BRILLIANT START TO THE SEASON
A GREAT part of the Territory lifestyle opened last Wednesday morning with the start of the NT waterfowl hunting season on public hunting reserves.
This is one of the saving graces of the ‘Build-Up’.
We have been given ample bag limits of seven geese and 10 ducks and a desirable season of 15 weeks on reserves and an additional five weeks on private land.
Thanks to Minister Eva Lawler and Dr Tim Clancy for the sensible and sustainable conditions.
Let us hope we can welcome Victorians to take advantage of the world’s best waterfowling and the government rebates of $200 in every $1000 for holiday flights and bookings in this tourist shoulder period.
From all reports, hunters filled their daily bag limit on Wednesday and will be enjoying meals of plump goose and ducks this weekend. Even though the season opened midweek, my neighbour’s lights were on at 4am and Gunn Point Road had a steady stream of traffic at 4.45 when I pulled out.
It shows the popularity of hunting when in my short street of only 10 houses, there are six hunting families.
I hope that NT Field and Game can have positive meetings with the ministers during this new term.
The Country Liberal Party’s hunting policy had wonderful initiatives that would improve the science and wetland conservation that makes waterfowl hunting so sustainable.
It is time that sensible policies emerge and are acted upon, because the Magpie Goose Management Program still has a lot of holes in it regarding habitat and monitoring.
NT Field and Game holds clay target practice at the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex range from 4pm every Friday and today from 9am till noon. All are welcome