A WEEKEND START DATE TO THE GOOSE HUNTING SEASON WOULD HAVE BEEN APPRECIATED
IF you’re a goose hunter do you feel unloved? The last few seasons would probably make you think that you’re not quite the flavour of the month. Last year your representatives were not even contacted about the 2017 hunting season and a bombshell was dropped in your lap with a three-goose limit and an eight-week season.
This year I had my time wasted for six months over five meetings and neither the scientist or the ministers listened to one word I said.
They wouldn’t even concede one goose as a compromise from the scientist’s figure of a fivegoose limit to six.
All this with overwhelming science compiled by the Environment Department in the Magpie Goose Management Program to say that limit would be sustainable to the overall population. Well how about this one? I checked the calendar recently and the NT Waterfowl Hunting season opening day is Monday, October 1.
Yep, they wouldn’t even allow us to have a weekend opening day.
How about that for an attack on Territory lifestyle?
Are public service hours now being introduced to hunting?
With the Territory economy as it is today, you would think they would want us all at work.
I wonder if the Monday choice has more to do with allowing Parks and Wildlife rangers the opportunity to settle into watching the AFL Grand Final than hunters’ amenity.
How hard will it be to pull a sicky the day after the NRL grand final?
How will you all contain yourselves waiting for the next opportunity to go hunting until the next weekend?
The only upside is that it is the first day of school holidays.
But then again, when I was a kid, so was Saturday.
I wonder if the Minister Eva Lawler is still in the habit of setting her calendar around school holidays from her previous role as a school principal?
Why couldn’t the season be opened on Saturday, September 29?
Two extra days to the season surely could have been permitted so the social aspect of hunting could be fulfilled with friends and family.
Why does this Government keep picking on hunters and making everything about goose hunting difficult?
Is there a sinister plot to demonise hunters, destroy their will to hunt and continually frustrate them?
If so, they won’t win, but they will lose support.
Come out and try clay target shooting every Friday arvo at the NT Field and Game range, Brandt Rd, Mickett Creek Shooting Complex, Knuckey Lagoon from 5pm till 9pm. There is a 75-target handicap simulated field event today from 8am. Members are welcome to compete. You can join up this morning or the general public can join in for targets only. Join Field and Game, www.ntfieldandgame.com.au Like NT Field and Game on Facebook. Email: ntfieldandgame@gmail.com Or fnflodge1@bigpond.com - BART IRWIN