Within range

Does the draft guidance on shooting ranges cater for different types of range shooting?

The issue of balance between demand and supply needs to be dealt with separately vis-à-vis competitive shotgun and target shooting.

Competitive shotgun shooting users can be classified into two genres, that is those interested in the sport per se and those who are primarily hunters but who occasionally practise the sport.

The sport shooting enthusiasts seek those ranges that offer Olympic disciplines like trap and skeet and which are equipped to hold international events.

Such athletes practise throughout the year, unlike bird shooters who usually seek these ranges in the closed hunting season. Moreover, many of the bird shooters feel more comfortable to participate in the simpler "down the line" competitions, rather than in the more rigorous, internationally recognised disciplines.

Is there a direct link between hunting and range shooting?

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority acknowledges that there is no direct link between hunting and range shooting, since the former is considered a pastime rather than a sport. It is however important to point out that the number of current licensed hunters is in the region of 32,000, and that it is safe to assume that the number of hunters will grow in line with the growth of the population.

Should this occur, the number of licensed hunters by the year 2020 will increase to approximately 36,000. This is an important consideration since a small number of hunters occasionally do seek shooting ranges as a means to practise their hobby all year round.