RULES OF Australian Hunters Club (AMELPA PTY LTD)
As of January 1st, 2022.
Mission Statement:
Australian Hunters Club’s mission is to promote hunting and shooting as a safe, ethical, fun, inclusive and family friendly sport or recreation. Further promoting hunting as beneficial to the economy, environment, community health and conservation.
Purpose of our Rules:
To maintain responsible behavior and the making of informed decisions by members of the hunting
club.
Coverage of our Rules:
This policy applies to all persons who are involved with the activities of Australian Hunters Club whether they are in a paid or unpaid/voluntary capacity including:
- members, including members of Australian Hunters Club;
- persons appointed or elected to boards, committees and subcommittees;
- employees of Australian Hunters Club;
- members of the Executive; and
- Visitors to Australian Hunters Club events.
Code of Conduct:
Australian Hunters Club members must adhere with the following requirements along with any
future requirements added to this document as an appendix. Any breach of these requirements
may result in suspension of membership or expulsion from the Club.
Good image of hunting and shooting sports:
It is the responsibility of a Club member to do all in their power to improve and preserve the
good image of hunting, shooting sports, and the Australian Hunters Club.
Safe handling of firearms:
Where firearms are used, the rules for safe handling of firearms must be followed.
In NSW these rules are set out in the NSW Firearms Safety Awareness Handbook published by
or under the authority of the Commissioner of Police, these must be complied with at all times.
In Queensland the rules are set out in the Course in Firearms Safety (approved for firearms
licensing in Queensland)
In Victoria the rules are set out in the Firearm Safety Code revised by the Firearm Safety Foundation
Inc. Vic.
As a general guide for the safe handling of firearms the below must be followed:
1. Treat a Gel Blaster as if it was a “Real” Firearm.
2. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
3. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
4. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you are intending to shoot.
5. Always wear proper protective equipment such as safety glasses, ear protection and
enclosed shoes.
6. Know your target and what is beyond your target.
7. Keep firearm unloaded when not in use.
8. Only shoot the firearm where you are legally allowed to shoot the firearm.
9. Do not use a firearm whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
PARTICULAR RULES FOR DOCUMENTATION:
Reporting of complaints:
Australian Hunters Club prides itself on a positive community image and a focus on safety. To
ensure this positive image is maintained Australian Hunters Club must maintain a very high
standard of integrity. To maintain this standard of integrity Hunting Trips Australia Hunting Club
has a written complaint system.
In the event that a member or Staff of Australian Hunters Club has breached our constitution or
relevant laws, regulations, guidelines or who have failed to hold hunting or shooting sports in good
image, the complainant is to fill out the record of complaint form attached in Appendix and submit
it to the president of Australian Hunters Club in a timely manner.
The evidence and information contained in the record of complaint will be considered by at least
two (2) impartial board members and upon a decision being made action taken as per our
Disciplinary Sanctions Policy.
If a criminal offense is identified the relevant enforcement body will be notified of the alleged
offense and provided any information Australian Hunters Club holds which may assist in the
investigation.
The record of complaint form and a record of any action taken will be maintained by Australian
Hunters Club for a period of seven (7) years.
Incident reporting:
In the event of any action that results in property damage, Injury, death or near miss whilst
undertaking any hunting or shooting activity under the banner of Australian Hunters Club the
involved members or staff MUST fill out an incident report form (attached in Appendix) with all
relevant details and submit it to the president of Australian Hunters Club within twenty four (24)
Hours.
If it is not possible to submit the written form within twenty-four (24) hours due to the remote or
isolated are the incident occurred, the member must make phone contact with a Australian Hunters
Club board member within the twenty-four (24) hour period providing all relevant details and
submit the form as soon as reasonably possible.
The incident report form will be reviewed by Australian Hunters Club board members to identify if
any breach of conduct, laws, regulations, guidelines etc have occurred and if a record of complaint
should also be furnished. The record of complaint will then be processed as a Disciplinary Sanction
matter.
The incident report will also be reviewed to identify and areas where safety could be improved and if
possible, put in place policy and guidelines to address any areas of concern.
Pre hunt checklist:
Members of Australian Hunters Club are to complete a pre-hunt checklist at the beginning
of every hunt.
The member is to maintain the checklist until the successful completion of every hunt. If no
reportable incident occurs during the hunt the member may dispose of the pre hunt checklist. If a
reportable incident occurs during the hunt the member is to furnish their pre hunt checklist with
the incident report form.
PARTICULAR RULES FOR PRIVACY:
Privacy Policy:
Australian Hunters Club collects personal information from members and from non-members
wishing to use Australian Hunters Club facilities. In many cases, Australian Hunters Club is under a
legal obligation, arising most often under the Weapons Act 1990 (Cth) (Qld), and other Acts, to
collect personal information, to retain this for lengthy periods, and to make it available to Police
upon request.
Australian Hunters Club is exempt from the application of the privacy principles under the Privacy
Act 1988 (Cth). However, Australian Hunters Club strives to comply with best privacy practices in the
conduct of its operations and the collection, storage, and access to information. Australian Hunters
Club will:
1. Only collect personal information from members and non-members wishing to use
Australian Hunters Club facilities that is necessary for the conduct of Australian Hunters Club
operations and as required under any law, in particular, the Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) and
associated regulations.
2. Use fair and lawful means to collect personal information.
3. Ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that the personal information collected is accurate,
complete, and up to date.
4. Not disclose personal information without the explicit consent of the person concerned, unless
required to do so under applicable legislation or at the request of Police or other law enforcement
agencies.
5. Not use personal information for a purpose other than for the purpose for which it is
collected, unless the purpose is directly related to the original purpose and members reasonably
expect the information may be used for this other purpose.
6. Take reasonable steps to protect personal information by storing it in a secure place and/or
ensuring electronically held information is secure.
7. Prevent unauthorised access, modification, misuse, or loss of personal information by putting in
place appropriate policies and procedures that explain which members can access the information
and under what circumstances.
a) Information collected and held by Australian Hunters Club may be accessed by the following
persons for the purposes carrying out Australian Hunters Club operations:
• The person to whom the information relates;
• The members of the Management Committee for the time being.
8. Afford members access to his/her information upon request and address any request for
correction of personal information promptly.
PARTICULAR RULES FOR DISCIPLINE:
Disciplinary Sanctions:
Our Club may take disciplinary action against anyone found to have breached our constitution or
rules, or relevant laws, or regulations, or guidelines or who have failed to hold hunting or shooting
sports in good image.
Any disciplinary actions taken under our constitution or rules must be applied within any relevant
state or federal laws, be fair and reasonable and be based on the evidence and information
presented.
The evidence and information will be considered by at least two (2) impartial board members with
the burden of proof being the balance of probabilities.
Possible sanctions that may be taken include but are not limited to:
1. A direction that the individual makes a verbal and/or written apology.
2. Counseling of the individual to address behavior.
3. Suspension or termination of membership.
4. Any other form of discipline that our Club considers reasonable and appropriate.
Appeals:
The complainant or respondent may be entitled to lodge an appeal against a sanction to the
president of Australian Hunters Club or VCAT/QCAT/NCAT.
Such an appeal should be made in the first instance to the president of Australian Hunters Club
Hunting Club in writing within 21 days of the sanction being handed down.
PARTICULAR RULES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA:
Overview and purpose:
Social media is changing the way we communicate.
This policy has been developed to inform our members and staff about using social media, so people
feel enabled to participate, while being mindful of their responsibilities and obligations. In particular,
this policy provides practical guidance allowing all parties to benefit from the use of social media,
while minimising potential risks and protecting those involved.
This policy assists to establish a culture of openness, trust and integrity in all online activities related
to Australian Hunters Club.
This policy contains Australian Hunters Club guidelines for our members and staff to engage in
social media use. It also includes details of breaches of the policy.
In circumstances where guidance about social media issues has not been given in this policy,
we suggest you use common sense or seek out advice from those who have approved this
policy.
Underlying principles
This policy complements Australian Hunters Club’s core values:
Australian Hunters Club’s goal is to provide its members with access to hunting and shooting for the
purposes of sports and recreation. Further providing its members a community in which members
can share, learn, teach and grow skills and knowledge in particular skills and knowledge related to
hunting and shooting. Australian Hunters Club will promote Hunting as a safe, ethical, fun, family
friendly and responsible recreation. As well as promoting hunting as an ethical, sustainable,
environmentally friendly, and a healthy meat source. Australian Hunters Club will promote the
conservation and environmental beneficial side to hunting. Hunters and shooters will promote
participation in all shooting sports and promote all shooting sports as safe, fun, inclusive and family
friendly sports.
Scope
Social media refers to any online tools or functions that allow people to communicate and/or share
content via the internet.
This social media policy applies to platforms including, but not limited to:
∙ Social networking sites(e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Yammer, etc) ∙
Video and photo sharing websites or apps(e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Flickr, Vine, etc) ∙
Blogs and micro-blogging platforms(e.g. Tumblr, WordPress, Blogger, etc) ∙ Review sites(e.g.
Yelp, Urban Spoon, etc)
∙ Live broadcasting apps(e.g. Periscope, Meerkat, Facebook Mentions, etc) ∙
Podcasting (e.g. iTunes, Stitcher, Sound cloud, etc)
∙ Geo-spatialtagging (e.g. Foursquare, etc)
∙ Online encyclopedias(e.g. Wikipedia, etc)
∙ Instant messaging (e.g. SMS, Skype, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Viber, etc)
∙ Online multiplayer gaming platforms(e.g. World of Warcraft, Second life, Xbox Live, etc) ∙
Online voting or polls
∙ Public and private online forums and discussion boards
∙ Any other online technologies that allow individual users to upload and share content.
This policy is applicable when using social media as:
1. An officially designated individual representing Australian Hunters Club on social media;
and
2. if you are posting content on social media in relation to Australian Hunters Club
Hunting Club that might affect Australian Hunters Club Hunting’s business,
products, services, events, sponsors, members or reputation.
NOTE: This policy does not apply to the personal use of social media where it is not related to or
there is no reference to Australian Hunters Club or its business, competitions, participants,
products, services, events, sponsors, members, or reputation. However, any misuse by you of social
media in a manner that does not directly refer to Australian Hunters Club ia may still be regulated by
other policies, rules or regulations of Australian Hunters Club.
Using social media in an official capacity
You must be authorised by the Australian Hunters Club Hunting Executive team before engaging
in social media as a representative of the Australian Hunters Club.
To become authorised to represent Australian Hunters Club in an official capacity, you must have
permission from the Australian Hunters Club Executive team, Read this policy and have a signed
copy of the policy filed as your agreement to abide by this policy.
As a part of Australian Hunters Club’s, community you are an extension of the Australian Hunters
Club brand.
As such, the boundaries between when you are representing yourself and when you are
representing Australian Hunters Club can often be blurred. This becomes even more of an issue as
you increase your profile or position within Australian Hunters Club. Therefore, it is important that
you represent both yourself and Australian Hunters Club appropriately online at all times.
Guidelines
You must adhere to the following guidelines when using social media related to Hunting Trips
Australia Hunting Club or its business, products, competitions, participants, services, events,
sponsors, members, or reputation.
Use common sense
Whenever you are unsure as to whether or not the content you wish to share is appropriate, seek
advice from others before doing so or refrain from sharing the content to be on the safe side.
When using social media, the lines between public and private, personal, and professional, may be
blurred. Remember, you are an ambassador for Australian Hunters Club.
Protecting your privacy
Be smart about protecting yourself and your privacy.
When posting content online there is potential for that content to become publicly available through
a variety of means, even if it was intended to be shared privately. Therefore, you should refrain from
posting any content online that you would not be happy for anyone to see, even if you feel confident
that a particular individual would never see it.
Where possible, privacy settings on social media platforms should be set to limit access. You should
also be cautious about disclosing your personal details.
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Honesty
Your honesty—or dishonesty—may be quickly noticed in the social media environment. Do not say
anything that is dishonest, untrue or misleading. If you are unsure, check the source and the facts
before uploading or posting anything. Australian Hunters Club recommends erring on the side of
caution – if in doubt, do not post or upload.
Do not post anonymously, using pseudonyms or false screen names. Be transparent and honest. Use
your real name, be clear about who you are and identify any affiliations you have.
If you have a vested interest in something you are discussing, point it out. If you make an
endorsement or recommendation about something you are affiliated with, or have a
close relationship with, you must disclose that affiliation.
The web is not anonymous. You should assume that all information posted online can be traced back
to you. You are accountable for your actions both on and offline, including the information you post
via your personal social media accounts.
Use of disclaimers
Wherever practical, include a prominent disclaimer stating who you work for or are affiliated with
and that anything you publish is your personal opinion and that you are not speaking officially. This
is good practice and is encouraged, but don’t count on it to avoid trouble -– it may not have legal
effect.
Reasonable use
If you are an employee of Australian Hunters Club, you must ensure that your personal use of
social media does not interfere with your work commitments or productivity.
Respect confidentiality and sensitivity
When using social media, you must maintain the privacy of Australian Hunters Club’s confidential
information. This includes information that is not publicly accessible, widely known, or not
expected to be shared outside of the Australian Hunters Club.
Remember, if you are online, you are on the record—much of the content posted online is public
and searchable.
Within the scope of your authorisation by Australian Hunters Club, it is perfectly acceptable to
talk about Australian Hunters Club and have a dialogue with the community, but it is not okay to
publish confidential information of Australian Hunters Club. Confidential information includes
things such as details about litigation, unreleased product information and unpublished details
about our financial information or trade secrets.
When using social media, you should be considerate to others and should not post information
when you have been asked not to, or where consent has not been sought and given. You must also
remove information about another person if that person asks you to do so.
Permission should always be sought if the use or publication of information is not incidental, but
directly related to an individual. This is particularly relevant to publishing any information regarding
minors. In such circumstances, parental or guardian consent is mandatory.
Gaining permission when publishing a person’s identifiable image
You must obtain permission from an individual to use a direct, clearly identifiable image of that
person.
You should also refrain from posting any information or photos of a sensitive nature. This could
include accidents, incidents, or controversial behavior.
In every instance, you need to have consent of the owner of copyright in the
image.
Complying with applicable laws
Do not post or link to content that contains illegal or indecent content, including defamatory,
vilifying, or misleading and deceptive content.
Abiding by copyright laws
It is critical that you comply with the laws governing copyright in relation to material owned by
others Australian Hunters Club own copyrights and brands.
You should never quote or use more than short excerpts of someone else’s work, and you should
always attribute such work to the original author/source. It is good practice to link to others’ work
rather than reproduce it.
Discrimination,sexual harassment, and bullying
The public in general, and Australian Hunters Club’s employees and members, reflect a diverse set
of customs, values, and points of view.
You must not post any material that is offensive, harassing, discriminatory, embarrassing,
intimidating, sexually explicit, bullying, hateful, racist, sexist or otherwise inappropriate.
Avoiding controversial issues
Within the scope of your authorisation by Australian Hunters Club, if you see misrepresentations
made about Australian Hunters Club in the media, you may point that out to the relevant authority in
your Australian Hunters Club. Always do so with respect and with the facts. If you speak about others,
make sure what you say is based on fact and does not discredit or belittle that party.
Dealing with mistakes
If as an authorised poster for Australian Hunters Club you make an error while posting on social
media, be up front about the mistake and address it quickly. If you choose to modify an earlier
post, make it clear that you have done so. If someone accuses Australian Hunters Club Hunting
Club of posting something improper (such as their copyrighted material or a defamatory comment
about them), address it promptly and appropriately and if necessary, seek legal advice.
Conscientious behavior and awareness of the consequences
Keep in mind that what you write is your responsibility, and failure to abide by these guidelines
could put your employment and membership with Australian Hunters Club at risk.
You should always follow the terms and conditions for any third-party sites in which you participate.
Branding and intellectual property of Australian Hunters Club
You must not use any of Australian Hunters Club’s intellectual property or imagery on your
personal social media without prior approval from Australian Hunters Club.
Australian Hunters Club’s intellectual property includes but is not limited to:
∙ trademarks
∙ logos
∙ slogans
∙ imagery which has been posted on Australian Hunters Club official social media sites or
website.
You must not create either an official or unofficial Australian Hunters Club presence using
the organisation’s trademarks or name without prior approval from Australian Hunters
Club.
You must not imply that you are authorised to speak on behalf Australian Hunters Club unless you
have been given official authorisation to do so by the Executive team Hunting Trips Australia
Hunting Club.
Where permission has been granted to create or administer an official social media presence for
Australian Hunters Club, you must adhere to the Australian Hunters Club Branding Guidelines.
Policy breaches
Breaches of this policy include but are not limited to:
∙ Using Australian Hunters Club’s name, motto, crest and/or logo in a way that would result in a
negative impact for the organisation, clubs and/or its members.
∙ Posting or sharing any content that is abusive, harassing, threatening, demeaning, defamatory or
libelous.
∙ Posting or sharing any content that includes insulting, obscene, offensive, provocative, or hateful
language.
∙ Posting or sharing any content in breach Australian Hunters Club’s anti discrimination, racial
discrimination, sexual harassment, or other similar policy. ∙ Posting or sharing any content
that is a breach of any state or Commonwealth law. ∙ Posting or sharing any material to our
social media channels that infringes the intellectual property rights of others.
∙ Posting or sharing material that brings, or risks bringing Australian Hunters Club, its affiliates, its
sport, its members, or sponsors into disrepute. In this context, bringing a person or organisation
into disrepute is to lower the reputation of that person or organisation in the eyes of the
ordinary members of the public.
Reporting a breach
If you notice inappropriate or unlawful content online relating to Australian Hunters Club or any of its
members, or content that may otherwise have been published in breach of this policy, you should
report the circumstances immediately.
To report a Breach of this policy, fill out a complaint record form.
Investigation
Alleged breaches of this social media policy may be investigated according to Australian Hunters
Club Hunting Club’s Constitution.
Where it is considered necessary, Australian Hunters Club may report a breach of this social
media policy to police.
Disciplinary process, consequences, and appeals
Depending on the circumstances breaches of this policy may be dealt with in accordance with
the disciplinary procedure contained in the Australian Hunters Club’s Constitution.
Employees Australian Hunters Club who breach this policy may face disciplinary action up to and
including termination of employment in accordance with Australian Hunters Club Constitution or any
other relevant policy.
HUNTING RULES:
Awareness of relevant legislation:
It is the responsibility of a Club member to be aware of and comply with all relevant provisions of
legislation relating to hunting, animal welfare, the use of firearms and other weapons.
This includes guidelines such as the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of
Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes. (Note: If protected species require
management, the landowner must have a valid pest mitigation or destruction permit from the
appropriate state government agency approving such management.)
Examples of laws for NSW are the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002, Game and Feral Animal
Control Regulation 2012, Firearms Act 1996, Weapons Prohibition Act 1998, and Crimes Act 1900.
Examples of laws for QLD are; the Weapons Act 1990, Weapons Regulation 2016 and Weapons
Categories Regulation 1997.
Examples of laws for Victoria are; Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012, Firearms Act 1996 and the Code
of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Hunting.
(Note: there may be other laws and regulations relevant to particular places and animals i.e., the
Queensland Bio Security Act 2014 and the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. It is the hunters
and/or shooters responsibility to obtain awareness and understanding of such laws.)
Permission required to enter land:
A game hunting licence or membership to Australian Hunters Club does not automatically
authorise the holder of the licence to hunt on any land. The holder of a game hunting licence or
Australian Hunters Club membership must not hunt on any land without the express authority of
the occupier of the land. In some jurisdictions this may need to be written permission. It is the
hunter’s responsibility to ensure that they comply with all relevant laws and policy prior to hunting.
Target Identification and safety:
A game animal must not be fired at unless it can be clearly seen and identified, and the shot
when taken poses no discernible risk of injury to any person or significant damage to any
property.
Obligation to avoid suffering:
An animal being hunted must not be inflicted with unnecessary pain. To achieve the aim of
delivering a humane death to the hunted animal:
(a) it must be targeted so that a humane kill is likely, and
(b) it must be shot within the reasonably accepted killing range of the firearm and ammunition
or bow and arrow being used, and
(c) the firearm and ammunition, bow and arrow, or other thing used must be such as can reasonably
be expected to humanely kill an animal of the target species.
Lactating females with dependent young:
If a lactating female is killed, every reasonable effort must be made to locate and humanely kill any
dependent young.
Wounded animals:
If an animal is wounded, the hunter must take all reasonable steps to locate it, so that it can be
killed quickly and humanely.
Disposal of Carcasses:
If carcasses are not used for human or animal consumption, they must be disposed of as
requested by the landholder and within relevant laws, regulations, guidelines, or policy.
It is desirable to cut the stomach to speed up decomposition.
Under no circumstances are carcasses to be dumped along public roads, on public land or at
Council tips, unless at a specified dead animal facility.
Blaze Orange:
All persons hunting (Hunters and non-hunting companions) must wear atleast 1 item of blaze
orange clothing being on the upper body and clearly visible (i.e., not an under garment.)
Minor hunters:
Minor hunters(over the age of 12 and under the age of 18) are able to apply for a Minors Game
Hunting Licence (NSW). The licensed minor must hunt under the close personal supervision of a
licensed person who is at least 18 years old. The minor hunter must also hold the same type of
licence as the supervising adult hunter.
Minors using firearms:
If a minor(over the age of 12 and under the age of 18) hunter is using firearms, they must hold a
Minors Firearms Training Permit, as well as a Minors Game Hunting Licence (NSW).
If a minor(over the age of 11 and under the age of 18) is using a firearm they must be under the
close personal supervision of a licensed person who is at least 18 years old, who can take
immediate control of the firearm (QLD).
A child aged between 12 and 17 years of age may apply for a junior firearm licence in Victoria. A
junior licence holder may only carry and use firearms under the immediate supervision of an adult
with a current firearm licence for the same category of firearm. Anyone wishing to hunt game in
Victoria, must hold a current Game Licence. “Game” duck, deer, quail, pheasants, and partridges
declared to be game in Victoria. Game Licences are managed by the Game Management Authority.
Non-hunting companions:
Licensed hunters may have non-hunting companions with them while hunting game animals on
private or public land (NSW), however there are specific rules in each state covering what they can
and can’t do it is the hunters’responsibility to ensure companions actions are within the law/rules.
PARTICULAR RULES RELATING TO BIOSECURITY:
All members must ensure that they comply with Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014.
To comply with this, act all members must take reasonable and practical measures to prevent or
minimise the biosecurity risks associated with their activities or dealings with the carriers of
invasive plants.
Carriers of invasive plants include vehicles, clothing, boots, and hunting equipment.
All members must ensure that any carriers under their control are clean as practical of the seeds or
other reproductive material of invasive plants before leaving a hunting property and before
entering a new hunting property.
Where possible all members must:
∙ Avoid driving off-road in areas known to contain declared plants (e.g. giant rat’s-tail grass,
parthenium weed) or in other areas that present a risk of vehicle or machinery contamination. ∙
Do not drive through infested paddocks.
∙ Ensure clothing and footwear is free of soil and plant material before stepping into vehicles. ∙
Avoid driving or working in contaminated areas in wet or dewy conditions. ∙ Clean vehicles and
machinery suspected of carrying soil or plant material. ∙ Begin work in clean areas or in areas
with the least amount of infestation and work towards infested or high-density areas.
∙ Where possible, work infested areas separately and clean down equipment thoroughly before
moving to another area.
∙ Avoid work in infested areas during peak seed production times.
∙ Secure loads if you suspect may contain weed seeds.
Definitions:
Clean: For vehicles, machinery and equipment, clean means that no soil and/or organic matter that
may contain weed reproductive material is on or in areas that are accessible during cleaning and
maintenance work. A checklist and guidelines that show areas that are required to be clean are
available at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au . A vehicle is considered to remain clean if it leaves its point
of origin clean and only travels on sealed roads or well-maintained unsealed roads.
Weed reproductive material means any part of the plant that is capable of producing another plant
by sexual or asexual reproduction. Examples include seeds, bulbs, rhizomes, tuber, stem or leaf
cutting and the whole plant.
Well-maintained unsealed road means roads that do not have vegetation growing on or
encroaching onto the area occupied by traffic.
PARTICULAR RULES FOR HUNTING WITH DOGS:
Use of dogs Dogs/Other Animals:
The use of dogs and other animals may be used to assist hunters but only if:
(a) their use is not in contravention of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) or other
similar/relevant legislation for the state that you are hunting in, and
(b) their use is with the permission of the occupier of the land concerned.
Using Dogs to Hunt:
All dogs being used to hunt must:
a) wear a collar which has a metal tag or label attached with the name, address and telephone
number of the owner of the dog,
b) be microchipped,
c) not chase any other species of animal.
These requirements are in addition to the special conditionsfor hunting deer and other game
animals using dogs. (i.e. In NSW, a dog may only be used for locating, pointing, or flushing deer, but
hunting with scent-trailing hounds is not permitted. A person hunting alone must not use more
than one dog and a group that is hunting together must not use more than two dogs for hunting
wild deer.)
Housing requirements:
Dogs must be kept in kennels or crates which:
∙ must protect dogs from rain, wind, extreme heat and cold.
∙ Be kept clean, hygienic and free from odor.
∙ Be designed and maintained to avoid injury/escape.
∙ Be of sufficient size to allow dogs to be comfortably and humanely housed.
∙ Be kept in such a way as to not cause a nuisance to others.
∙ Be kept in such a way as to reduce stress to the dog.
∙ Fencing must not allow dogs to roam from premises where they are kept.
∙ Bitches on heat must be securely confined.
Care of dogs:
Dogs must be provided with adequate care which includes:
∙ Provide fresh, clean water at all times.
∙ Provide a diet which is balanced and maintains dog’s health.
∙ Provide prompt veterinary attention when and if required.
∙ Provide treatment on a regular basis for external/internal parasites.
∙ Provide vaccination as advised by vet.
∙ Provided exercise and to keep dog in good physical health.
Keeping of dogs:
Dogs are to be kept with reference to applicable local, state, and federal laws.
Training of dogs:
Dogs must be:
∙ well trained and obedient, using appropriate and humane methods.
∙ Stock proof and socialised with other dogs, animals, and people.
∙ Discouraged from exhibiting anti-social and undesirable behavior.
∙ Under appropriate control always.
∙ In the case of pig hunting, trained either to bail (or to hold pigs only by the ears where
permitted by law).
∙ In the case of deer hunting a dog may only be used for locating, pointing, or flushing deer.
hunting with scent-trailing hounds is not permitted.
Transportation of Dogs:
When traveling on public roads in an open vehicle, dogs must be suitably restrained, crated, or
caged and protected from the elements. Cages and crates, must supply ample room for each dog to
comfortably stand, turn around and lay down.
Working of Dogs:
When working dogs, the handler must consider the weather conditions, temperature, and fitness of
the dog, so as not cause stress to the dog. Dogs must wear protective gear when working.
Minimum requirement is a cut collar, which protects the throat and neck. Breastplates, vests,
tracking collars, reflective tags, flashing tags and glow tags are strongly encouraged.
Number of dogs used on a pig:
Maximum number of dogs on a pig at any time is:
∙ 2 holding dogs (where permitted by law)
∙ 2 bailers
∙ 1 pup in training.
The fewer dogs the better. The number of dogs you need will depend on their working ability,
size/condition of the pigs and country you are hunting.
Australian Hunters Club advocates the use of the minimum number of dogs required to catch and
dispatch the pig effectively and safely without causing undue stress to either animal.
There may also be further requirements put in place by local,state, federal law, or land holder’s
request. These requirements must be followed.
Handling and dispatch of pigs:
The dispatch of the pig should be carried out with full regard for the welfare of the animal. It is
unacceptable to use killing methods that:
∙ Cause severe and prolonged pain and distress.
∙ Result in deliberate mortal wounding of animals so that they die later away from the
shooting or capture area.
The Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (ACPA) specifies examples of behaviour, which are taken to
be causing cruelty to an animal, including to:
∙ Abuse, terrify, torment, or worry it.
∙ Overdrive, override, or overwork.
∙ Kill it in a way that is inhumane, cause it not to die quickly, or cause it to die in unreasonable
pain.
∙ Unjustifiably, unnecessarily, or unreasonably injures or wounds.
Methods used to dispatch pigs must be rapid, effective and the most humane alternative possible to
minimise pain and distress. Dogs must respond to commands from the controller/handler and not
harass the pig.
Use of dogs to handle captured feral animals should be minimised. The aim always should be to
handle captured animals quickly. It is preferable that dogs be only used to locate and bail feral pigs
to enable humane dispatch.
Holding dogs should be used to hold the pig for the shortest time possible while the pig is
humanely dispatched and only where this method is permitted by law.
All captured pigs are to be dispatched, catch and release must not occur.
PARTICLUAR RULES FOR HUNTING WITH BOW AND ARROW:
Bow Hunting Safety:
Every bowhunter has a duty of care to ensure that wherever they shoot it is undertaken in the safest
way possible. The following points are fundamentals of bowhunting safety which all bowhunters
should practice whenever they pick up archery equipment.
∙ Always point the bow and arrow in a safe direction.
∙ Only nock an arrow when it is safe to shoot.
∙ Identify your target beyond all doubt and know what is in front of it, immediately behind it,
and beyond it.
∙ Broadheads are razor sharp – only remove them from a quiver when you intend to shoot
them or sharpen them.
∙ Never dry fire a bow (releasing the bowstring without a nocked arrow). It may cause serious
damage to the bow and can injure the archer.
∙ Do not drink alcohol or take drugs before or during bowhunting.
∙ Immediately repair defects in equipment.
∙ Learn basics of bushcraft and survival before venturing into the bush to bow hunt. ∙
Target arrows with blunt edges are for target shooting. Only use sharp broad heads or
varmint points for small game when bowhunting.
∙ Only purchase archery equipment from reputable retailers that take the time to fit a bow to
its intended purpose and to your body shape and ability.
∙ Learn and practice bowhunting techniques and know the limitations of your equipment and
your personal skill level.
Hunt Ethically, Responsibly:
Bowhunters have a conscience that guides ethical decisions in making quick, humane kills.
Let’s review four ways to ensure lethal shots.
∙ Practice regularly to stay sharp, focused and in sync with your equipment. Repeating the
same actions, motions and techniques develops muscle memory and consistency. Take
lessons, join leagues, and shoot 3D tournament to improve your shooting skills. The more
you practice, the more proficient you will become.
∙ Hunters must match their equipment to their quarry. They need different arrows for targeting
different species. For example, you would use broadheads when targeting deer versus judo
tips for rabbits. Similarly, you may require different draw weights for different species and
the hunter is to research and ensure that their equipment is sufficient for their target
species. The draw weight should ensure that arrows can penetrate the animal’s hide,
muscles, and organs to inflict quick death.
∙ You must know your effective shooting range, and only shoot when your quarry is within it.
Do not take risky shots, such as shooting in low light, or when a target is moving, or
obscured by brush or branches. Only release your arrow when you are certain you’re taking
a clean shot.
∙ The most important factor in a killing shot is placing your broadhead in the vitals. Lethal shot
placement requires knowing your target species anatomy and shooting angles to determine
where to aim. Although a shot to the brain is likely the quickest, most lethal shot, it has a
small margin of error. If you miss your mark, a broadhead could cause debilitating jaw or
facial injuries. Plus, most broadheads will not penetrate the skull enough to cause
immediate death. Therefore, bowhunters should target the deer’s much larger chest cavity,
which includes the heart, lungs, and major arteries. A broadhead puncturing a deer’s chest
causes quick death from massive blood loss. It is also best to shoot deer when they’re
broadside or quartering away. These shots ensure arrows pass through the body cavity’s
most vulnerable area, which creates better blood trails and humane harvests.
PARTICULAR RULES FOR GEL BLASTERS:
Awareness of relevant legislation:
It is the responsibility of a Club member to be aware of and comply with all relevant provisions
of legislation relating to Gel Blasters.
Gel Blasters may be banned in your particular state and you may not be able to possess, hold or
use a Gel Blaster.
Examples of laws for QLD are; the Weapons Act 1990, Weapons Regulation 2016 and Weapons
Categories Regulation 1997 and the Criminal Code Act 1899.
(Note: there may be other laws and regulations relevant to particular places and Gel Blasters such as
council by laws. It is the Gel Blasters responsibility to obtain awareness and understanding of such
laws.)
Permission required to enter land:
You must not use a Gel Blaster on any land without the express authority of the occupier of the
land. Conditions of participation in a match:
A completed Deed of Assumption of Risk, and a Driver’s Licence/18+ card/student ID (for minors) will
need to be sighted before play.
Must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the match.
You must be over the age of 13 to participate.
If you are aged between 13-18, you require a parent to sign the waiver, and an adult to accompany
you for the entire duration of the session. The accompanying adult does not need to participate but
must remain on site.
Closed footwear must be worn at all times.
Full coverage eye wear and/or a suitable mask must be worn at all times on the field, or when
otherwise instructed. Should the field management deem your eye wear/mask unsuitable for
participation, then a full-face hire mask will be available at the cost of $5 per session. Please note
that this is purely in the interest of safety.
The FPS limit is 300 FPS. All Blasters will be test fired into a chronograph before entry to the field, and
spot checks occur.
Only Gel balls sold at venues from Australian Hunters Club or operators of gel blaster fields are to be
used to ensure safety.
Please note that games are strictly a booking-only, and walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
This isn’t a spectator sport; no spectators will be permitted in or around the gel blaster
field
Appendix 1 – Deed of assumption of risk – Hunting
Appendix 2 – Deed of assumption of risk – Gel Blaster
Appendix 3 – Complaint record form
Appendix 4 – Incident report form
Appendix 5 – Safety/Equipment Check List Appendix
6 – QLD Biosecurity clean down procedures