I think the issue is when "shooters" become "hunters". It is hard to object
to target shooting - but hunting is a very different matter (and of course
can happen with weapons other than firearms, although usually with a less
devastating effect)
On 14 April 2011 16:33, Alistair McKeough <>wrote:
> Greg & Sandra
>
> I think the problem is that it's usually the most extreme ends of both ends
> of the spectrum that are the most vocal and control "the message".
>
> The shooters party gives the impression that the first target should be
> anyone interested in the environment. The mad greenies give the impression
> that shooters and fishers are a bigger problem than any other environmental
> threat.
>
> As usual, a more moderate approach from everyone would be good. Sandra -
> nice to see an email voicing the other side.
>
> Alistair
>
>
> On 14 April 2011 15:39, Greg Little <> wrote:
>
> > Sandra
> >
> > I am all for culling ferals in NP's and even for completely eradicating,
> by
> > shooting if necessary, ferals such as camels and deer, but the idea of
> > allowing club shooters access to NP's worries me.
> >
> > Why don't the shooters and fishers make efforts to engage with and
> > understand the conservation community and their reasons?
> >
> > Greg Little
> >
> >
> > Message-----
> > From:
> > On Behalf Of Graeme
> > Gallienne
> > Sent: Thursday, 14 April 2011 2:55 PM
> > To:
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Shooters
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> >
> >
> > It seems to me that a lot of birders know nothing about shooters. I do,
> > I'm
> > married to one - a very responsible one! Does the birding community know
> > anything about how the SSAA properties are run? All the properties I
> know
> > of in Queensland are run as NATURE REFUGES - all native wildlife is
> > protected and the SSAA is happy for birders to do surveys etc on these
> > properties. I know for example that Bundamba Lagoon at Ripley is on a
> SSAA
> > property and is a site that is monitored monthly by local bird clubs.
> >
> >
> >
> > I have been to the SSAA property at Captain's Mountain (Milmerran)
> several
> > times in the past few years with "The Gold Coast Gun Club" of which my
> > husband is a member. I have access to the entire property in complete
> > safety, the only stipulation being that I stay away from the various
> ranges
> > - all of which are for target only shooting. In fact, if an animal such
> as
> > a Grey Kangaroo or a bird such as an emu (and yes once when I was there
> an
> > emu with 7 chicks walked onto the range) the entire shooting competition
> is
> > stopped until the animal walks off the range and is at a safe distance
> away
> > before the competition can resume. All competitions are supervised by a
> > Range Officer and the rules are adhered to with every "i" dotted and "t"
> > crossed to the letter of the law.
> >
> >
> >
> > The attitude of the club members to a "mad keen birder" in their presence
> > has slowly changed over the times I have attended. To start with I was
> > somewhat of a curiosity and the butt of some jokes about greenies but the
> > last time I went out there (and I took a friend from my Club) (March
> 2011)
> > a
> > lot of the shooters were even becoming interested in birds and what we
> were
> > seeing, especially the Glossy Black Cockatoos as these are a bird they've
> > heard about due to the GBC Conservancy efforts on the Gold Coast and
> GBC's
> > are also found on the Captains Mountain property. In May, members of our
> > birding club (BrisBOCA) have been invited out for the weekend, once more
> > with the Gold Coast Gun Club. The subject of duck shooting is bound to
> > arise but what better opportunity to change someone's viewpoint - there's
> > plenty of opportunity for shooting without ducks needing to be the target
> > and that's the message we need to get across - not one of banning
> > responsible shooting altogether.
> >
> >
> >
> > It seems to me that the birding community could do more to engage with
> > shooters and also possibly fishermen instead of being so negative. After
> > all, we are all people who enjoy the great outdoors. Education and
> > friendship wins a lot more battles than criticism and judgemental
> attitudes
> > based on prejudices. And, on the question of feral animal control - I
> own
> > a property and my husband and daughter have between them shot 16 feral
> pigs
> > and 3 feral dogs in the 11 years we have lived here - no native animals
> > have
> > been harmed, a lot of my property is being allowed to return to native
> > vegetation and my birdlist is at 156 species, some of which are on the
> > Vulnerable list. A shooter who also cares about wildlife lives here!
> >
> >
> >
> > Shooting in National Parks is an entirely different proposition and would
> > need the park to be "closed" for a certain period if feral animal control
> > was the aim. It would need to be strictly controlled and limited to
> > specially licensed shooters.
> >
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Sandra Gallienne
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ===============================
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