Thread: The state of pest populations in NZ

Personally, I think goats are an under-appreciated resource. They are a good quarry for the novice hunter and the young animals make reasonable eating. I don't think we should be wiping them out as recreational hunters. Obviously, if a farmer has requested that as many animals as possible are removed from private land then that's a different matter.

Originally Posted by MB

Personally, I think goats are an under-appreciated resource. They are a good quarry for the novice hunter and the young animals make reasonable eating. I don't think we should be wiping them out as recreational hunters. Obviously, if a farmer has requested that as many animals as possible are removed from private land then that's a different matter.

Dont think you need to worry about that. DOC been trying to wipe them out for years and gave up.
Some areas here no goat control anymore apart from hunters and if out of control cullers come in but never going to wipe those out. I shoot some when i see them, sometimes take meat, sometimes not.
Depends but good to keep the pop down a little but always goats in goat areas around here no matter how hard you hunt it.
Now got a 223 think some hunting trips will be solely for goats for a change

Rats, mice, stoats, feral cats and dogs, comments?

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Rats, mice, stoats, feral cats and dogs, comments?

The mentioned life style blocks !around where I am, pest numbers have decreased because of a few committed people, but also a community program call pestbusters, which is part of the landcare group here.
But still hard to get people on board ! Some don't like firearms even on the committee, some dont like poisoning.
I can only speak for myself, I just go about in retirement and deal to the problem.
My son and I got in at 2:30am with 8 rabbits and near a 1kg or fur.
I know I am not talking big rabbit numbers, but it's progress on small blocks and keeps this old hunter busy and enjoying a night out.
Numbers increase! if we do nothing.
KH

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Rats, mice, stoats, feral cats and dogs, comments?

Certainly seen a increase in rats, always see some run across the road in the early morning now and seen the odd one and mice in the bush. Havnt seen many stoats.
Havnt seen that many wild cats either as once

In the last 12mths shooting on a high country station, we've taken over 12K rabbits and 2K wallaby off plus many cats and ferrets.
Numbers have been huge due to ECAN releasing the K5 virus then locking the place up to monitor its effect.....(zip to fuck all). And now they're complaining there's too many pests and farmers have to do something immediately or else.

Unfortunately the NZ managing body of the farming group has now seen fit to ban ALL shooting on the properties they look after.
The MD's whole plan was to poison as he hates hunters.
Farm managers and workers are not happy as it means huge areas not usable for many months, then high stock losses once stock can return, and they can't use their dogs without muzzles etc.

Access is key. Good and granted access allows various options to be used and exploited. Private industry has always shown initiative and pretty quickly identified economies. It is regrettable that govrtment has placed disincentives on several utilization attempts on rabbit and possum products over time. Also various restrictions on access. Some but not all landholders as well. The old mantra that trappers and hunters "farm" the wild animals is mostly untrue. One only has to look at the heyday of wild venison commercial recovery to understand that. Goverment needs to take a hard look at the wide picture, but dont hold your breath.

Originally Posted by Woody

Access is key. Good and granted access allows various options to be used and exploited. Private industry has always shown initiative and pretty quickly identified economies. It is regrettable that govrtment has placed disincentives on several utilization attempts on rabbit and possum products over time. Also various restrictions on access. Some but not all landholders as well. The old mantra that trappers and hunters "farm" the wild animals is mostly untrue. One only has to look at the heyday of wild venison commercial recovery to understand that. Goverment needs to take a hard look at the wide picture, but dont hold your breath.

Woody, the highlighted statement honestly does not take into account human nature and greed. I don't think it is so much a question of "farming" them, but very little in traditional trapping regimes incentivizes trappers to completely eradicate pests. It is a short-sighted business model...

If near eradication and long term monitoring was part of the model, it might be a different proposition. The traditional regime also fails to address the issues around trapping remote and inhospitable areas, or those with harder access.

Originally Posted by ebf

Woody, the highlighted statement honestly does not take into account human nature and greed. I don't think it is so much a question of "farming" them, but very little in traditional trapping regimes incentivizes trappers to completely eradicate pests. It is a short-sighted business model...

If near eradication and long term monitoring was part of the model, it might be a different proposition. The traditional regime also fails to address the issues around trapping remote and inhospitable areas, or those with harder access.

@ebf. In some respect you are correct. However I maintain that the "uneconomic for trappers" areas , even remote areas can be economically completed after initial trapping.
Here is why I believe this: Trapping of possums and mustelids in areas of populations above around 8 / ha are economically viable for trapping without any cost to the taxpayer, doc or ospri.
Aerial 1080 was proven in 2011 to be averaging $57/ha. Today it is more and the "remote areas" are costing taxpayers and farmers up to and more than $80/ha. The operations do not successfully eradicate either.
If the approximate mean cost of aerial 1080 @ $70/ha was paid to trappers, even perhaps in easier trapping areas as well, along with a monitored qc audit in place then I believe vitually all terrain and strata of vegetation types could be successfully trapped and at less gross cost than taxpayers and farmers are currently (and historically) stumping up via treasury and levies.
The mindset and the self preservation of publicly funded agencies have long blocked this concept. Parts of Hawkes Bay Regional Council areas are an exception.
When farmers realise that they have forfieted over a billion dollars since 1998 for little real gain they may begin to question.
Bear in mind that 1 ha is only 100 metres by 100 metres. Evenbin really tough country a competent man can cover 10-15 ha per day. @$70 that is $3500. (5KM circuit).
Assume that trap line is visited three times he still grosses $1166 /day. In easier country he can double that.

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have."

Originally Posted by sightpicture

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have."

Interesting duality to that statement.

Private enterprise and good access are the ways forward. Governnent are better at hindering than helping the solution in many instances.

I know that in some cases professionals are needed to reduce numbers down to very low levels or do it in places where others don't want to go. But put a dollar on something and watch them change their minds I like the idea of game being used and not left to rot as well as providing extra income. If we could be a bit more reasonable about pet food requirements imagine the number of rabbits and hares people could bring in. How hard would it be to certify providers and require head shot animals only? The biggest issue currently seems to be the amount of brodi everywhere. You just cant escape it and find somewhere free of it! A study revealed brodi residues in wildlife everywhere and it didn't matter whether they were from brodi areas or not. There is so much used and so widely it is in the system. In pig areas when used where there are good possums numbers it nails pigs too. To be frank there are many areas I would not eat pork from now. I think that pig hunters are still unaware of the risks from this. Granted more in organs but still not good.

Taking everything so far posted into account, it appears:

*That pest species are generally increasing, some dramatically

*That pest species have default "safe areas" eg spots where access for one reason or another is very difficult/impossible.


On a slightly different topic, is "Predator Free 2050" gonna be anything more than a nice slogan?

Well Max Headroom
You have seen by the response to the thread, the increase of pests mostly in some areas and a little decrease in others.
Also the response to methods of pest control are not agreeable with all, even among members here.
Public perception isn't backing cat control! as an example, I know someone who had to remove himself from Facebook because he went public on his numbers.
Then the threats and allegations to property and life over a cat. So some pests don't draw the attention and public outcry like others.
Personally I just go about doing what I can do, sometimes a post or two here on the what little pestie thread, where the hunters are and by way of encouragement.
So when the hills get to high for the old hunter, then there is always pest control in any given area of NZ.
Remember! if you aim at nothing you are sure to hit it.
Predator free, had a starting point, how it ends is depending on input. How's your back yard?
KH