Farmer Wants a Wife Australia 2021‘s Matt Trewin is raising eyebrows after he filmed and posted a video of himself running over a deer while hunting.
As reported in episode 304 of the So Dramatic! podcast, a “furious” listener slid into our DMs to raise concern over how Matt had been conducting himself online.
**CONTENT WARNING: the following details animal cruelty and may be distressing to some readers.
“Matt Trewin thought it would be funny to put up a Snapchat Story of him literally running over a sambar deer,” they wrote.
Noting that they’re a hunter themselves, the source said the act was “f*cking cruel”.
In the video, which has been observed by So Dramatic!, Matt swerves across the road as he attempts to hit the animal before eventually succeeding.
Now, deer hunting is permitted in Victoria, where the Farmer Wants a Wife star lives. Although, you must hold a license and there are specific locations and times of year during which hunting is allowed.
Importantly, recreational hunting isn’t permitted at night. However, in the clip, Matt is chasing this deer at night, around 9:30 pm.
Hunting animals with a vehicle is not considered ‘ethical’
When it comes to hunting, those participating must only use appropriate and approved firearms.
Under the Wildlife Game Regulations Act and the Wildlife Act, terrorising animals with a car is not considered a legal hunting method. Surprise, surprise.
A Code of Practice is also in place to protect the welfare of animals in hunting.
The code details that “the improper and illegal use of vehicles is considered to be highly unethical”.
Hunters must also “avoid mechanised pursuit in any form” as “a true hunter makes every effort to ensure the contest is as fair as possible”.
The laws do state, however, that if deer are “causing damage”, they can be “controlled using methods that aren’t permitted for recreational hunting, under strict controls”.
“But they cannot be destroyed without authorisation.”
Farmer Wants a Wife‘s Matt Trewin addresses running over a deer
When contacted by So Dramatic! regarding the video he shared, Matt said he “can’t help if [the deer are] on the road”.
“I have a game hunting license and I also have permits to remove them from private property,” he explained.
However, at the time of writing, Matt had failed to produce these permits for sighting.
So Dramatic! host Megan Pustetto also pointed out to the farmer that cars aren’t considered an ethical hunting method, nor should he be hunting at nighttime.
While he didn’t respond, Matt laugh-reacted to the message.
So Dramatic! has contacted the Game Management Authority for comment.
Want even more goss? Listen to the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
