Join SSAA Victoria for a deep dive into the biggest moments of 2025 — the wins, the setbacks, the politics, and the hard work behind the scenes — as we look ahead to a massive year in 2026. In this episode, we run through a huge year for Victorian hunting and shooting, covering everything from public land wins to animal rights activism and the escalating push toward evidence-based policy.

Steve Hill from Hunters4Hope joins the team to share an inspiring story of community, conservation, and giving back.

In just a few short years, Hunters4Hope, based in regional New Zealand, has grown into a powerhouse of grassroots impact, set to donate over 12,500 kg of wild-shot venison this year alone. That’s more than 100,000 meals going to food charities and families in need.

Driven entirely by volunteers, Hunters4Hope relies on public donations to keep doing its essential work. If you'd like to support the cause, visit: www.hunters4hope.com/donate

More episode details and links on the SSAA Victoria website.

Neal Finch is an Environmental Scientist and a lifelong hunter with a long and rich association with the SSAA.

Neal has hands-on experience in hunter-centred wildlife research and worked for the Queensland Government for many years on its commercial kangaroo management program. He is currently the Executive Officer of the Australian Wild Game Industry Council.

In 2024, Neal travelled to Europe on a Churchill Fellowship to explore the wild game harvesting industry in Europe, specifically how it is regulated and the relationship between animal welfare organisations and the wild game industry. For more information on the Churchill Fellowship, go to https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/neal-finch-qld-2024/

After a career that included a long and successful stint in politics, Tom Kenyon took the helm at SSAA National in 2024. We sat down with Tom while he was in Melbourne to discuss changes at SSAA, Australian Shooter magazine, plans to grow the organisation and the political situation facing shooting across Australia.

The SSAA Victoria team take a deep dive into the management of public land in Victoria - particularly as it relates to shooting and hunting access.

More information on the "More to Explore" mapping application at: https://www.exploreoutdoors.vic.gov.au/where-to-start/more-to-explore

More information on hunting on public land at:

https://www.gma.vic.gov.au/hunting/deer/where-to-hunt

More information on the Great Outdoors Taskforce at:

https://www.deeca.vic.gov.au/futureforests/future-forests/great-outdoors-taskforce

The once-in-a-decade overhaul of Victoria's Wildlife (Game) Regulations has implications for the 60,000 Victorians who hunt deer, duck and quail.

Proposals put forward for consideration by the government include transitions away from lead-based ammunition for all game hunting, allowing handheld thermal devices for deer hunting, locking in Wednesday openings and 8 am starts for the first week of duck season and some left-field ideas, including blaze orange deer decoys.

In this episode SSAA Victoria's Barry Howlett, David Laird and Daryl Snowdon go through the comprehensive submission the Association made to the review and explain where we landed on the big issues, and why.

Jim Harding from Winchester Australia joins us to discuss the growing excitement about SHOT Expo 2024.

This will be the first major shooting expo in Australia in five years and the largest expo of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Melbourne Showgrounds 19-20 October 2024.

Duck and quail seasons for 2023 are done and dusted, submissions are in for the Select Committee Inquiry, and public hearings have commenced.

This episode looks at:

• Duck opening
• SSAA Victoria’s Submission
• The public hearings so far

Episode features SSAA Victoria Hunting Development Manager David Laird, CPM & Training Development Co-Ordinator Daryl Snowdon, RTO Manager Fady Khalife and Communications Manager Barry Howlett.