I don’t doubt you had this experience, like any government department anywhere in the world there are people who are not over regulations. But you don’t need a firearm license to get a game license, you got a bum steer on that one.
And just to play devils advocate, USA isn’t exactly a walk in the park for internationals. Despite the hoops we have to jump through to get gun licenses here none of the states I wanted to build points for in US would recognise my Australian hunting license in lieu of the hunter safety you require. That’s why I wasn’t ever able to start building points in MT, they want a hunter safety before you can start and wouldn’t recognise my license. Went with WY because I don’t need to complete it until I apply for tags.
LOL... Ok back to my second trip that was to the NT
I had to take an online NSW course because NT only offers it in person but does accept the NSW online as an equivalent..... The NSW course was hours online and is hosted by a company in Richardson Texas.
After taking the course I then had to pass the tests which were over 100 questions and had to get a 90% before I could be given permission to apply for permission to enter the NT back country hunting blocks.
Documents submitted......
Application with passport photos - Signed by state police after warrant check
Proof of NSW online course - Taken in substitution of NT course
Proof of back country access tests completion - (to access T.O. land of hunting blocks)
Copy of Texas Drivers license
Copy of Texas License to carry a handgun
Copy of Valid Texas hunting license
Copy of Valid Oklahoma hunting license
Proof of belonging to an OZ shooting sports club - Required
Proof that said club has $1mil liability insurance per member - Required
Copy of previously attained Victoria International Visitors Firearms Permit
All this so I could hunt with friends while using a borrowed rifle.
As for bringing your own gun into OZ without a letter of invite from a Safari Outfitter or an accredited shooting competition.......... NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!
The NT police told me
"If you come to OZ and hunt with a safari company using your own rifle and then want to hunt more with friends you would have to leave the rifle with the safari operator or other secured storage facility and then borrow a rifle from your friends to hunt with."
The NT police told me this without me having asked the question.....
Best part of OZ is when you get out of the cities and getting the paperwork behind you, the people of Australia are amazing and in the rural areas could give less than a shit about laws.
DO NOT let me experiences with OZ paperwork discourage anyone from going, all the problems I have dealt with in the past came from doing the right thing by OZ laws and my friends there that have been gracious enough to take me hunting.
