Leslie Massey
Hunting in Australia has a long and complex history, with various groups and individuals engaging in the practice for different reasons and using different methods. Aboriginal Australians have traditionally hunted native animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, and emus, while also gathering shellfish and plants for food. Early European settlers also hunted kangaroos, dingoes, and emus, and introduced deer, red foxes, and upland birds to the country. Today, recreational hunting in Australia often targets invasive species such as rabbits, foxes, and feral pigs, and there are an estimated 640,000 recreational hunters in the country. The practice of hunting by Aboriginal Australians has been a subject of controversy and legislative debate, with some arguing that recognising their traditional hunting rights discriminates against non-Aboriginal people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of recreational hunters in Australia | 640,000 |
| Number of legally owned guns in Australia | 6 million |
| Animals hunted by Aboriginal Australians | Kangaroos, wallabies, seals, emus, lizards, shellfish, birds |
| Animals hunted by non-Aboriginal Australians | Deer, red foxes, upland birds (quails, pheasants, and partridges), rabbits/hares, cats, dogs, goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, feral cattle (including banteng), water buffaloes, camels, native waterfowls, ducks, feral pigs, and feral cats |
| States permitting the hunting of waterfowl using firearms | 3 |
| Territories permitting the hunting of waterfowl using firearms | 1 |
| Number of deer species in Australia | 6 |
| Number of professional kangaroo hunters in 2012 | 1.6 million |
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What You'll Learn
Hunting of invasive species
Hunting in Australia has a long history, dating back to when Aboriginal Australians hunted kangaroos, wallabies, and seals. Today, hunting in Australia is primarily done by recreational hunters, with around 640,000 in the country. Many of the species hunted are invasive, introduced by European settlers since the 18th century. These include deer, red foxes, upland birds, rabbits, hares, cats, dogs, goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, feral cattle, water buffaloes, and camels.
Rabbits, in particular, are considered a highly invasive pest, and hunting them is encouraged across Australia. Foxes are also commonly hunted, often using techniques like a fox whistle to lure them and spotlighting their eyeshine to locate and shoot them. Other invasive species that are targeted include feral pigs, which impact 149 threatened species in Australia, and feral cats, which are the subject of bounties in Queensland.
The Australian government has implemented various programs to control invasive species, such as a cane toad control program to prevent their spread towards Darwin and Western Australia. Dromedary camels and water buffalo are also controlled by shooting from helicopters. While these measures aim to protect native species, some programs have inadvertently caused extinctions, such as the bounty on the Tasmanian tiger or thylacine.
The issue of invasive species in Australia is complex, with ongoing debates about the benefits and detriments of introduced species. Some argue that certain invasive species may act as replacements for extinct Australian megafauna. However, invasive species are a serious threat to endemic species and agriculture, costing billions in weed control and lost production.
Indigenous hunting rights have also been a subject of controversy in Australia. While the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 mandates that Aboriginal people are exempt from general conservation restrictions when hunting for food, ceremonial, or religious purposes, there have been disputes over their hunting rights, particularly in national parks. In Queensland, recent legislation has allowed limited hunting by Aboriginal communities on protected lands, subject to specific controls and approvals.
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Hunting by Aboriginal Australians
Aboriginal Australians have a long history of hunting and gathering as a way of life. Hunting was traditionally men's work, while women gathered shellfish, plants, vegetables, roots, herbs, fruits, nuts, eggs, honey, and small land animals. Men hunted large land animals and birds and organised large-scale hunting drives for emus and kangaroos. Hunting trips could last several days, and hunters needed to be skilled trackers with detailed knowledge of animal behaviour. They used touch and sign language to communicate quietly and disguised their scent by smearing their bodies with soil. Boomerangs were used to hunt birds, while spears were used for most other animals. In Western Australia, the Martu people set small fires while hunting lizards, which also helped prevent overgrown brush and lightning fires that threatened small mammals. Aboriginal people also used fire and nets to hunt kangaroos, a practice that early European settlers learned and adopted, sometimes resulting in conflict between the two groups.
Today, Aboriginal Australians in Queensland have gained more hunting rights through recent legislation. The Queensland Aboriginal Land Act of 1991 allows Aboriginal people to claim some national parks, and with approval, they can hunt traditional foods under certain conditions. The Queensland Nature Conservation Act of 1992 permits Aboriginal people to take protected wildlife on private land with the landowner's approval and following a species conservation plan.
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Hunting deer
Deer hunting is a popular recreational activity in Australia, with many hunters seeking to connect with nature and their food source. Deer were introduced to Australia in the 18th century by European settlers, and today, there are six species of deer in the country. These include the chital deer (Axis axis), also known as the Indian spotted deer, the hog deer (Axis porcinus), the sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), the rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), the red deer (Cervus elaphus), and the fallow deer (Dama dama).
The Australian Deer Association (ADA) hosts events and camps for hunters to gather and share their experiences. Hunters can also find a wealth of online resources, such as the Hunting Techniques module, which provides essential skills and strategies for pursuing deer in Australia's diverse landscapes. The popularity of deer hunting has led to the development of various businesses and services catering to hunters, including guided deer hunts, deer ranches, and deer hunting training courses.
Hunting seasons and regulations are in place to ensure sustainable deer population management. For example, the Hog Deer season in April avoids the peak breeding period in summer and the hardships of winter when deer populations are at their lowest. The Red Deer and Fallow Deer have year-long open seasons, but specific restrictions apply to certain areas, such as national parks and reserves.
Hunters can employ various methods to hunt deer, including stalking with a bow or backpack hunts in remote alpine regions. Local legislation and regulations define the legal hunting methods, and hunters may need to adopt multiple approaches depending on their skills, time, and preferences. Deer hunting in Australia offers a unique opportunity to explore the country's diverse landscapes while pursuing a sustainable and nutritious food source.
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Hunting with dogs
Gundogs
Gundogs are a category of hunting dogs that are trained to assist hunters in the field. They are characterised by their soft mouths, ensuring they return any retrieved game with minimal damage. Different breeds of gundogs excel at different tasks, and hunters typically choose their dogs based on their preferred hunting method.
Pointing Breeds
Pointing breeds are commonly used for hunting birds like quail and pheasants. These dogs run in wide circles in front of the hunter, using their sense of smell to locate the bird. Once they detect the presence of a bird, they freeze, pointing their nose in the bird's direction and raising one front leg. The hunter then moves forward, flushing the bird into the air for a shot. Irish Setters are an example of a pointing breed that is also effective at locating and pointing elusive deer.
Flushing Breeds
Spaniels are a dedicated flushing breed, possessing a natural ability to locate, point, and flush game birds. They rely on their sense of smell to detect birds and small game in tall grass, staying within shotgun range of their handler. Once a bird is flushed, the dog sits and observes its flight path, marking the spot where it falls for later retrieval upon command. Water Spaniels are commonly used for this purpose.
Retrieving Breeds
Retrievers are named for their skill in retrieving game birds, particularly waterfowl. They retrieve the harvested birds for the hunter, returning them with minimal damage.
Goat Mustering
When mustering goats, dogs with strong herding abilities are used. While any dog can be trained for this purpose, Australian Shepherds are a common breed for this task due to their natural instinct to work with goats. These dogs must be able to control the movement of the goats, pushing them in a certain direction, especially when guiding them into yards. It is important to note that inexperienced dogs may struggle with goat mustering and could end up chasing the goats instead.
Pig Hunting
Dogs play a crucial role in pig hunting, holding the pig to prevent escape without causing injury or death. The dog must apply just enough force to restrain the pig until the hunter arrives. If the hunter takes too long, an experienced dog may need to bail the pig, releasing it temporarily to avoid causing harm.
It is important to note that hunting with dogs in Australia is subject to various regulations and requires permission from landowners. Hunters should familiarise themselves with relevant legislation, such as the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, which outlines specific provisions for Aboriginal hunters.
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Hunting kangaroos
Hunting has been an integral part of Aboriginal culture in Australia. Hunting trips could last several days, and Aboriginal hunters needed to be good trackers with a detailed knowledge of animal behaviour. They were experts at imitating the cries of wild animals and birds to attract them, and used spears to kill most animals and boomerangs for birds. Aboriginal men would smear their bodies with soil to disguise their smell.
Kangaroos were among the favourite animals for hunting, along with wallabies. Kangaroos are native to Australia and are commonly harvested there, but it is illegal to hunt them recreationally. In 2012, the commercial harvest of kangaroos by professional hunters was recorded as 1.6 million. While some Australians frown upon trophy hunting, others enjoy kangaroo meat, which is considered tasty and low in fat. However, kangaroos have a lot of worms and parasites, which can make their meat unsafe for human consumption.
In recent years, there has been a push for legislative changes to allow indigenous communities to hunt and gather on protected lands. For example, the Queensland Aboriginal Land Act of 1991 allows Aboriginal people to hunt traditional foods in national parks under certain circumstances. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 mandates that Aboriginal people are not subject to general conservation restrictions as long as they hunt only for food, ceremonial, or religious purposes.
Despite the illegality of recreational kangaroo hunting in Australia, it is a popular activity in some parts of the United States, such as Texas, where there are no seasonal restrictions. Hunting packages are offered by lodges, allowing people to choose their preferred method of hunting, including spot and stalk, bow hunting, rifle hunting, black powder, or handgun.
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Frequently asked questions
Commonly hunted animals in Australia include rabbits, foxes, ducks, feral pigs, feral cats, feral goats, kangaroos, wallabies, deer, and waterfowl.
Hunting techniques in Australia include the use of dogs, guns, spears, boomerangs, and fire. Some hunters also use fox whistles and spotlights to locate and shoot animals.
Hunting in Australia is primarily done by recreational hunters, of which there are around 640,000 in the country. Aboriginal people are also allowed to hunt for food, ceremonial, or religious purposes under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, but they must comply with specific restrictions and regulations.
Hunting in Australia has a long history, with Aboriginal people hunting for thousands of years using various methods. Early European settlers also engaged in hunting, often learning from and competing with Aboriginal people for resources. Hunting clubs were established in the 1800s, and hunting became a way for settlers to consolidate their ownership of land.
