Hunting

Recreational hunting is a legitimate pastime where people of all ages and cultural backgrounds can participate in either a group or by themselves. Hunting provides the opportunity to obtain the ultimate in organic free-range food (the SSAA’s Cooks Companion shows many examples of this) and provides conservation benefits to the environment. Recreational hunters travel the country and provide direct and indirect social, economic and environmental benefit to regional communities.

While hunting may be a controversial issue to some, in reality, conservation hunting has done much to save many of Australia’s endangered species from extinction by predation and habitat loss. It is also instrumental in the management of both introduced and native species.

Hunting is sometimes loosely referred to as a ‘sport’, but hunting is better explained as an activity, pastime, hobby or recreation. Just like some forms of fishing, hunting can be physically and mentally challenging and rewarding. These components of hunting are what make the activity feel sports-like for many people.

Ethical hunting
The SSAA encourages all hunters to conduct themselves in a safe and ethical manner to ensure a future for recreational hunting and the shooting sports in general. A hunter needs to understand and abide by the principles of ethical hunting.

Hunters should always display an appreciation of and adherence to sustainable wildlife management practices and obey game laws. The SSAA advises its members to follow The Hunter’s Code and rules of etiquette when hunting.

What you can hunt
Whether hunting for food or to manage populations, hunters should be familiar with their target animal. The following suggests cartridge type, methods to target specific species and other general information about what you can hunt.

State and territory hunting regulations
In Australia, hunting is regulated by each state and territory government. This has led to a number of different regulations, laws, fees, charges and licence requirements. The following provides a snapshot of the different state and territory hunting regulations.

Educational resources
The SSAA encourages its members to keep informed about hunting and environmental issues. The following provides fact sheets and research papers that can be used as educational resources.

Hunting tips
The SSAA encourages all hunters to display appropriate firearm-handling skills, acceptable conduct and responsibility to themselves and others when out in the field. Hunters should endeavour to understand their targeted species, appreciate the environment and participate with and be mindful of the welfare of others. To do this, hunters are advised to read the following hunting tips.

Conservation & Wildlife Management branches
Within the SSAA, there are groups of shooters dedicated to the preservation of native Australian species and management of introduced species. These members form the SSAA's Conservation & Wildlife Management branches.

Be Part of the Solution campaign
To promote the importance of hunting as a viable management tool to the wider, non-hunting public, the SSAA has launched its Be Part of the Solution campaign, which includes highly visual billboards and posters displaying one of Australia’s most destructive introduced species - the fox.

Overseas hunting info
Australia is not the only country where you can participate in recreational hunting activities. Read the following overseas hunting info for more ideas about hunting abroad.

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