Tuesday, 01 August 2023 13:55

Crackdown on wild goats

Written by  Staff Reporters
The Department of Conservation (DoC) is increasing wild goat control on public conservation land. The Department of Conservation (DoC) is increasing wild goat control on public conservation land.

Wild goats, a growing problem for many farmers and landowners, are in the firing line.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) is increasing wild goat control on public conservation land and has partnered with the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) to run a national wild goat hunting competition. The competition is also supported by Federated Farmers and retailer Hunting & Fishing Ltd.

Wild goats are known to cause severe damage to New Zealand’s native plants and habitats. They are also a problem for many private landowners, damaging and destroying fences, pasture, new trees, and riparian plantings. Wild goats are becoming increasingly widespread, with significant numbers in some places.

DoC national biodiversity monitoring shows that the faecal pellet index of deer and goats, a measure used to estimate numbers of animals, at monitored sites across public conservation land rose by 48% between 2013 and 2020.

Ben Reddiex, director national programmes at DoC says the competition provides an excellent opportunity to bring together hunters, farmers, and conservationists to work towards a common goal.

NZDA national vice president Callum Sheridan agrees.

“Hunters spend a lot of time in New Zealand’s remote areas and think looking after the backcountry is important.”

The competition will have a national spot prize pool with over $30k worth of prizes up for grabs, and local prizes with a range of categories. Prizes have been kindly donated by the hunting and outdoor recreation sector.

Competitors will be able to hunt anywhere they have permission through landowner consent or the local authority by permit for public conservation land, forestry, farms, or regional council land.

Competitors need to enter at a NZDA branch open day or at an official recording point. The competition promotes safe, ethical, and humane hunting. Participants are also urged to follow the seven rules of firearms safety and the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

For information on how to enter, the rules, conditions of entry visit: www.doc.govt.nz/wild-goat-hunting-competition

More like this

Protecting native birds from avian influenza

With the global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) making headlines around the world, the Department of Conservation (DoC) is taking steps to secure the safety of several endangered bird species that call New Zealand home.

Greenmail?

OPINION: In the latest example of how broken the RMA consents process is, Meridian Energy has paid out DoC, Fish & Game and iwi rather than risk them blocking the renewal of consents that it needs to keep running its Waitaki hydro scheme.

Featured

Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB

New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.

Editorial: Making wool great again

OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.

National

Machinery & Products

Farmer-led group buys Novag

While the name and technology remain unchanged and new machines will continue to carry the Novag name, all the assets,…

Buhler name to go

Shareholders at a special meeting have approved a proposed deal that will see Buhler Industries, the publicly traded Versatile and…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Make it 1000%!

OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…

Own goal

OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter