Wombats used for target practice in Victoria

[bob10]

I know they can be a nuisance, but shooting them for fun is a bit rich.


Inquiry launched into wombat hunting by Chinese high rollers (https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/inquiry-launched-into-wombat-hunting-by-chinese-high-rollers/ar-AAFQMJn?ocid=spartandhp)

[DiscoMick]

Those responsible should be jailed as an example to other morons who think this behaviour is funny.

[loanrangie]

I'd love to come across these scum in the bush.

[bob10]

The problem is, it is not random.A chinese entrepenaur bought a property, and set it up to cater for rich chinese who are flown in to play at the casino. they then go to the property, where a disgraced sacked Victorian policeman is tasked with teaching them how to shoot, and takes them out to shoot any thing that moves. And it is not a secret. People in high places know about it, but money talks, and buys silence.

[scarry]

Same as the guy that killed 450 wedge tailed eagles,needs to be locked up and the key thrown away.

FWIW,my thoughts are the punishment for these sorts of crimes,and in these cases are totally different,are way too lenient.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[V8Ian]

No matter what or how many they shoot, they will never be great white hunters.

[Arapiles]

Whilst I hope that they weren't shooting wombats, the original report in The Age made it clearer that it was a reporter, pretending to be a potential client, who asked about shooting wombats and got what sounded like a positive answer.

[laney]

now to be fair to shoot an animal and then use what you have shot as meat and fur I find ok but to kill just for the fun of it is just plain wrong and our native fauna is criminal we don't go over there and shoot there Panda I think they all should be locked up for a very long time and are theses so called shooters licenced to carry a fire arm .

[bob10]

Whilst I hope that they weren't shooting wombats, the original report in The Age made it clearer that it was a reporter, pretending to be a potential client, who asked about shooting wombats and got what sounded like a positive answer.


To be fair, they advertise on their website the type of animals that can be targeted. However there are areas of the country where people can get a permit to shoot wombats I have discovered.



Wombats and limousines: Crown casino partner's shooting range (https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2019/07/29/crown-zhou-wombat-hunting/)

[POD]

All the fuss seems somewhat hypocritical when so many farmers will kill wombats on sight. Not sure quite why a chinaman shooting them with a high-powered rifle is worse than a cockie killing them with a shovel. I was not aware that they were unprotected in many areas; my understanding was that only introduced species are hunted in Australia.

[Arapiles]

To be fair, they advertise on their website the type of animals that can be targeted. However there are areas of the country where people can get a permit to shoot wombats I have discovered.



Wombats and limousines: Crown casino partner's shooting range (https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2019/07/29/crown-zhou-wombat-hunting/)

Ditto - I thought that they were completely protected.

[DiscoMick]

Me too. Apparently they are completely protected in every state except Victoria.
Seriously, how hard is it for a farmer to adjust practices to cope with some wombats digging burrows? Just leave the bottom 15cm clear under fences so the wombats can pass through.

Wildlife conservation: Welcome to Victoria, the most wombat-unfriendly state (https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/welcome-to-victoria-the-most-wombat-unfriendly-state-20190806-p52eax.html)

[shack]

Me too. Apparently they are completely protected in every state except Victoria.
Seriously, how hard is it for a farmer to adjust practices to cope with some wombats digging burrows? Just leave the bottom 15cm clear under fences so the wombats can pass through.

Wildlife conservation: Welcome to Victoria, the most wombat-unfriendly state (https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/welcome-to-victoria-the-most-wombat-unfriendly-state-20190806-p52eax.html)I'm a farmer, and whilst we do not have any wombats at all,I have spoken to others that do, they cause significant damage both to pasture and machinery, they dig burrows that are so big , that when harvesting equipment runs over the burrows, they cave in and can do damage well in excess of $10k , and are obviously dangerous to the operator.
Hitting them on the road can obviously kill as well.
I'm all for protecting native animals and vegetation, but they also need to be controlled so that everything can be in balance, this is clearly not happening at the moment, the amount of kangaroos in Australia being one example-- although so many have now been culled, hit by cars , and many have obviously starved to death, this has helped, but they are still a huge issue.

Wedgetale Eagles are a magnificent bird.

But I do not like sensationalist media reporting, such as one report where it was suggested that a farmer had killed 80 Wedgetale eagles with poison, the "informed" newsreader then took it upon themselves to postulate that this individual must have traveled around the countryside stalking eagles to find and poison them, as they have no understanding of the amount of them that are around, the farmer had most likely Baited a dead animal, (which I disapprove of) and then the local Eagles would have turned up and feed on it.

Back in the late 90s as I was driving around the property when lambing was taking place, a report was on the radio, panic stations had been reached as there was something like only 20 pairs left in the state, imagine my shock as I drove up to a single ewe that had just lambed and counted 23 eagles waiting around for a feed, the media is a necessary thing, but please, let's base everything on facts.

And the behavior of foxes when too many are around distresses me, and possibly everyone here if you saw what they will do.

I'll let the readers decide what they think the best option is to deal with these few situations.

Cheers
James

[bob10]

This clearly shows the disconnect between the city and the farmers on the land. I remember back in the day's on sheep stations in central Qld the dingo's and foxes killing young lambs , try telling those cockies not to kill them. Life's hard enough on the land, profit margins so small nowadays to expect people on the land not to take action . As much as I love our native animals, I will not condemn farmers who protect their living. But, rich Chinese , coming down to kill for fun, is not on.

[Fourgearsticks]

Around here we have some who think it's great sport shooting anything that moves, emus, koala and things that don't move like roadsigns and letterbox's. They drive around rural roads mostly weekends at night spotlighting from the road and shooting anything that moves, including livestock. Some shrug it off as just kids letting off steam, I think it's more serious than that.

[bob10]

Around here we have some who think it's great sport shooting anything that moves, emus, koala and things that don't move like roadsigns and letterbox's. They drive around rural roads mostly weekends at night spotlighting from the road and shooting anything that moves, including livestock. Some shrug it off as just kids letting off steam, I think it's more serious than that.


Kids letting off steam. Until an innocent bystander is hit. Some of these youngsters don't realise just how far a bullet from a high powered rifle will travel. Sure, we all had rifles in the bush, but woe betide any fool who shot a man's stock. Or was irresponsible with a weapon. That type of behaviour should be jumped on. Hard.

[scarry]

This is what i was referring to,it is not just media hype.
Its actually 406 eagles.

14 days' jail for killing 406 wedge-tailed eagles 'inadequate', animal groups say | Australia news | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/sep/25/14-days-jail-for-killing-406-wedge-tailed-eagles-inadequate-animal-groups-say)

Controlling foxes is not an issue at all,they are an introduced pest.
We have more lambs taken by foxes more than anything else.Every effort is taken to control their numbers.Controlling foxes also reduces the wild cat population.

Can't comment on wombats,as we don't have them,but being a native animal,permits are probably needed.I appreciate they can cause real issues,and probably need controlling.

As for wedge tailed eagles,they are generally not an issue here.They are often in pairs,and seeing more than two pairs in a day is unusual.They are also territorial.Down south their numbers are much greater,seeing 23 together would never happen here.Most here seem to feed on easy pickings,which are road kill.Thats not to say they won't take a lamb,they will,often flying up to around 30m and dropping it to kill it.But this is very rare,they wouldn't take one lamb in a year.Wild pigs would take more lambs,than eagles,but pig numbers are well controlled.

Its the weather thats the main issue.As i have said on another post,we have 13 out of 13 dams dry,ATM.Havent had a wheat crop for three years,no good summer rain for 5 yrs.Bore water in troughs are keeping the stock watered,but the lack of food is the issue.Having to feed some of the few stock that are left.I have never seen so many dead roos,there are literally hundreds of them.Top soil is blowing away in the wind,the place is a dust bowl.Worse than '65 they say,i was too young to remember.That year was the worse drought in the area on record.

Life is very tough in times like this,i am sure some in the city have no idea how difficult it can be on the land,as others have said.

[Bigbjorn]

This is what i was referring to,it is not just media hype.
Its actually 406 eagles.

14 days' jail for killing 406 wedge-tailed eagles 'inadequate', animal groups say | Australia news | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/sep/25/14-days-jail-for-killing-406-wedge-tailed-eagles-inadequate-animal-groups-say)

Controlling foxes is not an issue at all,they are an introduced pest.
We have more lambs taken by foxes more than anything else.Every effort is taken to control their numbers.Controlling foxes also reduces the wild cat population.

Can't comment on wombats,as we don't have them,but being a native animal,permits are probably needed.I appreciate they can cause real issues,and probably need controlling.

As for wedge tailed eagles,they are generally not an issue here.They are often in pairs,and seeing more than two pairs in a day is unusual.They are also territorial.Down south their numbers are much greater,seeing 23 together would never happen here.Most here seem to feed on easy pickings,which are road kill.Thats not to say they won't take a lamb,they will,often flying up to around 30m and dropping it to kill it.But this is very rare,they wouldn't take one lamb in a year.Wild pigs would take more lambs,than eagles,but pig numbers are well controlled.

Its the weather thats the main issue.As i have said on another post,we have 13 out of 13 dams dry,ATM.Havent had a wheat crop for three years,no good summer rain for 5 yrs.Bore water in troughs are keeping the stock watered,but the lack of food is the issue.Having to feed some of the few stock that are left.I have never seen so many dead roos,there are literally hundreds of them.Top soil is blowing away in the wind,the place is a dust bowl.Worse than '65 they say,i was too young to remember.That year was the worse drought in the area on record.

Life is very tough in times like this,i am sure some in the city have no idea how difficult it can be on the land,as others have said.

I had rellies who farmed on the Darling downs in a pretty big way. Neither they or their neighbours would countenance killing eagles as they reckoned eagles killed foxes. I saw a pair one day hunt up and chase a fox and one swooped on it and took it to a great height and dropped it. Uncle crossed greyhounds with melon head bull terriers for fox hunting from horseback with a shotgun. If those dogs caught a fox there was usually no need for the shottie. Rabbits and foxes were the principal pests then.

[DiscoMick]

Yes, I've seen an eagle kill a fox. Dingoes are also great to have around because, being the top predator, they control fox and feral cat numbers.

[scarry]

Dingoes are also great to have around because, being the top predator, they control fox and feral cat numbers.

True,but Dingoes are not much fun if you have sheep.[bigsad]

My father used to whistle foxes,the old ones would stay away,but a young one would often come up to the whistler.

[101 Ron]

All may not be what it seems with farmers shooting Wombats.
I was given in NSW in recent times a permit to shoot Wombats on private property.
I did not ask for it and in the end it was a good thing.
It is not always about wombat holes............which are a big problem for farmers if wombats are in great numbers.
The National parks looked around the property and the National parks and noticed the high number of wombats that were blind and had mange.
The wombats were dieing a slow death though a mange disease which is common if wombats are in great numbers in small area.
Clearing the land for farming increases kangaroo and wombat numbers and is a side effect if we as humans want to grow food in some parts of Australia.
I was able to control wombat numbers so the mange disease was greatly reduced and the wombats were healthy.
If you see a wombat feeding in day light.........look at its skin and its eyes.
Chances are its blind and will die a slow death..............most city folk think its cool to see a wombat in day time.........and not realise.
I dont shoot for sport and hate any thing losing its life.
I may add many other control methods I have seen tried.......like phostoxicern in the wobat holes etc.
Poison is a cruel death and didnt work well.
Dogs work well and is extremely hard for people in power to police........but again cruel for both wombat and the dogs which will get the mange disease if bitten by a wombat...............a bullet is quick,and cheap.

[shack]

This is what i was referring to,it is not just media hype.
Its actually 406 eagles.

14 days' jail for killing 406 wedge-tailed eagles 'inadequate', animal groups say | Australia news | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/sep/25/14-days-jail-for-killing-406-wedge-tailed-eagles-inadequate-animal-groups-say)

Controlling foxes is not an issue at all,they are an introduced pest.
We have more lambs taken by foxes more than anything else.Every effort is taken to control their numbers.Controlling foxes also reduces the wild cat population.

Can't comment on wombats,as we don't have them,but being a native animal,permits are probably needed.I appreciate they can cause real issues,and probably need controlling.

As for wedge tailed eagles,they are generally not an issue here.They are often in pairs,and seeing more than two pairs in a day is unusual.They are also territorial.Down south their numbers are much greater,seeing 23 together would never happen here.Most here seem to feed on easy pickings,which are road kill.Thats not to say they won't take a lamb,they will,often flying up to around 30m and dropping it to kill it.But this is very rare,they wouldn't take one lamb in a year.Wild pigs would take more lambs,than eagles,but pig numbers are well controlled.

Its the weather thats the main issue.As i have said on another post,we have 13 out of 13 dams dry,ATM.Havent had a wheat crop for three years,no good summer rain for 5 yrs.Bore water in troughs are keeping the stock watered,but the lack of food is the issue.Having to feed some of the few stock that are left.I have never seen so many dead roos,there are literally hundreds of them.Top soil is blowing away in the wind,the place is a dust bowl.Worse than '65 they say,i was too young to remember.That year was the worse drought in the area on record.

Life is very tough in times like this,i am sure some in the city have no idea how difficult it can be on the land,as others have said.Fair call,

I must say the report I was referencing was talking about 80 eagles, my main issue was the reporters waxing lyrically about a subject they clearly had no idea about.

I have never killed an eagle in my life, my wife hit one with the car recently though ,there have been hundreds around here.

I also postulate that just because something is introduced doesn't make it evil and therefore fair game, also just because something may be native doesn't mean it's fine whatever the numbers are.

And Scarry, I'm really sorry to hear about your current situation, unfortunately ours isn't much better in the northern half is S.A.

in the third year now, what little we had last year was decimated by kangaroos in numbers that could not be understood unless seen, this year is also exceptionally dry, but without the roo loading of previous years, I agree that the draught is the cause of problem wildlife numbers , at least the concentration in smaller areas, but would also point out that the government has really dropped the ball as regards the kangaroo situation.

In fact we were informed by one of the fly over workers that counts kangaroos for allotment of tags, that in one recent count, they simply COULD NOT COUNT THEM as there were too many. The action then taken was nothing......brilliant.

[trout1105]

There are many good reasons for shooting an animal, Doing it for FUN is Most Definately not one of them.:soapbox:

[shack]

There are many good reasons for shooting an animal, Doing it for FUN is Most Definately not one of them.:soapbox:I agree,I hate having to do it,but some get their jollys from it, not me..

[RANDLOVER]

Me too. Apparently they are completely protected in every state except Victoria.
Seriously, how hard is it for a farmer to adjust practices to cope with some wombats digging burrows? Just leave the bottom 15cm clear under fences so the wombats can pass through.

Wildlife conservation: Welcome to Victoria, the most wombat-unfriendly state (https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/welcome-to-victoria-the-most-wombat-unfriendly-state-20190806-p52eax.html)

I agree Mick, the said farmer wouldn't want to be a plant operator in the urban areas or transport/communication corridors, even with "Dial Before You Dig 1100".


From the article 'Some farmers have serious problems with wombat burrows or holes in paddocks; tractors or motorbikes can get stuck if the earth collapses underneath. But as one wombat supporter said: "if you're going to shoot a wombat on the property, another one is going to come in and use that holeÂ… You need to deter them from the area." '



Stressors
Pressure (Psi)


Sheep
12


Human
14


Utility terrain vehicle
14


50-ton bulldozer
16


Cattle
27


Horse
27


Tractor
175


Higgins et al. Revised 2017
















I seriously doubt the veracity of motorbikes collapsing wombat tunnels, as the known danger for cattle are the entrances and how hard is it to mark/fence the entrance? Even more so when one considers that ground pressure Table 1 is standing, walking creates 48 psi for cattle and 28 for humans (see Table 2https://www.bovinevetonline.com/article/mud-and-lameness-beef-cattle). As to tractors, you'd have to be unlucky to be driving parallel to a burrow which can be up to 30m long (not sure if they are in straight lines though) but can be more than one in their home range of 5-25 hectares, although several metres deep, therefore a sliding scale of risk of collapse from the entrances towards the middle I think. Also the burrows are homes and not used for grazing the roots of plants. Living with wombats | NSW Environment, Energy and Science (https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/wombats/living-with-wombats)

Sounds more like "Honest I dunno how the tractor/harvester/motorbike broke/got stuck, must've been a wombat"!

Cheers,
Randy

[scarry]

Fair call,

I must say the report I was referencing was talking about 80 eagles, my main issue was the reporters waxing lyrically about a subject they clearly had no idea about.

I have never killed an eagle in my life, my wife hit one with the car recently though ,there have been hundreds around here.

I also postulate that just because something is introduced doesn't make it evil and therefore fair game, also just because something may be native doesn't mean it's fine whatever the numbers are.

And Scarry, I'm really sorry to hear about your current situation, unfortunately ours isn't much better in the northern half is S.A.

in the third year now, what little we had last year was decimated by kangaroos in numbers that could not be understood unless seen, this year is also exceptionally dry, but without the roo loading of previous years, I agree that the draught is the cause of problem wildlife numbers , at least the concentration in smaller areas, but would also point out that the government has really dropped the ball as regards the kangaroo situation.

In fact we were informed by one of the fly over workers that counts kangaroos for allotment of tags, that in one recent count, they simply COULD NOT COUNT THEM as there were too many. The action then taken was nothing......brilliant.

Yes the numbers of roos has to be seen to believed,particularly on the cultivation.

A couple of years ago one of the neighbouring properties had licensed roo shooters shoot 10 000.Three months later the place was covered with them again.They cultivate well over 100 000 acres.

Some are putting up what they call exclusion fences,but these also have issues,particularly with other native wildlife movement.And i don't think it will be long before the govt will be on to these types fences.

[Bigbjorn]

A couple of years ago one of the neighbouring properties had licensed roo shooters shoot 10 000.Three months later the place was covered with them again.They cultivate well over 100 000 acres.



Around 2004 people know from Winton bought another property on the western side of the Diamantina which had been owned by a pair of elderly bachelor brothers. As in many of these cases it had become run down. The brothers mustering enough to keep them in rum and baccy. The new owners knew there was a big feral hog problem and employed a pig and pest shooter. For ten years they averaged 3000 hogs a year and still have a substantial hog problem. There were lots of feral goats too. These became worth a bit of money for the export trade to the middle east so the goats got helicopter mustered and sent to meatworks. This does not seem to work for hogs. The only method of control that appears to work is intensive shooting campaigns.

[shack]

Yes the numbers of roos has to be seen to believed,particularly on the cultivation.

A couple of years ago one of the neighbouring properties had licensed roo shooters shoot 10 000.Three months later the place was covered with them again.They cultivate well over 100 000 acres.

Some are putting up what they call exclusion fences,but these also have issues,particularly with other native wildlife movement.And i don't think it will be long before the govt will be on to these types fences.We are actually looking at exclusion fencing ourselves, if only it would rain so I could afford it......

Actually there are reports from some areas that it is paying for itself (literally paying for itself) within a few years, we have a small section fenced off that nothing can get too, and it is in a yard that theoretically nothing else was eating from, but the feed in the "excluded" bit was double height - about 8 inches, within a few weeks, just shows how much feed gets grazed when you don't realize it is.

[scarry]

We are actually looking at exclusion fencing ourselves, if only it would rain so I could afford it......

Actually there are reports from some areas that it is paying for itself (literally paying for itself) within a few years, we have a small section fenced off that nothing can get too, and it is in a yard that theoretically nothing else was eating from, but the feed in the "excluded" bit was double height - about 8 inches, within a few weeks, just shows how much feed gets grazed when you don't realize it is.

We have one along one boundary put up because the neighbour wanted it.They have three sides done,so the roos all stream in the one side that hasn't been done,yet.The property is huge,so its certainly cost them some $$.

If they do the other side, they will basically end up with a huge zoo.[biggrin]

[Bigbjorn]

Like the nameless western town in the 1960's. Council decided goats could no longer be kept in town. They fenced the town boundaries and put grids on all roads that crossed the line. Great idea but no-one thought to round up all the goats that were already inside. One of those "not my job" government exercises, I suppose.

[bob10]

True,but Dingoes are not much fun if you have sheep.[bigsad]

My father used to whistle foxes,the old ones would stay away,but a young one would often come up to the whistler.


Dad used to whistle up foxes to. Said it sounded like a Duck? not sure. Showed me how to whistle kangaroos to stop them running away when trying to shoot one for dog meat, seeing as he only let me take the single shot 310 Martini Henry ? I think. Said it would make me a better shot, or get me fit chasing 'roos all day. It was an old aboriginal trick, used when spearing 'roos. If they start to move, whistle 2 or 3 times, not too loud, low to high. The dominant buck stops and stands up, to have a look around. The rest stop with him. He also showed me how to stalk 'roos by moving slowly on all fours, like a sheep. Down wind of course, preferably with some cover. Of course all this comes to nothing after the first shot. And probably not the tactic to use on the open plains of the central west. Worked around Bungunya.

[Hogarthde]

Bob, I think the whistle is more like a rabbit squealing ,as it will do if caught in a trap.
considering that the fox, and the rabbit, (not the colourful ones from south Sydney ), and the whistler all originated from lands far away, it makes sense,
. Well , perhaps.......

[Old Farang]

Bob, I think the whistle is more like a rabbit squealing ,as it will do if caught in a trap.
considering that the fox, and the rabbit, (not the colourful ones from south Sydney ), and the whistler all originated from lands far away, it makes sense,
. Well , perhaps.......
Yes, it does sound like a rabbit squealing. Used to have one growing up on a farm. About the size of a 50 cent piece, round convex shape with a small hole in the centre. Must of lost it along with some of my memory! [bigsad]

[scarry]

Yes, it does sound like a rabbit squealing. Used to have one growing up on a farm. About the size of a 50 cent piece, round convex shape with a small hole in the centre. Must of lost it along with some of my memory! [bigsad]

Yes that’s it,although we also have a normal type fox whistle as well,similar to any whistle.

Should try it on wild cats,as they take rabbits as well.

[Saitch]

Dad used to whistle up foxes to. Said it sounded like a Duck? not sure. Showed me how to whistle kangaroos to stop them running away when trying to shoot one for dog meat, seeing as he only let me take the single shot 310 Martini Henry ? I think. Said it would make me a better shot, or get me fit chasing 'roos all day. It was an old aboriginal trick, used when spearing 'roos. If they start to move, whistle 2 or 3 times, not too loud, low to high. The dominant buck stops and stands up, to have a look around. The rest stop with him. He also showed me how to stalk 'roos by moving slowly on all fours, like a sheep. Down wind of course, preferably with some cover. Of course all this comes to nothing after the first shot. And probably not the tactic to use on the open plains of the central west. Worked around Bungunya.

Bob, how good is the muzzle flash out of the 310 at night!:woot:

[Eevo]

Those responsible should be jailed as an example to other morons who think this behaviour is funny.

jail is not a deterrent.

[Bigbjorn]

jail is not a deterrent.

Add 100 lashes and most would think again. Second offence, the noose. Stops third and subsequent offences.

[Bigbjorn]

Dad used to whistle up foxes to. Said it sounded like a Duck? not sure. Showed me how to whistle kangaroos to stop them running away when trying to shoot one for dog meat, seeing as he only let me take the single shot 310 Martini Henry ? I think. Said it would make me a better shot, or get me fit chasing 'roos all day. It was an old aboriginal trick, used when spearing 'roos. If they start to move, whistle 2 or 3 times, not too loud, low to high. The dominant buck stops and stands up, to have a look around. The rest stop with him. He also showed me how to stalk 'roos by moving slowly on all fours, like a sheep. Down wind of course, preferably with some cover. Of course all this comes to nothing after the first shot. And probably not the tactic to use on the open plains of the central west. Worked around Bungunya.

.310 Martini action known far and wide as the .310 Cadet. Issued to militia units before WW2. Thousands were auctioned from government stores in the 40's and 50's. A firearms dealer in Market St. Brisbane must have cornered the market. He sold them for many years for Three Pounds each plus freight. I had a school mate whose family owned a gun shop. His uncle reckoned the sales of the .310 Cadet ruined the market for small calibre rifles for 20 years.

[Eevo]

Add 100 lashes and most would think again. Second offence, the noose. Stops third and subsequent offences.

again, not a deterrent. "it wont happen to me", "cops are stupid and wont catch me"


noose prevents re offending yes [biggrin]

[bob10]

Bob, how good is the muzzle flash out of the 310 at night!:woot:



I wasn't allowed to shoot at night, too young. The only night shooters we had, normally, was lads from the towns, and Dad wouldn't let me or my mate out at night, because he used to say some one was going to get shot, it wasn't safe out there with the townies. Most of them got permission, and shot in the area furtherst from the house, some didn't. They only did it once.

[Pickles2]

Never shot a wombat, nor would I.
Haven't done any outdoor shooting since the early sixties when I bought my as new .303 from Direct Disposals Brisbane,...picked it up from Drayton Station on my push bike. Went out at night a few times, never had any issues.
My school friend Grahame Walsh, mentioned on here recently relative to Rock Art, had a MASSIVE collection of War Souvenirs, every model .303, Jungle Carbines, sniper versions, several .310 Martinis, German Mausers, Lugers, MP40 etc, U.S. Garand & M1 Carbine, Jap Arisaka, various pistols, .50 caliber machine gun on a tripod brand new in a box, & heaps more German & Jap stuff. Can't remember it all! He also was an expert on Samurai Swords of which He had some very rare examples. In those days there was plenty of stuff about.
We shot many of them, we were nothing special, just careful, never had any issues at all. Firearms were nothing unusual to us in those days, many families had some firearms about. I remember in Drayton there use to be a Paddy's Market every month, where there were always guns for sale,....anyone could pick ém up, handle them or buy etc.
The last shooting I did was when I was a bank teller, and we had pistols under the counter. We used to go to the shooting range once a year to shoot of a dozen or so rounds, usually a "vintage" Webley .38!!
All good fun.
Pickles.

[bob10]

Victoria's confusing legal loophole that puts Wombats at risk.


Former govt expert reveals cause of "confusing" wombat protection laws (https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2019/08/27/confusing-wombat-protection/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20News%20-%2020190828)

[Chenz]

Funny how lots of people are talking guns and shooting on posts like this now that the On Target forum was shut down. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Worked on properties in NSW that had a huge problem with wombats. The burrows they dug, usually in the most inconvenient locations, such as next to gates or near fences that allowed stock and other ferals to get in, were everywhere.

Permits were constantly being obtained and we would have to go out spotlighting and reduce numbers. Usually with a centrefire rifle such as .270 or .308 calibre and head shoot them for a one shot humane kill. The task of then using a machine such as a tractor with a large ripper or backhoe to destroy the burrow was a task, the depth and extent of some of these burrows was incredible.

As one person mentioned, when numbers got too thick, they would get a mange disease and go blind. I remember one blind, sick and mangey old wombat walking into my two man tent and trying to walk out the back where there was no door. Caused a bit of a ruckus with trying to get him out.

Shooting these peaceful and not too bright critters for sport is no challenge and offering this as a recreational pursuit says something about the greed of the proprietor and the intelligence of those undertaking this activity. Both should be fined heavily and in the case of overseas tourists, deported and have their passport stamped never to be let back in