PRELIMINARY results from a survey of Australian hunters and landowners have shown greater co-ordination of on-farm hunting activities is welcome.
The independent Australian Hunter and Landowner survey - the first of its kind on such a scale - has had an overwhelmingly positive response, co-ordinator James Tyson said.
The survey had been completed by almost 1000 hunters and farmers from every State and Territory in Australia, despite having been open for only a matter of weeks, he said.
"There is considerable interest from both farmers and hunters in better co-ordination of hunting activities, specifically through the use of secure online booking and farm mapping tools," Mr Tyson said.
While the response rate so far was very encouraging, further feedback from farmers in particular was critical to ensuring the relevance of the tools being developed, he said.
"While many of Australia's 150,000-plus hunters enjoy long-standing mutually beneficial relationships with landowners, there's still no widely available efficient method for them to organise hunting activities, explore property maps and communicate effectively with landowners."
Tools developed will be tailored for farmers and hunters who have existing relationships.
"With 98 per cent of hunter respondents already participating in on-farm pest animal control, valuable support is provided to farmers in reducing the massive impact of wild dogs, foxes, pigs, goats, kangaroos and other pest species," Mr Tyson said.
Almost 70pc of hunters surveyed have more than 10 years' experience, hunt on three or more privately owned properties and place importance on the ability to make bookings well in advance, view property maps with hunting zone boundaries and view up-to-date property rules and guidelines (including OH&S requirements).
Nine out of 10 hunters said they are likely to use the online tools being developed.
"More than 90pc of farmers put their own time and effort into co-ordinating hunting and almost one in four also receives assistance from a farm manager or dedicated hunting manager," Mr Tyson said.
Farmers also place importance on the ability of hunters to make bookings well in advance as well as their own ability to communicate dates and times when their property will be unavailable for hunting due to permit periods or land and livestock management reasons.
"Farmers are equally supportive of the overall concept, with more than two-thirds saying they are likely to use the online tools which are being developed," Mr Tyson said.
The survey can be found at: surveymonkey.com/s/hunterlandowner.
