Thread: Is shooting / hunting less popular in NZ these days?

Originally Posted by cbfb

The part I was particuarly concerned about was section 38Q (in Appendix 2) which makes it mandatory for a duty officer to be present while shooting takes place.

Effectively shuts down awesome facilities like my local RRGC where you can turn up on your own any time during the day.

The more people that submit feedback to the proposal the better.

What is the definition of duty officer? I had to do some training to be able to use our club range, so maybe I'm a duty officer and can still go whenever I want...

Originally Posted by Cigar

What is the definition of duty officer? I had to do some training to be able to use our club range, so maybe I'm a duty officer and can still go whenever I want...

My feedback was along those lines. All range users should be well familiar with the same rules and safety regulations as duty officers, making the need for them redundant.

I can understand it a bit more if there's a competition or something on, but a couple of people sighting in a hunting rifle?

Originally Posted by Tahr

Im a city kid that only ever had a Mum. Not sure what happened here.

My mum taught me to fish, mend a bike tube , tie my shoe laces and came with me to buy my first rifle, a Stirling in .22cal
Mums are cool.

Originally Posted by tac a1

Bloody rediculous aye. Nanny state at its worst AGAIN>>>>>>

How on earth are young fellas supposed to learn all the good things about firearm safety, shooting, etc etc.

Personally, Im so sick of having every aspect of our lives controlled by these drongos.

The media painting the picture of gun owners should be social pariahs doesn’t help.

The back log of new licence applications is high? Or not?

I’m seeing quite a few young guys from non hunting families coming through the hunting club ADA now.


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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
While some like to blame the current changes in Laws and Regulations for the decline in range shooting the decline has been going on for years. The decline has accompanied the increase in technical style rifles, bipods, fat scopes and the like. Additionally each successive generation of hunters and shooters is different. The idea of shooting without a bipod or dial up scope is foreign to much of the current generation of hunters and shooters. I am not saying this is wrong just that it is different. Consequently the idea of shooting standing without a rest does not appeal. The full bore shooters F class, shooting prone with fancy bipods and scope may appeal to some but for me my days of shooting prone are long gone.
Regards Grandpamac.

But without F class NRA full bore probably would have died out completely. It allows people to still shoot when their eyesight is gone. I reckon the next move should be the ability to shoot off a bench which would enable older shooters to stay in the game either shooting TR or F class…..as you know you’ve still gotta be able to read the wind….

Originally Posted by omark

But without F class NRA full bore probably would have died out completely. It allows people to still shoot when their eyesight is gone. I reckon the next move should be the ability to shoot off a bench which would enable older shooters to stay in the game either shooting TR or F class…..as you know you’ve still gotta be able to read the wind….

Greetings @omark,
Absolutely agree on that. If I was able to shoot from a bench with the F class type rules I would be into it like a rat up a drainpipe, starting at 300 yards mind.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by cbfb

The part I was particuarly concerned about was section 38Q (in Appendix 2) which makes it mandatory for a duty officer to be present while shooting takes place.

Effectively shuts down awesome facilities like my local RRGC where you can turn up on your own any time during the day.

The more people that submit feedback to the proposal the better.

Why cannot you be the Duty officer if you are the only one on the range? The fact that you are allowed to be on the range on your own surely means that you are competent and have the skills
required to ensure you are complying with all the RSO's etc?

Originally Posted by omark

But without F class NRA full bore probably would have died out completely. It allows people to still shoot when their eyesight is gone. I reckon the next move should be the ability to shoot off a bench which would enable older shooters to stay in the game either shooting TR or F class…..as you know you’ve still gotta be able to read the wind….

We have installed benches ( one) at 3 5 and 600 yds to accomodate shooters needs, and they get a good amount of use.

I recall back in the '90s when I took up pistol shooting it was the only shooting sport that had any growth at all. The decline has been ongoing for a while now .... well before any law changes and other knee jerk events.
People are less involved or engaged in group activities these days and opt for the self indulgence or reward that comes from shooting in small groups or on your own, hence the seeming of "more hunters".

Where we used to involve ourselves with evening activities such as cards or indoor bowls, dancing or band practice. Now its the solo activity of tapping away on a keyboard.
Such is change.

Another event that took place about that time was the trend away from the 40 hr working week and the develpoement of the 24 / 7 attitude that came in from "overseas"
Remember when the popular joke from tourist ran like this...... I went to NZ on a saturday ... but it was closed.

Originally Posted by NZ_noddy

Why cannot you be the Duty officer if you are the only one on the range? The fact that you are allowed to be on the range on your own surely means that you are competent and have the skills
required to ensure you are complying with all the RSO's etc?

That's what I put in my feedback.
However there would need to be training and a log 9f who's on duty under the new rules.
Haven't heard anything from the club yet am hoping it won't mess things up, it's an awesome facility.

People getting lazy... and they were too busy for living, and lots people are not interested for learning new things and put it into practice. Take fishing for example, the majority are not those anglers walk 5km to 10km a day for fresher water fish. How many fisherman like to use bait caster reel for lure fishing?

"In my circle of friends, I only know 1 other shooter and he's purely competition. Doesn't hunt. I don't know any reloaders. Maybe my crowd is too urban gentry lol"

As per the OP, just wanted to add that by introducing yourself on here you just met 50+ reloaders. Anything you need to know just pop it on up and several fellas will add their 2c.

Just to guage when you were in FT at Greenheith, do ever get to shoot with the legendary mr Sean Sweaney? I miss those days. But with pcp airguns being made a FAL owning exersize, a bunch of us moved on to louder activities. I do miss my AA200HC, especially when a bunny pokes its head up and im right by the farmhouse

Originally Posted by T.FOYE

"In my circle of friends, I only know 1 other shooter and he's purely competition. Doesn't hunt. I don't know any reloaders. Maybe my crowd is too urban gentry lol"

As per the OP, just wanted to add that by introducing yourself on here you just met 50+ reloaders. Anything you need to know just pop it on up and several fellas will add their 2c.

Just to guage when you were in FT at Greenheith, do ever get to shoot with the legendary mr Sean Sweaney? I miss those days. But with pcp airguns being made a FAL owning exersize, a bunch of us moved on to louder activities. I do miss my AA200HC, especially when a bunny pokes its head up and im right by the farmhouse

Yes I did shoot with Sean at Greenhithe - a legend for sure. He also shot at the Waitakere Sporting Shooters (amongst other places) when I was a member there too. This is all pre-2010 (when I left NZ to work overseas.) I sold my AA S400 side lever before I left... that was a great .22 PCP.

As for reloaders, yes this forum is awesome being able to connect with some like minded folks who are somewhat local. Never knew this forum existed and its been fantastic.

Originally Posted by rockland

In rural areas everyone knows someone who hunts/shoots and opportunities are readily available. I know of landowners who would love a responsible hunter to clean up mobs of goats or reduce their deer numbers.

I guess if I lived in a city and had no connections to access land for target shooting and small game hunting (how many of us started out), it would be a different story.

How about organizing a hunt for forum members and their youngsters?