SSAA NSW

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 19 sports. Most had attended one of the many SSAA NSW Branches and ranges, experienced a try shooting package and further went on to obtaining their licence. Most incredible were the number of juniors that we are now seeing take a keen interest in the sport, who took the time to come and have a chat to us and thank us for the experience that they had on the Mobile Air Rifl e Range previously and how this encouraged them, and their parents, to investigate the possibilities and potential of getting further involved in the sport. Many of them now regularly participate at the SSAA NSW Batemans Bay range. Education is a key fundamental in the shooting sports. Once again, SSAA NSW ran R Licence accreditations for those wishing to apply for their restricted game hunting licences. In all, 29 individuals successfully completed the accreditation and are well on their way to enjoying the benefi ts of state forest hunting. SSAA NSW Sydney Branch were also in attendance and delivered safe shooting courses over the weekend, the prerequisite for those wishing to obtain their fi rearms licence. Demonstrations ran each day with ever growing interest in butchering game animals, so much so that South Coast Hunters Club have made a purpose-built stadium style seating to fi t more people in. With the growing interest we may see even more of these built, and while they aren't in use at HuntFest, the growing community support network on the south coast sees them donated to the local football club. Other demonstrations included skinning, caping and sausage making. These are all very important skills that hunters should take advantage of; learning to understand the fundamentals of how to safely harvest, utilise and recover the most out of their game animals. Correctly and safely skinning an animal minimises the damage to usable meat, allows the carcass to cool quicker and, as an added bonus, the skin can be further utilised at a later date, with proper care, for tanning or taxidermy. Caping is a real skill that takes time, patience, perseverance and practice to master correctly. It is a slow and methodical process that done right can mean the difference between a happy taxidermist with a successful, beautifully fi nished mount, or something that belongs in the house of horrors or in the bin. Sausage making, often thought of as being a diffi cult craft, is actually a very simple process that ensures there is minimal wastage of the animal harvested. In fact, in many hunting households, sausage making is a real family favourite pastime. It is a true paddock to plate experience that young ones can enjoy helping out with. As if that wasn't enough, the wafting, sweet, succulent smells drifting through the grounds was enough to tantalise the taste buds. The full menu of game meat lunchtime delights were huge winners again this year, with venison and pork pies, venison burgers, pulled pork burgers and sausages all extremely popular amongst the more than 3,000 people who attended. We're already preparing for next year's SSAA NSW HuntFest, which we hope will be even bigger and better! Our thanks go to South Coast Hunters Club and our dedicated volunteers and staff for their hard work that makes SSAA NSW HuntFest possible!

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