Eyes out to pot a few foul
Sunday Territorian, Page: 44. Sunday, 16 August 2009
Hunting waterfowl is a time-honoured pursuit in the Top End, for both indigenous communities and the Australians who came later.
Darwin residents have accessible hunting only 40km from the CBD, while for rural residents it is almost at the doorstep.
The four reserves where wildfowl can be shot are Howard Springs and Shoal Bay Coastal hunting reserves accessed from Gunn Point Rd, Lambells Lagoon via Alphatonia Rd and Harrison Dam at the end of Woods Lane, Middle Point.
This year the season begins on September 1 at 620am and closes at 730pm on December 30.
It is great family fun. And, because of the Junior Nominees category, kids are allowed to hunt with a permit-holding adult shooter.
It enables them to be part of the action with parents and friends.
But with the season on the doorstep hopefully every hunter has gone through a preparation stage, which should include a trip to the local gun club to hone up on those shooting skills.
Darwin Clay Target Club at Marrara or Top End Gun Club at Berry Springs welcomes new shooters for practice and competition.
The NT Firearms Council strongly supports moves for hunters to become well-trained in the use of firearms for safety and ethical reasons.
The council also strongly recommends hunters should practise their shooting skills before venturing out into the field.
It suggests that prospective hunters attend one of the clay target clubs in Darwin where they will receive expert tuition on the use of their shotguns.
Remember too, non-toxic ammunition is compulsory. Lead shot is out, it is a deadly hazard to humans and wildlife as well as building up a continuing threat as it leaches into waterways.
Shot is just about the right size for geese looking for stones to help with grinding food in their crops.
This means any lead shot is quickly transformed into a soluble form and that means it absorbs into tissues and eventually kills the bird.
Then, of course, scavengers eat the dead bird and in turn are poisoned by the lead.
Most hunters will be using steel shot, which demands better shooting skills and range estimation.
Your gun shop knows all this and more, and so, when buying ammunition, talk to the proprietor about loads, chokes and alternatives that are best suited to the firearm you are using.
Meanwhile to find out the finer points about hunters’ ethics, look at the Sporting Shooters of Australia website at www.ssaa.org.au Better still become a member and familiarise yourself with all the rules relating to hunting.
A simple regard for safety and courtesy for others will earn you respect from other hunters and non-hunters.
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