Aussie*3... OY*3! Interesting Dinner - Not quite OT.

[Old Ironsights]

Spent the day with a TV News Anchor and a wildlife control specialist today discussing depredation, guns & politics of various sorts.

The News Anchor said, several times, that she believes that guns are really not "the problem" and restated the standard Pro gun saw.

The wildlife specialist was much more reticent to accept firearms "shooting" as a way of dealing with varmint/vermin species.

A total Reality Inversion from what I'm used to... almost like I was upside down.

But then, they were from Australia.

All you Bruces Down Under have a gem in Natalie Forrest (Prime TV, Canberra) She's a sensible girl.

[Old Ironsights]

BTT for Austrailian Perusal/Comment...

[Pop Watts]

Well mate I am sitting here in Australia reading your post and my response is that there are people here who are anti gun and others that are not - pretty much like many societies in the world I guess.

I live in New South Wales and some positive news here has been that the State Government has approved licensed shooters to hunt feral animals on State forests (once you pass a competancy test and are issued an additional licence to do so).

That has been a big step in the right direction because previously hunting was allowed only on private property. Now shooters are recognised as having a positive role in the conservation of Australias unique fauna.

Feral species include Pigs, Goats, Foxes, Feral Cats and Wild Dogs. All of these animals either damage the habitat of our native animals or make a meal out of them. For example it is estimated that there are 7.2 million foxes in Australia, they all have to eat and many of our native birds are ground nesting because they have no natural preditors so these little guys are easy meals. A lot of our mammals here have no way of protecting themselves from a preditor like the fox - so they get eaten as well.

There is some good information at www.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au

Some people here hate firearms and shooting - pity them!

On Thursday of this week one of my mates and I are off to do our bit for the cause and shoot some foxes and a few pigs down near Mudgee. Should be a good time - if I can work out how to do it I will post a pic or two.

All the best, Pop.

[mad mucus]

Ummm...... BTW, it's

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE... OY OY OY!

I thought the topic was about summoning Ozzy Osbourne.

Just Kiddin'

Mucus

[Griff]

Ummm...... BTW, it's
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE... OY OY OY!
I thought the topic was about summoning Ozzy Osbourne.
Just Kiddin'
Mucus

Me too. Almost didn't read. Pop Watts, that's good news, (I think.)

[Old Ironsights]

Ummm...... BTW, it's

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE... OY OY OY!

I thought the topic was about summoning Ozzy Osbourne.

Just Kiddin'

Mucus

Understood... but there IS a character limit in the title... needed to take a few shortcuts.

How about I fix is thus: Aussie*3... OY*3!

[gundownunder]

The discrepancy may have been caused by the fact that some ferals are in such high numbers that shooters cant dent their populations and some such as cats seem to move to fill the void in population densities were shooters have cleaned an area out, which makes it appear that shooting does no good.
Seven million foxes would require a very dedicated bunch of shooters if we are to shoot them faster than they breed. Same with rabbits, I used to shoot them for a living and three months after decimating the population in an area you could go back there and do it all again.

What doesn't help the situation is the government making it hard for people to be shooters, and richard head shooters making it hard for people to get property access, farmers would rather have feral pests than feral shooters on their place.

[Old Ironsights]

...What doesn't help the situation is the government making it hard for people to be shooters, and richard head shooters making it hard for people to get property access, farmers would rather have feral pests than feral shooters on their place.

That's kind of the impression I got from the Vermin Control person.

In her world view, the only legitimate "shooting" comes from your Govt Arial Snipers.

Outside of that, she'd rather everyone use Poison.

Another interesting bit:

Note that not even Vermin Control is "hunting"... it's all still "shooting", because, you know, "shooting" involves guns, and is bad, just like the Port Arthur Shooting.

Can't possibly let people think there is a legitimate use for firearms...

[Bruce Scott]

I don't know of Natalie Forrest but it is definitely unusual to hear of a pro-gun media type.

I think there is a fairly wide tendency in Oz to use 'shooting' when we actually mean 'hunting' - certainly where I am. A bloke who heads off 'pig shooting' is more often than not going hunting rather than on a cull.

I think Bruce is becoming an endangered species. He did not rate in the top 100 male baby names for 2006

[Old Ironsights]

I don't know of Natalie Forrest but it is definitely unusual to hear of a pro-gun media type.

She's an Anchor for Prime TV in Canberra.

[jd45]

All well & good, but how 'bout you bein able to defend yourselves, loved ones, & property from the 2-legged coyotes, or Dingo's, as the case may be, where you live? Just curious, & concerned for your safety. jd45

[Bruce Scott]

Australian uniform firearms legislation introduced after the Port Arthur massacre precluded personal protection as a genuine reason for owning a firearm...