Marksman’s Nest loves and protects wildlife

It’s always been the case that Marksman’s Nest loves and protects wildlife. So much so, that we have a strict policy that wildlife is off-limits during practice shooting.

Hosting an owl

A while ago, we were privileged when a female Spotted Eagle Owl chose the tyres on the range as her nesting site. Soon, two little chicks were born right there where we do our close-quarter and self-defence training. Said chief range officer Geoffrey Coetzee, “At first I thought that the noise would scare the mom, but happily, it didn’t. She actually became used to my presence in particular. “It was heart-warming to see how she nurtured her chicks come rain or shine. Eventually, the little ones were ready to take on the world. But they still visit the range from time to time.”

What the owl taught us

We can link this mother owl’s behaviour directly to our mantra in self-defence. First up in our course, which essentially entails the art of staying alive, is ‘preparedness’. The concept of preparedness is as old as time itself. Way back when, wise men advocated the rules of studying the dangers ahead and then to take precautions to protect themselves and their family from those threats. Exactly the way the mother owl did. The next principle we teach at the range is ‘Be Strong and Stand Strong’. Mother owl did that throughout her journey of protecting her young. ‘Be alert and don’t let society dull your senses’ is imperative in our self-defence training. Again, mother owl never let her guard down – for the sake of her chicks. So, apart from the fact that Marksman’s Nest loves and protects wildlife, we take heed of the ways in which wildlife defend themselves. There are countless take-out messages from these wonderful creatures with whom we share this earth.

We protect wildlife

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the numerous stories of wildlife species declining or balancing precariously on the brink of extinction. But it’s important to remember that we have the power to reverse wildlife decline by respecting nature and wildlife. Marksman’s Nest believes that one of the best ways to protect wildlife is to prevent their decline and deterioration in the first place. Towards that end, our policy is clear: respect and protect whatever wildlife crosses our path at the range.