SSAA Tasmanian Deerstalkers Inc. News - Archive

2011 Roster

Click for PDF of 2011 Roster

Super Safari Raffle Results (Drawn Feb 17th)

First Prize: Greg Scott - Tunnack, Tas - Guided 5-Day Northern Territory Safari
Second Prize: Andrew Fish - Oatlands, Tas - Leica 2.5-10x42 scope
Third Prize: Bob Walsh - Wilberforce, NSW - Leica 1200CRF Range Finder

2010 Roster

Click for PDF of 2010 Roster

Inaugural Big Game Rifle Event - Saturday 13th of February 2010

Have you ever fired a .375 H&H Magnum or a .470 Nitro Express? Well, here's your chance.

Members of the SSAA T10, Big Game Rifle Club will fire these rifles and a wide range of other calibres at their club meetings each month.

The Big Game Rifle Club is an official SSAA club and operates from the T10 Shooting Complex at Shene Road in Pontville. We're only about 20 minutes north of Hobart. The range is approved for all rifle calibres from .22RF through to .600 Nitro Express (as well as shotguns). 

The club's objective is to "create a unified body of people interested in the preservation, collection, study (both technical and historical) and field competition shooting of large bore, big game rifles, both black powder and nitro".  The club also promotes the safe handling and responsible use of firearms and fosters the use of all calibres and action types, including muzzleloaders.

Club events attempt to simulate field conditions for big (and dangerous) game, so time and accuracy are the two critical factors. All events are shot between 25m and 100m . 50m pistol targets are used. 

A wide range of rifles are used, including .22RF, old English rook calibres, double rifles such as .375 H&H, .400, .500 and .577 black powder.  Magazine rifles from .223 up to .500 Jeffery also have a keen following. There are events for virtually all calibres. 

If you would like to experience this unique and challenging sport, want to find out more about the club, or would like to join, please contact the President, Terry Hill - terry@ssaatasdeer.org.au

Inaugural State Championship - Saturday 13th February, 2010 - Please fill in a Nomination Form.

The History of the SSAA Document Found

The President recently found an interesting document written back in 1998. It's a short history of the SSAA written for its Golden Jubilee (50 years). It's quite an interesting read and the pictures really show we've come a long way.

I'm sure you will all enjoy reading it.

November Seminar Gains Accreditation for Tasmanian Measurers

The Central Highlands Hunt Association and SSAA Tasmania Deer Stalkers sponsored a hugely successful two day Douglas Score training seminar in the historic township of Bothwell. The 25 participants came from as far afield as Victoria and New South Wales to gain their antler measuring accreditation.

The world renowned Douglas score system developed by the famed New Zealander Mr Norman Douglas in the 1940’s has been adopted by Tasmanian sportsmen to measure the antler growth of not only our own largest Fallow deer antlers, but other deer species secured by sportsmen in the greater south pacific.

The Douglas Score training services of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association's well respected trainers D.Bruce Banwell, Ray Webb and Andrew Lang conducted the seminar. The CHHA and SSAA respective presidents Geoff Herbert and Terry Hill said they were very  happy with the weekend's results and thanked the trainers for providing their time, training expertise and knowledge. The trainers demonstrated how to measure and interpret Fallow, Asiatic and round horn deer, including Whitetail, Tahr, Chamois and boar tusks using the Douglas Score handbook as the basis. Their ability to transfer the information to the participants in an easy to understand, practical manner was both very professional and first class.

Due to the success of the training seminar, there is no doubt these gentlemen will be invited back to conduct a refresher course in several years time to ensure the standards being monitored by CHHA and SSAA are being correctly interpretation by the accredited measurers.

The three trainers stayed on for another two days to enjoy the Tasmanian lifestyle, scenery and tourism on offer.

Tasmania will use the Douglas score system to commence a new database register to record the top 100 largest fallow deer antler growth, using records secured from previous years to assist in the search to capture these historic antlers. This register will be specifically for Tasmanian wild fallow deer only and to be eligible to enter, hunters will require prior certification from a panel of measurers. The register will be available to view on the SSAA and CHHA websites.

The concept was the brainchild of the Central Highlands Hunt Association and SSAA Tasmania Deer Stalkers. In the case of the CHHA, over the last 10 years, the Bothwell Garage measured and recorded up to180 fallow deer antlers harvested during the March stag seasons for their Bothwell competition. This also provided deer research information for the government's Game Management Services Unit.

2009 Roster

Click for PDF of 2009 Roster

Douglas Scoring System Seminar (21 & 22 November 2009)

A Douglas score training seminar for Tasmania has been organised by the Central Highlands Hunt Association (Bothwell Garage) and SSAA for the 21st & 22nd of November 2009 - with a dinner on the evening of Saturday 21st at The Castle Hotel, Bothwell.

This is a NZDA certification course at Levels 1 and 2 for measuring Fallow, Sambar, Red Deer, Wapiti, Chamois, Sika and Whitetail as well as Pig Tusks and Goats. Special emphasis will be on Fallow deer.

If you wish to attend to learn the techniques of measuring or hone your exuisting skills, this is your chance. There is a limit on the number of attendees, so if you or your hunting group wish to be trained by three of the best New Zealand Deer Stalker Association Douglas Score System trainers, then please nominate early (before November 6 2009). Call Terry on 0429 057 506.

This is a rare event. (The last was way back in 1985 by Norman Douglas - 24 years ago).

Please check out the timetable for the two days here.

To help fund this event, we are conducting a raffle (which will be drawn at the dinner) to win a Mossberg 30-06 rifle. See the poster for more details and an order form.

The cost of the Seminar is $70 per person for both days, including dinner on the Saturday night. If you wish to just attend the seminar, it is $50 per person for the two days, while the dinner only is $25. Because there is a strict limit on numbers, please print the poster and fill out the form to secure your spot before the 6th of November and maybe buy a ticket or two in the raffle while you're at it.

There are various options for nearby accommodation (if you wish to stay the night), but be quick.

• Bothwell Camping Ground/Caravan Park, Market Place Bothwell Phone: (03) 6259 5503 (Council)
• Batt’s Cottage, 23 Alexander St Bothwell Phone: 0409 659 480
• Park House, 25 Alexander St Bothwell Phone: (03) 6259 5676
• The Grange, 15 Alexander Street Bothwell Phone: (03) 6259 5556
• The Castle Hotel, 14 Patrick Street Bothwell Phone: (03) 6259 5502
  

The seminar will be the opportunity for attendees to learn or refresh their knowledge of the Douglas Scoring System, and time permitting, gain accreditation.

More information can be obtained from the Club President or from the poster. Please be aware that some of the details above may change, so check back here closer to the time of the event.

Pygmy Possum Takes Up Residence At Our Range (Jan to March 2009)

When arriving at one of our official Sunday shoots back in January, our Club President discovered a Pygmy Possum in the flag storage holder at the main gate. Being rare to see such an amazing little creature, some pictures were taken before relocating him to a nearby tree.

Interestingly though, just three days later the little possum was back in the flag holder! He was relocated a second time and a notice was posted on the gate to let others know of the persistent little resident. There was also an attempt made to block the entrance to the flag holder to prevent his return (and possible harm).

Nevertheless, in March, he was back!! After assuming we had successfully relocated him, our little pygmy possum was back in the flag holder. This time we put him in a "nest" created in a tree a bit further away. Although it was nice to see him (and know he was alive and well), we were concerned that he may get hurt if he continued to try making our flag holder his home.