Massacre at Box Flat.

I notice that the Statutes of Limitations expires this month re the massacre of hundreds of birds a Box Flat in 2013. Every bird that moved including some that didn’t were shot from Swans, Raptures, Spoonbills etc down to the smaller Stilts, Dotterels etc. including the decimation of a flock of the protected Freckled Duck that were living there. There was a lot of jumping up and down by various individuals and groups etc at the time and an enquiry was held lasting 9 months but nothing has ever been released. It is claimed the shoot was organized by two farmers whose property the swamp is on along with two gun shop owners in Geelong and their colleagues who were participants and they supplied free ammunition to the shooters. It is rumoured even shooters who are members of the local Field and Game were there, who the majority of members of F & G are responsible individuals. I don’t believe the farmers would have realized what was to take place but as it was invitation only shoot they would of known the majority of who were there. Not one shooter has been charged over one of the biggest illegal native bird slaughters ever discovered in this country. It is imperative that the report that has been locked away be released including the video of the hundreds of birds washed up on the other side of the swamp flown there by the wind. It is said they have Sat, photos of the Rego. of every car that was there and even the individual shooters and which tree they were standing behind. Why you might ask has nothing been done ????? The excuse is they don’t know who shot what, an nobody is game to dob anyone in even though they realize they have done irreparable damage to the reputation of all shooters and have undone the work put in by the Field and Game and Shooters Ass etc to get the bird identification videos out and the tests that must be done before individuals can get a game license. The real reason is there were people there from high places and the shooters were constituents and friends of the then Minister for Agriculture. I have spent many, many days photographing Freckled Duck and recording the numbers present around Vic. to try and convince the powers that be not to put them on the list of Ducks that can be taken during the season that the various organizations are pushing for. The only reason they want them on is because the Red Necks cannot recognize them from other ducks and it is an excuse to be able to take one a day to avoid the fines. The reason so many were in Victoria the last few years is because of the drought in their normal territory and there are big mobs around that did not breed the last two years. It is a reflection how far our once great country has slipped as far as cover ups and rorting etc has become and we sit back and take it as normal practice. My rant for the day. Barney.