Thread: Hunters Taking Responsibility for Safety

Having used a "system" recently it will not stop people.

My son and i went for an overnight camp out, As i left the carpark i wrote on the back window of my truck where we were and how many people (xyz spot x 3 as i always include the dog). 3 guys still came out, we told them our plans and they were like " yeah same as us", i then said i wanted to have my son shoot a deer, they were more than happy with this. Long story short chatted with them at the look out spot, asked how many cars in the carpark, he said yours plus 2 others. So point 1 is he saw that 3x people in xyz area was written on back window. He and mates still came out. A while late a deer was spotted, told him we were going to have a look a bit closer, asked if he wanted a radio to communicate and he said " no we will not move until you shoot" Phew i thought. Went down and set up waiting deer. The one we saw didnt come out but another one did. Just as my boy was about to shoot a shot came whizzing past us. So point 2 was even after saying they wouldn't move, they did and shot past us. the shot was from 100m behind and about 15m to our right. Oh and could see us the whole time!!!

So in summary

Great idea, but stupid is as stupid does. I have held off all the discussions about this and the shooting. No matter how new or old to hunting, no matter how much training or making the getting of license tougher, no matter how you inform people you are there they will still go and some will do dumb unretractable things that will comprimise safety for all involved. I dont think you can box people up into different classes of skill, ability or farktardness it will still happen, get a major event like duck shooting and or the roar and it will happen due to the extra volume of people wanting to get a slice of the action, just like fishing comps or public holidays on the road. While not acceptable it will happen. We all need to be open mined to it happening to us and stop this talk of "oh yeah wont happen to me" shit i hear. Locking up public land to ballot will/may stem the issue but will causes a whole lot more. I hunt every weekend and on 95% public land and would hate to have to limit myself to 1 day or 1 weekend for a month or 2 or even worse miss out as every other joe harry is out there, it will lead to poaching and maybe more accidents.

I don't have a solution, i have accepted that i partake in a sport that involves a car to get there (also capable of killing) and a gun to kill animals and do all i can to identify if it is an animal i am about to shoot or I pass up a shot. I am a little scared (not affraid to admit) in going onto public land at this time of year on my own as i want to see my son and daughter grow up (not so much the wife lol) and not be scared to come hunting on public land with me. I have to say my son and I were very shaken by the above event and the right people have been informed but still worried knowing what was done and they are still out there.

Anyway rant over

Please be safe guys

Hamish