With the last day of November crossed off the calendar, it’s now time for another monthly club summary. This month’s highlights include; a new training approval, an opportunity for NSW hunters, and a rundown on our business hours for the December holiday period. Let’s start with the new training approval…
Firearms training approval
As of the 9th of November 2022, Oz Fish and Game have been approved to conduct firearms licence training in NSW. While the finer details are still being considered, such as; dates, frequency of training, and training locations, I DO have a list of desired outcomes that form the basis of choosing to deliver this training. These outcomes include:
- Increasing the number of licenced firearms owners in NSW.
- Providing a high level of training, education, and support to these licence holders.
- Improving the public’s overall perception of licenced firearm owners throughout the state.
The overarching concept is that by conducting firearms licencing training, I will be able to build a rapport with firearm owners in my local community. This will allow me to better engage with both members and non-members when implementing future strategies to defend hunting and firearms ownership, or when undertaking industry-related (or environmental) projects.
Pending the success of this approach, I am hopeful that we as a community will be able to improve public opinion toward firearm owners and recreational hunters. At the very least it may open up the dialogue between our community and those who are on the fence about our lifestyle.
Anyway, back to the topic of training… I’ll post more information on this training as the details are confirmed. Until then, keep an eye on the Oz Fish and Game Facebook page for future updates.
An opportunity for NSW hunters
The NSW State Forest Hunting Ballot – 2023
Once again, the NSW DPI Hunting Unit is conducting the annual state forest hunting ballot. This ballot grants the winners an opportunity to secure a 4-day slot in one of three highly sought-after state forests during the peak fallow deer hunting ‘season’.
Commonly referred to as ‘the rut’ (or ‘the roar’), this period of time between March and early May marks the start of the fallow breeding season. While the exact dates change depending on location and environmental factors, it’s widely accepted that bucks are generally less cautious and easier to locate during this time of the year. This is due to the increased level of testosterone in their body, and their tendency to become more vocal whilst attempting to attract a female.
The three state forests include:
- Maragle South
- Mannus (Seymour ballot area)
- Mannus (bow hunting only section)
Entry for the ballot is free and open to all NSW R-licence holders.
To enter, simply follow the link below, and register your interest.
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting/where-can-i-hunt/balloted-hunting-nsw
Entries close Friday 4th December, 2022.
Winners will be drawn on the 9th of December 2022.
December closure
With the holiday season fast approaching, I have decided to reduce my hours spent on club operations for the month of December. Like many other clubs, I will still be contactable during this period – should any member require urgent club-related support or assistance.
Due to my own work and family commitments, I ask that you please email me – wherever possible. This will ensure that I do not miss your inquiry and that I’ll have all of the required information in front of me when processing your request.
My email is: [email protected]
If for any reason you should feel the need to contact me via telephone, I ask that as a minimum, you leave your name, and number, and mention Oz Fish and Game in the voicemail message. Due to the high number of spam calls received this year, I will now consider any missed call without these details to be spam, and as such, the call will not be returned…
Final thoughts
How do our actions impact the public’s perception of lawful firearms ownership?
It seems that with every new day, another fresh attempt is made to invalidate (or outright ban) lawful firearms ownership within Australia. This is most often driven by a select group of politicians – those who would rather score cheap political points through the exploitation of a foreign tragedy, as opposed to making an active effort to address our own nation’s issues. The ever-vocal ‘cancel culture’ crowd and the mainstream media have never been shy at throwing in a few cheap shots towards our credibility either. After all, why let a ‘perfectly good’ tragedy go to waste? With this constant bombardment of criticism and demonization, it’s no wonder that firearm owners have a bad PR problem in our country. But that’s not quite the full story, is it?
Unfortunately, the actions of a chosen few often make us our own worst enemy. When social media becomes involved, the damage is compounded by 1000 fold. Threats and intimidation, bullying, and graphic content are posted purely for the shock value. These are some of the actions which are slowly chipping away at the general public’s support. What’s worse, is the defence of these actions. “Who F***ing cares?”
I do, and here’s why. It’s a widely accepted fact that there’s one thing standing between the law-abiding firearms community and a legislated ban on firearms. That is the general public’s perception of us. Who they think we are, and what they think we do with our firearms.
Obviously, we are at a disadvantage here. We lack the overall numbers that a country such as America has. We also have to contend with historic national events and Hollywood stereotypes, but that doesn’t mean we cannot succeed in protecting our rights – IF we each make an active effort to portray firearms ownership in a positive manner. That’s where you come into the equation.
During the Christmas holidays, many of us become more active in our chosen hunting or shooting activities. As a result, we’re more likely to upload content to social media, or to interact with members of the public while actively engaged in these pursuits. What I would like you to do is consider how your actions portray your chosen activity, and should you encounter a member of the public with a negative opinion towards you, I would ask that you maintain a level head (and professional approach) and try to end that encounter in a respectful way. This doesn’t mean that you are required to cease a hunt or to compromise in any way. On behalf of the firearms community, I ask that you politely impart some relevant information to the person, and refrain from causing unnecessary damage to our reputation.
Finally, once that situation has ceased, ask yourself the following questions:
- Did I handle that situation well?
- Why/why not?
- What could I do (or say) to improve next time?
For many of you, this won’t be an earth-shattering task. Most of you would already do this on a regular basis anyway. But for those who don’t, you’ll find that it’s an effective way to gain insight into your reaction to confrontation. As a bonus, learning from these past mistakes may just be the thing to shift someone’s perception in our favour – should you be confronted again in the future.
