Hound Hunting
- Hound Hunting Test
- Permitted Breeds
- Registration and Identification of Hounds
- The use of Tracking Collars
For more information on the hound hunting test, permitted hound breeds or the registration and identification of hounds, please select from the topic links above. Information on the use of radio tracking collars is also provided.
For more information on the open season and bag limit for Sambar Deer hunting with the aid of scent-trailing hounds, please select the link “Victorian Hunting Guide” from the column at the left of the page.
For more information on where hound hunting is permitted, visit the Sambar Deer hunting with gundogs or scent-trailing hounds page.
Hound Hunting Test
Any hunter wishing to hunt Sambar Deer with the aid of scent-trailing hounds must have a Game Licence which authorises the use of hounds. This applies to interstate and international hunters as well. Prior to applying for a Game Licence to hunt with hounds, you need to pass the Hound Hunting Test. The test only needs to be successfully completed once and people who pass the test will receive a Certificate of Proficiency.
The Department has developed an information sheet to provide hunters with further details on the Hound Hunting Test. A pdf version of this information sheet is provided below.
Information Sheet - Hound hunting test (PDF - 664 Kb)To ensure all hound hunters have an understanding of their legal, safety and ethical requirements when hunting, the Department in conjunction with the Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee has developed a comprehensive booklet entitled “Knowing your responsibilities - a Guide to the Use of Scent-trailing Hounds in Victoria”. The booklet is an important resource for all hound hunters and will assist hunters to pass the Hound Hunting Test. All hunters wishing to sit the Hound Hunting Test are advised to read this document prior to sitting the test. A pdf version of this booklet is provided below.
Hound Hunting Booklet (PDF - 1.6 Mb)Permitted Breeds
All scent-trailing hounds used to hunt Sambar Deer must have a non-aggressive temperament towards people and animals. Any hound that displays any signs of aggression must not be used for hunting. Scent-trailing hounds must not hold, drag-down or bite Sambar Deer or attack or bite any other wildlife.
Since 24 April 2004, only pure Beagles and pure Bloodhounds have been permitted to scent-trail Sambar Deer. The use of Foxhounds, Harriers and any cross-bred scent-trailing hound for hunting Sambar Deer will not be permitted. However, hunters may continue to use Foxhounds, Harriers and any cross-bred hounds for other hunting purposes such as hunting hares, rabbits or foxes (although there are some restrictions in recognised deer habitat).
The use of Beagles and Bloodhounds only is designed to reduce the likelihood of scent-trailing hounds attacking game or any other wildlife when hunting, to improve the control that hound teams have over hounds once they are released on a hunt, and to reduce the consequential illegal behaviour that can result from fast and out of control hunts.
The use of smaller and slower hounds is expected to reduce the speed of hunts and this, together with other regulations relevant to hound hunting, is expected to improve the ability of hunters to control hounds once a hunt has commenced.
Registration and Identification of Hounds
Since 24 April 2004, all scent-trailing hounds must be registered with the Secretary to the Department of Sustainability and Environment. This includes all existing Beagles and Bloodhounds currently registered with approved organisations and all new Beagles and Bloodhounds that will be used to scent-trail Sambar Deer.
Only hounds meeting the breed standards of Beagles and Bloodhounds may be recommended for registration to the Secretary by organisations approved in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Hunting. Currently three organisations are approved under the Code of Practice to register scent-trailing hounds. Hunters should contact the Australian Deer Association, Victorian Deer Association or Victorian Hound Hunters Incorporated to have hounds registered.
Hounds over 12 months of age may be registered to the 30 November in the third year following registration and you will be required to re-register hounds once their registration expires, if you wish to continue to use them for scent-trailing Sambar Deer. Hounds will also have to be re-registered if the ownership of the hound is transferred to another person. The Department will not charge a fee for registering or re-registering hounds.
Also, since 24 April 2004, all hounds over the age of 12 months used for hunting Sambar Deer must to be microchipped with either a Destron or Trovan compatible microchip.
Hounds under the age of 12 months do not need to be microchipped, providing they are ear tattooed with their registration number. However, as soon as the hound reaches 12 months of age, it must be microchipped if it is to be used for hunting Sambar Deer. Hounds that do not comply with these requirements can not be registered and must not be used to scent-trail Sambar Deer. Hounds under 12 months of age at the time of registration will only be registered to 30 November in the year of registration. Prior to re-registration, they will need to be microchipped.
All scent-trailing hounds must also wear a collar with a metal tag on which the name and address or name, address and telephone number of the hound owner must be recorded.
The Department has developed an information sheet to provide hunters with further details on these requirements. A pdf version of this information sheet is provided below.
Hound registration (PDF - 1.0 Mb)The Department has also developed a guideline that details the process for approved organisations to recommend registration of scent-trailing hounds with the Department. This document also details the process for re-registering hounds, transferring hound ownership from one person to another and amending registration details. A pdf version of this guideline is provided below.
Final hound registration guideline 1 (PDF - 154 Kb)Should you wish to transfer hound ownership to another owner, please complete the form attached below.
Transfer of Hound Ownership (PDF - 27 Kb)You will then need to send the completed form to WAGLS at PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002.
The use of Tracking Collars
Hounds may wear tracking collars while a hunt is occurring as long as the receiver is switched off and securely stored away (eg. at camp or locked in a parked vehicle). Anyone who uses a radio-tracking collar to locate a hound while a hunt is in progress is committing an offence and may be liable to prosecution. The improper and illegal use of radio tracking collars is considered to be highly unethical and is inconsistent with the concept of “fair chase”.
Hunters may use receivers to locate lost hounds wearing radio tracking collars once a hunt is completed, providing all members of the hunting party are unarmed (ie. not carrying a firearm while searching for the hound).
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.