The Game Management Council of NSW recently launched its conservation scorecard showing that 11,018 feral animals were removed from declared State forests in NSW in the first two years of conservation hunting.

Pennsylvania State Forest near Wyangala Dam is one of the areas from which ferral animals have been removed.

Overall nearly 5000 rabbits; 2059 wild goats; 1761 feral pigs; and more than 1000 foxes have been removed from State forests in NSW.

The figures come as GameCon Chairman John Mumford congratulated NSW National Parks Association on public comments that feral animal control should be targeted in the State’s most important areas.

They came from NSW National Parks Association Executive Officer Andrew Cox in discussing the results by Game Council NSW-licensed hunters over two years since the controversial decision.

“GameCon agrees with Mr Cox; that proper conservation gains provide the most benefit to threatened species if they target the State’s most important areas,” spokesman John Mumford said.

“That is why GameCon urges the State Government to open up our National Parks to Conservation Hunters, because these are the most important areas for feral animal control in NSW,” Mr Mumford said.

Mr Mumford pointed out that National Parks in New Zealand have benefited greatly from more than 60 years of conservation hunting with huge environmental benefits for the economy and eco-system.

“The New Zealanders have created a model that shows that hunting feral species and conservation are complementary; that hunters provide practical feral animal control that Governments simply do not have the finances or resources to carry out themselves,” Mr Mumford said.

“If we can get those results in 181 State forests; imagine what good we could do in the vast areas set aside for National Parks in NSW?” Mr Mumford said.