The decision partly reflects the growth of the Sambar deer population, the most successful of six deer species in the wild in Australia — all of them introduced for hunting in the 1860s.
It also follows years of effort by the hunting community to allow access for a sport mostly conducted in the winter months when other users are low in number.
At the same time, Minister for Tourism, Sport, Environment and Major Events Steve Dimopolous has ruled out the creation of a Great Forest national park, which was proposed to convert a further 300,000 hectares in the central highlands to a national park — much to the relief of outdoor recreation groups.
Shepparton’s independent retailer for the hunting and fishing sports (and Greater Shepparton councillor) Steven Threlfall has been active in both campaigns and explains.
I recently attended a big meeting in Melbourne with over 500 delegates from the Electrical Trades Union. One of the hot topics was something that matters to a lot of us — access to public land for deer hunters and their families who enjoy responsible recreational hunting
Well, there’s some good news — and credit must be given where credit is due.
The Victorian Government, led by Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Sport and Recreation Steve Dimopoulos, announced at the ETU gala dinner that deer hunting would soon be allowed in two national parks, the Snowy River and Errinundra parks, covering approximately 130,000 hectares, where it’s been banned for years. That’s a big deal — and it’s the first time we’ve seen this kind of land given back to hunters in this state.
This didn’t just happen out of nowhere. It came after a lot of hard work and pressure from groups such as the Australian Deer Association and the ETU’s Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group. ETU secretary Troy Gray also heads up ORAG. These guys have been pushing for fair access for hunters, fishers and everyday outdoor users — not just for their members, but for the public, too.
Normally, once governments lock us out of a national park, that’s it — we never get it back. But this decision breaks that cycle. It shows that governments can change their minds when the message is clear and strong.
For a long time, people have felt that unelected bureaucrats — the ones who run things behind the scenes — are really the ones calling the shots on land access. And that governments, no matter who’s in power, are often too scared to challenge that system. But this move suggests that’s finally starting to shift. This government has shown it is willing to stand up and actually return land for public use.
This win gives us hope. It shows that through the right kind of pressure, more areas could be reopened for seasonal and responsible deer hunting and other recreational outdoor activities that have been slowly pushed out over the years.
It’s a big step in the right direction. And for those of us who care about public land, fair access and the future of recreational hunting — this is a moment worth celebrating.
Steve Threlfall