FIREARMS

Nope.

NO._____________________________________________

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Benna,

Have a look at posts 3057 and 1258. Or just type Firearms in the Keyword search box at the top of the Forum Index page.

Personally - I have never and cannot ever see the need for firearms for recreational outback travelling.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
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Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

If you do, don't forget that you need a licence to own one and as far as I'm aware it is technically illegal to carry them into national parks. Also I believe different states have different requirements so it's best to check with the cops before heading off. I believe that in some states you're supposed to declare them at the first cop station you come across.
I don't imagine too many people shoot animals for food - you can get some pretty nasty diseases from wild critters. Best to stick with store bought food.
You can put down a wounded animal with a lump of wood, axe etc just as easily.

Australia isn't America . . . . . . . . . yet.

Benna this is a question best asked at the SSAA website, www.ssaa.org.au.
Regd's Darryn

Interesting question- I ride long-distance (motorcycle) and am a member with a USA mob- their website asked same question- well, you wouln't believe the arsenals that some of those guys owned- very matter of fact about it and many were carrying concealed weapons on their long rides- I suppose I just thought 'what a brilliant place Oz really is, without that carry-on'- our society is clearly moving away from the individual posession and use of firearms and looking around that can't be a bad thing overall- (yes, was a SSAA member and have fired just about everything u can get propellant into). Just a thought.

Yes i do. I don't want to get bogged down in useless debates about firearms issues. We all have right to have our own oppinion on the subject.

As I understand it, in WA, unless you have a special permit, it is illegal to shoot anywhere on public land, and you need a property-owner's permission to shoot on private land.
Gerry

I am a licenced shooter and own a registered firearm. I don't take it out bush as there is no need to. The rifle sits in the cupboard and I clean it ever so often. I dream of shooting the neighbours cats when they come and crap in my garden but the local constable lives two doors up the street from me so I dare not. :-(

In most states it is illegal to put down injured animals whether wild or domestic. If you do kill an injured animal the landowner has the right to sue you for depatching his livestock without permission. Yes, crazy but true. You need to have a transit permit through most states for firearms.

Carry a bushtucker book with you on your travels so if you have the misfortune to run out of tucker you can try some of the delicious native fruits and berries.

Cheers

Willie
Never a dull moment

With all the rules and regs seems like a lotta trouble just to get a feed. As for dispatching critically injured wildlife a wack behind the ear with a jack handle is sufficient. If it's for personl safety you must be a crim or something, in Australia nice people never get threatened.

Leave the firearms at home under lock and key - let the animals live as they let you live - free.
Enjoy the bush, I guess that's why you go there.Carpe Diem

Just came back from Outback. Carried a 12 gauge B/A everywhere, just in case. It is illegal to shoot on crown land and private property in all states except victoria. In Victoria you can shoot in State Forests and some National Parks during deer season, but must carry a rifle only which is greater than .270 calibre. You can only hunt/shoot with landowners permission, otherwise you can be charged with poaching and other serious offences. Hunting for food in the Outback is a waste of time, just buy your food. In the outback, personal protection is the only reason I would carry a firearm. Sleeping in some areas where there is a known crime problem seems that much safer when you have a firearm in your tent.
This has been my reason ever since the Falconio case, and who knows, that killer may still be out there.
The best thing to do is make sure you have your licence with you at all times, as well as your firearm registration papers, and keep the damned thing out of sight. I.e. do not go walkabout with the gun sitting on your dashboard, if you do not want to draw the attention of the constabulary. Or having to report that you have had your firearm stolen, because then you will have to explain where it was stored etc. Ammo should be locked away with a padlock in your toolbox or any strong container (not your glovebox), so that if you are stopped and searched, it will be a lot easier to explain that you are just passing etc... Ideally, do not shoot your weapon, as it draws attention from many kilometers away. Farmers have enough trouble with drunks shooting cattle and water tanks, warning signs, that you just may end up having to explain yourself to a very angry farmer.
If police stop you, you will have to tell them what you are carrying and where its stored. So it is best to keep it buried down low in your car and keep ammo locked away not near the gun. Police can search you car without your permisson, so it is best to tell them the truth.
Rangers cannot search your car, unless you have been seen shooting or they have a very good reason. In any case, they will probably call the police, so again, best not to shoot or even show your weapon to anyone.
Keep the gun unloaded at all times, for your own safety, not to mention getting busted for it.
So the best advice is only take it out at night if you're camping out of town, not in a national park or any prohibited area, and only if you feel threatened or in danger. And just keep it in your tent for safetys sake. Not to show off to ANYONE!
Hope this helps...

It seems to me that if you carry a firearm for personal protection and actually have to use it, it would just be something else that a would be thief, robber, mongrel type could grab off you and use it against you. I know that the Peter Falconio case put the wind up a lot of people in the outback but Australia is really much bigger than that one case depicts. Theres still heaps pf places where you don't need to even lock your car, (some people in this lil town even leave the keys in the car downt he street) so its hardly likely that you'll need to defend yourself with a shooter.

As for knocking off a poor injured animal, I agree the jack handle or the axe will do the trick, even though its a sickening task. A cow is a different thing, much easier to find the closest house if you can and tell someone rather then breaking out the gun and dispatching it yourself. It would be a bastard cattleman who would have you up for shooting a beast in such a state, I wouldnt worry too much about that.

We do live in Oz not the US, lets all play our part to keep it Oz and not tread the path towards US style existence.

Now I'll get down off my bike and get my pump!Laterally Literal
Seriously Cerebral

It’s a very easy thing to say in theory 'just hit an injured animal with a jack handle or the axe to put it out of it’s suffering'.
But in reality it can be a far more difficult (dangerous) thing to do. I wonder if those saying this, have actually experienced trying to approach and dispatch a seriously wounded but still very active large Kangaroo. They don’t just simply lay quiet and allow you to walk right up to them!

Its illegal to carry firearms for protection (unless you have a specific license). It is illegal to own one, carry one, or use one for self protection. So I would say best not to do it.

Its the crims that have them and its the crims that use them and thats not going to change. And all the prohibition in the world will not stop them from getting them. Just look at PNG where the ownership of firemarms is illegal for the ordinary man but guns are everywhere.

I grew up with firearms and guns in the hands of people who do not appreciate their potential scare me. But in the end it is SUPPOSED to be a free democracy.

Just remember, there are alot of people who want to ban your fourbie.

Sean

If you store your firearms correctly, having it for personal protection is a wank you would never be able to get it out in time, the personal protection arguement gives us sporting shooters a bad rap in the press.

Ben,

buy your food, use any blunt object out of tool box with a bit of weight for animal dispatch.If you hit something to large to dispatch with wheel brace etc, you will be to worried about the occupants of the vehicle and crying over the damage to your vehicle to be worried about animal welfare If you want to hunt up north organise before you go, check with the coppers in each state as to what you obligations are, and have a good time. But don't carry it on the off chance you will get to blamm animals that run past.