NSW National Parks - (to be) Opened to recreational hunters

They will be hunting feral animals such as rabbits and feral cats and foxes. Sounds like a good move to me, if that is the key intention. A lot more humane than 1080, although on foxes I am pretty unmoved.

Could not give a damn about electricity privatisation.

Jack

I'm not against shooting and hunting.
However having been in a National Park where shooting must be allowed (Coolah Tops), it is very disconcerting knowing there are bullets flying when you are camping.
Sensible shooters always think what's behind the target first, not everyone who shoots may be so sensible.
I would be much happier in a tent knowing they were Bowhunters or Pig Doggers

I am a fence-sitter on hunting /shooting but having heard all the feral pics in Kosciuszko National park a few weeks ago, this could be a good idea

I'm not a shooter but I agree that "very"controlled shooting in NPs is needed.

I reckon it's bureaucratic vandalism where NPs are locked up and feral animals take a foothold.

I just want to know if there's shooting in the park when I'm going there, so I can go somewhere else.

Steve

The state forests are open to shooting already and have been for some time. The system works well I think.

Only problem will be they will need to walk in as most tracks have a locked gate, maybe the shooters should off pushed harder for the parks to be re opened to 4wds

I also agree with the decision to let shooters under license to eradicate feral animals as they have done much damage to surrounding properties.

And I also would not like to see the power system totally privatized, thinking of what Woolworth's and Coles have done to the small retailer.

Sounds good till someone's child gets shot bush walking with an errand bullet from a high powered rifle when the miss a shot and they do, some rifle's shoot over 500mts.
And as has been said not all shooters are responsible, who will control the alcohol they consume before going out for a shoot. Heard on the radio from the shooters party member that voted for the Electricity sale that the NP that are open for shooters will be open 24/7 and 365days a year
I work at a Power Station, the sale makes no difference for me as I'm close to retirement but think of the younger people. 3 billion for the sale (that's all) the Gov. gets 700,000+ back in dividends per year so 5/6 years and no more money coming in and your electricity bills sky rocketing, that's why they are going up now so they can make out that under private ownership its cheaper Ha ! look at Victoria sold off and the Gov. had to bale them out as all dividends went overseas and not on maintenance so they fell apart / blackouts it may happen in NSW.
Sorry about going on about this but it will hurt all NSW

It's about time too as nearly all hunting in other parts of the world is done in state forests or national parks by licensed shooters with there being very few problems.I have been hunting for many years and like others find it quite difficult to access private property due to the ever increasing liability issues so this is a good move in the right direction as I am sure it will be done with the right control so that "the cowboys " don't get a free hand.Hope it catches on here in the West.

It will never happen in WA that's for sure.

The problem with the Parks and wildlife service in NSW and I don't doubt in other states as well, is that they have way too much realestate and nowhere near enough budget to even manage it in anything but the least cost method.

This is why they lock them up because if they open them up they have to maintain access.Then safety issues come into it and the costs start going through the roof.

I used to be surrounded by state forests here where I live and Bob Carr decided to turn them over to National Parks as his parting gesture. Now they are all National Parks worst luck. They do nothing and just let the bush and the feral animals go wild. At least forestry used to manage it with controlled burn offs and regular maintenance of their fire trails. Not the Parks service. They are a disgrace.

Now the parks service is overburdened with real estate and underfunded to the extreme. Mind you, there is not the money in the public coffers to fund anything much at the moment, let alone a luxury like a National Park.

It is also about time they changed their names to State Parks of NSW before the feds take control of them. Get the "National" out of the name.

I say let the hunters in and charge them a fee for the privelidge, They will be happy and the parks will have additional income.

Bruce.

ABOUT TIME THESE AREAS WERE OPENED UP FOR SHOOTERS i SAY,i ALSO GO TO THESE AREAS WITH MY CARAVAN AND AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT BEING SHOT BY SOME GUN WELDING HUNTER.i GOT THAT FEELING FROM A COUPLE OF COMMENTS TAR THEM AL WITH THE SAME BRUSH
Not many hunters fire before they identify their target so as a bush walker you are pretty safe Yes I AM PERSON THAT TOWS A CARAVAN AND STAYS IN N/Parks but also I am a hunter and I fire more ammunition making sure my rifle is accurate than I DO blase-ING away at bush walkers,street signs or cars I see parked in camping areas
Point being I think every one will be just as safe in parks with hunters as we all are now
Terry

Sounds like a good idea to me. I believe there's by a lot of feral animals in National parks. Who said this country had lost the plot.

Bet the greenys are hopping mad.

cheers wilko

I'm sure this came up on Exploroz a while back.

Professional licensed shooters have worked with parks for years. No problems with that but they are an entirely different species to recreational hunters irrespective of the so-called controls. Apart from their lack of verified shooting ability many of them wouldn't know a wild pig from a wombat or a feral cat from a quoll in the scrub. If it has fur or hair and moves that'll be good enough. The minimum requirement should be that they hire a professional licensed shooter as a 'guide'/overseer and organise their own indemnity insurance. If one of them has an accident, as a taxpayer I sure as hell don't want to have to pick up the tab for his/her medical expenses.

Further to my original post...

The New South Wales Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, has clarified who will be allowed to participate, noting it will only cover 79 of the State’s 799 National Parks.

Quoting

The NSW government's decision to allow shooters in national parks doesn't mean groups of blokes will be able to go hunting with their dogs on weekends, Environment Minister Robyn Parker says.

The government will allow feral animals to be shot in 79 of the state's 799 national parks after the Shooters and Fishers Party made a deal with the coalition to agree to the sale of NSW's electricity generators.

Ms Parker said allowing shooters in parks was an extension of a policy that already existed. She said hunting dogs remained banned "This is not recreational hunting," Ms Parker told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.

"What we do at the moment is contract licensed shooters ... targeting feral animals.

"This is not about a group of blokes going off for a weekend with their dogs, this is about extending our program using volunteers.

"These are licensed shooters, they will have to fit strict requirements in order to do this, they will be going in with supervision." The shooters will be monitored by park staff.

She also said a new interactive website and iPad App would inform visitors about cornered-off shooting areas.

Legislation to sell the electricity generators passed the NSW upper house on Wednesday night 20 votes to 17.

It now returns to the lower house for final assent, because of amendments agreed to by the coalition as part of the Shooters deal.

End Quote...


The story can be read here Power Deal Not a licence to hunt (SMH 31 May)

this was covered on landline.
their has been controlled shooting in national parks recently, by private hunters who are members of the public, they are adhering to strict conditions, in company with park rangers present in NP vehicles.
its a brilliant program that saves the tax payer dollars that use the rangers knowledge of feral activity and of the hunters own time.
were paying for the ranger and the vehicle he drives, as he would be doing anyway.
the benefit is targeted shooting that is at little cost to the tax payer.

im all for this, as a very effective method of control, well part of one.

people rant on about this crap with NO knowledge of whats going on.
this is a brilliant idea that is bringing in brilliant results, and should be implemented australia wide.
the camel population is over 1million up north.
pigs wouldnt know their numbers.

in any fraturnity you have idiots who bring disgrace to the rest, some of my friends are that, and you cant argue with an idiot.

national parks have backed this, and i agree.

people drive, use fuell, buy drinks, meals at these small places and that brings money that wouldnt normally be their, on the towns they have to drive through to these parks.