‘Was that a gun?’ Hunting in National Parks may begin in the near future, and locals are worried.
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013Hunting may begin in National Parks in the very near future, and Eurobodalla bushwalking and conservation groups are increasingly concerned about the dangers likely to be faced by their members - and by members of the public more broadly - in the months and years to come as result of this new practice.
“No-one will be able to enjoy a peaceful walk in their local National Park in the future,” said John Perkins, Convenor of the Friends of Durras.
“You’ll always be on guard, not knowing whether someone with a gun or a hunting bow is just around the next corner or behind that stand of trees. You won’t be able to let the kids run on ahead, because you’ll never be sure what they’re going to run into.
“And on top of this you’ll need to be very careful not to annoy any hunter you come across. Only last week, a farmer who challenged two shooters hunting kangaroos on his property near Orange without his permission won himself a threatening shot to the ground around his feet and had his mobile phone smashed - and this is just the latest reported act of aggression by hunters towards people seen as getting in their way.” (more…)