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Hey guys, after a bit of advice/knowledge, a few property's I hunt have multiple acess points and just curious on what to go is with walking down a public road with a rifle on your back. Obviously unloaded and empty mag ect, just wondering what the law is with regards to this? Back country gravel roads with one or two cars go down a hour or so, walking from on acess point to another, is it legal? Cheers
Yep.
You have a lawful reason to have your rifle in public - traveling a road to get to a hunting location.
If for example you were walking into town with your rifle just for shits a giggles, not so much.
Possibly sensible to have the rifle slung rather than carrying it, not that that is a legal requirement of any sort, just looks less threatening to the pearl clutching brigade
Fill ya boots.
If it was me and I had to walk past private farm land etc I would just give them the heads up what I was up to.
The private farm im walking alongside/past is the property i have acess too
If a townie drives past it will be your camo clothing that scares them the most.
of course you are allowed to,if you have permission to shoot on property you are alongside you can lean on fence post and shoot...you ARENT shooting along or across road..... you have just cause for being there and are non threatening...so no problem...if really worried about it a canvas gun bag will calm the fears of all but most drugged up Karen driving past.
Except for the fellow here in Chch who was stopped by AOS while walking home with his new (empty) gunbag........Now while I cannot speak for the situation, every gunbag I have seenhas been fairly obvious whether it is full (rigid and stiff like there is a rifle in it) or empty (soft and floppy ....)Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
A hard case would not have been so easy to figure out, but a gun bag????? And it was a wee while ago now...
well fair enough....I will continue to carry mine open or bolt out if n when needed.... will cross the bridge of over zealous LEO if n when they are encountered....
I'm not so sure about that, my understanding is you cannot shoot from, to, or over a public road. Leaning on the fence post you may be technically standing on the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Your doing nothing wrong, you are legally allowed to. It's unfortunate now being a firearms owner makes you feel like a criminal.
My West coast labour voting grandparents would be disgusted with what is going on
Don't be ashamed of owning a firearm for recreational purposes. If you are acting within the the law, fill your boots so to speak
Time place circumstance, what you described is perfectly fine and within the law.
Just wrapp it up in a couple of old long shirt sleeves like a old fishing rod.Nobody will batt a eyelid.:thumbsup:
Not quite. The wording in the law is along the lines of “so as to frighten, worry, etc”. Which is to mean, the intent of the actions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntfisheat
If you’re simply going about your business, with a just purpose for your actions and location, and some measure of care - rifle over your shoulder or in a bag, clearly pointed in a safe direction etc, you’re doing no wrong, even if some member of the public takes it upon themselves to become alarmed. The cops may still want to check in, or in the case of that poor bastard in Christchurch, throw the AOS at you, but you have broken no law still.
However if you act in a manner intended or reasonably expected to justify fear or alarm in members of the public, swinging your rifle around, pointing it etc, even if you may have a perfectly legal reason to be there with a firearm, you’re gonna be in a world of trouble.
‘So as to’ = in order to, for the purpose of, etc
Mate, best thing you can do, just wave and smile
Quote:
Originally Posted by Survy
Sadly some ‘Karen’ would see that as some sort of threatening or aggressive gesture...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil_H
You have to have actually discharged the firearm for section 48 to apply.
A lot matters where it's at, not unusual where I live to see someone on horseback with a rifle, not a hanging offence and near to zero attention taken.
The word "near" in the legislation is a bit vague and poorly written IMO. What the hell is near? Is a gunshot 200m away near compared to 1km away? I would guess some would say one or the other if you asked them dependant on their dwelling and opinion.
I do it all the time and so do heaps of other hunters. Usually i wear a high viz vest to show im all above board and happy to be seen going about my business. Its a bit like walking a tramping track carrying your gun - kiwis expect it and its no drama if you behave responsibly honestly and dont annoy endanger or frighten.
One dark night walking back from goats hunting on a doc block i have a permit for. Grizled farmed come down the public road on his quad bike with mate on the back with one of those triple headlamps. “Howszit going” “ gidday im xx got the permit for the bush block” “gidday . See any ?” “Yep got two”. “Is that a 223 youve got there ? Pretty short.” No its xxx have a look.” (I hand it to him to check out. Bolt and ammo are in my pocket). Is see he has a short barelled something or other lying in the front tray of the bike. “Yep, nice gun alright”. Ends up i get the ok to shoot up onto the farmland behind . This is New Zealand.
do it all the time - live on a farm that has access further up the road to other paddocks, also permission to shoot pests on a neighbors up the road - have walked up into the forest up the end of the road (not worth the time though - Pirongia).
There are walking tracks at the end of our road so sometimes think someone not from the area might get a shock and complain - more so when I use to be walking up the road with an AR - never had an issue. Not uncommon to hear gun shots fairly regularly year round, duck season sounds like a warzone.
Dont overthink everything. Apply common sense and have reasonable cause and there wont be an issue. I used to park at Bealey spur in Arthurs pass and do multi days around the tops before dropping into the Waimak river and coming out by the bridge. I then had to walk from the bridge up SH73 back to the spur ( roughly 4 km's ) up a busy road. Always took the bolt and mag out and put it in my pack . You didnt have to be einstein to tell what id been up to . Had a wave from the cop one time ( also had a couple of ghastly stares from the woke left too to be fair :)) .
you've opened a whole other can of worms here Phil....by admitting you watch Coro I'm no longer sure you meet the "fit and proper" criteria :D I'll pop round this afternoon to uplift your firearms and keep them safe until you have come to your senses :psychotic:Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil_H
My understanding is that as long as you have some sense of reasonable purpose, you can carry a rifle in public. If you buy a rifle and carry it home as is on the bus (or walk, or whatever), legally you can do that.
Whether you'd want to, of course, depends on you.