We had been highly successful with our wild dog trapping program but our trail camera photos showed the two dogs which were scratching traps and dodging our best efforts. Could we crack these hard cases in our last day?

When life makes my head spin, I go for a walk in the bush with my dogs, listen, breathe, settle my spirit and count my blessings. We are all in the circle of life and there is no jumping off this train. As we see fazes of our life pass, we see their reflection in our children, Grandkids and even our four legged mates.

Our trapline had worked, we had the main dingo packs rattled and the survivors were on the move. This is the time when you need to remain focussed, improve your set patterns and get ready to finish the job.

What makes a good society? Respect, ethics, compassion and tolerance?
Or would it be best if it were more about laws, mandates and enforced compliance? We made our choice, we choose humanity over tyranny.

Sometimes your efforts all come to fruition in a short space of time.The dog sign was strong and we set our trapline accordingly ... and it worked.

More ethical and well coordinated recreational hunters working across private and public lands will achieve a range of positive environmental outcomes. Wild deer then become the catalyst for great results to happen, one step at a time.

With over 100km of trapline to check, Jessie and I had our work cut out, just getting around the whole line.

More now than ever, we need strong willed, resourceful and self sufficient young people entering the world of the hunter. Here is one such young man. Join me in wishing Darcy a very happy birthday.

A great morning hunting roaring red stags. The 2021 red deer roar was underway with stags bellowing from every valley.

In Queensland, Australia, all wild deer are introduced. They also live in the majority on the private country of landholders growing crops and raising stock. New releases over recent decades had added to the issue by placing other deer species close to peri-urban areas. The question of ownership was never settled but Government has overridden all by declaring them all "Pest" species and owned by nobody. Quite a mess we have to deal with!!

If we are looking for a wild deer management system which could be used as a basic blueprint, a starting point for the rest of the country, look no further.

Sitting on a hillside in early April, with an ethically taken wild free range red stag in front of you, is a time to reflect on the true meaning of life.