A small but significant win, and a reminder that real access means more than what’s written on paper.
When we talk about public land access for hunters in Victoria, the big-ticket issues often come to mind: opening new areas in national parks, defending against blanket bans, and protecting the rights of responsible firearm owners.
But not all access challenges are headline-grabbing. Sometimes they’re as simple, and as frustrating, as a locked gate across a public road.
A “public” road – there’s a clue in the name
This particular fight began in 2020, when a member contacted SSAA Victoria’s State Office. A public road providing access to a section of state forest in north-east Victoria had been blocked by a neighbouring landholder. “No hunting” signs were erected. Fences were installed. Access was denied.
The maps told the real story: the road was public. The land beyond it was public. The grazing licence held by the landholder did not allow them to restrict access.
But the road stayed closed.
Bureaucracy, buck-passing, and blatant inaction
Despite early and clear confirmation from government agencies that the access was legal and public, no one acted. Department after department acknowledged the problem, but none took responsibility. Reports of illegal deer culling and the construction of a dirt racetrack on public land went unanswered.
This was a textbook case of what access issues can look like in the real world. It’s not just about having permission on paper; it’s about being able to physically get to the land you’re legally entitled to use. And sometimes, that’s where the real fight begins.
A five-year fight for a simple principle
Some might have been worn down and given up, and understandably so. There are no great headlines in removing a single lock on a relatively obscure road.
We pursued the issue through every available channel: local, departmental, and ultimately political. For years, there was no movement. But in more recent times, we’ve seen a positive shift in attitude from the government, and with sustained effort and perseverance, the road was finally reopened in September 2025.
Our way of working
It might not make headlines, but after nearly 75 years, we’ve learned that the best way to get lasting outcomes for hunters isn’t by chasing credit, it’s by quietly and persistently chasing results that matter. This case was no different.
What it means for members
This outcome highlights a broader truth: access issues come in many forms. They’re not always about legislation or game lists. Sometimes they’re about signs, locked gates, or the quiet misuse of lease arrangements, the sorts of things that, left unchallenged, chip away at your rights.
That’s why we’re sharing this now. Not just to update members, but to put departments and decision-makers on notice: we’re watching, we’re persistent, and we will hold people accountable when public access is wrongly denied.
Get in touch
If you’re a member and encounter a blocked gate, a questionable sign, or anything that doesn’t feel right when accessing public land, please let us know.
Not every battle takes five years. But where there’s a legal right, we’ll fight for as long as it takes to make sure that access is not just promised but delivered.
SSAA Victoria has chosen not to publicly name the road in question, out of respect for the member who worked closely with us over the past five years to resolve this issue.
He has let us know that several hunters are now using the area again, and that their hunting experience is all the better for having confidence in their right to access it.
Victoria remains the envy of the rest of Australia when it comes to public land access for hunters. We encourage our members to get out there, explore, and discover their own little honey hole.