Hunting game birds and deer with dogs in Victoria
Certain dog breeds can be used to hunt game birds and deer in Victoria. These categories of dogs are gundogs, deer hunting dogs and hounds.
Gundogs can be used for hunting game birds and deer (excluding Hog Deer).
Deer hunting dogs can be used to hunt deer only (excluding Hog Deer)
Hounds can only be used to hunt Sambar Deer in season.
Any dogs that are used for game hunting must instinctively hunt, be non-aggressive, obedient and able to be trained to obey commands from the hunter to only hunt certain types of game animals and to ignore distractions in the field. Such characteristics are found in certain dog breeds, many of which have been selectively bred over centuries for these traits.
The Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 ensure the use of dogs for hunting game is humane and safe and any impacts on other users of public land are minimised.
Under the previous regulations, only specified gundog breeds and Beagles and Bloodhounds could be used to hunt Sambar Deer.
In response to hunters' requests to use companion dogs, some other dog breeds have been approved for hunting all game deer species, except Hog Deer. These breeds do not present an animal welfare or control risk given their size and temperament.
Under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012, the new category of dogs permitted for deer hunting is called 'deer hunting dogs'. Only two deer hunting dogs can be used by any hunter, team of hunters or hunters working together.
The new breeds of 'deer hunting dogs' are:
- Border Terrier
- Fox Terrier (smooth)
- Fox Terrier (wire)
- German Hunting Terrier (Jagd Terrier)
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Finnish Spitz
- Norwegian Elkhound
- Dachshund
Breeds of gundogs have been selectively developed over centuries to either trail, flush, point or retrieve game species. These breeds have the appropriate physical and behavioural characteristics to effectively and humanely hunt deer and game birds.
They are often grouped into categories based on the type of work they were primarily bred to do, however all trail their prey by scent. Pointers and setters will point or sit once they have located their prey; spaniels will flush game out of cover, while retrievers were bred to collect fallen prey and bring it back to the hunter.
Some dogs have been bred to combine all these abilities and are referred to as HPR (hunt/point/retrieve) dogs and include the German Shorthaired Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla and Weimaraner.
Under the previous regulations, gundogs could only be used to hunt game birds and Sambar Deer. However, under the new regulations, gundogs can be used to hunt game birds and all game deer species, except for Hog Deer.
The new regulations maintain the list of 26 gundogs, with the addition of four more gundog breeds for game birds and deer hunting (not including Hog Deer).
They are:
- Bracco Italiana
- Hungarian Wirehair Viszla
- Lagatto Ramangolo
- Weimaraner (Long haired)
A full list of approved permitted gundog breeds is included at Part 1 of Schedule 5 of the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012.
Number of dogs
The regulations set the maximum number of gundogs and deer hunting dogs to two at any one time. This means that a person hunting alone, or hunting in a team or together with other hunters is permitted to hunt with no more than:
- two gundogs; OR
- two deer hunting dogs; OR
- a combination of one gundog and one deer hunting dog.
Deer species and hunting areas
Under the previous regulations, gundogs could only be used to hunt Sambar Deer in a particular part of the state. However, the new regulations permit all game deer species, except for Hog Deer, to be hunted with the aid of both gundogs and deer hunting dogs. This applies throughout the state, wherever hunting with dogs is permitted. However, this does not apply to hounds and hounds must only be used in the areas where previously allowed.
The extension of permitted areas for hunting deer with the aid of gundogs and deer hunting dogs reflects the changing distribution of deer in Victoria.
Gundog training with 'blanks'
Previously, gundogs could only be trained outside the hunting seasons with the use of starter's pistol. However, the new regulations now allow shotguns with the use of blanks to be used to train gundogs outside the hunting seasons. However, it will still be an offence to train a gundog outside the open seasons while in possession of live ammunition.
Offence for dogs to attack, bite or maim wildlife
Under the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Hunting, any dog used to assist game hunters must instinctively hunt and must be non-aggressive, obedient and be able to be trained to obey commands from the hunter to only hunt certain types of wild animals and to ignore distractions in the field. Any dog that attacks, bites or maims wildlife, including game, must not be used.
The new regulations create an offence for a gundog or deer hunting dog that attacks, bites or maims wildlife, including game. The maximum penalty for this offence is approximately $2,800.