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?