WELCOME TO THE TERRITORY — NOW IT’S TIME TO GET SHOOTIN’
The Territory is the rootinest, tootinest place in Australia. If you have just arrived, welcome! Have we got a show for you.
I was transferred to Darwin in 1995 for a three-year contract that would give me good grounding in News Limited to further my career back in my home state of Victoria.
I arrived on Monday, started work on Tuesday and went to the gun club on Wednesday.
From that day I made lifelong friends that I still hunt and shoot clay targets with to this day.
I found the friendship and exceptional waterfowl hunting too good to leave and have been here ever since.
If you enjoy bird hunting and clay target shooting I highly recommend you come along to NT Field and Game’s practice on Friday nights or the first competition next Sunday morning. NTFGA shoots simulated field and five stand sporting clays.
They also have up to 100 club hunts on geese and ducks each year.
The members there will happily allow you to join them and show you around our major hunting reserves. Friday practice starts every week at 5pm and the 50 target simulated field clay target competition kicks off at 8am next Sunday. The range is at the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex, Brandt Rd, Knuckey Lagoon. New members of NT Field and Game will go into a draw for a Miroku Mk70 Game 12-gauge shotgun.
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia is the biggest association in the NT with branches in Darwin and Alice Springs.
SSAA shoot disciplines as diverse as; single action, muzzle loading, IHMSA, ISSF, field pistol, NRA action matches, rifle metallic silhouette, CLAS, rimfire bench rest, big game rifle, combined services, practical rifle, conservation and pest management and have a junior development program.
Even the Australian Deer Association is represented in Darwin.
All the associations are family oriented and welcome women to shoot and hunt with them. There is also a Facebook group, Darwin Women Hunting and Fishing just for the ladies.
The Mickett Creek Shooting Complex is also home to the Darwin Rifle Club and the Darwin Pistol Club.
If you fancy hunting with a bow, you will be welcome at the Darwin Top End Bowhunters club. Alternately there is also a branch of the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association active in the Top End.
If you are a member of NTFGA, SSAA or ADA you can apply for Back Country Hunting accreditation that will allow you to hunt in Litchfield National Park at prescribed times.
All the shooting groups can be found online at the NT Firearms Council website ntfirearms.com.au/.
So, welcome to the NT. This is a hunter’s and shooting paradise. Treat it like that and we will continue to enjoy our time here.
Join Field and Game, www.ntfieldandgame.com.au Join SSAA, www.ssaa.org.au Join Australian Deer Association www.austdeer.asn.au Like NT Field and Game on Facebook. Email: ntfieldandgame@gmail.com Or fnflodge1@bigpond.com