Thread: Urgent Message For All Lake Lyndon Target Shooters

Delete if not allowed. Apologies if so.

Trying to garnish some community support for Canterbury district outdoor rifle shooters.

As quite few keen target shooters know, Lake Lyndon (Near Arthur's Pass/15 minutes inland past springfield) is the closest DOC place to go for shooters who live in or around Christchurch but don't have access to rural private property to shoot on.

I have been on multiple occasions with friends over the past few months for a sensible target gong shoot away from the road (and well away from the busy lake) and onto a hill inside the DOC legal area for hunting. It is about 1 and a half hours from where I live. There are always other shooters nearby shooting in their own safe direction. This has been a locally famous target shoot area for years!

Was just out for a social shoot with a few mates today (all responsible firearms license holders) and as we were packing up after a few hours a park ranger drove up to us on the field asking for our hunting permits (to which we respectfully cooperated and had shown) He then mentioned that we could no longer shoot there anymore as per complaints from tourists, and hikers about noise levels and littering of ammunition and target debris from other shooters. Another apparent reason was because of the ongoing illegal use of tracer rounds setting fire to areas of the hill side. He said he "doesn't mind if people quickly sight in their rifle but not keep going bang, bang, bang..." So we packed up and left.

My personal feelings is that of frustration and disappointment. My disappointment as to why irresponsible shooters ruin the opportunities of those who respectfully obey the law and clean up after themselves. My frustration however, is the complete lack of alternative options and towards a cavalier, lazy and unfair approach from the regional council/Department of Conservation. So basically if you have a rifle in Christchurch and don't live in or know anyone rural, and want to shoot outside in the country for an hour or day of target shooting (without driving and hiking for an eternity) you're out of luck. Pretty sad for a nationally and even internationally acclaimed hunting region with the highest firearms ownership and licensed holders in NZ. Quite appalling I think.

I wonder what's so difficult about designating a special area/side of the hills/field away from but access to a driveable road for shooters who just want to hit steel and not hunt. I know many shooters will be extremely upset on this one. I'm understandable and at terms with the conditions of risk to those in the area though I think the whole situation could be handled much more effectively than just saying, "you can no longer shoot here."

I hope a proper alternative might be introduced as a result of this.
There's really not much else around outside of a club environment.

What do people think about this?

Actually the ranger sounds quite reasonable, shooting is still allowed but as usual its twats that have drawn attention to the situation.
You had permits so well done, I also suspect you policed your brass and targets and didnt do any "magdumps" but the problem has arisen because not everyone is as responsible.
The formality of a club does not appeal to everyone but it does ensure the shooting environment is kept clean, and as for tracer theres a reason clubs ban it.
I suggest you continue going there talk to other shooters you see and clean up any crap thats lying around maybe put up a sign and if that gets used as a target pack up and join a club.

I think that DOC should set aside areas of PCL where you can go an cut loose. We unofficially have a simililar peice of land in my area that is effectively a wide open space, with nothing to really see, so is only used by four wheel drivers, shooters, hunters and trail riders. Doc and the ajoining Maori trust have talked about shutting it down for years because they see it as a liability.

It was sadly inevitable that it would be closed up eventually - the neighbouring properties have endless problems with damage to fences, poaching, trespassing; there is shit left everywhere; there is some incredibly unsafe shooting; muppets on dirt bikes and in 4wds have been ripping up every hill or swampy bit.

Idiots will always ruin things for everyone.

Originally Posted by gimp

It was sadly inevitable that it would be closed up eventually - the neighbouring properties have endless problems with damage to fences, poaching, trespassing; there is shit left everywhere; there is some incredibly unsafe shooting; muppets on dirt bikes and in 4wds have been ripping up every hill or swampy bit.

Idiots will always ruin things for everyone.

This. It's a shambles up there

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Actually the ranger sounds quite reasonable, shooting is still allowed but as usual its twats that have drawn attention to the situation.
You had permits so well done, I also suspect you policed your brass and targets and didnt do any "magdumps" but the problem has arisen because not everyone is as responsible.
The formality of a club does not appeal to everyone but it does ensure the shooting environment is kept clean, and as for tracer theres a reason clubs ban it.
I suggest you continue going there talk to other shooters you see and clean up any crap thats lying around maybe put up a sign and if that gets used as a target pack up and join a club.

He was somewhat reasonable about the situation you're right. However it was clear he didn't really want anymore shooting hence he is going to totally fence off the open areas and put up a sign. Yes brass is polished and cleaned up as well as targets. I won't risk going back because our names were written down. Cheers

Under what rule/piece of legislation has he banned target shooting?

Unfortunately Kiwis are notorious for ruining things for others. A delegated space to just 'cut loose' would certainly be a good resolve imo. And if it gets trashed then leave it to the people to be responsible for it. However controlling the use of tracer may be tricky. Maybe the sale should be banned altogether. I don't feel that the real issue has been dealt with.

Originally Posted by stug

Under what rule/piece of legislation has he banned target shooting?

Good point, not sure but I'd certainly like to see it!

To play devils advocate, I'd say the hunting permit grants access with a firearm for the purposes of hunting and not gong shooting?

The situation sure is unfortunate, shame it's been spoilt by the few.

I had a mate say, "You can't go to the beach but you can use the 2 community pools in all of Christchurch - Except I'll bet more people have died at Brighton or Sumner than at Lyndon because of shooting."

Originally Posted by Moutere

To play devils advocate, I'd say the hunting permit grants access with a firearm for the purposes of hunting and not gong shooting?

The situation sure is unfortunate, shame it's been spoilt by the few.

No, no - fair point. One could perhaps potentially misunderstand it by it not saying you can't either. I guess it really was inevitable like people say :/

From discussions with DOC hunting permits are for hunting. Target shooting/gongs etc is not not specified on a Hunting Permit. The very reasons you put up is why they are now starting to crack down on it "per complaints from tourists, and hikers about noise levels and littering of ammunition and target debris from other shooters. Another apparent reason was because of the ongoing illegal use of tracer rounds setting fire to areas of the hill side. "

Originally Posted by paddygonebush

From discussions with DOC hunting permits are for hunting. Target shooting/gongs etc is not not specified on a Hunting Permit. The very reasons you put up is why they are now starting to crack down on it "per complaints from tourists, and hikers about noise levels and littering of ammunition and target debris from other shooters. Another apparent reason was because of the ongoing illegal use of tracer rounds setting fire to areas of the hill side. "

I know that's why they're cracking down on it. I just stated that first hand. I'm just unfuriated at the absence of options for those who do not wish to hunt and want to sharpen up on their marksmanship. If you don't know a farmer with land nearby, there's no where else to shoot past 100 metres (e.g away from a club range)

It's ashame really with all the open space of the vast Canterbury region and they kick up a stink on a small area. It's pathetic. I hope now they could at least edit their permits to include a no go on deliberate target shooting in the area. It's pretty cloudy and not all that clear on the 'yay' or 'nays' In fact, if you go further inland I doubt you'd get any more hassle if anyone still did it. It's the hikers and fires from tracer they're most worried about which is fair I guess, not so much the unlawfulness of shooting targets which by the way isn't any more dangerous than shooting animals. Saying it's not listed on a permit isn't really good enough for saying it's wrong because to my knowledge, there is no mention at all. It's a grey area.

I still believe the situation is handled very poorly in not offering a just solution to the hundreds of responsible shooters that attend and enjoy the outdoors there.

It is what it is at the end of the day.

Re-read your permit, it's not grey or cloudy at all.