“YOU hear about it anecdotally, but a lot of farmers don’t report their stock being shot,” according to Paul Newton, Station Commander at Swifts Creek Police Station.
Leading Senior Constable (LSC) Newton’s territory is 5000 square kilometres and he believed there were more stock shot than he hears about.
It is the same for his fellow police officers Murray Porter at Bruthen and Ray Moreland at Buchan.
LSC Porter is currently investigating the deaths of Mack and Robyn Stagg’s bulls at Ensay and cattle shot on a dairy farm at Wiseleigh.
“They’re both similar stories,” he said.
“A farm adjoining State forest and people shooting on or over the property without permission, usually spotlighting – all illegal.”
The senior police officers and their colleague Detective D’arcy Neal, Livestock Liaison Officer at Bairnsdale, emphasise that all stock deaths should be reported.
“We hear a lot of it off duty,” said Detective Neal.
“We need farmers to report their stock being killed, rather than hear about it some time later,” LSC Porter said.
LSC Paul Newton said it was an increasing problem.
“It’s starting to become more and more prevalent," he said.
“But stock destruction is only a small part of it. The big issue is illegal shooting – off roads and into properties – and spotlighting.
“The timely reporting of it is necessary – we suspect the problem is worse than we see.”
He said the crimes needed to be reported so data could reveal the extent of the problem and resources be allocated to address it.
“We know the demographic – type – of person involved and they know there’s minimal chance of them getting caught because of the large territory we have to cover,” he said.
“But it’s one thing knowing who it is and another thing having the proof to charge them with the crime.”
LSC Ray Moreland, Buchan, said illegal shooting of stock was reported less in his district than in the Bruthen and Swifts Creek-Omeo districts.
“It probably happens more often than we hear about,” he said.
Detective Neal said illegal shooting, poaching and trespass were all part of the same problem.
“It worries me that responsible hunters could lose their rights because of these clowns – people need to report illegal hunting,” he said.
The problem is not isolated to East Gippsland. In March, a Lexton farmer found one of his Hereford cow’s killed and butchered in the paddock.
Ballarat Criminal Investigation Branch Detective David Hermit said the criminal had left behind most of the carcase.
“We have seen incidents involving sheep, but in those instances they take the whole sheep,” he said.
On the June long weekend, a multi-agency blitz was led by the Game Management Authority in the high country to engage with sporting shooters and deter wrong-doers.
LSC Newton said he was involved with two instances of illegal firearms offences – one at Nunniong and one at Benambra – from the blitz.
Police have asked the public to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if they have any further information.
