Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to harvest animals humanely and defines the standard required to:
identify the species to be harvested
prepare and handle ammunition and weapons safely
ensure the harvesting area is clear and notifications have been made where necessary
harvest the animal using a shot to a body site appropriate to the target species that causes instant death and is prescribed in the relevant code of practice
This unit is applicable to training field harvesters who are harvesting wild game.
All work should be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, customer requirements and product specifications.
Individuals undertaking this unit must hold a current firearms/shooters licence and the relevant State permits to harvest wild game.
This unit must be delivered and assessed in the context of Australian meat processing standards and regulations.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Plan harvesting of wild game animals | 1.1 Confirm anatomy and physical features of target animal, including location of vulnerable organs of target animal 1.2 Identify location of habitats, habits and range of movements of target animal 1.3 Determine timing of the harvest based on the activity patterns of the target animal 1.4 Identify hazards associated with the harvest in accordance with workplace health and safety standards 1.5 Identify environmental and public safety risks associated with the harvest are identified |
2. Prepare for the harvesting operations | 2.1 Determine location and boundaries for the harvest in accordance with the animal management plan 2.2 Check time and duration of the harvest and notify relevant personnel, where applicable 2.3 Take precautions to minimise hazards associated with the harvest in accordance with workplace health and safety standards 2.4 Take precautions to minimise environmental risks associated with the harvest 2.5 Confirm firearm licences, harvesting permits or exemptions as current in accordance with statutory requirements 2.6 Select firearm and ammunition types to comply with those recommended for the target animal in accordance with regulatory requirements and animal ethics guidelines 2.7 Zero and test-fire firearm in accordance with industry practice 2.8 Stow firearm unloaded and in safety mode for transport |
3. Harvest animals | 3.1 Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with workplace health and safety standards and statutory requirements 3.2 Carry firearm safely with muzzle pointing in safe direction at all times in accordance with statutory requirements and industry practice 3.3 Load, discharge and unload firearm safely in accordance with regulatory requirements 3.4 Inspect target animal pre-harvest for suitability 3.5 Aim firearm at vulnerable sites on the animal according to target species 3.6 Kill each target animal using a minimum of shots 3.7 Check each target animal to ensure it is dead prior to selecting the next target animal 3.8 Cleanly destroy target animals that have not been killed in a humane manner in accordance with animal welfare regulations and statutory requirements 3.9 Bleed carcases in accordance with industry practice |
4. Clean and store equipment and material | 4.1 Maintain and store firearms in accordance with manufacturer instructions and statutory requirements 4.2 Store ammunition in accordance with statutory requirements |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must harvest wild game animals humanely.
The candidate must:
confirm the species to be harvested
prepare and handle ammunition and weapons safely
ensure the harvesting area is clear and notifications have been made where necessary
shoot the animal in a body site appropriate to the target species that causes instant death and is prescribed in the relevant code of practice
identify hazards and implement safe operating procedures
maintain and store weapons
handle weapons
assess viability of shot
use weapons to harvest accurately
minimise animal trauma
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a factual, technical, procedural and theoretical knowledge of:
workplace health and safety, environment, public risk and animal welfare legislative and enterprise requirements
common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence
animal life cycles and behaviours
anatomy and physical features of the animal
firearms safety
suitable firearms and ammunition for target species
emergency procedures appropriate to the firearms handling
Assessment Conditions
Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.
The harvesting of animals can be assessed in the field culling game or utilising a realistic simulation in the field.
A minimum of three different forms of assessment must be used.
Assessors must satisfy the current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.