Croc hunting given green light

CROCODILE safari hunting will be allowed in the Northern Territory, it was revealed yesterday.

Environment Minister Marion Scrymgour confirmed yesterday the Territory Government would grant safari hunting permits on a ``case-by-case'' basis.

``If someone approaches the Government with a proposal for the safari hunting of crocodiles it would be considered on its merits,'' spokeswoman Maria Billias said.

Under existing guidelines up to 600 large saltwater crocodiles a year may be culled, of which 25 are already earmarked for safari hunters willing to pay big dollars for the prized trophies.

Read more here.

OK so non of the Aussies hunters here are interested in a legitimate saltwater croc trophy?

Myself I think the skulls are spectacular and the tanned hides are great on a wall, if a wall space big enough can be found!

On the news few months back where Steve Irwin was opposing it they said the trophy fee would fetch $1000 per foot.

So a 10 foot croc would = $10,000?

Ill stick to paying $10 at the local widelife parks and watch them instead for that price.

Ageo

What would Steve "the Clown" Urwin know?!

When it was being proposed for international clients visiting Australia, one of the main lobbying outfitters in the NT was talking about a price similar to a water buff trophy hunt ie around $7,000 to $10,000 in total ie trophy fee, daily rates etc.

Well beyond my pocket.

However these permits are non-exportable permits if they are granted on specific application.

The price for the hunts one would expect would be considerably less as only Aussies would be after them. And we all know what cheap bastards Aussie hunters are!

When the Yanks get the export permits, the price will zoom back up.

PS I don't know how much the Aboriginals would expect from a croc trophy fee, but there are plenty of crocs on private stations too.

Just to clarify i think steve irwin is a goose and is only trying to protect his bottom dollar.

I would be interested but could never afford it. There have been 3 big croc's killed on the daly in the last week or so. All of the heads have been taken..... I think its a ploy by the anti's so trophy hunters can't take them

Are they difficult to hunt?

My initial reaction is that it would be about as much fun as shooting a log....

Anyone read any Tom Cole? I just read 'The Last Paradise', which has an awful lot of croc hunting in it. Most of it was done under the spotlight for harvest, so perhaps not the challenge croc hunters would be seeking these days. He made it sound as unchallenging as jumping out of a vehicle and closing a gate ...

Also, there was quite an intersting show on crocs on ABC radio this week, which is available on podcast for those with Mp3 players.

Tom Cole's a legand, jimbob, as we know.

IMHO, Steve Irwin is a completely hyped-up, over-rated wanker. Wouldn't worry if I never saw that tool again Look out Steve, but I wouldn't do it if he was on fire.

Shooting a croc could be interesting......

quote:

Originally posted by jimbob:
Anyone read any Tom Cole?

Yep, "Hell West and Crooked" a brilliant read.

Too right! One day I'm going to get two dogs. One called Hell West, and the other Crooked in honour of that Tom Cole yarn. I've got a pair of chooks, but the names don't seem quite fitting ...

quote:

Originally posted by Avatar:
My initial reaction is that it would be about as much fun as shooting a log....

have to agree

To stalk on a river bed is a challenge. I've seen footage of Saeed stalking nile croc's and think it would be a good hunt.

In a property I used to hunt on in Katherine there is a swamp up the back that holds BIG freshies. These things can hear/sense you coming from a long way off, hitting the water before you can see them, scares crap out of you to!

Ditto on the Tom Cole hero bit. Read every word twice just to make sure. Spears and Smoke signals also a good one.

What does Croc taste like eh?

z

quote:

What does Croc taste like eh?

Like chicken of course....

NitroX, Just curious. I don't think I could afford the hunt, but will oppertunities be available to nonresident hunters?

The NT government is in favour of safari hunting of a limited number of saltwater crocodiles, including export licences (CITES permits). However the Federal gov't controls those and has resisted all attempts so far.

The new deal is the NT will on a case by case basis consider applications by outfitters for a permit to hunt sportingly saltwater crocodiles. However no export will be possible.

My guess is they are considering each application one by one because they want positive PR, and build a case for the Federal gov't to pull its head out of its arse.

BTW the original plan was for 25 sporting croc trophies out of 600 that are killed each year anyway.

Madness and Avatar, if the big salties are anything like the big Nile crocs, then they are VERY hard to hunt. Their senses are all sharp, they position themselves carefully and intentionally, and you must hit their brain/upper spinal area (about the size of a hen's egg) to anchor them. I thought it must be easy, too, until I tried it for several days in Mozambique. I will be in Darwin in 2 months for buff, and hope to get in on some kind of croc harvesting/hunting. This news about possible legalized croc hunting is good to hear.