The SSAA Victoria Podcast

E13 - The department of blast & cast? With Travis Dowling from the Victorian Fisheries Authority

Victoria’s hunters and fishers are officially “shacking up” under the new Outdoor Recreation Victoria from July 1 - but what does that actually mean? In this episode, the boys from SSAA Victoria sit down with Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling to talk about the merger of the VFA and GMA, the future of Outdoor Recreation Victoria and why hunters and fishers are natural allies. The conversation explores the shared challenges facing both communities - public land access, social licence, sustainability, science-based management and the need for governments to properly recognise hunting and fishing as legitimate and valuable outdoor recreation activities. They also discuss the opportunities that come with bringing these sectors closer together and why it is critical that Outdoor Recreation Victoria gets the balance right from day one. A fascinating discussion about the future of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in Victoria.

E12 - Deer hunting - the passion and the politics with Peter Burke

Peter Burke joins the SSAA Victoria Podcast for a deep and wide-ranging discussion on deer, hunting, and the politics shaping our future. We kick off with the latest news across the sector, including season openings, the firearm law review, Outdoor Recreation Victoria, Game Changing Huts, and recent government changes, before paying tribute to Mike Harrison. Peter then shares his perspective built over decades in the field – from the history of deer hunting in Australia and the Burke family’s role, to the evolution of public land access and advocacy. The conversation tackles deer populations, their impacts, and the growing disconnect between on-ground reality and public narratives. It’s a frank discussion about evidence, misinformation, and the need for a more balanced and informed approach. We also cover hunting in all its forms - red, fallow, hog deer, and sambar - before finishing with a look at where things are heading. A must-listen for anyone serious about deer hunting in Victoria. Check out Peter's YouTube channel at (13) Sambar Hunters Edge - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SambarHuntersEdge-lf2qq]

E11 - For ducks sake - Reduce wounding, adaptive havest management and new research

In Episode 11 of the SSAA Victoria Podcast, Barry Howlett is joined by co-hosts David Laird and Daryl Snowdon, along with special guest Simon Toop, Director of Strategy and Research at the Game Management Authority. Simon has spent years working at the intersection of wildlife science, hunting policy and game management, and in this episode, we take a deep dive into the science behind Victoria’s duck season. Before that, the team runs through what’s happening around the traps, including the Ken Lay Rapid Review of Victoria’s firearm laws, issues with Wild Dog baiting, our ongoing case for a proper deer management strategy for Victoria, the need for a Hunters for the Hungry program for Victoria, and update on the Game Changing huts trial and a report on the awesome Mansfield Hunting & Fishing Expo.  The main discussion focuses on how duck season is actually set in Victoria, including the adaptive harvest management (AHM) system used to determine season length and bag limits based on environmental conditions and waterfowl populations. READ MORE ABOUT AHM [https://www.gma.vic.gov.au/hunting/duck/Adaptive-Harvest-Management-for-game-duck-hunting-in-Victoria] Simon also explains the work of the Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan (WWRAP) and the collaboration between hunters, scientists and government to reduce wounding rates through improved hunting practices. READ THE WATERFOWL WOUNDING REDUCTION ACTION PLAN [https://djsir.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/2370661/WaterfowlWoundingReductionActionPlan.pdf] The episode finishes with a look at current and future game research projects in Victoria, including deer movement studies, hog deer genetics and the growing need for robust, evidence-based wildlife management. CHECK OUT SOME COOL DUCK RESEARCH [https://research-stories.shorthandstories.com/tracking-victorian-game-ducks/] It’s a wide-ranging conversation that explores how science, hunting and policy come together in Victoria’s game management system.

E10 - Evidence-based firearms policy? Victoria's path forward

Join the SSAA Victoria team as we examine the policy responses following the Bondi attack and explore how Victoria's evidence-based review process can deliver effective firearms regulation. We discuss the rushed NSW legislative changes, the federal government's responses, and why Victoria's methodical approach under Ken Lay may offer a better path to public safety outcomes that respect both community concerns and evidence-based policy. Explainer of the National changes with SSAA National CEO Tom Kenyon https://youtu.be/2ymIe8eVyFg?si=EbYQGUE5Vfutv2my [https://youtu.be/2ymIe8eVyFg?si=EbYQGUE5Vfutv2my] Details of the National Firearms Register https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/national-firearms-register [https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/national-firearms-register]

E09 - 2025 in review - big wins, battles and the road ahead

Join SSAA Victoria for a deep dive into the biggest moments of 2025 — the wins, the setbacks, the politics, and the hard work behind the scenes — as we look ahead to a massive year in 2026. In this episode, we run through a huge year for Victorian hunting and shooting, covering everything from public land wins to animal rights activism and the escalating push toward evidence-based policy.