Poachers should be prosecuted
THE 2022 waterfowl season is only five weeks away from opening and by the looks of it, we are in for an exceptionally good hunt.
The rain fell in the swamp catchments right up until the end of April and this has kept water levels up through the long Dry.
Opening day is the most anticipated one on the hunting calendar.
But each year it is spoilt by poachers getting the jump on true, law-abiding hunters that respect the opening date, time and bag-limit conditions.
As I write this, I can hear the distant shots at Howard Swamp.
They have been ringing out every day for the past three weeks. This is not a recent occurrence. Early poaching has been going on at Howard Swamp, Shoal Bay and Harrison Dam since at least 2001 when NT Field and Game was founded.
I know this because every year I lead the litter collection working bees during mid-August and we would pick up all the spent shotshell cases, drink containers, plastic bags and cardboard that “pigs” had left the previous season.
Then it was obvious to all, come opening day when the “Wall” was again covered in brand new spent shells before a “legal” shot had been fired that illegal poaching was rampant prior to the start of the hunting season. Howard Swamp, Lambell’s Lagoon and Harrison Dam are in earshot of the authorities, yet I have never heard of a conviction for early season poaching there.
How about leaving the four hunting reserves alone until we can all share the bounty of the wetlands on September 20.
At the moment, the illegal hunting occurs at Howard Swamp and Shoal Bay from about 4.30pm most days and from my experience living adjacent for the past 20 years will shift to the mornings in the final weeks leading up to the opening day.
Now is the time to get along to NT Field and Game and put your shotgun to the shoulder. Brush up on those skills you will need to bring home a feed of mouthwatering magpie geese.
The range at NT Field and Game sports two towers that can simulate targets at heights and ranges hunters would experience in the field. With Minister Moss declaring a seven-bird bag limit, hunters don’t want to miss the opportunity to make the trip worthwhile.
Sunday Mass practice returns to the NT Field and Game range at the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex this morning from 9am till noon and every Friday from 4pm. All welcome.
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