Hunting to be allowed in NSW National Parks

["Greg and Val Clancy" <>]

This is a very concerning development and there is nothing good about it. 
The control of feral animals in national parks and reserves is best carried 
out by professional shooters or by other methods such as baiting and 
trapping.  If the sporting shooters were allowed to assist with ongoing 
feral animal control in a very coordinated way there could be some benefit 
but the system operating in state forests is in no way assisting feral 
animal control.  The hunters in state forests go hunting when it suits them 
and not when it is most desirable from a feral animal control perspective. 
It is true that feral animal control in national parks is a major issue but 
providing additional funds to allow the professionals to do the culling 
using the most appropriate methods, which may or may not involve shooting, 
would allow real advances.  The other problem with sporting shooters 
shooting in national parks is that it is not in their interest to severely 
reduce or eliminate the feral animals.  The claim that this will assist with 
feral animal control is a furphy and the politicians and shooters should be 
open and honest about it.  There is a Sydney Morning Herald survey which 
closes at midnight tonight.  When I viewed it earlier over 70% of 
respondents had voted against letting shooters into national parks.  The NSW 
National Parks Association is also mounting a campaign against the decision.
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Wildlife Guide
Coutts Crossing
NSW 2460



-----Original Message----- 
From: Jim Smart
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 9:14 PM
To: 
Subject: Hunting to be allowed in NSW National Parks

Hello Alastair,

My suspicion is that the shooters are already introducing feral game animals 
into public
lands where they were hitherto not found. In my area (Hunter Valley NSW) 
deer have recently
appeared in Wallaroo National park and pigs in Heaton State Forest. It is 
not impossible that they
walked there from other places where they are found but that seems to me to 
be an unlikely story.
Control of feral animals in National Parks is rightly a job for professional 
shooters.
Governments occasionally respond to mass pressure. If enough people protest 
against
this proposal they may reverse their decision.

Cheers,

Jim Smart
East Maitland  NSW




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