Some may know I have owned and operated firearms for over thirty three years, the majority of my life has been spent learning how to shoot at long range and in various other situations, behind a gun shooting at things, cleaning guns, hunting, stalking, killing and culling and I'm very good at it; but it's the last I'd like to touch on a little today. Culling.
You'll note the use of the words hunting, and culling, which are two completely different things.
Hunting is the activity of seeking out wild game and animals for the purpose of killing them. Culling is the activity of reducing the population of a species by selective slaughter, and one should never be confused with the other.
I am on the permit to destroy wildlife on behalf of a farmer who operates a large cattle farm in the hills. You can see part of that permit below.
It is government-issued and specific to that property (and me as the shooter - my name appears on the permit as a registered shooter) and is renewed each year with the species and number I am allowed to cull clearly noted. The permit holder is the farmer, I am simply noted as a shooter able to destroy the noted animal up to and including the number on the permit. This animal, the Western Grey kangaroo is a protected species and they are only permitted to be killed by permit. I also shoot deer and foxes on the property however, as introduced species, they're unregulated.
I shoot three to five times a month (usually), take a few, say two to six of them with my culling rifle and the rest bugger off back over the fences and don't come back for a short time; getting shot at with live ammunition tends to have that effect, it's not enjoyable to get shot at. On shooting the animal I mostly leave it where it lies, the other wildlife in the area cleans it up and within a week or so there's just a few bleached bones where once an animal existed. I take the deer though, venison is a legit meat, so tasty.
You'll note the mention of tags on the below permit. To remove a kangaroo (or part thereof) from the property a government-issued tag is required and must be affixed to it. As you'll note the farmer has tags available so that happens sometimes; I take it and give it to mates, bater it for other things or just because.
After I leave the property, I report to the farmer how many I shot and he records them. I have no idea if he records them accurately though, (I have heard of farmers under-counting destroyed animals so they can eradicate more than their allotted quota), and it's not my job to know; it's his permit and it's up to him to comply. As for me, I do the right thing and report accurate numbers.
These animals are controlled because they cause damage to the property (fences) which means cattle may escape and wander and with the price of them at market that's not productive for the primary producer. They also eat precious feed meant for the cattle and this all drives costs up for the primary producer and considering the buyers will only offer a set price for the cattle at market that can make farming unviable. If farmers don't farm people don't eat, a pretty simple concept.
I often get people saying what I do here is cruel but I call bullshit on it. We all use animal products and the animal usually dies for it. It's convenient for people to soapbox their skewed agenda from the comfort of their café while they eat bacon and eggs, after which they walk to their car in leather shoes and sit on their leather seats, check their animal product make up and head off to the supermarket to buy their meat and other farmed produce...but someone has to supply it and that process means things die. Crops are sprayed for pests, birds are controlled in vineyards, vermin in chicken farms, worms on the ends of fishing hooks, not to mention the animal farmed/harvested itself...But delusion is the new black and humans are good at deluding themselves.
I don't expect people to want to go out and gather or harvest their own food, it's unrealistic to think that because people like convenience too much and most just don't have the skills. I don't expect most people to respond well to the killing of animals, be it culling or hunting. I actually don't expect much from humans at all, except misjudgement, hubris, ego and self-righteousness especially in respect of this topic.
I expect a lot from myself though, and so I cull (or hunt of course) humanely with as much care and respect for the target as possible. I don't enjoy killing, much the opposite in fact, but I'd rather do it myself knowing that I am responsible when it happens, disciplined enough to know I'm doing it right. Even though there's no one out there to see what I do, I believe it's what we do when no one is looking that truly defines us as a person of character.
Anyway carnivores and non-carnivores, that's it for this post. If you have any questions feel free to speak up in the comments field, I'll be happy to respond.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[All original and proudly AI free]
All images in this post are my own.
Well put, and lovely land to cull within! Many folks don't understand that many species don't self-regulate well and quickly over-populate an area, causing damage, eating other animals food supplies, or in other cases, over predation of other species (like coyotes in the western and mid-western U.S. Over here, many animals have also fallen to over-population diseases like deer with chronic wasting disease. The main reason, all the people destroying expanding houses into the higher predators habitat that would normally keep the populations under control. I can only think what a horrible way that is to go, and myself would much rather go from a microsecond lights out.
So yes, culling is humane indeed, as is letting animals roam wild and free then hunting them vs. making them spend their life in confined cage waiting to be slaughtered for the butcher shop and grocery store.
Happy noggin knocking!
It's a nice spot Kris, I'm privileged to be able to call it my own in respect to shooting on it. I have free and unrestricted access.
I couldn't say it better than you have in respect of animal control so I won't try. Each area has it's own unique issues, such as the sharp increase in crocodile numbers in the northern areas of Australia due to the ban on shooting them and, of course, those you mention. It's very specific to the species and the region so a specific solution needs to be found.
I rarely feel the need to justify my shooting operations, although I'll a bit to getting somewhat annoyed at people forming baseless opinions- typical behaviour though right?
Thanks for commenting, it's always appreciated.
Exactly right on the typical behavior. I guess one of the reasons I was motivated to comment as well, just to add another perspective of reason from someone that has done extensive research on the topic. Although initially the research done to quell ill-informed naysayers, it certainly ended up as a valuable educational experience. Controlled hunting is one of the main reasons so many conservation efforts have been so productive in this country.
On the other hand, according to my brother, there was a state here "Kansas" that just enacted law to prevent use of trail cams. Apparently some idiots thought it was "disturbing" the wildlife. I mean really? How does this then compare to the use of traffic cams, ring doorbell cams, and such? Is the camera over my garage now "disturbing" the wild creatures of the night with it's silent infrared photography? OMG, it's hard to believe how some of this get's into peoples heads.
Hmm, maybe someone justifying their job? That sort of thing happens here where a person comes along makes some changes that don't make a lot of sense and then goes again pretty quickly only to be replaced with another who has to exert his/her authority. Governments are so broken.
Yes, very possible explanation I didn't think of. So many people like this out there with nothing of value to contribute that keep trying to prove they are busy doing something. I see the same in business. Busy work that is actually detrimental to the rest of the team and the overall company direction. Good call.
Our government is full of it and I wonder how they get away with it over and over, at taxpayers expense.
I've worked in jobs/places in which directives are non-negotiable but not always valid. Superiors come along, changes happen, as do the consequences of them, superiors get promoted and then leave...another comes in and it happens again. It's the way of it...and along the way, people suffer, costs rise and opportunity for those on the ground doing the work remain stagnan or decline. A familiar story elsewhere, not just governments either.
I am glad to read this article and respond to it. I am a fan of weapons, as a soldier, I am close to them. I have a gun in my hand every day. But I have NEVER taken the life of an animal or a person. I'm not against what you're doing. Here in the Czech Republic they do it too, the Myslivci call themselves. They mostly hunt wild boars and foxes with the help of shotguns and hunting dogs.
Once it happened that a drunk hunter killed a dog that was running around near the bike path. You mistook him for a fox, he said. He went to court, people were angry.
My dog is a member of the family for me, I like to walk in the forest and I am always afraid that something like this could happen.
Thanks for commenting.
As someone who has owned and operated many firearms I have heard and been in involved in many different situations and the one in which you mention, unintentionally shooting something, happens. Often it's through a lack of attention, difficult conditions, stupidity and simply accidentally and it happens on the battlefield too. I am fortunate to say that at no stage have I killed a target that I didn't want to kill; it must be a terrible feeling, shooting someone's dog for instance, or one's own personnel; friendly fire is in unfortunate part of war unfortunately.
Thanks for commenting though, I didn't know you were in-service actually, I assume the army. I appreciate your input to the topic and look forward to engaging with you again.
That would have been my "Weekend @
Bernies@galenkp 's house" weekend-engagement story had I not been busy cutting, clearing brush and tending fires. Also I had to leave out Sunday afternoon to go trucking.Would love to go out and spend a day with you culling.
If You could come drive this car and run interference for me on the smokey bear cops that would be great...?
Lol...Smokey and the Bandit ride again!
"Bacon comes from the store, not from a pig." My oldest once said this to me, when he was very young. I suppose he's partially correct.
I gotta say, though, I wouldn't have it in me to do that. My hunting is performed at the grocery store. Sometimes it's unsuccessful, too! I have no qualms, questions, or reservations about where my meat comes from, but that's a task I would just not want to do.
Then again, I have absolutely no issue at all with personally eradicating mice and other rodents. Little fuckers is what they are.
No one bitches about a lion chowing down on a gazelle. Gazelle can be destructive in their own right. If we remove lions from the food chain (which we're good at doing, as humans), then it'd fall upon us to cull the gazelle, too. It all works out.
Oh yeah, that old chestnut! I once got asked, can't you just go to the supermarket and get your meat from where it's made? H,,, yeah, I get my milk right from the source too, the carton. Nutbags.
I understand that you'd not like to harvest your own meat for consumption, I get it. What I don't get is people who eat meat and call hunting and culling inhumane. I'll never understand that fuckasssery.
Anyway, thanks for coming by, I know you're busy so I appreciate it.
This is a controversial topic, but I completely understand your point. There is a lot of hypocrisy and also a lot of people who abuse the power they feel by owning a gun.
I don't like guns and I wouldn't be able to kill either. (Well, if I'm in a situation of extreme danger and that's the only way to survive, maybe... although I can't say what I would do hypothetically, since in that case there's also the possibility that I might be paralyzed or decide to die or I don't know... wow, what a topic this is).
I have never been next to a kangaroo, nor have I ever seen one up close that I can remember. But...alas, I couldn't kill a kangaroo, it's just that if my survival depends on me having to kill a chicken, I starve to death.
Last year I had to put my dog to sleep and I almost died. I didn't do it myself, of course, but I had to decide that and I'm still not recovering.
I don't know... it's a complex issue this one. Because if I think about it I've killed cockroaches, reptiles, frogs... ants, scorpions, bees I've killed (poor things). It's just that I'm allergic and they can't sting me because I'd have to run to a hospital.
You say something... that you don't like to kill. And why do you do it?
Yep, you raise a good point...the "I've killed cockroaches, reptiles, frogs... ants, scorpions, bees," comment. People don't see it as killing though, but it is indeed killing. That's what ending something's life is...killing.
I think I address this in the post itself.
I don't live in a fantasy world where people get to eat meat and use animal-based products but nothing actually dies. The reality of it is that animals die for human consumption and use, like I say, even in crop farming. So, I figure I need to cowboy-up and be prepared to do it myself rather than be a hypocrite. I've done a lot of killing, I'm good at it, but that doesn't mean I like it. I guess, the concept of my comment above (from my post) may be lost on someone who doesn't do it herself/himself. I am a responsible shooter/hunter and that means something to a hunter. (Or absolutely should! There's some who are irresponsible, but that's not everyone, that's the few.)
We all kill, as you so conveniently pointed out, and we all use animal products so I guess, myself included, so I feel compelled to take the responsibility for it.
This is very interesting and eye opening. This is the first time I've heard of culling permits, and it's nice that you explained it adequately.
From the pictures it looks like you are using a rifle and killing them from afar. But have you encountered any risky situations while doing it? Are there a lot of people like you that do this? Do most farms need this kind of service?
I'm not sure what the situation is in your country so maybe you don't have permits like I discuss in this post. In Australia it's required.
A rifle yes, in the case of these particular images it's a Tikka CTR chambered in .243 and I shoot it out to almost 1000 metres. Operating firearms is always risky and a great deal of care needs to be taken however have a go at me. Wild boars are another matter, with them, there's a great deal of risk of personal injury.
There's over a million registered firearms owners in Australia but not all do what I do.
Do most farms need this kind of service?
Yes, pests exist on most farms, the type just varies.
Gotcha. Thanks for answering my questions. It has been very educational.
I believe everyone needs to know this. Some sacrifices have to be made to survive and everything we take either plants or animals comes from making sacrifices.
I wonder how quiet someone has to be to shoot a deer. I don't know if I should believe what movies shows😂😂.
Silent. One can't even approach (even if silent) from upwind as the deer will smell them and run. They are very attuned to their environmant and the slightest change will spook them.
Wow, their ears must really be good to hear that far. Thanks for the response ☺️.
I went coyote hunting with my friend one time. It was pretty interesting. I used to hunt with my dad when I was younger too. I remember we had to take a hunters safety class that was taught by one of the local sheriff deputies. It was pretty interesting. I prefer beef over venison and my wife doesn't like venison at all, so I don't deer hunt at all anymore. It's pretty big around where I work though. We don't have school on November 15th because it is the opening day of rifle season. It's like a national holiday :)
I've heard about how you folks have seasons for deer hunting. We don't, it's open season all the time. In fact, the only game that has seasons here is ducks. We don't have to wear dayglow vests either, I wear camouflage mainly, or natural colours that will blend with the environment.
I wonder what coyote hunting would be like, they're pretty clever animals right? Well, Wile E Coyote was a bit of an asshat but I imagine the reast are smart. What's the hunting like?
Yeah, bow season opens the first of October and runs up to rifle season on November 15th. If you live south of a certain point in Michigan you can only use shotguns because there is a higher population density. Some of those new 12 gauge slug loads can travel just as far and fast as rifle shells these days though. Rifle season stops at the end of November and then Muzzleloading season starts for the black powder fans. My friend shoots a lot of that. Coyote hunting was interesting. We used a injured rabbit call to try and lure them in. I had that setup in front of me and the my friend was watching my back in case they snuck up from behind. We didn't end up seeing any. They are considered varmints here and you can shoot them whenever I think.
IT's really interesting how it's done there. Here anything goes, any time (with the exception of the duck season as stated.)
I imagined it was much like calling in a fox with a fox whistle, seems I was not too far off. It works a treat here, although those foxes are bloody smart so it's not always successful.
Yeah, we like regulating everything. It's good though because there are always those who would take advantage if we didn't.
I agree, and with 360 million people compared to the 26 million we have here (in a country almost the same physical size), it makes sense.
I have read that kangaroos are quite wild and damaging, but I didn't know that much.
It is true that hunting and culling is not the same thing but it is good that it is regulated to maintain properties and crops.
I must admit that I would find it hard to kill an animal. But if I had no other choice I think I would do it.
I have eaten deer and it is a delicious meat, kangaroo meat should be too.
I agree, it is preferable that this work is done by someone responsible and who knows what they are doing, it is not cruel, these are things that have to be done.
Human beings only enjoy comfort and don't know what is behind it. Complicated human beings ... to say the least.
Good job Galen!
There's so many kangaroos here they tend to become pests in areas that are farmed. With crops, the bed down, roll around and flatten it down, vast areas, reducing the harvest costing farmers money. There's otter things too, fence damage and all. Of course, they were here before us, but humans have a way of taking over I guess.
I don't expect most people to feel comfortable killing, and to be honest, there's no enjoyment in it for me; I don't trust people who like killing. That's not to say I don't do it, clearly I do.
Kangaroo meat is very lean and quite good if done right, I prefer venison though. (Deer)
In addition to the usual meats I tried wild boar and deer, I liked them. But they don't bring me the animal with head because I don't know if I'll eat it, I'm a bit stupid about that.
I say poor little animal, but I understand that it is necessary. I guess in a survival situation I would do it, kill. I think everybody would do it.
Yes the kangaroos should be there a lot longer but the human should live too, I guess control is fine.
They look so cute in the pictures... and they are so wild!
Kangaroos are pretty cute really, especially the joey's, that's what the baby ones are called. They cause some damage though, and so are controlled sometimes.
How close can you get to one? I'm already thinking about pictures haha
It depends on the conditions really, sometimes a hundred metres I guess, a little closer maybe...sometimes one can't even get within three hundred metres.
Here's a pic I took several weeks ago, I used it in a post. There's a few kangaroos in it.
Ohhh far away... I understand, you have to be careful.
I do remember that picture where you asked us to count the kangaroos, yes I do!
Ok I'll be far away from them...
How wild is the gray kangaroo? How high are your visual and sensory instincts? I have hunted but deer for my own consumption, I think it is one of the most difficult to hunt because it has super acute senses such as smell and sight and you can even feel the vibrations of footsteps through their hooves
Wild...meaning it's totally untamed. There's 80 million or more of them too, so they're very widespread. They're not dangerous really, although they can be. They can stand as tall as I am but are generally quite flighty, meaning they bugger off really quickly if humans are around which can make them difficult to stalk.
My visual and sensory instincts? I'm a very effective hunter, am good at finding the quarry, stalking and then dispatching the target. I have spent a lot of time honing my skills and I'd say I'm above average, not the best ever, but brutally effective.
I can tell you've had some exposure to it by the things you say, it's exactly what's required, especially with deer which can be very suspicious.
Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it.
although not everything is perfect for the deer because pulling against the wind and from a high place makes them vulnerable, small details ☺️
Yep, and unless they can run at 3,000 feet per second it's unlikely they'll dodge the bullet.
Believe you me, this is the first time I got to know that a kangaroo can be harmful.
Otherwise I always looked at it in videos and thought it as a very innocent one.
One more thing, I once took part in a shooting competition held in my college and I stood second in it.
Interesting thing is it was my first time holding a shooting gun.
My friends told me that some people have natural shooting sense, and you are one of those.(I don't believe it) it was just my luck.
I've seen a few people who have been able to pick up a firearm and be ok with it although, after thirty plus years of shooting, I don't believe being a natural is a thing. Luck is more probable, although one never knows huh?
Yup, luck can take over anything.
Awesome sir .
Amazing post .
Seeing your picture here reminds me of your drawing I made 🤩🤩😂😂
Thank you, it's just a post about some stuff I do, but I appreciate your comment, it's always nice to receive favourable feedback.
long live the beautiful landscapes 🏞️
viva los bonitos paisajes 🏞️
Landscapes rule!
I don't know what to say because I'm afraid of what you do. enjoy your day @galenkp 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
Fair call, and makes sense.