Thread: 1 Licensed Hunter, Two Rifles?

which begs the question....if Ben is hooning aroundhis farm in the side by side and has 10/22 for rabbits n hares and the .223 for goats and maybe the .308 in rack as well just incase them pesky deer pop up...and he has someone with him to open gates...is he breaking the law???? 3 firearms and only one FAL.....

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

which begs the question....if Ben is hooning aroundhis farm in the side by side and has 10/22 for rabbits n hares and the .223 for goats and maybe the .308 in rack as well just incase them pesky deer pop up...and he has someone with him to open gates...is he breaking the law???? 3 firearms and only one FAL.....

Definitely would of said no to that not braking the law.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

which begs the question....if Ben is hooning aroundhis farm in the side by side and has 10/22 for rabbits n hares and the .223 for goats and maybe the .308 in rack as well just incase them pesky deer pop up...and he has someone with him to open gates...is he breaking the law???? 3 firearms and only one FAL.....

My understanding is that is fine if the passenger is just opening gates, but as soon as he/she picks up the rifle while I'm aiming another one it is not ok. But as I said, the law seems to be interpreted very differently by different people.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

which begs the question....if Ben is hooning aroundhis farm in the side by side and has 10/22 for rabbits n hares and the .223 for goats and maybe the .308 in rack as well just incase them pesky deer pop up...and he has someone with him to open gates...is he breaking the law???? 3 firearms and only one FAL.....

I suggest that the call on 'supervision' in this case would be one rifle being used. So in this situation if the other two firearms are not being used it would be fine, on the proviso that the driver is actually supervising the shooter while a rifle is being used and not actively driving.

Similar situation to taking someone to a range or for a target shoot. You can have several firearms present, as long as only one is being used at a time. Hunting on foot would be slightly different as how many of us carry a spare rifle that is not being used? The supervisor can carry a firearm and supervise but that gun should not be in use while supervising.

I think the key point is when supervising, the LFAO must be supervising to the standard where they are still able to maintain full control of the firearm in the hands of the non licensed shooter. That would mean being able to physically stop the firearm from being pointed in an unsafe direction or firing if not safe to do so etc.

Ok, ive been here before and ask the questions from the police along time ago and heres some answers that make it reasonable clear.
Firstly, esp in hunting situations only one rifle is to be used between the supervisior and the unlicenced person.
You just open up a whole lot of cans of worms if there are two rifles between people and to prove the supervisior was close enough and in control of the unlicenced shooter is difficult if you both have a firearm. (esp if a accident happened)

So, yes, only one rifle between parties .
Now, if you think thats not Black and white the following is!


To get a DOC hunting permit to hunt on public conservation land with a firearm, you need either:

a valid New Zealand firearms licence, or
to be under the immediate supervision of someone with a valid New Zealand firearms licence. See Section 4b of the Arms Code (external site).
When hunting under the immediate supervision provision:

only one firearm is permitted between the supervisor and the hunter
each person requires a hunting permit.


So clearly to hunt DOC land only one firearm is permitted. And i can tell you this goes with private land hunting as well as the police see it and it makes sence.

So, Hunting DOC land its a NO, black and white, ONLY ONE RIFLE.
If you willing to think its not Black and White on private land you take the risk but if i was the licenced holder no way would there be a extra rifle.

My son started target shooting at 14 years old.
I had to get a FAL so I could own a rifle for him to use.

As the FAL holder I had to supervise him on the range.
I didn't lie beside him I sat about 1.5 metres behind him.

At one point he questioned my level of supervision.
I responded that I was watching him closely and should he start to do something dangerous I'd land on top of him and he'd not be doing much at all.

Fortunately for him and me he is a very responsible shooter and there's never been an issue.
(He got his learners drivers license and his FAL on the day of his 16th birthday.)