Hunting from a vehicle with a spotlight

Hunting from a vehicle with a spotlight allows you to cover large tracts of land that you would not be able to cover on foot in the same time. Also, if the target species happens to frequent a preferred crop that is several kilometres away from your base or camp, the use of a vehicle also becomes very time efficient.

There are many benefits to hunting from a vehicle with a spotlight on private land:

• you can cover a lot of land in a short amount of time
• it is easier to retrieve or collect harvested game.
• you have the ability to take a range of supplies and equipment with you
• you have more time to assess the shot as animals generally hold still in the light
• you are able to take consecutive shots and harvest more than one animal
• vehicles may be fitted with a sturdy rest to shoot from
• shots taken from an elevated platform offer a safe backstop
• shooting in a team is more efficient
• shots can generally be taken between 50 and 100 metres.

Spotlighting from a vehicle at night has associated risks that all hunters must be aware of. You must always practice the following safety precautions:

• notify the landholder of your intention to hunt under spotlight if they have approved its use
• know the hunting environment extremely well; during daylight hours, familiarise yourself with the hunting area before you begin to spotlight
• drive slowly and stay on designated roads and tracks
• practice safe driving to reduce the risk of the shooters falling out of the vehicle
• do not spotlight in a group of more than three people
• ensure the shooter is always positioned in front of the spotlight operator
• ensure the spotlights and gun-mounted lights are bright enough to positively identify your target
• never shoot at a moving animal; all shots must be taken at a stationary target animal
• do not shoot if you are unable to clearly identify your target
• make sure the vehicle has a firm, stable and safe rest to shoot from
• make sure you have a safe backstop; never shoot over a crest or a hill
• be extremely careful of ricochet when shooting across hard ground or water
• fit a solid bipod to your rifle
• unload your firearm, and ensure it is safe before collecting any harvested animals
• never fire at a pair of eyes or a reflection
• ensure you pay particular attention when shooting close to fences, boundaries, roads and tracks
• never attempt to take a shot if there are any safety concerns.