As part of its Blueprint for the Bush wild dog management project, AgForce is calling for nominations for the school which will take two land managers from each of the five district local government association areas in Queensland.

Professional wild dog trapper and caller Tony Townsend will draw on more than 20 years experience when he delivers the four-day school at the Longreach Agricultural College from March 22-25. Mr Townsend is renowned for his private trapping schools in NSW and Queensland.

AgForce wild dog spokesperson and chairman of the recently formed Queensland Dog Offensive Group Brent Finlay said the workshop was a rare opportunity for ten people to access high-level skills.

“This hands-on course is a chance to learn the art of wild dog trapping and calling from a leader in the field,” Mr Finlay said.

“We all know how much damage wild dogs cause and what they cost Queensland’s grazing industry, so AgForce is urging passionate land managers who can take these valuable skills back to their community to continue fighting wild dogs to apply for this fully-funded school.”

The trapping school is practically based and covers wild dog ecology and behaviours, the identification of dog traffic, wild dog calling, trap preparation and setting. Some of the course will be completed on local properties.

As part of the fully-funded school, participants will receive their own trapping kit complete with traps and tools to take home with them. Accommodation and meals for participants will also be provided at the Longreach Agricultural College.

Applications for the school will be accepted until close of business Tuesday, March 9 and application forms can be downloaded from or completed on the AgForce Queensland website at www.agforceqld.org .au. Alternatively, call the AgForce Brisbane office on 3236 3100.

The trapping school is one of the final activities of the Blueprint for the Bush project, which has been implemented by AgForce over the past three years and also included a series of Predator Control Workshops and an extensive survey of the economic costs of wild dogs to Queensland’s grazing industry.