In the 1980s, Para Park Co-operative Game Reserve Limited (Sunday Island) instigated a Junior Hunter Program on land managed by the Co-operative. The programme is open to all young hunters aged between 12 to 17 year provided they are not already Sunday Island members’ children or grandchildren. Applications to participate in the program are made available through most Victorian and several interstate hunting organisations.
From the entries received each year a ballot draw is conducted and between 4 and 6 junior hunters are offered an opportunity hunt for one hog deer hind each on a designated weekend. The young hunters entering the ballot are informed of the results of the ballot, irrespective of whether they are drawn or not. The successful juniors are required to confirm that they accept the conditions of the hunt. They must also hold a Junior Firearms Permit and a Victorian game permit endorsed for deer.
Each successful young hunter along with one of their parents must attend Sunday Island for an orientation day prior their hunting weekend. This day is informal, with an open discussions about the Island and hog deer management. Each young hunter gets to meet their member guides, and must also pass a shooting test. This involves being able to places shots into the kill area of a life size hog deer silhouette at 50 metres and 100 metres on the Island’s shooting range.
The last part of the orientation day is a visit to the hunting area, where their guide will discuss what he expects from both the parent and the young hunter while they are in his care as visitors.
There is no guarantee of a successful hunt, but if the young hunter takes a deer the guide will assist in retrieving the animal to the meat house for data collection. The guide will also assist in butchering carcass, if necessary, for removal off the Island.
This year the hunting period took place in April and May, and six junior hunters were allocated to a weekend each. Of these, five were successful in harvesting deer.
In the 1980s, Para Park Co-operative Game Reserve Limited (Sunday Island) instigated a Junior Hunter Program on land managed by the Co-operative. The programme is open to all young hunters aged between 12 to 17 year provided they are not already Sunday Island members’ children or grandchildren. Applications to participate in the program are made available through most Victorian and several interstate hunting organisations.
From the entries received each year a ballot draw is conducted and between 4 and 6 junior hunters are offered an opportunity hunt for one hog deer hind each on a designated weekend. The young hunters entering the ballot are informed of the results of the ballot, irrespective of whether they are drawn or not. The successful juniors are required to confirm that they accept the conditions of the hunt. They must also hold a Junior Firearms Permit and a Victorian game permit endorsed for deer.
Each successful young hunter along with one of their parents must attend Sunday Island for an orientation day prior their hunting weekend. This day is informal, with an open discussions about the Island and hog deer management. Each young hunter gets to meet their member guides, and must also pass a shooting test. This involves being able to places shots into the kill area of a life size hog deer silhouette at 50 metres and 100 metres on the Island’s shooting range.
The last part of the orientation day is a visit to the hunting area, where their guide will discuss what he expects from both the parent and the young hunter while they are in his care as visitors.
There is no guarantee of a successful hunt, but if the young hunter takes a deer the guide will assist in retrieving the animal to the meat house for data collection. The guide will also assist in butchering carcass, if necessary, for removal off the Island.
This year the hunting period took place in April and May, and six junior hunters were allocated to a weekend each. Of these, five were successful in harvesting deer.
(Editor’s note: The Junior Hunter Program is an excellent initiative for encouraging our juniors in hunting. These young adults are the future of the sport, and the members of Para Park should be congratulated for giving their time and effort to this cause. Further information about Para Park can be found HERE. And watch out for the full story of one of the junior’s hunt in an upcoming issue of Sporting Shooter magazine).
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