The humane destruction of livestock, animals caught in traps or pest animals on the farm requires qualified, licensed and capable firearms operators. During times of economic depression or emergency, stockowners are faced with the difficult decision of on-farm destruction of their animals. Pest animals also require the use of firearms, in order to prevent the significant impact, they can have through loss and damage to stock and infrastructure, as well as damage to the environment and cultural heritage sites.
While many male landholders hold Firearms Licenses and are confident in the safe handling and storage of their guns, the same is often not the case for females. Yet it is often the female that encounters an animal in need of euthanizing.
Hay Plains Landcare are aiming to help raise the profile of women in farming, recognising that women are taking a much more active role in day-to-day farming activities. The group hopes to help empower women to use firearms safely for the humane destruction of pest animals and livestock, through a new firearms course being offered to women on the land.
