Thread: Role of the Game Animal Council

well I put comments on the post about hunter training by the GAC and I will apologize to LarryB my comments were not directed at you personally - have I changed my view no - this is my personal view on their role - do we as NZ Hunters need GAC no - The GAC came about as a deal to get an extra MP into parliament - it was his little pet project and did not appear to be from any intensive lobbying from NZ Hunters -so we got GAC around 2013 and an act of parliament to give it some credence - now one of the ideas put foward by GAC was to declare herds of special interest - they state two in their web site the sika herd and the wapiti herd - but here's the rub - both are under existing foundations and they appear to be doing a very good job - do we need a third party involved ( DOC+ relevant Foundation being two ) no we don't and I would state likely to get very messy if GAC did put their oar in - I would ask GAC a number of direct questions given they receive tax payers money in regards to recreational hunting 1) what new access points have GAC negotiated into our public land for recreational hunting 2) what old access points now closed have GAC been able to reopen - 3) what hunting opportunities for recreational hunters have GAC been able to negotiate with private landowners to reduce animal numbers on their land -4) what lobbying has GAC carried out to ensure legal roads are not lost - all seem very valid to me and by far the most important issues for NZ Hunters - do we need any game management over most of our public conservation estate no we don't - some have said we need more Rangers out in the field to monitor offences such as vandalism of signs etc but that is not the role of GAC - we have enjoyed free and unrestricted hunting in NZ for well over 80 years +- I for one do not want to get to a road end to be told this area is now a herd of special interest and you can only shoot one stag 12 points or better - stuff that - we do not need it -the hunter training is a good idea but man it scares me - if I am told later down the track that I need the GAC course to get a hunting permit - look out me really will be on the war path if that happened ( it is the case in a number of overseas countrys that they have mandatory training for hunters ) - so do we need GAC no