Stop Shooting in NSW State Forests

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39 NSW state forests are about to be declared available for hunting. We need your help to oppose this plan.

These state forests will be part of around 400 declared state forests and Crown lands available for recreational hunters to use public land for blood sports under the guise of 'conservation hunting'.

The declarations are occurring with minimal consultation by Primary
Industries Minister, Katrina Hodgkinson. Notices were put in the Sydney Morning Herald, but there has shamefully been no call for public submissions.

The Minister is supposed to give consideration to issues such as public
safety, other users of state forests, and also whether recreational hunting is actually the most humane and effective form of feral animal control.

How can the Minister give proper consideration to the myriad of local issues these proposals raise via a mass declaration with no proper consultation process?

NSW state forests are only open for hunting because of a deal between Labor and the Shooters Party in 2002 which saw the establishment of the Game Council.

Both Shooters Party MPs in NSW are former board members of the Game Council. The Game Council promotes cruel and inhumane hunting practices such as pigdog hunting, has limited effectiveness, and has been a drain on public funds to the tune of at least $12 million since its inception.

Feral animal control on public land is a serious issue, for landowners, the agricultural industry and the environment. It should not be done by done by amateur hunters, who actually have an ongoing interest in maintaining feral animal populations on public land, in order to have game to hunt.

Please take the time to follow this link and make a submission to the
Minister for Primary Industries on this important issue:

http://davidshoebridge.org.au/take-action/have-your-say-2/make-a-submission-against-the-use-of-public-land-for-hunting/

An electronic letter generating site from bush walkers to stop shooting in National Parks is available. Please sign and circulate.

http://nohunting.wildwalks.com/