The Game Management Authority of Victoria (GMA) has released its latest round of compliance and enforcement statistics, showing that licensed hunters are overwhelmingly doing the right thing.
From 1 July until 30 September, GMA received 70 “information reports” and conducted 33 investigations into matters relating to illegal hunting in Victoria. It also conducted four operations; three led by GMA and one in conjunction with another unspecified agency.
The majority of reports related to illegal spotlighting (24%) followed by hunting in prohibited areas (16%), illegal hunting of deer (11%) and illegal kangaroo hunting (10%).
The largest percentage of investigations conducted by GMA related to hounds in some way (39%), followed by illegal spotlighting (29%) and hunting in prohibited areas (9%).
Considering there are more than 50,000 licensed hunters in Victoria, the fact that only 70 people — 0.13% of the total — were accused of doing the wrong thing, and only 33 (0.06% of all licensed hunters in the state) warranted further investigation confirms that licensed hunters and shooters are, by far and away, among the most law-abiding members of the community.
Last financial year (2023/204), GMA received 662 information reports and issued 46 infringement notices as part of GMA-led operations.
They also issued 7 official written warnings, provided another 7 warnings for “non-infringeable offences”, issued 22 banning notices, and concluded 10 court proceedings.
The statistics are clear, and say exactly what we all know is true: hunters do the right thing, follow the legislation, and are doing their part to ensure sustainable, safe hunting continues in Victoria well into the future.
The latest GMA compliance statistics are available here: www.gma.vic.gov.au/enforcement/compliance-statistics.
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