United call for common sense approach to resuming hunting and shooting in Victoria

Victoria’s major shooting and hunting organisations are calling on the State Government to return access to hunting and shooting activities as soon as the easing of restrictions allows.  

We recognise the difficult decisions that government needs to make concerning COVID-19 restrictions. Still, the fact is that shooting activities and hunting are inherently low-risk activities for the transmission of COVID-19. 
 
Range shooting activities are mainly conducted outdoors, and participants can maintain appropriate social distancing at range facilities. Hunting is carried out individually or in small discrete groups in uninhabited public land or on private property. The very nature of hunting provides enormous spatial separation of participants. 
 
We were all pleased to see the unwarranted restrictions on the sale of firearms and ammunition under the last year's lockdown repealed and hunting recognised as a permitted exercise activity under the current restrictions. Unfortunately, the reality for most is that hunting opportunities are not available within 5km of their homes. 
 
The organisations call on the government to facilitate the ability of Victorians to resume their active participation in hunting and shooting activities as soon as possible.