FOOTY and hunting may not seem like natural companions but for a couple of East Gippsland football clubs the two recreational pursuits are working hand-in-hand.

Omeo-Benambra Football Club president David Pooley said his club this year had successfully recruited “half a dozen” footballers with the lure of hunting on farm land owned by club members.

“We basically promoted hunting as a way to get players up here … If they’re deer shooters and they play footy, we can put it to them,” Mr Pooley said.

“It works with farmers, too; we’ve got the footballers to help out. The deer are wrecking fences, and they will shoot wild dogs, too.”

Mr Pooley said his club needed an incentive to attract footballers to travel to the high country.

“Last year we got thumped by 300 points in one game, so we’re fairly desperate to get a high grade of footballer

Mr Pooley said his club got the idea to offer recruits access to hunting from the Buchan Football Club, which had successfully recruited hunters to play football over three years.

Buchan Football Club president Chris Mathers said it had up to eight hunters in the side at one stage, although it was more often “just a couple of guys mad-keen on hunting” that joined in.