Wapiti wrote:Well I've given up worrying about it. Yes I try, I get out every day and drop something, yesterday 5 in a row when going to check on some calves. Good for keeping up practice and reinforces that my gear and procedures are the most practical I can get them, but we can't keep up.
This is separate from when my wife and I go out to collect some meat.
Over the last few months I've offered a few people the opportunity to hunt, nothing asked for, no favours, no reciprocation. All I get is "oh I'm so busy at work and the wife is up me and I need the overtime and what other excuse can I make", mates I've always trusted have gotton busy or moved on, or just got the sh1ts with trying, sure they want to come out here WHEN IT SUITS THEM once, twice a year and I've come to the conclusion that hunters are not the answer for me.
Yes i get it, these people have complicated lives, don't we all?
I'm just going to accept every council aerial bait drop, and go and pick up wet and dry 1080 baits the 3-4 times they are offered and get back into it. The extra levels of insurance we paid to let people not involved in professional pest control is killing us, we paid last time $3K for it and the whole year, nobody had time to come out. And you're a fool if you don't have it nowadays. But who pays for it?
It's just not that simple from my side. Might sound like it from the other side.
I'll never run out of targets, that's for sure. I just had to do my PP H renewal this week, and the stuff I sent QLD WL was about 40mb of reduced size photos in 5 PDF word docs of dead stock, trail can pics some with 6 dogs in the shot, pig traps full of pigs with extras outside waiting, medical reports from animal injuries blah blah.
This story about casual shooters helping, it's a drop in the bucket. If that p*sses anyone off, just think about whether you're there when the s**t happens or not. The politicians don't care and never will, if they actually understand better the crap that goes on everyday they still wouldn't give a toss, because the agenda is to take guns away from everyone but their security detail, and the police so they can better control us.
Imagine the despair they have in knowing a farmer interested in firearms goes out shooting everyday, at any ranges, at any size target, knows their stuff backwards to the point that "buck fever" was lost long ago, and their esteemed police might shoot the gun that frightens then once a year.
there's two sides to every story that's for sure . i've heard some shocking stories of entitlement and arrogance of "city" hunters from property owners . in some cases to do with some of the "tourist" hunting travel companies , people have been asked to leave , and one stupid pair of hunters , who were drunk before midday , ended up on a neighbours property early evening shooting around his house ! police were called and the "hunters" later tried to sue the "tourist hunting" company , but the judge threw it out of court . probably for stupidity . with all the tales of poaching and trespass and fence cutting on top of that, it sure makes it hard for legitimate people to get onto a block . a lot of ignorant hunters think cause they paid money they can do whatever they want, with no regard for the fact farmers are running a working business trying to make a living , and it's their home . when i'm on a property i work WITH them . i get told i can't shoot a certain paddock i don't . some hunters totally disregard this

also more than once i've pulled dead roos out of damns that've been shot . not real good for the livestock's water supply.
from my side of this story i used tourist hunting off and on over the years , built up a good reputation with a tourist hunter company, and through that earned the respect of a property owner for doing the right thing . i still have to pay a modest amount to get on , but when you factor in comfortable accommodation , and the trust to have access to all parts of the property, it's worth it . i'd rather be bush than in a hotel on the gold coast

. i'm permanent casual employed ,and a key tradie in a small business . my boss doesn't like me going on leave as no one can fabricate some of the things i do . so it takes a bit of wrangling to get leave from work , i don't get paid when i'm off hunting cause i'm casual , no holiday or sick pay , and my fuel and expenses come out of my pocket. so it costs me to go hunting , but i love it , not just the hunting , but the animals and landscape out bush , especially the high country . also like the genuine thanks i get from the property owner too . if you hunt , your a ambassador for the sport , conduct yourself in a honourable, respectful fashion , and earn the respect to have the privilege to hunt in someone's home and business
