Background
G’day, I’m Tristan. I founded Feral Up and lead the work on the ground.
I grew up on a sheep farm in the New England region of NSW, on the Northern Tablelands. Early mornings and evenings often meant helping protect our stock from foxes, pigs and other pests. I learned young what a single bad night can cost when lambing is underway.
That upbringing shaped how I work. Put the effort in. Speak plainly. Focus on the result.
My working life has also spanned IT and technology. It taught me to look closely at a problem, work out what is actually happening, measure it and then act on the evidence. I built Feral Up to bring that way of thinking together with practical field experience.
For me, pest control is not only about a tally at the end of a night. A landholder needs to know what was there, what was done and what changed. I am equally comfortable being in a paddock at dawn or reviewing the data afterwards.
Away from work, I enjoy sailing, motorbikes, rugby and cricket.
What I work on
Feral Up is based in the Hunter Valley. I work across the Hunter Valley, Northern Tablelands, North West NSW, Central West NSW and the North Coast.
The work covers feral pigs, foxes, feral deer, wild dogs, rabbits and pest birds. Depending on the property and the problem, methods can include ground shooting, baiting, trapping, thermal drone surveys and trail cameras.
I particularly enjoy feral pig programmes on sheep and cattle grazing country. The impact is practical and the value of a planned, measured programme is clear.
Fox control timed around lambing is also important. The timing matters because the work needs to protect stock when they are most vulnerable.
Big or rough properties suit careful thermal surveys and night work. Those methods help build a clearer picture where pests are difficult to find during the day.
Hobby blocks and properties with absentee owners need a clear set of eyes on the ground. If the owner is not there day to day, good observations and reporting matter even more.
I care most about the before and after. I want to know what is on a property before work starts and show what changed afterwards. Every job ends with a written report. I also encourage coordinated programmes between neighbours because feral animals do not respect fence lines.
I would rather give a landholder a straight answer than sell the wrong service. If a method does not suit the property, or Feral Up is not the right fit, I will say so.
If I do not pick up, I am probably out on a job. Leave a message or send me an SMS on 0493 417 929.
Credentials
My licences, certifications and insurance are set out on the licensing page, along with what each one means. Ask for copies of licences and insurance, as you should with anyone entering your property with a firearm. You can also read more on the About Feral Up page.
How I write for this site
I write for landholders making real decisions. That might be whether to bait or trap, what the rules require or what a properly planned programme should cost.
Every Learning Centre article published under my name is approved by me before it goes up. I prefer an honest answer backed by sources over a confident answer with nothing behind it.
Where an article includes figures, requirements or rules, I attribute them. Sources will usually include NSW DPI, Local Land Services, ABARES or the regulator responsible for the subject.
The standards I use for accuracy, sourcing, corrections and updates are set out in the editorial policy. If you find an error, please email [email protected] so I can check it.