By Callum Ludwig
Local police from the Yarra Junction and Warburton Police Stations are set to team up with the Victorian Game Management Authority (GMA) to target illegal deer hunting in the Upper Yarra.
With reports of incidents rising over winter, Operation Thicket will see an increased police presence around hotspots and a push for residents to report their concerns to target illegal hunters.
Sergeant and Officier-in-charge at Yarra Junction Police Station Abbey Draper said the operation will be focusing on an overt and covert response.
“We’ll have members of both of the GMA and us in either uniforms and marked vehicles or unmarked vehicles and plain clothes to hit both ways and then going out and targeting these illegal hunters,” she said.
“Reports of illegal deer hunting are coming through in the form of Crime Stopper reports and phone calls to the station and Triple Zero ranging from shooting from the roadways into private property and spotlighting to accessing people’s private properties and utilising their hunting dogs to flush the deer out.”
A GMA spokesperson said it is quite common for the authority to partner with Victoria Police across the state as it allows officers to share intelligence, particularly in areas where spotlighting can be a serious safety risk.
“Illegal spotlighting of deer is dangerous and unethical. Illegal spotlighting can result in firearm-related incidents, including injuries to persons or wildlife or damage to property,” the spokesperson said.
“Authorised Officers from the GMA and Victoria Police patrol public and private land to ensure compliance with game hunting and public safety laws.”
Powelltown and Don Valley have been identified as two problem areas, but with deer presence heavily noted in areas like Warburton and Seville, illegal hunters could strike in many local townships.
Sgt Draper said they’ve had some issues with livestock and even a home being inadvertently hit with stray bullets with the practices and equipment of illegal hunters very different to legal ones.
“Landowners with a significant amount of land will know that a lot of damage can be done by the wild deer on their property and they can engage hunters that can go out with permission onto a private property and do a cull overnight when deer are most active,” she said.
“We would get notified here at the police station of permission being granted and perhaps for two or three nights the hunter will go out onto that private property and offer that service to the locals,”
“They’re using scopes and proper equipment to ensure that it’s not a free-for-all, it’s calculated and they are very well skilled at their work.”
Police are encouraging locals to visit the GMA website to read up on illegal hunting and urging anyone who notices illegal hunting to report it to the GMA at www.gma.vic.gov.au/enforcement/report-illegal-hunting-online. If there is immediate danger and risk, they also still highly advise calling Triple Zero as their first port of call.
Sgt Draper said if there’s an emergency response required, police absolutely do make that emergency response.
“But our advice is that if they do have access to any CCTV footage of vehicles, registrations, persons that they can see, descriptions of vehicles, all of that information can be collated,” she said.
“It may just be that one little piece of information that kind of puts it all together and gives us an identity or a car as often these people are coming from out of town.”
Illegal behaviour in regards to deer hunting includes hunting without a Game Licence, using incorrect firearms, calibres and ammunition, hunting in prohibited areas including hunting on private property without permission, breaching Victoria’s spotlighting laws and regulations and the incorrect use of dogs and dog breeds.
Night hunting, illegal spotlighting or possessing a firearm in recognised deer habitat can lead to fines in excess of $3,600, equipment seizure, including firearms, spotlights and vehicles, and Game and Firearm Licences cancelled.
Illegal spotlighting can be reported to the GMA by visiting gma.vic.gov.au or calling 136 186.
