Thread: Thermal Optics under scrutiny?

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Ive just been made aware of an awesome article from Jeff Kerr on the issue we face with our Tahr herd in NZ Hunter. I had a quick read and one bit really stuck out for me. I think its what I rail against the most and what upsets me.

To paraphrase and borrow from him in his discussion on Tahr.

What hunting In NZ suffers from the most, is the tragedy of the commons.


https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

What you are suggesting I think is that hunters act in self interest depleting the resource and that the use of thermals might compound this. Not necessarily.

A conservation approach can go hand in hand with thermals (spotters in the case of public land), and can enhance it. E.g. the identification and culling of females only and avoiding shooting velvet stags. Modern spotters are capable of helping make these decisions and critically can help increase the over all take of females.

We the hunters just need to make good and appropriate decisions when we take full advantage of advances in technology, and thus mitigate the "commons effect".