DECISION TO CUT BAG LIMIT A CASE OF PURE MANGO MADNESS, AND FARMERS RISK LOSING THEIR HARVESTS
The recent decision to reduce the permit holders bag limit to three geese also came with a reduction of birds able to be taken on mango crops. Last year growers were given permits that allowed them to take 20,000 magpie geese. This year that number is reduced to just 5000. I was told 22 farms had permits last year and 6000 birds were harvested by hunters protecting crops.
The mango and melon crops that geese and other birds attack have combined value of $151 million. So, it is no surprise when the largest mango farmer says that magpie geese ruin $200,000 worth of fruit per annum. Farmers at a forum that I attended discussed how to deal with geese and said they experienced losses attributable to geese from between 10 per cent on large farms to 50 per cent on small farms.
That would be devastating to lose 50 per cent of your crop after a year of effort, especially if it was your only form of income.
One farmer that NT Field and Game assisted last year had a permit for 1000 geese and 800 were shot on his property. From this you can tell he has a problem. This year he was given a permit for 98. One permit issued is for 14 geese. The shooting of geese is deemed to be deterrent and to change the behaviour of the birds from flying to these farms and destroying fruit. These numbers on permits don’t have any ability to deter the other birds from returning.
The magpie goose population was estimated at 725,000 in May when they were sitting on eggs in the nest. A dry season count now will probably reveal that the numbers have increased to over a million birds. The Magpie Goose Management Plan states that crop mitigation levels of harvest should be capped at one per cent of the estimated population. At the announcement of the changes to the season that number for crop protection could have been 7250. Now it could be 10,000 or more. Crop protection has another benefit taking hunters off the hunting reserves and easing the pressure on the birds and dangerous crowding of hunters. NT Field and Game hopes to meet with NT Farmers Association and Primary Industries Minister Ken Vowles to discuss improvements to the crop protection permit system and quotas.
NT Field and Game has been advocating for waterfowl hunters and wetland conservation since 2000. We were formed then, when the Department tried to pull a swiftie and reduce the season to 12 weeks. Now we are at the forefront of fighting for hunters to get a decent bag limit and weed control in breeding areas and hunting reserves. Join NT Field and Game now so we can show the Minister Lauren Moss and Chief Minister Michael Gunner we will not have our Territory lifestyle eroded by pointy headed scientists who do tick and flick wildlife management.
The NT Field and Game range is open for practice from 9am till noon every Sunday in the lead up to the waterfowl hunting season, while weekly Friday night practice continues at Micket Creek Shooting Complex, Brandt Rd, Knuckey Lagoon. There are now two grounds with the token system in operation. The ranges will be open from 3pm on Fridays for those who plan ahead and pre purchase ammo and tokens. The sales desk normally opens at 5pm. Goose Fever Expo will also be on display at the next competition on Sunday, October 15.