Frequently Asked Questions

Professional management and reduction of invasive animal populations (feral pigs, wild dogs, foxes, rabbits, etc.) that damage agriculture, livestock, and the environment. Methods include professional ground shooting, trapping, baiting, and thermal drone surveillance. The goal is protecting farms, native wildlife, and communities from pest damage.

Feral pigs, foxes, feral deer (all 6 NSW species), wild dogs and dingoes, rabbits, and pest birds (pigeons and Indian mynas). We use integrated pest management combining ground shooting, baiting (1080 and PAPP), trapping, and thermal drone surveillance.

Based in the Hunter Valley, servicing Hunter region, Northern Tablelands (including Armidale and Tamworth), North West NSW, Central West NSW, and North Coast NSW. We operate across regional NSW with a focus on broadacre farming properties.

Professional pest control differs from recreational hunting: we carry $20M public liability insurance, use thermal drones for population assessment, employ multiple control methods (not just shooting), provide before-and-after data and monitoring reports, coordinate across neighbouring properties, and hold specific pest control certifications. A recreational hunter may reduce numbers temporarily, but without a structured programme, populations recover quickly.

Time is up for feral animals in Australia. There has been too much talk from government and not enough boots on the ground. Feral Up was started to change that: less paperwork, more action, and real results for the farmers and landholders dealing with pest damage every day.

Five primary methods: ground shooting (including thermal and night operations), baiting programmes (1080, PAPP, and HOGGONE with VPIT certification), trapping (cage, panel, and soft-jaw traps), thermal drone surveillance for population mapping and monitoring, and trail camera deployment for ongoing evidence collection. The specific combination depends on target species, property, and terrain.

A thermal drone survey uses infrared cameras mounted on a drone to detect animals by body heat. This reveals feral animals hidden in scrub, long grass, and darkness that would be invisible from the ground. Surveys map pest populations across hundreds of acres in hours, providing accurate counts for before-and-after comparison and targeted control.

A comprehensive approach combining multiple control methods (assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting) rather than relying on a single technique. For feral animals, this typically means a combination of shooting, baiting, trapping, and drone surveillance, tailored to the property and target species.

Yes. All methods follow NSW codes of practice for humane vertebrate pest control. Our operator is certified under AHCPMG304 (Use Firearms to Humanely Destroy Animals). We use appropriate calibres and shot placement to ensure rapid, humane kills. Baiting agents (1080, PAPP) are government-approved and designed to minimise suffering.

Thermal imaging scopes and night-vision goggles, precision firearms appropriate for each target species, drones with thermal cameras for surveillance, trail cameras for monitoring, and GPS tracking for property mapping.

Yes. Our operator holds AHCPMG304, AMPGAM303, and VPIT certifications. We carry a current NSW Firearms Licence (Cat A/B) and $20 million public liability insurance. Our VPAC contract shooter licence application is currently being processed. Full risk assessments are conducted before any work begins.

VPAC stands for Vertebrate Pest Animal Control, a designation on a NSW firearms licence for professional pest controllers. It specifically allows a shooter to conduct contract feral animal control on rural lands. A VPAC-licensed shooter has met stringent requirements to operate as a professional pest eradicator under NSW law.

For most feral animals (pigs, foxes, deer, wild dogs, rabbits), no special permits are required for the landholder. Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, NSW landholders have a general biosecurity duty to manage feral pests. Our operators hold all necessary licences. For native species like kangaroos, a separate NPWS permit is required. We can help with the application process.

Thorough risk assessment and planning before any operation, safe shooting directions and backstops, suppressed firearms to minimise noise, coordination with authorities for sensitive areas, communication protocols with farm staff, GPS tracking, and full first aid training. Every operation follows strict safety SOPs.

Single visits from $500 per property. Seasonal programs (4 visits/year) from $1,800. Annual integrated programs from $2,500+. Group bookings for 3+ neighbouring properties reduce costs to $300-350 per property per visit. Property size, terrain, target species, and methods required all affect final pricing. Contact us for a free, personalised quote.

We use suppressed firearms to significantly reduce noise. Most operations are conducted at night or early dawn when pests are active. We coordinate scheduling to minimise disruption. Our thermal and night-vision gear means we often work without spotlights, so your neighbours likely won't know a pest control operation took place.

For urgent cases (e.g. wild dogs attacking livestock), we aim for rapid response within 24-48 hours. For non-emergencies, we schedule the earliest convenient time. We cover all of NSW and are used to long distances.