birding-aus
Great care is needed in comparing wildlife management in N Am with Aust.
N. Am has fewer droughts, more wetlands, more wetland-habitats, more
species of duck, more individual ducks, abnd more regualr and predictable
migration of ducks.
None of this is BECAUSE of the way N. Ams manage the wetlands of the
continent.
N. Americans accept and contribute to user-pays systems for natural
resources. Australian's reject user-pays systems, and are justifiably
suspicious that money from such schemes goes to consolidated revenue.
ducks unlimited have for a long time recognised that they need to manage
wetlands to promote duck populations. If they want to hunt on a large scale
they need to manage on a large scale. Do you honestly see Aus. duck hunters
embracing this concept, buying and managing wetlands, controlling weeds and
feral animals, fencing, building visitors centres?
Solve these differences and maybe you could apply the ducks unlimited model
in Aus.
Maybe, but probably not.
Ducks unlimited is always put forward as the model of how hunting promotes
conservation. But it is not the model, its the one unreplicated exception.
Game hunting in america has lead to near extinctions of wolves, bears,
cats, bison. The thinning of predators has meant extreme pressure is placed
on vegetation by unchecked herbivores. Along come hunters to save the day
by thinning the herbivores. "Hooray for the heroes". Hunting season in the
woods is chaos: cows, trees, birds, signs, cars, people (mostly hunters
fortunately) are shot by trigger happy red-necks that own guns and feel a
need to shoot things. "it moved so I blew it away, I didn't know it was my
buddy". What a joke, except that its very serious.
What about fishing. What fisheries are sustainable? What fish populations
have benefited from fishing, as opposed to being left unfished?
Exploitation is not conservation.
By the way, can someone tell me, do victorian duck hunters actually eat
ducks? Are they permanently intoxicated on the sweet liquor of the Werribee
Turd Farm, spiced with a little lead shot?
David James
PO BOX 5225
Townsville Mail Centre,
Qld 4810, Australia
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