Let’s talk shooting

by senior correspondent Jennifer Martens
Australian Shooter May 2011

SSAA’s Cooks Companion has
been very useful for starting
conversations about using game
meats in cooking and the role of
hunting in Australia. What makes for interesting conversation? Current events, hobbies, sports? What about the shooting sports? Talking about sports shooting with non-shooting friends can be tricky. But your chances of success can improve if you are able to start the conversation with something that peaks the interest of the individual you are speaking to.

The subject of shooting comes up rather frequently in my conversations. Some of my friends don’t have any problems with the shooting sports, while others are not so sure about my ‘association’ with the Association. With those who cringe at even the mention of firearms, I’ve had to come up with ways of making the shooting sports, firearms and the SSAA more palatable, less intimidating and a more frequent part of our conversations.

One of the easiest ways is to talk about things shooters and non-shooters have in common, such as an interest in current events and celebrities, eating good food, hiking, fishing, sports and camping. This is made much easier with each issue of the Australian Shooter and Australian Hunter, as they offer a variety of articles that can be used as great conversation starters with non-shooting friends. Often, my conversations will begin by me saying, “I recently read in the Australian Shooter magazine…” and off we go on a nice chat that occasionally results in discussing the many benefits of the shooting sports.

After seeing camel rides for sale on a recent outing, I casually mentioned an article from the Australian Shooter (April 2010) that brought to light Australia’s overabundance of camels. My companions on the day didn’t even know that Australia has a camel problem. When we got down to the nitty gritty of the issue, they agreed that shooting as a method of control was probably a good idea, especially compared to the alternatives.

I had a similar conversation with some friends as we sat in a restaurant overlooking the beach scrub, which was home to a number of fuzzy bunnies hopping about. The afternoon presented itself as a great opportunity to talk about the May 2009 Shooter article on Australia’s rabbit explosion and what hunters are doing to help manage the problem.

To my friends who like cricket, I like to point out the fact that Glenn McGrath is a hunter, SSAA member and grew up shooting firearms. Those who follow boxing now know that world champion boxer Kostya Tszyu visits a pistol club on a weekly basis.
Often, current events provide great opportunities to talk about the shooting sports. Take, for instance, the terrorist cell that was uncovered in New South Wales last year. When that subject came up, I was able to refer to the April 2010 Shooter article, which explained the role the New South Wales firearms industry played in ensuring one of the terrorist’s conviction.

When Todd Russell and Brant Webb were ‘hot’ commodities because of their terrible mining ordeal, I let it slip here and there that Todd is a SSAA member and a keen hunter. And when Lee Kernaghan was named Australian of the Year in 2008, you can bet that my friends knew he was a sporting shooter as well.

Of course, some issues of the magazines have a little less to offer in terms of fodder for daily conversation, but if you are stuck for issues relating to current events or celebrities such as Glenn McGrath, you can’t go past some of the product reviews on things such as GPS units, quad bikes or camping and outdoor gear. We all know someone who would be interested in one of those subjects. And if not, everyone has to eat, right? Grab any issue and there is bound to be something about food. In my experience, most people are happy to talk about a good recipe, even if it is a recipe for rabbit, venison or wild boar.

Other topics that can easily lead to the shooting sports are fishing and camping - two of Australia’s favourite pastimes. Both the Shooter and Hunter magazines have a number of articles on these topics.

Camping, it seems, is as Aussie as Vegemite, and the Bushcraft & Survival and Around the Campfire columns in the Shooter make it easy to introduce your camping friends to possibly their first-ever shooting magazine. Columnists Peter Bindon and Warren McKay have a wealth of knowledge that any outdoor lover would give their right arm to access.

So, whether it is an article about the day’s newsmakers, a groovy product or tips for surviving the bush, don’t be afraid to dog-ear a few pages and lend out a few issues of the Shooter or Hunter. It’s a great way to get people talking and thinking positively about the shooting sports.

Some of the articles you could reference in daily conversation include:
Australian Shooter
• August 2006 - Glenn McGrath: Straight shooter
• September 2007 - Kostya Tszyu
• February 2007 - Todd Russell: Back in the bush
• April 2008 - Lee Kernaghan: Australian of the Year
• November 2008 - Are shooting sports safe? You’d better believe it!
• February 2009 - The Cobb Premier Outdoor Oven
• April 2009 - The Anzac riflemen
• June 2009 - McGrath Foundation Update
• June 2009 - It’s just a game - but is there a link between violent video games and violent crime?
• October 2009 - British rifles of the Boer War
• November 2009 - 60 Minutes in the bush
• December 2009 - Courteney boots
• December 2010 - The 2010 Commonwealth Games
• December 2010 - Australian big cats: One of Australia’s big mysteries
• December 2010 - Australian Institute of Criminology: Reporting the facts
• Any of the Bushcraft & Survival and Around the Campfire columns

Australian Hunter
• Hunter 28 - The campfire bakery
• Hunter 28 - Camp lighting systems - a new approach
• Hunter 29 - Lots of knots
• Hunter 29 - The importance of hydration
• Hunter 30 - Buying and using a hand-held GPS
• Hunter 30 - Knife sharpening revisited
• Hunter 30 - Drifta camp kitchens
• Hunter 30 - A custom boat loader
• Hunter 30 - Flash photography for hunters
• Hunter 31 - Curry cuisine
• Hunter 31 - Customising the Cruiser
• Hunter 32 - Snapper time
• Hunter 32 - The many uses of tape in the bush
• Hunter 32 - Damper parmigiana
• Hunter 32 - Wildlife conservation, animal welfare and animal rights
• Hunter 34 - The Jetboil Personal Cooking System
• Hunter 34 - Better cold season camping

SSAA’s Cook’s Companion recipe book