Secretary Game Animal Panel PO Box 9134 Addington CHRISTCHURCH 8243

Transcription

1 Date: Secretary Game Animal Panel PO Box 9134 Addington CHRISTCHURCH 8243 RE: SUBMISSION TO THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT MANAGING NUMBERS OF DEER, CHAMOIS, TAHR AND PIGS As a private individual who actively hunts game animals in New Zealand, I would like to make the following submission on the Discussion Document relating to the current review of game animals in this country. [STATE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE IN HUNTING, OUTDOOR PURSUITS, SEARCH & RESCUE, VOLUNTARY RURAL FIRE FIGHTING AND OTHER CONSERVATION WORK PAID OR VOLUNTARY]. I.E.NUMBER OF YEARS HUNTING, HERDS HUNTED, ETC 1. How do you view these animals (tick one box only): As pests As a resource Primarily as pests, but also as a resource Primarily as a resource, but also as pests All of the above are incorrect. These animals should be treated as a pest when they are above threshold densities, and a resource when they are at or below threshold densities. 2. How important do you consider the impacts of deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs on native plants and animals and their ecosystems are? Crucially important in driving unacceptable ecological change One of a number of important threats Usually of minor importance A replacement for pre-human browsing by moa The impacts caused by these animals should be described as modification of the forest ecosystem. This is as inevitable as modifications caused by wasps, mice, stoats, blackbirds etc. Their importance is a subjective judgement which should be viewed 1

2 alongside all other impacts caused by all other introduced species. The impacts caused by these animals are largely irreversible unless the animals are eradicated, which is virtually impossible in most areas. 3. Please indicate how important the protection of native flora and fauna is, relative to the value (if any) that you place on deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs. (Tick the one statement you most agree with.) Protection of indigenous flora and fauna is so important that these animals should preferably be exterminated Protection of indigenous flora and fauna is usually important enough to justify intensive animal control Hunting benefits can sometimes be sufficient to offset the adverse effects on indigenous flora and fauna These animals should be managed without regard to native flora and fauna All of the above are incorrect. If these animals are adversely affecting any important flora or fauna values, then they may be controlled (= harvested) to the point where this no longer occurs. The importance of any values are determined through an open consultative process. 4. Where do you consider deer, chamois, tahr and pigs need to be reduced in numbers? (Tick as many boxes as you wish.) Everywhere inside and outside their current established range Wherever new populations establish outside their present range Wherever they affect rare and/or vulnerable native species and habitats/ecosystems Wherever they predate and threaten native species Wherever they substantially affect regeneration of palatable plants Wherever they substantially affect canopy regeneration Nowhere Game animals need to be managed where they threaten rare species or the forest canopy, but this needs to be properly defined, and is in a limited number of places. 5. Do you consider that deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs have important adverse effects apart from their effects on native plants and animals (e.g., on farming, forestry, human health and safety, disease risk, carbon emission and sequestration, increased cost of possum control)? If so, please indicate how important these effects are. (Tick the one statement you most agree with.) Absolutely essential Very important Reasonably important Not very important Not at all important 2

3 These issues can be managed where they are a problem, which is in limited places. For instance, there are some localised effects on farming and forestry. The theory that these animals cause accelerated erosion, has been disproved. 6. What do you consider are important benefits provided by deer, chamois, tahr and pigs?(tick as many boxes as you wish.) Recreational hunting Commercial meat hunting Tourist hunting Food source Aesthetic/historic/cultural value Source of stock for farms or hunting reserves Other (please describe): Outdoor education and firearms proficiency. There are many instances where these animals have improved tourist experiences through sighting these animals. Game animals can be a valuable resource for recreational hunting. Commercial hunting is important where these animals cannot be managed at or below threshold densities by recreational hunters. 7. If deer, chamois, tahr and pigs were to be managed for hunting benefits, what do you consider the broad management goals should be? (Tick one or more boxes for each animal.) Minimise damage to the environment Maximise meat / trophy quality (keep numbers relatively low) Maximise harvest (keep numbers moderate) Maximise hunting success (keep numbers high) All of the above options are inappropriate. How do you define minimise or maximise? There needs to be specific environmental or conservation goals, properly defined, and enabled through the setting of measurable threshold densities of game animals. Different places need different management for different reasons. 8. Where do you consider deer, chamois, tahr and pigs could be managed for their resource value? (Tick as many boxes as you wish.) Only on deer-fenced farms and game estates On any privately-owned non-conservation land (including 3

4 exotic forests) On heavily modified ecosystems on public conservation land On public conservation land where state-funded control is unlikely to take place On any public conservation land where state-funded control is occurring Everywhere where they are at or below their defined threshold densities. 9. Do you consider that recreational and commercial hunting could be usefully managed to be more effective in reducing animal numbers? Yes / No This cannot happen until harvest levels and threshold densities have been specified for these animals. 10. Which of the following methods do you consider acceptable to manage the numbers of deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs to minimise their adverse impacts? (Please circle your choices) Fencing to keep to keep animals out of designated areas Not acceptable acceptable preferred Fertility control Not acceptable acceptable preferred Recreational hunting Not acceptable acceptable preferred Coordinated culling by recreational hunters Not acceptable acceptable preferred Commercial hunting Not acceptable acceptable preferred Professional culling Not acceptable acceptable preferred Poisoning Not acceptable acceptable preferred Fertility control is not available, so should not be considered. Most methods, except poisoning, are acceptable where these animals are above threshold densities. 11. Do you consider these animals, and people who hunt them, could be better managed for hunting benefits, especially on conservation land, and in a manner consistent with the conservation of indigenous biodiversity? Yes / No If so, do you consider that it can be done without seriously affecting conservation values? Present conservation management systems are poor, and are adversely affecting existing conservation values. There is a need to specify conservation goals, set measurable threshold densities, and acceptable harvest practices which achieve and maintain these threshold densities in a sustainable manner. 12. What methods would you like to see used to increase the hunting benefits derived from deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs on conservation land (Tick as many boxes as you wish.) Encouragement of recreational hunting 4

5 Expanded hunter training and recruitment drives Provision of accurate up-to-date information on animal numbers and locations Improved access and facilities Exclusive-use blocks for hunter safety Use of seasons, blocks, and/or harvest limits to increase animal numbers Increased targeted harvest to reduce numbers and increase quality None of the above Different places need different approaches. There is no one size fits all. 13. As a general principle, should recreational hunting be given preference over commercial hunting on conservation land, as currently in the designated Recreational Hunting Areas? Yes / No Recreational hunting should always have preference over commercial hunting in New Zealand, as this is part of our hunting culture. It is important to ensure that recreational hunters are provided with appropriate access to the hunting resource, and that this access is not denied in favour of commercial interests. 14. Are you satisfied that the present legislation provides adequately for conservation of indigenous flora and fauna? Yes / No Controlling numbers of deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs? Yes No Use of deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs as a recreational resource Yes No Use of deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs as a commercial hunting resource Yes No 15. Following on from question 14, do you see a need for legislative change regarding (tick one or more boxes) Management of wild deer, chamois, tahr and pigs on public land Management of wild deer, chamois, tahr and pigs on private land Guided hunting on public land Hunting on game estates Deer farming The concept that all wild animals are the property of the Crown until legally taken needs to continue. This should not apply to animals behind wire as they are no longer wild animals. 16. Indicate your preference as to who should administer whatever new legislation you feel is required. The game animal resource in New Zealand should be managed by an independent statutory body, in the same manner as a Fish and Game Council. This should apply for lands of all tenure. Hunters should be part of or have input into that management body. Control of these animals, where threshold densities are exceeded, should 5

6 remain the responsibility of the Crown, normally through the Department of Conservation. 17. How should management of any new legislation be funded? (tick one box) By the taxpayer By users of the resource values and hunting benefits By some combination of both Other (please specify): The taxpayer should assist in the setup and some management costs of the Fish & Game -style statutory body, in recognition for the assistance it will provide the Crown in the monitoring and control of game animals. However, hunters should pay for the costs of administering their sport, through licence and ballot fees. 18. On farms, deer, chamois, and tahr are administered under the Wild Animal Control Act as captive wild animals. Other farmed animals are managed as livestock. Should wild animals on farms be managed as (tick one): captive wild animals livestock farmed game Other (please specify): No specific opinion, but farmers of game animals should be consulted on this issue before decisions are made. 19. If deer, chamois, and tahr on farms were NOT managed as wild animals, should current provisions on fencing and the restrictions on farming them outside their established range be retained? Yes / No No specific opinion, but farmers of game animals should be consulted on this issue before decisions are made. 20. Game estates manage deer, chamois, tahr and pigs as though they were wild but inside large fenced areas, which creates some management problems such as disease surveillance and an inability to sell carcasses. How should this be resolved? No specific opinion, but farmers of game animals should be consulted on this issue before decisions are made Should tourist hunting be managed in the same way as hunting by NZ residents? Yes / No 6

7 Overseas hunters should pay for the privilege of hunting our game resource. This should be managed by the statutory Fish & Game style body set up for the management of recreational hunting in New Zealand. 22. Are there any issues concerning tourist hunting that need to be addressed? No specific issue with tourist hunting provided that tourists are afforded the same rights and responsibilities as NZ hunters. Additional Issues and Questions The statutory Fish & Game style body should be set up for the management of the sport of recreational hunting on lands of all tenure, not set up for the control of wild animals. The contribution hunters make towards the control of wild animals is far outweighed by the contribution they make towards the monitoring of these animals and their habitat. The sport of recreational hunting has a vital role to play in outdoor recreation and the rehabilitation of minor offenders Recreational hunters are primarily conservationists, and are not interested in the fostering of greater animal densities at the expense of conservation. Hunters are, however, very concerned about the poor quality of wild animal management exhibited by Government Departments (especially the Department of Conservation), and territorial Authorities, in NZ. The Department of Conservation has no mandate to support, foster or lobby on behalf of recreational hunting. This must be done by a separate statutory body answerable to hunters themselves. The Fish & Game model has proven to be the most effective way to engage harvesters with the management and control of the resource. The resent system (DoC managing recreational hunting) makes it impossible for hunters to assist them in the control and monitoring of wild animals, as DoC does not have a mandate to advocate for recreational hunting. Summary Game animals as a valuable resource, when at or below threshold densities; Game animal management will be far more effective when everyone works together in a co-ordinated way, via a national game management regime; This will require new legislation The new national game management regime should be administered by an independent statutory body, similar to the Fish & Game Councils; A national game animal management regime should be funded by a combination of taxpayer and hunter contributions. 7

8 Yours faithfully, Name: Address: Phone: 8