When someone you love or yourself has been coerced against their free will to do something they would normally not do or when that action has led to discrimination, loss of health, possessions, job or business - when you feel you have been wronged - who do you turn to for assistance? The correct authorities? Here is a situation unfolding in my home town.

Our previous trapping run in early May 2018 was highly successful but there were still big dogs coming from somewhere. When a neighbouring landholder gave us a call to trap a hidden valley close by, Judy and I jumped at the chance.

This valley was proving to be a strong hold for not just wild dogs but wild cats as well. It wasn't the easiest trapline but the tally was starting to look good.

One of our valued landholders within the local red deer area was seeing an increase in wild dog tracks across one side of his property. The last time he saw this, the attacks on young calves soon followed and we sorted the problem out for him. Time to do a run down that way again, first with Judy and then with my nephew Travis riding shotgun.

Rusa deer, are they a "Pest" or a poorly managed resource? Here is the first part of our series on Rusa deer hunting and management in Queensland Australia. Part one is about a hunt for a massive full velvet Rusa stag.

Those so called "hunters" within our ranks, who promote a "kill 'em all" mentality may think they are fooling everyone but they are really just fooling themselves. Many in Government must be rubbing their hand together with glee, as they see some "hunters", (who would sell Granny to get access), accept the system which will eventually see us with no guns, no hunting and no game. Sustainable Use means respect, morals and fair hunting rules, Eradication means we need to throw out our humanity.

The first two dogs had fallen to our sets but the trail camera told the story. The Saddleback dog was carefully manoeuvring between the traps with all the skill of a burglar, so it would come down to patience and persistence (plus a few little tricks thrown in. ;)

The first traps were in and we had just had light rain overnight which would help to kill the man scent along the trapline. Time to go out and see if Skunk had helped select our trap sites wisely.

Outstanding dogs may only come your way a few times in your life. Chocky Ya Ya (also known as Chock, the old General, La La to his countless friends) was one of those dogs. Super smart, a superb hunting mate but he was getting old. On one of his sojourns away from the lodge, he crossed paths with some seriously bad wild dogs and the rest, unfortunately is history. He paid the ultimate price, so will they.

In search of Chocky's killers

Skunk and I had our first catch, a very different style of wild dog to what was normally seen in this area, a new arrival. With big rain predicted, could we strike again before the heavens opened up? Time to check the trapline again.

The wild dogs that killed old Chocky had been through our area often. About two years ago, the Alpha male of the pack was a very trap shy and cunning dog known as "Saddleback" due to his colouration. This is the story about this trapping session in two parts.