Education

As with so many other recreation activities, learning techniques and methods to improve your own performance and efficiency applies equally to hunting and clay target shooting. Good marksmanship is a skill common to both clay target shooting and hunting, but there’s a lot more to ethical and efficient hunting than being a good shot.

Field & Game Australia is proud to offer a variety of dedicated education programs for both Field & Game Australia members, and the general public.

School shooting championships, dog training and retrieving trials, clay target coaching and the Shotgunning Education Program are all focused on education and training.

Our school shooting championships have been instructing young people in the safe use of firearms since 1962, and introducing them to the sport of simulated field clay target shooting.

Dog training and retrieving trials are a great way to get more out of the relationship with your canine companion: hunting with a well-trained gundog can be immensely rewarding and enjoyable, as well as being more humane through prompt retrieval.

The Shotgunning Education Program educates hunters on selecting the best tools for the job, and can provide participants with a clear picture of their skills and areas to improve, with the intended result being reduced wounding rates and more ethical and efficient hunting.

Outside of these programs and events, our branches offer education through experience, advice and coaching.

FGA also supports the RESPECT campaign which encourages hunters to be mindful that the future of hunting depends on how you conduct yourself as a hunter. Every hunter should be an ambassador.

Respect animals

  • Only take what you can use
  • Make optimal use of harvested quarry (have a minimum/no waste approach)
  • Shoot only when you can retrieve your quarry
  • Shoot only when a humane result is possible
  • Use the right equipment to effectively and humanely hunt animals
  • Look after your hunting dogs

 Respect the hunt

  • Hunt safely and abide by the Firearms Safety Code
  • Lead by example
  • Respect our cultural heritage
  • Always hunt within the law and report illegal behaviour
  • Uphold the highest ethical standards
  • Promote and praise good behaviour
  • Know your skill limits and hunt within them
  • Improve and maintain your skills through practice and/or joining a club

 Respect the environment

  • Take all your litter (including empty cartridges) with you
  • Bury or remove animal remains
  • Drive only on designated tracks
  • Keep campfires safe
  • Leave your campsite clean
  • Protect our wetlands and waterways (e.g. don’t leave animal remains in or near waterways)
  • Take part in efforts to protect and restore wildlife habitats

Respect non-hunters

  • Help others and be courteous
  • Thoughtfully carry hunting equipment and harvested quarry (e.g. cover quarry during transit)
  • Respect the opinions of non-hunters
  • Only enter private property with permission
  • Share the harvest with a non-hunter and promote the culinary/sustainability benefits of hunting

Respect other hunters

  • Be respectful and courteous if hunting or camping in the same area as other people
  • Be safe and abide by the law so everyone is on a level playing field
  • Share your knowledge and skills with others

 Respect the laws

  • Take time to know the laws and act within them at all times
  • Work with Authorised Officers; they are there to help you and ensure safe, sustainable, humane and equitable hunting
  • Don’t tolerate illegal behaviour - report suspected offenders on 136 186.