A MELBOURNE schoolgirl is one of a growing number of shooters volunteering their weekends to help farmers.

Cranbourne’s Danielle Lewis, 17, lends her marksmanship to farmers and environment groups to kill foxes and rabbits.

A better than average shot, she has adapted her skills from the shooting range in a program under the umbrella of the Sporting Shooters ­Association of Australia.

“I tell my friends they wouldn’t have any food if the farms were overrun by vermin,” Danielle said.

Danielle’s club, Field Hunters Club in Springvale, partners with Landcare, Trust for Nature and farmers to remove feral animals on their properties across more than 22,000ha within about three hours’ drive of Melbourne.

Club members such as Danielle and her father, Murray, camp out in shearing or machinery sheds during the organised weekend shoots.

“Originally I started shooting at the range because I wanted to be with my dad and now it has progressed to this,” Danielle said.

She has been quick to defend her pastime from shocked classmates.

“I hear straight from the farmers there is nothing cute about rabbits or foxes,” Danielle said.

She has her own .22 rifle and is one of about 300 Victorian teens with a new junior provisional game licence.

The licences are available for 12 to 17-year-olds, who are usually under the guidance of their parents.

“She will definitely continue in the sport, she likes to be able to help,” Murray said.

“The gun laws are much stricter and some of the farmers are getting older so they don’t shoot any more.

“One person can’t get as many as a group.”