SSAA NSW

18 Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. Top Tips for New Hunters So, you have never been hunting before and you are looking forward to the first time you get to head out into the bush. But, your enthusiasm is also matched by trepidation perhaps? What can you do to ensure that your first hunt is a successful one? Step #1 – Practice Step #2 – Practice Step #3 – Practice Step #4 – Repeat steps 1 – 3 It is essential that every new hunter practice to hone their proficiency and marksmanship to ensure the safe and ethical dispatch of their quarry. This practice should include shooting from as many field positions as possible. It should also include the use of the ammunition intended for hunting and more particularly for the game you intend on hunting. Bullet behaviour and characteristics vary dramatically so it is important for you to know and understand how the ammunition you intend to use performs through your rifle. Practicing at a range enables you to shoot under somewhat controlled conditions and allows for quick and easy adjustments to get you all sighted in correctly. Don't go hunting with a firearm that you are unfamiliar with. Make sure you take the time to become fully aware and competent in the safe operation of that firearm. Always adopt safe handling procedures and insist others do the same. Keep your firearm clean and inspect it regularly for wear to ensure trouble free operation. If you discover a problem have it inspected by a qualified person. Be sure the calibre you use is suitable for the intended game being hunted and meets the minimum regulatory requirements for hunting that animal, especially if hunting on public land. Refer to the DPI Game Licensing Unit web page (www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting). There are also other reference materials that can be found at PestSmart that provide a guide for the standard op procedure for ground shooting most feral species with minimum suggested calibres (www.pestsmart.org.au). Snap caps are an exceptional piece of equipment for new shooters. It allows you to take the time to cycle the action, setup your target alignment, control your breathing and apply even pressure to the trigger until the firing pin releases. Repetitive practice of this will help new shooters to anticipate when the firearm will discharge when properly loaded, reducing the amount of pulling or flinching when the final shot is taken. Fitness – Don't let ambition get in the way of your ability. Stay within your physical limits. No matter where you go, a level of physical fitness will help you handle the challenges and make the trip more enjoyable for all. It can be as simple as setting yourself a few fitness goals first. Start by walking for 20 minutes three times a week. Progressively extend the period of time, trying to incorporate a few hills, introduce your hunting pack perhaps with just a drinking bladder to start then adding more weight as your fitness increases. If in any doubt, contact a fitness professional. Patience – Some people just can't sit still and want to be on the move constantly. That is all well and good but not when it comes to hunting. It is often best to stop, sit and listen for a length of time to get to know and understand your surroundings including taking note of the general wind direction. Besides, you are in your quarry's territory now and the sound of a heavy foot snapping a twig could alert all the animals in the vicinity and they will take off. The footsteps of a human are foreign to most wild animals and to that end if you make a loud noise in the bush, such as snapping a twig, sometimes it is often better to immediately stand still, sit, wait and watch for an extended period. Deer are very flighty animals and will take off in fear. However, in this circumstance, a deer may look up, focus all its senses in your general direction for a considerable amount of time until it is satisfied that whatever made the noise is not there to harm them, so they may go back to browsing. That is not to say that you can now willingly trudge up to the animal. As you move, gently place your feet, looking where you are going to place your foot first then scanning the scrub as you move. Not all hunts are measured by the number of animals that you shot. Sometimes it is the lessons that you learned and appreciation for being in the bush that is a true measure of success. Positively identify your target, aim for a one shot kill, identifying the vital zones of your quarry before taking the shot (the head or chest kill zone). Remember that the point of aim will vary dependant on the animal's presentation (side-on, looking away, etc). It is often

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