Bogon High Plains 2016

Parks Victoria Deer Control Trial Program.

Report by participant: Don Mc Coll. Representing SSAA East Gippsland.

Location: Bogong High Plains.

Date: 15 – 17 April 2016 Club: SSAA East Gippsland.

Members attending Don Mc Coll, Tamara Thewlis, James Aquilina, George Graham. Clubs involved ADA, SSAA. Vic. 18 Shooters on list. 4 members from Parks out on field. 1 at Falls Creek.

Program. Friday 15 April.

  • Lunch at Falls Creek.
  • Briefing. Introductions, ID, Licence, Section 37 showings.
  • Parks boys showed us maps of hunting blocks. Mick Keenan Parks, Steve Garlick (ADA) Rys Coote (SSAA.)
  • Tactical plan included: safety procedures, appropriate clothing, emergency response.
  • Report in every 2 hours to IC commanding with a current location and GPS reading. -It was left up to each hunting team to decide how to hunt the blocks.

    Equipment:

  • Parks supplied and demonstrated use of the following: trunk radios, GPS,
  • Carry Permits / shooting licence/ with you on the shoot.

    Friday after briefing.

  • We proceeded in convoy to the shooting area.
  • Plan for a drive. 6 hunters drive deer towards 6 shooters. Plan didn’t work as the deer double backed!! No shots!
  • Convoy moved to camp and headquarters to set up near Fitzgerald Hut.
  • Everyone had their own vehicle and was self sufficient.
  • Another briefing: assigned hunting partners and hunting blocks, handed out communication devices.
  • If you shot a deer you could take meat or trophy.
  • Cooked own dinner and chatted around fire.

    Saturday Day 2.

  • 5:00AM Wakey wakey!
  • 6:00 AM walked to our blocks. Discussed our hunting plan. 10 hours in thick bush/ very hard going Tamara sighted several deer and we were honked at as well!
  • Every 2 hours communicated our position and sightings.
  • 2 hour rest around midday in the bush
  • 4:00 PM returned to road having not covered all the block/ no shot fired by us. Called for a vehicle to collect us.
  • Camp debriefing / exchanged stories.
  • 5:00PM light rain then THICK FOG spotlighting called off. ( boys at Falls Creek disappointed but they had a shoot Friday night. NO deer shot!)
  • The blokes camped further East of us got 3 Deer.

    Sunday Morning Day 3.

    Hunting called off due to thick fog. 10:00Am we proceeded to Falls Creek for a debriefing and lunch. All aspects of the hunt were discussed in detail, especially whether to allow solo hunting in blocks as some blokes would prefer to hunt solo, very experienced hunters. Parks were sympathetic and hope this may occur in later hunts.

Conclusion:

Full marks to Parks team, Mick Danny. Matt and Elaine. Rys Coote, SSAA, Steve Garlick ADA, for such outstanding work in organising and planning the hunt. Thanks you to our Club members Tamara, George and Jim for representing our club so well. A big thanks to Annie and Alan Norman for liasing between Melbourne SSAA and our club and getting us the gig! The feedback was everyone enjoyed the hunt and company and were impressed with the professional planning that went into the hunt.

Don McColl. SSAA East Gippsland.