Thread: Urgent Message For All Lake Lyndon Target Shooters

and I never thought of myself as an old cronie, tho I am getting older. I dont remember many black rifles at the range, and you are allowed to shoot 223. Some people turn up with P14 303s.

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

Really? The only "tracks" I know of are not really all that close to where the shooting happens.

I have driven past and seen guys shooting into a hill that also had guys mtb down off the top within 5min of the guys packing up, and have seen trampers along the top of the hill that people shoot into.
I would like to have an area to go and shoot gongs at, don't get me wrong. But getting up in arms about doing something that isn't permitted during January when a heap more people will be about.

7x64, agreed, however I am already an NZDA member of another branch. I dont expect to sit back, but at some point somebody or some organisation with a bit of clout has to take a stand and start the ball rolling, not just for the good of the DA, but for the good of the whole shooting/firearms community. I dont have the answers, and unfortunately I dont have the opportunity to take this further as there are one or 2 other more pressing issues for me right now. But I will put my name in the hat and say that if DoC and the hunting/shooting fraternity can come to some agreement for a designated area, I'm prepared to provide the labour to fence it free of charge, if somebody can provide a tractor and post driver.

Its almost funny as this is almost exactly as the Christchurch boy racers about ten years ago.(to be honest the problem cases are probably the same ones) people enjoyed getting out for years then some burnout muppets ruined it for everyone and got all car parks locked off because of the horrendous rubbish and public intimidation. then they all had a cry cause they wanted a burnout pad put somewhere for them so they could all be antisocial out of the way... lol. as soon as an area is put aside someone will go out and trash it. Best bet is to find somewhere, DONT post it on facebook and be careful who you take there.

and as far as i understand a doc permit is a permit to carry/discharge a rifle on public land for the purpose of hunting.

^That's one of those questions I have never wanted to ask. I'm sure they would clarify it as hunting only and it would be all over for recreational shooting on public land. We need to be real careful what we ask for. They haven't told us we can't do it yet.

Edit to add, the PCL I use for hunting and recreational shooting, I barely ever see another soul, let alone anybody from DOC. Obviously the situation there is a bit different.

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm glad some meaty discussion has arisen. I hope to be in touch with DoC on some safe and practical ideas for the vast plinking community who want to shoot at long distances. Sounds like an allegated area for gongs only is the get go. Some further input or other personal ideas will be appreciated.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

If you want to go bomb up a hillside it should be done at a range or on private land. That lake Lyndon setup has always got on my nerves, some weekends you would be forgiven for thinking there was an army firing range or something up there. The users argue that they are being safe etc and not bothering anyone, the reason you're not bothering anyone is because nobody wants to use the area because it is a known fact that there are often shooters there so people stay away. It's a mess and attracts all sorts of undesirables in their shitty jacked up trucks and silly flat peak hats. There's brass and Codys bourbon cans and big 4wd ruts all over the show. Time it was shut up. These backcountry areas are meant to be for recreation, whether that be hiking or hunting etc and bombing it up every weekend just disturbs the area and leaves it good for fuck all.

Isn't 4 wheel driving and shooting classed as recreation...?


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In a responsible manner yes. Tearing up virgin ground and throwing your 8% woodys cans everywhere isnt responsible 4wding and neither is bombing up a hill in a well used recreational area responsible shooting

I think that all councils should provide a shooting range for the general public to use just as they do for other sports like tennis rugby etc. The shooting community is one of the largest sporting groups in the country and should use their numbers to generate support. Nice to dream.

@CBrom97 was the ranger a DOC employee or ECAN? And did he show you some ID/warrant card when asking for your permits?

A friend said he went up to Lyndon last year & there was a bunch of camoed up guys running around with shotguns blasting up stuff FFS
and people using tracer ammo on public land should have there FAL revoked for being fuckwits.

It’s a pity doc couldn’t fence a bit off there for shooters as with a bit of common sense it’s a safe spot for a bit of LR practice.

The hunting permit is pretty clear, it's for hunting.

Yes, I've shot targets/gongs up there and also hunted in the area. Last trip up there I brought back half a ute fill of other people rubbish and targets and paid to depose of it at the transfer station. Often fine shot gun shells, rimfire and other stuff that has no place being used on DoC land.

As for comments regarding "no place to shoot", joining a club like the NZDA and NZHA might be a good start to get some range access. The other options are target shooting clubs like at Ashburton (same distance as Lyndon) and Melvern rife club. Yes, you can shoot you hunting rifle at these clubs.

I don't have any skin in the game on this but WRT use of firearms on DOC land, I had a brief look on their website and:



Standard conditions
Standard conditions apply to all areas.

3. Hunters using a firearm must abide by the NZ Police Arms Code and the Arms Act 1983.

Permit conditions: Permits and licences

First line on a permit from April last year.

The permit authorises the above person to enter with a hunting weapon upon the specified permit area for the purpose of hunting or killing wild animals subject to the conditions printed on this permit and s38 of the Conservation Act 1987, s50 of the Reserves Act 1977 and s8 of the Wild Animal Control Act 1977

Originally Posted by Moutere

First line on a permit from April last year.

The permit authorises the above person to enter with a hunting weapon upon the specified permit area for the purpose of hunting or killing wild animals subject to the conditions printed on this permit and s38 of the Conservation Act 1987, s50 of the Reserves Act 1977 and s8 of the Wild Animal Control Act 1977

The question is, are you specifically prohibited from entering public land administered by DOC, with a firearm, for any other purpose than hunting? Has this ever been taken into consideration? Is there any passage in legislation that says you cannot target shoot on PCL? If yes, then does that imply that your rifle can only be discharged towards a game animal? So if you have no luck but decide to shoot some clumps of dirt on a bank across a gorge for LR practice, you are breaching your permit conditions? I have frequently gone on hunting trips where some informal target shooting has taken place. Vice versa I have gone target shooting and plinking on DOC land, but have a hunting permit and would shoot an animal if I came across one. These are all things I would rather not make noise about unless it became necessary The status quo works for many outdoor users.

I have always viewed the hunting permit as an arse covering excercise from DOC for firearm use on PCL - if you shoot somebody, they have told you on your permit to follow safety rules, no spotlighting etc so you can't come back at them. As well as informing of boundaries.

Agreed, the status quo works for most people. Myself included.
However, just because something is tolerated doesn't mean that it is permitted.
In the context of the original post (shooting gongs) where do you see permission within the permit for anything outside hunting.
I'm sure it can be done on an individual basis, but not under this generic document if you ask me.

Originally Posted by Beavis

The question is, are you specifically prohibited from entering public land administered by DOC, with a firearm, for any other purpose than hunting? Has this ever been taken into consideration? Is there any passage in legislation that says you cannot target shoot on PCL? If yes, then does that imply that your rifle can only be discharged towards a game animal? So if you have no luck but decide to shoot some clumps of dirt on a bank across a gorge for LR practice, you are breaching your permit conditions? I have frequently gone on hunting trips where some informal target shooting has taken place. Vice versa I have gone target shooting and plinking on DOC land, but have a hunting permit and would shoot an animal if I came across one. These are all things I would rather not make noise about unless it became necessary The status quo works for many outdoor users.

I have always viewed the hunting permit as an arse covering excercise from DOC for firearm use on PCL - if you shoot somebody, they have told you on your permit to follow safety rules, no spotlighting etc so you can't come back at them. As well as informing of boundaries.