Michelle Pares has three main passions: “Wildlife, shooting and the outdoors.” At first thought, you may not see a connection to conservation, or even at all. But they are intrinsically intertwined for this new mum from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The same goes for numerous conservation-savvy women and men across the country.

Michelle’s dedication to assisting friends on their farm led to her affinity for working with animals in the great outdoors. It’s also where Michelle learnt how to safely handle and shoot firearms.

Working closely with native animals at Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital provided Michelle with “true appreciation of how vulnerable our native wildlife is.” Michelle agrees wholeheartedly with Steve Irwin that ‘conservation and education’ are crucial for their survival.

Joining Conservation and Wildlife Management (CWM) best-allowed Michelle to follow her passions. The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia’s CWM groups utilise their proven hunting and shooting skills to assist in the conservation of native animals and the long-term management of feral species like wild dogs, foxes, cats, rabbits, goats, pigs and deer.

After obtaining her firearms licence Michelle joined the Queensland CWM branch, initially worried about being accepted into a conceivably “male-dominated sport” and how she would go “hunting and shooting an animal.”

Michelle quickly discovered she had “joined a welcoming group of like-minded people who share the same vision, values and shooting ethic.” CWM groups allow environmental volunteers like Michelle to come on board and take things at their own pace.

“It was two years before I felt confident, trained and prepared enough to participate in my first field project,” admits Michelle. Being an animal lover, “a clean, humane despatch was of utmost importance to me so no animals suffer.” Michelle’s comprehensive theory and practical training further opened her eyes to the damages caused by feral pests and reinforced that she was doing the right thing.

“Becoming a member allowed me to grow, learn and make educated decisions on humane pest control and conservation,” she says.

Beyond this, Michelle loves the fitness aspect that comes with the lifestyle and “meeting new people and being part of a team while being immersed in beautiful Queensland locations.” Michelle refers to hunting being an ingrained survival-mechanism from years past when saying: “CWM has moulded my life, made me a better human in so many ways, and connected me with nature in a manner which I feel is lost in current society. I love the outdoors and there is much more to CWM than just species management and conservation.”

Michelle added: “I am not proud of taking an animal’s life, but I am proud of the work I do for preserving Australia’s heritage. I hunt with heart and feel a great sense of care and pride towards the animals and the environment in which I hunt them.”

Michelle sees the irony in being an ‘animal lover’ and shooting an animal but says: “Of all of the ways to utilise and maintain a healthy population of wildlife in a modern world, hunting is by far the most efficient and effective, depending on the circumstances.” Michelle goes on to say: “I do what I do because I love animals. I respect the fact that this job has to be done, and I can make sure that if I’m a part of it, it will be done with care and respect. The feral animals aren’t harassed, tormented, or most of the time even aware we are around. It’s a quick, painless and humane way to despatch them.”

She realises that “hunting is not for everyone” but since taking part in the conservation world, she has connected with other women shooters and is encouraged that “more and more women are becoming involved with shooting and CWM.”

Michelle is also learning how to field dress (butcher) certain animals to feed her growing family and wants to be the best role model she can be for her daughter, saying she’s “looking forward to sharing her passions, skills and knowledge on humane pest control.”

Some of Michelle’s CWM involvement is on country preserved for ‘Land for Native Wildlife’ which has been inundated with chital deer, the majority of which are stags. “The destruction caused by stags is devastating,” she says. “Only about 40 per cent of the freshly native trees planted actually survive.”

Michelle says on the same properties, European red foxes are attacking and killing bandicoots and possums. She has also witnessed the rampant wild dogs in the koala rehabilitation zones, where koalas are particularly at risk as they move across ground from tree to tree. Michelle is keen to assist on the Bilby Project in far-west Queensland where feral cats are targeted to help protect the vulnerable species.

“Firearms are the right tool for these jobs, with certain calibres required to meet humane best practice guidelines for the various species,” she says.

Michelle looks to simply “offer sensible, scientific and fact-based information about hunting, including the impact feral species have on our native flora and fauna.”

She believes managed control of introduced species through environmental volunteers is an effective and practical way to tackle pest management and assist farmers, national parks and state forestry. CWM participants like Michelle also develop skills in remote first-aid, trap setting, field dressing, reloading, campfire cooking, navigation and more.

Enhanced by recent worldwide events, Michelle finds comfort in having the knowledge, skills and resources to legally and ethically procure meat for the family while not relying on supermarkets. As a bonus, Michelle has always appreciated keeping active and says “my lifestyle outside of rehabilitation work gives me the drive to maintain my fitness”.

She adds: “There’s no better cardio than walking through hilly country or along a waterway looking for pest animals… it certainly beats a treadmill.”

While CWM volunteers are helping Australia’s fragile eco-system, there’s also personal rewards. “Hunting improves health, fitness and mental wellbeing along with the opportunity to get some fresh air and soak up vitamin D away from screens and social media,” she says.

Volunteers perform a variety of tasks aside from hunting, like assisting landholders in checking fences, dams and stock and taking part in native animal surveys and counts. All volunteers are covered through SSAA Insurance for up to $20 million public liability.

Michelle and the CWM groups share our goal of ensuring wildlife still exists and is appreciated, enjoyed and utilised with care in a sustainable manner for generations to come.

Interested?

CWM volunteers are SSAA members from all walks of life who enjoy the outdoors and want to actively contribute to conservation. You must hold the appropriate firearms licence and be willing to undergo training and accreditation in firearm safety, marksmanship, animal control and welfare, plus field operations concerning safety, navigation and teamwork. For more information visit ssaa.org.au/cwm