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Leading Sports Shooting Body

The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) was incorporated as a public company on October 1, 1973. We exist to promote the shooting sports and protect firearm owners' interests.

With more than 36,000 members, SSAA Victoria is a leading body representing licensed firearm owners in Victoria. SSAA Victoria has more than a dozen branches and more than 30 sub-clubs and disciplines within the organisation.

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SSAA Victoria News

Hog Deer hunter volunteers sought

Deer hunters are invited to participate in hog deer research in Victoria conducted by the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. Funding has been allocated to better understand abundance, population genetics and dispersal patterns of hog deer populations in Victoria. The information gathered during the project will be used to guide management options for hog deer including the setting of sustainable harvest levels to ensure the long-term viability of populations within their current range as well as to minimise potential impacts on biodiversity and/or agriculture. A total of 50 sites within the hog deer range (i.e. south and east Gippsland coast) will be sampled as part of this project. At each site, two heat-in-motion cameras will be deployed from early November and collected in early December 2018. Tissue samples will also be obtained from hog deer supplied to checking stations during the hunting season for genetic analysis. Once cameras and images are collected volunteer hunters are being sought to help process the images. Processing will involve viewing each recorded image and identifying any images of Hog Deer and other deer species (i.e. Fallow/Samba deer). For each deer image, the camera number, date of the image and other details (sex/age class of deer if possible) will need to be recorded on a data sheet, which will be supplied with the images. The ARI expects to obtain all camera images by mid-January 2019 and will be looking to distribute images to interested members for classification around early February. Anybody who is interested in helping classify images should contact SSAA Hunting Development Manager David Laird. Tissue samples for genetic analysis will enable an assessment of dispersal patterns, connectivity and genetic ‘heath’ of the hog deer population. This information is considered important by researchers for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the core hog-deer population. Genetic analysis requires a tissue (eg. liver) or blood sample, which will be obtained from hog deer returned to checking stations during the April hunting season. Samples from any deer shot in the area between Walkerville to Cape Paterson in the west and the area from Orbost to Tamboon in the east are of particular interest. Hunters are asked to supply the specific location of where the deer was taken in those areas. That information will be kept confidential.

Position vacant: Assistant Manager - CPM

Do you want to actively contribute to positive environmental outcomes? Do you have strong administrative and inter-personal skills? Do you have a passion for training, mentoring and motivating volunteers? Do you have firearms and hunting experience? If so, this might be the ideal job for you. The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) (SSAA Victoria) is a not-for-profit sporting organisation representing 38,000 recreational shooters and hunters. The Association promotes responsible and safe firearms use and ethical hunting practices. It also operates a formalised pest animal control program using volunteer hunters on Parks Victoria (PV) managed land throughout Victoria. The Conservation and Pest Management (CPM) program provides positive environmental outcomes by reducing pest and problem animal impacts on sensitive environmental areas.The program operates under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Funding Agreement with PV. SSAA Victoria is looking for a suitably qualified and self-motivated assistant manager to run the Association's Conservation and Pest Management (CPM) Program. The successful applicant will be expected to manage all aspects of the program, including the training, mentoring and coordinating of volunteers and managing relationships with PV employees involved in the program. The safety of volunteers, PV staff, contractors and the public is of paramount importance in all operations.The successful applicant will have a thorough understanding of OHS issues relating to firearms use and field work. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work in a positive, small-team environment and report to a supportive manager. The office is located at Box Hill. You will find this is a challenging and diverse role that will make good use of your strong administrative talents and interpersonal skills. The successful applicant's thorough understanding of pest animal management and ability to successfully coordinate volunteers is vital to the performance of this role. Extensive firearms and hunting experience would be highly regarded. Practical shooting and outdoor skills will be required on some occasions when conducting field work. However, this is primarily an administrative role and the successful applicant will only be required to actively participate in shooting programs on rare occasions. Travel throughout the state may be required to oversee the implementation or supervision of programs at various times.. For more information about SSAA Victoria go to www.ssaavic.com.au To more information about the position and to obtain a copy of the position description and the key selection criteria contact David Laird – hunting.manager@ssaavic.com.au or phone: (03) 8892 2777.

Try Shooting Day a success

Women and junior shooters were among those who came to the Springvale Range on Saturday to take part in the Try Shooting Day. Hosted by former Australian representative shooter, Gemma Dunn, who recently joined the SSAA as the Coaching and Membership Development Manager, the day was aimed at introducing new people to our sport. “The Try Shooting Day was all about showing how fun, inclusive, professional and safe going to the range and having a shot can be,” she said. “The SSAA is constantly working on ways to promote the shooting sports. A day where unlicensed members of the public can enjoy our sport and see why we love it so much, is such a fantastic way to do so. “It helps break down the misconceptions of the public towards shooters across the nation as well as providing a great level of service and experience on our ranges.” The were 36 attendees for the day, including 14 women and five juniors, who shot in two sessions held on the day. After a safety briefing, each session comprised a series of target shoots including a special Christmas event where teams would shoot for a high score. “We are hoping those who attended will now see a pathway to competitive shooting and perhaps among them will be our next national representatives,” Gemma said. “There are so many different disciplines and we’re lucky that the SSAA has them all within our organisation. So there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved.” The Try Shooting Day was the first of many more to come. Keep an eye out for future dates.

GMA needs more support

A lack of resources is hampering the Game Management Authority’s efforts to monitor illegal hunting in Victoria, said Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) Hunting Development Manager David Laird. “SSAA Victoria is pleased to see that GMA, in partnership with other agencies, has been active in combating illegal hunting activity,” he said. “The recent operation in Eildon demonstrates the valuable role that intelligence gathering can play in identifying suspected offenders. “But unfortunately enforcement capability is where GMA is lacking." The GMA reported that two men from Mansfield and a man from Taggerty were recently charged for allegedly committing a number of firearm offences in the Eildon area. One of the men from Mansfield and the man from Taggerty are set to appear at Mansfield Magistrates Court on 16 January 2019. “SSAA Victoria has repeatedly called on government to adequately resource GMA to enable it to have an effective on-ground presence in the bush,” Mr Laird said. Mr Laird said that the increase in resources for the GMA promised by the Andrews Government (30 per cent staff increase and $6 million over four years) was welcomed. But he was concerned that it would not be enough. “The reality of the situation is that hunting, both legal and illegal, is carried out in isolated areas,” Mr Laird said. “There must be enough resources to enable a regular and broad-scale presence of officers in those areas to ensure effective enforcement can be carried out.” Mr Laird said that intelligence gathering through the support of ethical hunters was also important. “The vast majority of hunters obey the law and are responsible and ethical people,” Mr Laird said. “It is past time that they, along with the residents who bear the brunt of the illegal activity, are protected from the negative effects of the illegal behaviour that has been allowed to develop. “SSAA members are encouraged to report any suspicious or illegal hunting activity to GMA.” “However, intelligence gathering is only one part of the compliance spectrum. It also needs to be balanced with hunter education and on-ground enforcement operations to encourage compliance and to counter illegal activity. “The Association considers that GMA does a good job with the hunter education component and provides plenty of material to enable hunters to understand their legal obligations.” GMA Chief Executive Officer Graeme Ford said GMA Game Officers recently teamed up with authorised officers from Forestry, Biosecurity, the Victorian Fisheries Authority and Victoria Police in a joint operation to target illegal hunting behaviour and firearms use. “The officers executed search warrants on two properties in Mansfield and one in Taggerty in search for equipment believed to have been used in illegal game hunting and firearms activity,” Mr Ford said. “A number of prohibited items and hunting equipment have been seized and investigations by the GMA and Victoria Police into potential hunting offences are ongoing.” Mr Ford said the GMA, Victoria Police and partner agencies will continue to work together to target illegal hunting in Victoria. “Illegal hunting and firearms use will not be tolerated. It is dangerous, can put people and wildlife at risk,” Mr Ford said. “Hunters need to make sure that they are familiar with the hunting and firearms laws, are acting responsibly and are not hunting deer illegally.” Hunters and the public are urged to report any illegal hunting to the GMA through its website www.gma.vic.gov.au or the Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or Victoria Police.

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