Police are set to ramp up their approach to stopping illegal deer hunters in the Tallangatta region.
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A meeting between police, community groups, deer hunters and the public on Monday finished with the agreement to work together.
Tallangatta Sergeant Paul Brady said police would run more regular compliance operations, in conjunction with the Game Management Authority, and provide the public with an email address where they can send information about illegal hunting.
“It was a productive meeting and we developed some strategies,” he said.
Authorities have acknowledged most deer hunters act within the rules, but there is a need to crackdown on those who behave illegally.
“We have an element that cause problems,” Sergeant Brady said.
“We’re getting people illegally entering private land, we’re getting stock destroyed, we’re getting infrastructure in the park damaged and there is the dangerous use of firearms.”
He said stopping illegal deer hunting was not the responsibility of any one agency, so he was pleased that Monday’s community meeting ended with a commitment to have a partnership.
Tallangatta Valley Landcare will also work on signage in the region and developing education programs.
We’re getting people illegally entering private land, we’re getting stock destroyed.
- Sergeant Paul Brady
The increased focus on illegal deer hunters comes after Towong Council officially abandoned a Hunting Tourism Action Plan.
The draft plan was put together in 2016 by Tourism North East, with some input from council staff, but sparked mass community upset at the idea.
Recommendations in a recent report stated the council would instead focus on addressing issues with illegal hunters.
“The vast majority of feedback received from residents suggests that the community is not in favour of the plan being pursued,” the council report stated.
“Concern mainly related to the potential increase in hunters, particularly irresponsible hunters, which many community members believed would occur as a result of the plan and specifically the marketing and promotion of the region as a hunting destination.”
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