water release into Hearts Morass". srw.com.au. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "Water for ducks just isn't fair game". bendigoadvertiser.com.au. 28 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Duck protesters put on notice: FGA". weeklytimesnow.com.au. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013.
  12. ↑ "Victoria's new game hunting regulations". dpi.vic.gov.au. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
  13. ↑ Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria [2002] HCA 58, (2002) 214 CLR 422 "Judgment Summary" (PDF). High Court. 12 December 2002.
  14. ↑ Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria [1998] FCA 1606 at para 123(18 December 1998), Federal Court (Australia)
  15. ↑ Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria [2002] HCATrans 252 (24 May 2002), High Court
  16. ↑ "Lead Shot: Significant New Developments with Relevance to All Hunters". cic-wildlife.org. CIC Wildlife. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "Why Has the Change Been Made – Department of Primary Industries". dpi.vic.gov.au. 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "Wetlands Trust | Field and Game Australia". Fga.net.au. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Heart Morass Restoration Project". wgcma.vic.gov.au. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.