News & Articles

Easter 2014 Opening Hours

State Office – closed Good Friday 18^th and reopening Tuesday 22^nd  April

Eagle Park – is closed Good Friday, but open as normal Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Springvale – as per normal opening hours

Regional – please contact your local range directly

*Please note – Eagle Park is experiencing difficulties with their main telephone number.  Please direct queries to the State Office Thursday 17th April

 More importantly – if you intend to spend Easter hunting, please be aware the Easter Bunny wears a little jacket and carries a basket of chocolate (easily identifiable)

 Have a safe and happy Easter!!!!!

New Game Management Authority from July 1st

The Victorian Coalition Government’s promised Game Management Authority will start work on 1 July after the passage of legislation in the Victorian Parliament this week.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh said the new Game Management Authority (GMA) will provide better service for Victoria’s 46,000 licensed game hunters.

Read more http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9545-new-game-management-authority-from-july-1.html 

Freckled Duck

The Freckled Duck is protected in all states and territories and must not be shot

Several reports of Freckled Duck being shot have been reported to us.  Please take a moment to follow this link to the DEPI to familiarise yourself with the Freckled Duck.

If in doubt - DO NOT SHOOT!

http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishing-and-hunting/game-hunting/australian-waterfowl/other-waterfowl-found-in-victoria/freckled-duck 

New Board Member

At Sunday’s 2013 AGM, the results for the three Board vacancies were announced. 
The results were as follows:

Greg Moon                3085
Robert McCarthy        2627
Jeff Kuyken               2508
Philip Brown              1945

Congratulations to Greg, Rob and Jeff.  
Unfortunately Philip was not successful, but we thank him for his untiring dedication to the SSAA.

This is the first time Robert McCarthy has served on the Board of Directors – welcome!

Financial Report

The latest SSAA (Vic) Financial report is now available for viewing. Please click here to view it. 

 SSAA Membership Fees Increased

As of September 1st, SSAA Membership fees will be increasing. An adult membership will now be $83 and a Family/ Pensioner membership will be $62 (all other memberships have also increased). The membership forms on this page are up to date, but please watch for your renewals and note the price changes.

Well Done Wodonga

Our congratulations are extended to SSAA Wodonga for their successful application for funding totalling $62,000 awarded by the Board of SSAA Victoria in July 2013. 

SSAA Wodonga will be investing these funds into the establishment of a club house and community centre on the Wodonga Range. Wodonga branch President Max Grimshaw said "We are absolutely delighted that the SSAA have financially supported our proposal, it will make a massive difference”.  

SSAA President Fred Schenck said “The current SSAA Board are dedicated to supporting members across all of Victoria and as part of that commitment the funding to Wodonga came following a very detailed proposal presented by SSAA Wodonga which covered all the aspects that are required when the Board make these types of decisions and the investment provides for all shooting disciplines along with school, Police and community groups as well".

SSAA Vic have now invested over $200,000 in SSAA Victorian Country Ranges in the past 9 months. 

Other investments made by the SSAA Vic recently include: 

- The continued financial support for the Cobaw Range with the Kyneton branch believing that the range will be completed very soon.

- The Warrnambool range has also had a significant investment made to it from the SSAA Vic to purchase adjoining land. 

- The Clydebank Range has also had SSAA investment to provide it with the very best chance of overcoming some significant objections.

 The SSAA are in the process of assessing other applications and will continue to focus on all SSAA Ranges across the State of Victoria.

Deer control made easier on private property

The Victorian Coalition Government has cut red tape to make it easier for private landowners to control problem deer on their properties without the need to apply for a permit. SSAA (Vic) has a few documents and information on the new regulations and how to go about controlling deer on your land. Click here for much more information.

School Holiday Program

Well...School holiday are over once again. The holiday program was a wonderful success and lots of fun was had by all.

Stay tuned for more next holidays...

2013 SHOT EXPO  

What a huge weekend!!

Well folks, the 2013 SHOT Expo have been and gone. Did you enjoy it as much as we did? Did you find that one thing you have been looking for all year? Did you see something that you will dream of till the next Expo?

We can't believe how great it was and how many of you there were. Thank you to everyone who made the weekend such a HUGE success.

Click here to see some more fantastic photos!

Final attendance number are:

Saturday: 6575

Sunday: 5766

With a grand total of 12,341   FANTASTIC!

We can't wait to do it all again in 2015...

2013 SSAA Victoria State Junior Rimfire Field Rifle Competition

Sunday 10th November 2013, commencing at 10:00 a.m. at 
 Springvale Range, 710 Dandenong Road, Springvale.

All SSAA juniors (12 years old to under 18 years old) are encouraged to participate, all branches, all States. Participants of the Youth Training Scheme that are between the ages of 18 years old and under 25 years old are encouraged to compete in a separate division but are not eligible for Junior Awards.

Equipment control must be performed before the event commences. The Springvale Range will be open for Practice & Equipment Control on Saturday 9th November from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. & on Sunday 10th November from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Entry Fee $15.00 per shooter, includes a participation match patch.

Click here for more information and an entry form. 

Duck Season and State Game Reserves

The link below will take you to the Parks Victoria website and some information on State Game Reserves for the 2013 Duck Season.

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/duck-hunting-in-state-game-reserves

Public access to Wetlands restricted

CONSERVATIONISTS have accused the Baillieu government of locking the community out of more than 200 public wetlands across Victoria by giving priority to duck hunters.

Click here to read more.

SSAA (Vic) Audit/ Governance Committee

SSAA (Vic) are seeking expressions of interest to be part of the new Audit/ Governance Committee.

If you think you may have the right experience for the role please click here to find out more.

Field to Fork- The Australian Game Cookbook

We’re proud to announce that the cookbook put together by SSAA National, Field to Fork – The Australian Game Cookbook has won Best New Cookbook in Australia in the Gourmand International Cookbook Awards (based in France). 

Our success in this category has put us into the running for Best In World in the Best New Cookbook section. We’re eagerly awaiting the results of the judging which will be released in February. Available for $39.95 at www.fieldtoforkcooking.com.au

Read more...

Hunting & Conservation

Water Storage Duck Hunting

This little blurb came from Shepparton's 3SR FM radio station yesterday:

3SR FM, Shepparton
07:30 News: 04 March 2013 07:30AM
 
Compere: Newsreader

Goulburn Murray Water has announced that duck hunting will be allowed at 18 of its water storages. Spokesperson Andrew Reynolds says they are urging hunters to consider the members of the community using the water for recreation and to act in a safe and responsible manner.

Spotlighting Sambar hunters pay dearly 

Three Melbourne men caught illegally hunting deer from a vehicle at night in theEildon area have been hit with heavy fines in the Mansfield Magistrates Court.

Click here to read more.

Estimates of Harvest of Deer, Duck and Quail in Victoria

The DSE has released the 2012 estimated harvest numbers of Deer, Duck and Quail. These results are based on surveys of Game Licence holders this year and are compiled in a report put together by the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. Click here to view the report.

Conservation & Pest Management Courses

Members of our Conservation Pest Management (CPM) teams are on call to assist government departments and landholders in the removal of pest animals.

Read more...

Legislation

This page gives our members an insight into some of the various issues which SSAA (Vic) Ltd is currently tackling for you. It also provides thought provoking information for all shooters to consider. Please feel free to comment on any of the articles here by emailing the State Office.

Read more...