As an ex-shooter I do not think the allowing of shooters into national parks
is a good idea. Yes, they may rid the parks of some feral animals. But is
there enough of a culture of appropriate behaviour among shooters to ensure
the safety of other fauna and people? I wonder. I assume that many
indulging in such sport will be city people reared in a low-risk environment
who really don't have much of a sense of the degree of responsibility needed
to handle a weapon.
And how can kids reared on a diet of videos where those killed rise in the
next new release, and where death is something that happens to others, have
a true sense of its finality? I doubt that that politicians research such
issues.
It also worries me that further legitimisation of shooting might have other
ramifications. At one stage I had to join a pistol club - because I worked
as a biological consultant often around waterways where there were
crocodiles I owned a 457 Magnum. But on hearing of others boasting of their
caches of illegal weapons I decided to give up both my membership and the
weapon preferring to take my chances with the wildlife.
I do have friends and family that are responsible shooters - most of them
are semi-traditional people. But even then there are cowboys. Some years
ago my daughter-in-law said that men near Oenpelli, Arnhem Land had been
targeting egrets. Fortunately enough community pressure was brought to
bear and they stopped. That won't be the case in NSW.
--
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow B.A. Grad.Dip.Arts
1/7 Songlark Street, Bakewell NT 0832, AUSTRALIA
Ph. 61 08 89 328306
Mobile: 04 386 50 835
Birdwatching and Indigenous tourism consultant
PhD Candidate (Southern Cross University, NSW)
Interpreter/transcriber, Lonely Planet Guide to Aboriginal Australia
Vice-chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia; ecotourism adviser, Mitchell Creek
Landcare
Nominated by Earthfoot (2004) for Conde Nast's Traveler International Award
"it gave me huge insight" into the lives of Aboriginal Australians
Jonathon Franzen on "Quiet Snake Dreaming".
For copies of Birds of Australia¹s Top End or Quiet Snake Dreaming, visit
amazon.com
http://www.denisegoodfellow.com.au
http://www.earthfoot.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baby-dreaming
www.fatbirder.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Wildlife.Tourism.Australia
http://wildlifetourism.org.au
on 30/5/12 8:44 PM, Jim Smart at wrote:
> Hello Alastair,
>
> My suspicion is that the shooters are already introducing feral game animals
> into public
> lands where they were hitherto not found. In my area (Hunter Valley NSW) deer
> have recently
> appeared in Wallaroo National park and pigs in Heaton State Forest. It is not
> impossible that they
> walked there from other places where they are found but that seems to me to be
> an unlikely story.
>
> Control of feral animals in National Parks is rightly a job for professional
> shooters.
> Governments occasionally respond to mass pressure. If enough people protest
> against
> this proposal they may reverse their decision.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jim Smart
> East Maitland NSW
>
>
>
> On 2012/05/30 20:23, Alastair Smith wrote:
>> Surely this is the thin end of the wedge. Don't forget this same Shooters
>> Party was also looking at introducing foreign feral game into the parks for
>> their edification and shooting in schools. Once shooters get this what is
>> next?I am opposed to shooting in national parks!
>> Regards
>> Alastair
>> On 30/05/2012, at 8:17 PM, Ed Williams wrote:
>>
>>> Instinctively I don't like this (as I don't wish to be shot!) BUT I think I
>>> would like to see the details, which parks are exempt; if there are closed
>>> seasons; what rules there are to stop abuses; etc before I can condemn it.
>>>
>>> It's a shame that it was only done for cynical political reasons rather than
>>> a stand against invasive species...
>>>
>>> Agree with Alan though - no issue at all with removing feral pests... The
>>> NPWS need all the help they can get.
>>>
>>> Cheers all,
>>>
>>> Ed
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ed Williams
>>> Kingsville, VIC
>>> (but formerly of NSW)
>>>
>>> On 30/05/2012, at 6:46 PM, "John Harris"<>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> In my opinion, not being a shooter, as long as the shooting has strict
>>>> guidelines and severe penalties for breaches, I think that it is a very
>>>> good idea. National Parks staff, of which I have been one, are run off
>>>> their feet generally with the other day-to-dy work that the control of
>>>> ferals is often down on the list of priorities. I and no doubt "we", have
>>>> all seen the damage caused by feral pigs, deer, foxes, rabbits, dogs and
>>>> cats in Parks and wondered as to what is being done about it....
>>>> But the guidelines must make it very *clear* that it is just not open
>>>> season on all wildlife.
>>>> On 30 May 2012 16:30, Alan Gillanders<>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I would not be too outraged if there was a mandatory gaol term for those
>>>>> transporting live feral pigs or any of the animals listed. Forfeiture of
>>>>> their vehicles, licences and weapons should be automatic. Hunters shift
>>>>> feral pigs into areas cleaned out to maintain their sport.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------**--------------------
>>>>> From: "Carl Clifford"<>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 2:25 PM
>>>>> To: "Birding-Aus Aus"<>
>>>>> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Hunting to be allowed in NSW National Parks
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear All,
>>>>>> In a deal with the Shooters and Fishers party, the NSW Government has
>>>>>> announced that hunting will be allowed to hunt in 79 National Parks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/**premiers-park-hunting-**
>>>>>> backdown-the-price-of-power-**sale-20120530-1ziik.html<http://www.smh.com
>>>>>> .au/nsw/premiers-park-hunting-backdown-the-price-of-power-sale-20120530-1
>>>>>> ziik.html>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Carl Clifford
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>> ==============================**=
>>>>>>
>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
>>>>>> send the message:
>>>>>> unsubscribe
>>>>>> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
>>>>>> to:
>>>>>> <>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://birding-aus.org
>>>>>> ==============================**=
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----
>>>>>> No virus found in this message.
>>>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>>>> Version: 2012.0.2178 / Virus Database: 2425/5032 - Release Date: 05/29/12
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ==============================**=
>>>>> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
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>>>>> ==============================**=
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> *Yours in all things* "*GREEN"*
>>>> **
>>>> *John Harris*
>>>> *Croydon, Vic*
>>>> *
>>>> Proprietor - Wildlife Experiences
>>>> Ecologist/Zoologist*
>>>> *Nature Photographer*
>>>> *Wildlife Guide*
>>>>
>>>> *0409090955*
>>>> **
>>>> *President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria*
>>>> *(www.fncv.org.au)*
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