New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife | 175 - Summer 2012

Heli-Hunting or Heli-slaugHter

Patience rewarded at Port adventure

Kudu Hunt

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summer issue 175 - January to marcH 2012

new Zealand

& wildliFe

Issue 175 January - March 2012An official publication of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, neither NZDA nor any person involved in the preparation of this publication accepts any form of liability whatsoever for its contents including opinions, advice or information or any consequences from it use. Articles and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc.

cOver PhOTO PHOTO FROM NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION ENTRIES

FeaTuresTussock Wanderings – Roger Stokes ................................................................... 8

Outstanding Young Deerstalker of the Year 2011 ............................................... 12

National Antler, Horn and Tusk Competition Results 2011 .................................. 14

Operation ‘Oamaru’ - Dylan Innis ....................................................................... 17

A Summary of Political Party Policies ................................................................. 20

NZDA National Competitions.............................................................................. 23

National Photographic Competitions 2011.......................................................... 24

Otago Red Deer Herd Trophies (Continued) - Heads 7, 8 & 9 .............................. 26

Horny Hind, Sorrowful Stag – Aidan Boswell ...................................................... 28

Young Hunter Profile – Zeke Meikle ................................................................... 31

My First Deer or Two – Taylah Barrett ................................................................ 33

Blast from the Past – Trophy of a Lifetime – J A Anderson ................................. 34

Habitat –Whio/Blue Duck Recovery Programme ................................................ 37

reGuLarsPresident’s Report - Alec McIver ...................................................................... 2

Editorial – This Election is so Important – Tony Orman ...................................... 3

DOC Update - National Hunting Advisor – Ian Cooksley ..................................... 5

HUNTS Report - Bill O’Leary – Round the Branches .......................................... 6

Letters to the Editor ......................................................................................... 7

Places to Hunt – East Coast Hunting ................................................................16

Young Hunter Story – The Big One – James Kellow ............................................ 18

‘Take me hunting’ – Kids’ Page – win a free Kilwell prize ................................... 19

Lock, Stock and Barrel – Exterior Ballistics ....................................................... 22

Bush Telegraph - News from around the traps .................................................32

Stalkers’ Table – Grannie Olive’s Recipes........................................................ 36

Swazi Junior Shoots ........................................................................................37

Heritage – The Nitz Brothers’ Red Heads ........................................................ 38

Tip Offs – Poetry? Not Me! – Fran Allcock ...................................................... 40

Book & DVD reviews .......................................................................................42

Poetry – Exposure – Fran Allcock ................................................................... 43

Points of Envy - 2011 AHT Competition Winners ............................................. 44

On Target – Waikato Regional Championships 2011 ........................................ 46

CONTENTS

ver PhOTO

1NZ Hunting & Wildlife 175 - Summer 2012

Since my last President’s report it has been

rather quiet on the Association’s front. I have

jotted down just a few notes to keep you all

informed.

Game Animal Council

Since my last report, I am happy to advise

that on October 18th 2011 the Game Animal

Council Bill was introduced into parliament.

This is the culmination of UnitedFuture’s long-

standing commitment to improve the way deer,

tahr, chamois and wild pigs are managed,

as born out of their confidence and supply

agreements with both the National Government

and the previous Labour Government.

The Game Animal Council (GAC) to be

established under this bill, will be a new

independent statutory body to better represent

the interests of hunters and improve the

management of hunting resources in New

Zealand. I hope you will get in behind this

development. The Game Animal Council Bill is

available at http://www.legislation.govt.nz/

bill/government/2011/0347/latest/versions.

aspx

Heli-Hunting

The NZDA National Executive continues, by

way of its heli-hunting sub-committee, to

put pressure on all concerned until hopefully

DOC and the minister of conservation get

the message and see sense and bans this

practice.

NZDA has produced an anti-helihunting sticker

for all members to display to show their

opposition to this practice. (See page 7) These

stickers which state ‘Ban heli-hunting respect

our national parks and wildlife’ went out with

a letter of appeal asking all members and

branches to write to members of parliament

on this issue, which is part of the Association’s

strategy to influence a change of legislation

that would outlaw heli-hunting for good. Have

you written your letter yet?

Sika Show

The recently held Sika Show in Taupo on

the 15/16 October appeared to be another

successful one. The NZDA stand placement

right next to the entrance into the show was a

real bonus. It was the first opportunity for the

Association to display its new pull up banners.

We had a number of members stating that they

liked what they saw.

We had many enquiries from young people in

their twenties, which is a good sign of getting

some new blood into our Association.

I would like to thank those members who

assisted with our stand.

National President

I announced at this year’s conference that

I would be stepping down as your National

President at the end of this financial year, ie

conference 2012. I wish to inform you that I

have moved forward my decision and this will

take effect immediately. You will all be aware

of the economic hard times New Zealand

is having; I have to put my effort into my

business.

First of all I wish the interim National

President, your current Vice President, Tim

McCarthy all the best and I request that all

members give him the same support and help

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

PresIDenT’s rePOrTA l e c M c I v e r - N a t i o n a l P r e s i d e n t N e w Z e a l a n d D e e r s t a l k e r s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 175 - Summer 2012 2

that was bestowed to me.

I intend to stay on the National Executive in the

role of Immediate Past President so that the

transition is smooth.

I have enjoyed my role as your National

President, and with my passion for this sport,

I wish to continue my involvement with NZDA

in the future. I feel that the NZDA is now

stronger than when I took on the office and

will continue to get stronger in the future.

Finally I wish all members a Merry Christmas

and a safe New Year.

Safe hunting Identify your target. Alec

EDITORIAL

The one thing it is not, is hunting; hunting is all about the journey. We go hunting for the experience of the hunt, not to kill an animal, even though this is regarded as a successful outcome. The journey starts with putting on boots and pack, slinging your rifle, then fording rivers and climbing mountains in pursuit of the experience of hunting. At day’s end there will be a reward, there is nothing surer. It may be in the sunrise, it may be an encounter with an animal you decide to leave unharmed, it may be in taking a trophy, it may be some meat from a young animal, or maybe a photo you will prize for the image captured - an image which will long remind you of glory days spent in alpine splendour.

For true hunters, the destination is never reached; he will pursue hunting as long as his legs will carry him, it is all about the experience. He hunts to have experienced hunting; he does not have to make a kill.

What then is heli-hunting?

Heli-hunting is not fair chase; it is hell bent on the kill at the end. The helicopter is used to find, chase and slay an animal to collect a fee. If the chase involves shooting at the animal with a shotgun to move it out of a cave or off a bluff where it seeks escape then so be it; constantly pursuing the animal until it is exhausted and then slaying it when it can no longer run or climb is deemed acceptable.

I liken this practice to some sort of fair ground ride, the trophy at the end being a stuffed animal souvenir to remind the client of his joy ride. The client, usually a wealthy tourist, cares not for our national parks and wilderness areas, our heritage and traditions, or the disrespect he has shown the kiwi public. Heli-hunting is conducted purely for a quick turn around and financial gain.

This practice is currently being carried out in our mountains and national parks; it is being perpetrated by a dozen or so

helicopter companies and guides.

The animals targeted are the Himalayan tahr and the chamois and this unethical practice is happening with the consent of the Department of Conservation (DOC). In fact DOC is processing applications to create a 10-year concession to allow heli-hunting over national parks and wilderness areas granting access rights no other group or individual has.

DOC has released their final report on heli-hunting for 2011, and at a public meeting held in Christchurch, 13 September 2011 the department made it clear it is their desire for commercial heli-hunting to continue. This meeting was attended by representatives of the West Coast Conservation Board, the Canterbury Conservation Board, the Otago Conservation Board, the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association, Safari Club International (NZ Chapter), Forest and Bird, Federated Mountain Clubs NZ, Game and Forest and many individuals with concerns about the way DOC is processing these permits. All representatives of these Kiwi conservation/outdoor recreation groups are unanimous in their opposition to heli-hunting. Of the 60 - 70 attendees, there were only 2 in favour of heli-hunting being allowed to continue; these two being hunting guides involved in the practice of heli-hunting.

Mike Cuddihy, DOC Canterbury Conservator made it clear that there would be no public consultation, and that he is duty bound to process applications for permits. Effectively then, heli-hunting will continue unless there is a law change to ban the activity.

The Wild Animal Control Act 1977 gives DOC the power to over ride the Conservation Act 1987 and the national parks legislation. It allows heli-hunting on DOC managed land and wilderness areas to go unchallenged, despite huge opposition to the activity.

They caLL IT heLI-hunTInGB y S n o w H e w e t s o n , N Z D A N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e , m e m b e r

N Z D A H e l i - h u n t i n g S u b c o m m i t t e e


Co-founders: Dr G B Orbell MBE, Arthur Hamilton

Patron: Hong Tse

National President: Tim McCarthy

National Vice President:

North Island Members of the National Executive: Steve Corlett, Sandi Curreen South Island Members of the National Executive: Chaz Forsyth, Snow Hewetson

Chief Executive Officer: Dianne Brown

National Treasurer: John Crone

Advisor to the National Executive: Matthew Lark

Honorary Solicitor: Peter Barrett

Auditor: Signal & Associates

LIFe MeMBers: R Badland QSM, M St J, J Bamford, D Bruce Banwell, W J I Cowan, M Dunajtschik, A S D Evans MNZM, D Hodder, R McNaughton MNZM, W O’Leary, G Smith, H Tse, I D Wright nZDa recOGnIseD sPOnsOrs 2010:Ampro Sales – Tasco, Belmont Ammunition, The Game Butcher, Halcyon Publishing, Kilwell, Hunting & Fishing NZ, Malcolm Perry, NZ Guns & Hunting, NZ Mountain Safety Council, Shooters Word Ltd – Gore, Stoney Creek (NZ) Ltd, Swazi Apparel aFFILIaTeD TO: Council of Licensed Firearm Owners (COLFO), NZ Mountain Safety Council (NZMSC), Outdoors New Zealand (ONZ), Sporting Shooters of Australia Association Inc (SSAA), Shooting Sports Pacific Forum (through COLFO), International Hunter Education Association (IHEA)

Branches: Ashburton, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Blue Mountains, Bush, Central King Country, Direct, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Golden Bay, Gore & Districts, Hastings, Hutt Valley, Kapiti, Kaweka, Malvern, Manawatu, Marlborough, Napier, Nelson, North Auckland, North Canterbury, North Otago, Northland, Otago, Palmerston, Porirua, Rakaia, Rotorua, Ruahine, South Auckland, South Canterbury, South Otago, South Waikato, Southern Lakes, Southland, Taihape, Taranaki, Taupo, Te Awamutu, Thames Valley, Tutira, Upper Clutha, Waikato, Waimarino, Wairarapa, Wairoa & Districts, Wellington, West Coast, Western Southland, Whangarei

All rights reserved – opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SERIAL NUMBER977 1171 656 006

‘A particular virtue in wildlife ethics is that the hunter ordinarily has no gallery to applaud or

disapprove of his conduct. Whatever his acts, they are dictated by his conscience.’

Aldo Leopald

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc, formed July 1937

EDITORIAL

In effect then, the tail is wagging the dog; the wishes of the New Zealand public take second place to a dozen commercial operators on New Zealand public land.

The Department of Conservation has collected $199,000 to date in concession fees for the activity of heli-hunting - none of which has come back into animal control - and no accounting of how much the application processing has cost, or of the on-going administrative costs thus far has been provided.

The department’s 2011 final heli-hunting report illustrated numerous examples demonstrating the approved operators’ failures to comply with DOC’s permit conditions as set out in their short-term temporary permit 2011 conditions:

• The heli-hunting operators (as per the conditions stated in their permits) were to kill 5 females or young animals for every adult male or trophy animal. They never achieved this; the final result was 376 trophies v only 411 culls

• Only 7 hunting logs were submitted

• Coordinates for 43 kill locations fell outside DOC’s approved heli-hunting areas

• Failure to comply with the GPS tracking permit requirement was glossed over in the report; one is expected to believe that individuals who must hold a pilot’s license cannot set a GPS to run correctly

None of this should surprise any one. Why would you shoot the goose that lays the golden egg? Or put another way, if you were farming and made your money selling bull

calves, how long would you be in business for if you killed five cows for every calf you sold? The entire history of heli-hunting is one of non compliance and now rather than deal with these operators, DOC is proposing to let them have free reign. The DOC commercial heli-hunting permit will not police unethical behaviour or non compliance of permit conditions - history has clearly proven this.

Is this all about the money?

Is DOC hell-bent on selling hunting rights to the highest bidder? If so, then the department will have to manage game animals to maintain that income and they are not likely to do that. The proposed Game Animal Council is the way forward for management and control of game animals. A main concern is that Mike Cuddihy stated the Crown had the right to sell these animals - and that is a problem. The animals actually belong to the New Zealand public; the Crown has no mandate to sell them to the heli- hunters. There has been, and remains huge opposition to this from the public.

New Zealand has a democratic government and democracy means government by the people. The people have spoken loud and clear on heli-hunting. They regard it as unethical, unsafe, unsporting, and disrespectful of our national parks and our egalitarian principles and, quite simply, don’t want any part of it.

It is clear now that only a change of law will satisfy the public concerns around heli-hunting.

(See page 7 )

They say a picture speaks a thousand words!


THE NEW ZEALAND DEERSTALKERS’ ASSOCIATION INCWHY JOIN ?

A Special New Year Deerby Jamie Pottinger

It was the 20th January, 2007.Three of us, plus canine companions Castrol and Jive, were sitting high on a ridge overlooking a basin. We were glassing the promising looking area when Lloyd suddenly murmured, “There’s three pigs down there.”“Eh? Where?” asked Tony. Lloyd pointed out a main spur with a small, rocky side spur running off it. “See that rock, then the patch of bush, just there. There’s two blacks about 50 lbs and a bigger black

such organisations as: C Mountain Safety Council (MSC)

C International Hunting Education Assoc (IHEA)

C Sporting Shooters of Australia Association (SSAA) through Pacific Shooting Forum

C New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO)

C Department of Conservation

C Other groups involved in outdoor recreation.

members include:C$10 million liability insurance (including $1million

cover for the Rural Fires Act as well as punitive and exemplary damages),

CFour NZ Hunting & Wildlife magazines each year

CBetween four and six issues of the Bugle, the Association’s in-house newsletter

CMembers’ only discount as negotiated from various retailers

CA discount on DOC annual passes.

The local branch can offer:CMonthly meetings with displays, speakers, etc

CRegular newsletters

CAntler, Horn & Tusk and photographic competitions

CComradeship

COrganised hunts

CSome branches have ranges and huts available to members

Founded in 1937, NZDA is New Zealand’s recognised National body representing and speaking for hunters generally. The fundamental aim of the association is to ensure that the organisation and management of recreational hunting in New Zealand is carried out by hunters.Our Mission statement is: ‘to retain, enhance and create opportunities for the enjoyment of legitimate recreational hunting and the sport of shooting, for the members of the Association.’

In the current climate, hunting and sports shooting are facing some really big challenges and hunters need to be proactive in protecting their interests. It is most important to belong to some form of organisation that has a mandate to look after your interests as an outdoor enthusiast and/or recreationalist. The old saying ‘There’s strength in numbers’ is very true, and every member of the NZDA team adds to that strength. We must support each other.

Irrespective of your interest, from big game hunting to just having a walk in the mountains, there are many issues which concern you that only a collective voice will hold much sway on when confronting the ‘authorities.’

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association has become very involved in issues such as:

CPublic access

CFirearms

CRange shooting

CTraining of prospective outdoor enthusiast

CFunding and assistance in building huts

CNew hunter training

CHut maintenance

COpposition to the use of aerial 1080

CAnimal control

CGame animal protection

YES I WANT TO JOIN THE NZDA5 YES I want to join the NZDA AND receive the New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife as part of my membership (send me details of my nearest branch)

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

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_____________________________________________

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Phone: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

Under the terms of the Privacy Act 1993, I acknowledge that you are retaining my name for the purpose of mailing further information on NZDA and related

matters.

Post to:

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc PO Box 6514

Marion Square, Wellington 6141

or Fax 04 801 7368

email: [email protected]

#NZ Hunting & Wildlife 161 - Winter 2008 16

NZDA has affiliations and associations with

Advantages of belonging to NZDA for full



















CComradeship

COrganised hunts






CPublic access

CFirearms

CRange shooting




CHut maintenance


CAnimal control



Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________


matters.

Post to:



or Fax 04 801 7368























CComradeship

COrganised hunts






CPublic access

CFirearms

CRange shooting




CHut maintenance


CAnimal control



Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________


matters.

Post to:



or Fax 04 801 7368






My last two months have been largely in the South Island trying to avoid the snow, rain and wind that has been this year’s spring weather.

The real purpose of my travels has been to see as many instructors as possible delivering courses and if that wasn’t always possible, to meet them on the road side and in coffee bars.

Running a national training scheme with a newly introduced safety management system and a qualification pathway for instructors poses some difficulties in communicating with HUNTS wide spread personnel. Face to face meetings has definitely been the way to implement policy, provide answers, get feedback and resolve issues.

In point of fact there haven’t been many issues. Most of the difficult questions centred on the standards expected of the trainees.

How long, how often, how many ???? Having an overview of the courses across the country and being able to give examples of what could be considered to be best practice and how it could be extended to any individual branch has assisted in easing the concerns of instructors.

Assessing instructors against the hunting specific standards has been a high priority and this is only possible face to face.

Put all this together and the last two months have been rather full.

I have seen the Hutt Valley instructors on a navigation weekend, assessed instructors from South Canterbury and North Otago in the snow at Windwhistle (and it did), South Canterbury again at Forest Creek up the Rangitata, Upper Clutha instructors on the hills above Lake Hawea and finally in the Cardrona

River as they ran a river safety course.

I caught up with Southland’s new instructor, Nathan Dawson and his first HUNTS group in Invercargill and was pleased to see Paul Martin of North Canterbury in the Lewis and again at Ben McLeod. In contrast

I met up with Paul Dayman over coffee in Queenstown. These, like others, are new faces fronting up to take over from some of the older guard who inevitably will move on and it is important that these faces are known to the national coordinator and vice versa.

It is also important that instructors from different branches get to meet and learn from others.

To this end we intend to build on the linkages that have developed in the central South Island and the lower North Island and plan regional seminars/training. More on this later.

In the mean time I owe a big thanks to instructors and in some cases their wives or partners who extended me hospitality in my travels.

May all instructors have a very happy and safe holiday season and enjoy the company of your families who value your time at least as much as the HUNTS trainees you served so well this past year.

HUNTS REPORT

‘Face TO Face’ - MOre rOunD The Branches.B i l l O ’ L e a r y , N a t i o n a l C o o r d i n a t o r , H U N T S

Bill O’LearyNational Coordinator, HUNTS

Hutt Valley HUNTS course and instructors some where in the Aorangi Mountains

Chris Nikon, North Otago and his trainees

Over five weeks, sixteen North Canterbury Branch members received instruction and participated in practical exercises, concluding with a tahr hunt on Ben McLeod Station over Labour Weekend


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Archaic Step The reclassification of Canada geese from

game bird to pest (November 9) was obediently

done by the Minister of Conservation at the

urging of Federated Farmers. An archaic step

back in time, resulting in a ludicrous round

of circular thinking, ending up in taxpayer

funding.

The ironic twist to the Canada geese issue was

previously, hunters had been implementing

management at no cost to the taxpayer,

plus contributing and generating consumer

spending in pursuit of sport. Now Federated

Farmers want a subsidy from the taxpayer.

Canada geese in other parts of the world are

regarded as a magnificent game bird to be

managed. Canada geese could have remained

under the previous statutory category of game

birds with land owners given the right to take

management measures desired on their own

land with assistance from licensed sporting

shooters.

Instead, the Minister of Conservation foolishly

turned the bird into a pest by a stroke of the

pen.

The Canada geese management reeks of

hypocrisy. Federated Farmers, traditionally

opposed to subsidies, now wants a subsidy

from government using taxpayers money to

deal with a situation it created.

Bud Jones, Spokesman

Sporting Hunters’ Outdoor Trust

Editor’s note: Bud Jones was commenting on the November 9th report in a central South Island newspaper re Federated Farmers NZ’s plea for government to fund ‘control measures’. Earlier, Federated Farmers had successfully pleaded with government to change the status of Canada geese from ‘game bird’ to ‘pest’.

DEERSTALKERS DISGUSTEDI write in reply to NZ Deerstalkers’ Association’s president Alec McIver being disgusted by DOC’s heli-hunting report. Firstly I must say I am a member of NZDA, and at the same time on the board of the NZ Recreational Fishing Council. I really must say what I feel here and the way forward as I see it. I have been involved with advocacy issues on the land as well as in the sea, and as long as recreational groups lack teeth, and industry make millions of dollars, recreational groups will never get anywhere. How often have well researched submissions been made from our sector yet the decision on the outcome been totally against us? Dollars are everything, while the public who love to enjoy the outdoors hunting or fishing have few ways to remedy this.

While DOC has a job to do and the Ministry of Fisheries also has their job to do, many times those jobs are being done badly. On the sea in regard to fishing over and above recommended scientific advice on the sustainability of fish stocks is cruel. The Quota Management System is full of errors. Deeming or over catching continues way above those targets when commercial pay a small deeming penalty

value as compensation to Ministry of Fisheries. But they continue to fish too hard and deplete our grounds. On the land, 1080 continues to be dropped and often in places it should not be. It’s a bit of a statement by DOC to drop 1080 as the best way to reduce unwanted ‘pests,’ such as deer as well.

What I am leading to is the UNIFICATION of outdoor people, on both the land and the sea. Gareth Morgan, is a well known economist as well as a keen outdoor fisher. He has just recently published a book ‘Hook Line and Blinkers,’ which is a fantastic read about the problems we all face, and how to fix it. The NZ Recreational Fishing Council is presently fostering change and the aim is to bring all recreational fishing groups together to give us power against those that oppose us such as the Ministry of Fisheries, and likewise hunters could follow and do likewise. The new united group would become a statutory government recognised organisation that is thus very powerful. However there are tough decisions to be made. All fishers would have to come under one banner and perhaps be licensed. Under a licensed regime, a strong CEO and lawyer would be paid to do the job of working for our

aspirations and sorting out our issues once and for all. He or she would have the financial backing to take it’s unfair detractors to court to seek justice. In NSW Australia, there is a Recreational Fishing Trust with licensing and through that they have bought out some commercial businesses that were depleting areas the public fished, by way of a 30 million dollar repayable loan. Commercial were happy and so are those that fish for a feed and fun. The spatial conflict is solved. Catch surveys, artificial reefs, fishing platforms and even compliance is partly funded by recreational fishers themselves. The huge amount of money derived from licensing is managed by fishers and audited by the auditor general. This is what we are seeking in New Zealand.

While Maori and commercial fishing rights are well defined, recreational or the people’s rights are unclear and therefore we are weak.

I hope the message to NZDA that I bring is worthy of discussion. Gareth Morgan’s book is likened to what hunters should do on the land. An interesting quote in his book was: ‘Trees are easy to count on the land but in the sea the trees cannot be seen and they keep moving.’

Alain Jorion, Gisborne

Bumper stickers can be obtained by email, [email protected] or phone (04) 801 7367


Story

a sTaG BeFITTInG TO ........B y H o w a r d E g a n , W a i r a r a p a B r a n c h

..... a new rifle. There was this old fella - 75 in a couple of months. He has as had a fixation since he started hunting 50-odd-years-ago, on fully wooded carbines in .270. First was a brand new Husqvarna carbine, imported direct from the factory. It was intended to be a lifetime rifle and was only sold later to buy an offered 1954 classic Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine in .270, monte carlo stock with a steel rotary magazine in mint condition. That was later sold to fund an overseas trip. An early mistake – what a waste of a beautiful rifle, but it had shot nearly every species. Then came the Sako Forester, a .270 carbine, elegant, but still the Sako quality was there. He loved it for years and only sold it to buy a specific long range rifle. A .300 Win Mag. It got him his Alberta Whitetail, then a Sambar and a Kaweka Sika.

Fast forward. Trophies in all New Zealand species except Wapiti, and now, too old for that. Not many shooting years left; so came the final indulgence. A CZFS, (read fully wooded BRNO), in 7x64. Very impressive and the calibre is well recommended. He is using S&B 139 grain projectiles.

Sighted in at the local range, but two outings for a deer didn’t produce anything. It happens to old guys just the same. Somehow the Haurangis seemed steeper.

The phone went. He had 48 hours to get himself to a big station at the Rakaia River, where he could try for a big stag. Wild Rakaia stags, born there, not tipped out of a truck, or born behind wire, it was truly fair chase.

Saturday afternoon saw him heading out into a pretty significant area of matagouri, on the braided river bed. He had already seen deer in the area. Conditions were good - a noticeable haze in the air was affecting visibility and it was calm. No breeze at all. A fair bit of sign

with plenty of antler thrashing on the scrub. The stags were still in groups, so no roaring yet. For the first hour they saw nothing at all. Then it happened – about 200 yards away a spiker standing dead still, (sentry), developed into a group of four after a lot of glassing. A spiker and an 8-point, two probable shooters.

No wind, so they just had to work out a route through the matagouri that would keep them out of sight of the sentry. The need was to be very quiet. Luckily he wears light Rusa boots. Ben stayed back, so off he went, very slowly, picking his way through the sparse scrub. Light footed. It went well. Soon he was within 100 yards. Ben came for a whispered conference and they agreed the big stags were resting in a noticeably higher patch of matagouri. He crept on. Very successfully – not a sound. Suddenly he was at 50 yards and ready to go. Rifle at chest height, scope wound back to 5x, safety off, heart racing a bit. He

just stood, he knew a good stag was just in front of him. Yes, the stag must have sensed something; a head raised and a set of nice tops were in front of him at waist height. As he shouldered the rifle, the stag got to his feet. What a sight. A big bodied bright Red stag with a cluster of tines. He remembered taking two glances through the scope, first at the tops, then a second at the lower tines.

Bang/thump – shoulder; the stag leaves. Bang/thump - rear end; stag gone. Ben arrived, ‘Where is he?’ ‘Don’t know.’ OK, they split, to look for blood. No problem - twenty yards away, stone dead. Magnificent.

Medium sized, 15-point wild Rakaia Red stag with counter parted Windsor throwback tops. A fitting reward for the beautiful new carbine/stutzen, and an old but very happy hunter.

Good hunting.

15-point Rakaia stag.

CZFS rifle


MOunTaIn saFeTy cOuncIL MeDIa reLease:

careFuL TrIP PLannInG anD eMerGency PrePareDness The Key TO saFe hunTInG ThIs sPrInGB y M i k e S p r a y , M o u n t a i n S a f e t y C o u n c i l .

The warmer weather approaches, daylight saving has commenced and hunters venturing into the bush are being urged by Mike Spray, from the Mountain Safety Council, to ensure they are adequately equipped and use the Outdoor Safety Code as the basis for their preparation.

Checking the weather, carrying some means of emergency communication (such as a mountain radio or a personal locator beacon) plus being equipped to take shelter for an extra night should things go wrong, are all key to being prepared for the unexpected.

Firearms Safety and Hunter Training Programme Manager, Mike Spray, said:

‘Before going into New Zealand’s backcountry hunters need to plan well and have the skills and experience to deal with unexpected situations. Navigating in poor visibility, taking appropriate clothing and equipment and being able to cope with extreme weather conditions are all necessities for those who venture into this environment.’

Even during the summer months the weather can deteriorate rapidly and cold conditions can be encountered with little warning. Plus in alpine areas and above the bush line there is also an increased avalanche risk to take into consideration

‘Even experienced hunters can strike problems in the outdoors,’ said Mr Spray.

‘Survival may then rely on your ability to wait it out until conditions improve or to raise the alarm quickly. Careful preparation, making the right decisions and having a back-up plan when things go wrong can ensure your hunting trip is safe and enjoyable,’ added Mr Spray.

When venturing into the outdoors Mr Spray advises every hunter to ‘know before you go’ and follow the 5 simple rules of the Outdoor Safety Code:

1. Plan your trip - seek local knowledge and plan the route you will take and the amount of time you can reasonably expect it to take.

2. Tell someone - use the outdoors intentions process to tell someone where you’re going, when you’ll be back and how to raise the alarm if you don’t return.

3. Be aware of the weather - New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the forecast and expect weather changes. (www.metservice.co.nz)

4. Know your limits - challenge yourself within your physical limits and experience. Maintain outdoor skills including navigation and dealing with emergencies.

5. Take sufficient supplies - make sure you have enough food, equipment, clothing and emergency rations for the worst-case scenario. Take an appropriate means of communication.

For more information regarding safety in the outdoors, please visit www.mountainsafety.org.nz

Editor’s note: (refer to plb offer on page 23)

MSC ARTICLE

OUTDOORS INTENTIONS FORMNew Zealand

Safety is your responsibility so tell someone, it could save your life | www.adventuresmart.org.nz

OUTDOOR USER INSTRUCTIONS

EXPECTED DATE OF RETURN TIME

OUTDOORS USER(S) may select either of these options to

complete your Outdoors Intentions details via a downloadable form.

Option 2a. Download the form. Save to your system. Print form.

Complete details by hand and give to your TRUSTED CONTACT.

Option 2b. Download the form. Save to your system. Type

directly into the form. Save file. Attach to an email and send to

your TRUSTED CONTACT.

None of the fields on the form are compulsory, but the more

details you provide, the better the search and rescue agencies

will be able to respond should the alert be raised.

By using this form you agree to the terms and conditions.

Whatever method you use, it is recommended that you check

that your TRUSTED CONTACT has received your Outdoors

Intentions prior to leaving on your trip.

You have been nominated as the TRUSTED CONTACT for the

OUTDOORS USER listed below, so you can raise the alarm and

contact the appropriate authorities if for any reason they do not

return by the expected date and time below.

TRUSTED CONTACT INSTRUCTIONS

D D M M Y Y/ / : AM

PM

WHAT ARE YOU DOING AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

OUTDOOR USER/LEADER DETAILS (Overseas visitors please include your passport number and your nationality.)

WHO ARE YOUR GROUP MEMBERS? (Overseas visitors please include your passport number and your nationality.)

D D M M Y Y/ / : AM

PMStart Date:

Family name:

Name:

Name:

Address/Passport No./Nationality:


Phone:

Phone:

Address or Passport

Number & Nationality:

Medical Conditions

& Medication:

Medical Conditions & Medication:


First name:

Cell Number:

Home Phone:

Intended track/route/huts and alternatives:

Note: Always enter your progress and changes to plan in hut logbooks, even if you don’t stay overnight.

Activity:Time:

2

1

3

At the ‘expected date and time’ below, immediately try

and contact the ‘OUTDOORS USER’ directly, if you have not

already heard from them.

If unsuccessful try and contact other group members (if

applicable).

If unsuccessful wait 1 hour and then repeat the process of

contacting the OUTDOORS USER and if applicable other group

members. If unsuccessful and you are extremely concerned

or bad weather has set in, go straight to contacting the New

Zealand Police.

If you are still unsuccessful in contacting the OUTDOORS USER

or any members of the party, telephone 111 (or if outside New

Zealand call +64 4 381 2000) ask for the Police and tell them

you wish to report a missing person(s) who is on a trip in the

outdoors and has not returned by the expected date and time.

You will need to provide the Police with the information below.

Remember to tell your Trusted Contact as soon as you have

returned safely, to avoid unnecessary alarm and possible

involvement from New Zealand Police.

For tips, advice and links to help keep you safe throughout

your land, snow, water, boating and air activities in New

Zealand, visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz

WHAT TYPE OF EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT ARE YOU CARRYING?

Wet weather gear and thermal clothing

GPS

First Aid Kit

Extra food

Survival Kit

Emergency Shelter

Personal Locator Beacon

Firearms (with spare emergency ammunition)

Mountain Radio Call sign:

Satellite phone number:

Other:

HOW ARE YOU TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE AREA?

WHERE WILL YOU BE GOING AFTER LEAVING THE AREA?

Terms & Conditions

Type of vehicle etc. Please also include name of bus/rental car company, if applicable:

e.g. name/address/telephone of accommodation:

Registration no: Make and model: Colour: Parked at:If you are leaving a vehicle in the area for your return, please provide details below:

The Outdoors Intentions form is provided free of charge but without warrant or guarantee. ‘OUTDOORS USER’ refers to the person using the form to complete their Outdoors

Intentions. ‘TRUSTED CONTACT’ refers to the person that the ‘OUTDOORS USER’ gives their Outdoors Intentions form to, whether it be via electronic or hard copy means.

The process relies on the OUTDOORS USER providing correct and comprehensive information. No responsibility is accepted for users providing incorrect information, including

incorrect email addresses. The process relies on the TRUSTED CONTACT receiving the information from the OUTDOORS USER and following the designated process as set

out on the form. It is recommended that the OUTDOORS USER checks that their TRUSTED CONTACT has received the Outdoors Intentions (by whatever means chosen) prior

to leaving on a trip. It is the responsibility of the OUTDOORS USER to ensure that the TRUSTED CONTACT they select is willing and able to respond and follow the process

contained within the information they receive. No responsibility is accepted for the TRUSTED CONTACT not receiving the information or not following the correct process.

The timeliness and accuracy of a search and rescue response depends somewhat on the quality, quantity and accuracy of the information that is provided by the OUTDOORS

USER to the TRUSTED CONTACT and that the TRUSTED CONTACT follows the process correctly. No guarantee is given regarding search and rescue response. Internet and

telecommunications providers do not guarantee uptime of their systems or delivery of electronic messages. Postal services do not guarantee timeframes of delivery of physical

letters, parcels or packages. By using the Outdoors Intentions form you accept that you have read, understood and agree to the terms and conditions above.

ADDITIONAL GROUP MEMBERS? (Overseas visitors please include your passport number and your nationality.)

Name:

Name:

Name:




Phone:

Phone:

Phone:




4

5

6

* If you need to add more group members, please download the additional group members form.

Remember to tell your Trusted Contact as soon as you have returned safely.


new naTIOnaL LIFe MeMBer

DavID hODDerOur latest National Life member, David Warwick Hodder joined the NZDA Napier Branch in 1971, and became involved in the club’s executive committee and the NZDA National Sika Research Committee, of which he became chairperson. He was appointed to the newly created Kaweka/Kaimanawa Forest Park Advisory Board just prior to moving to Christchurch in 1981, as the District Operations Engineer for the NZ Electricity Department.

The move to Christchurch resulted in David transferring to the North Canterbury Branch who nominated him for the National Executive. David served on the National Executive from 1981 until 2005. Vice President 1984 – 1989 President 1989 – 1992 Immediate Past President 1992 – 1995 South Island Vice President 1995 – 2005

During his earlier years on the executive he was appointed to the Minister’s Recreational Hunting Advisory Committee until it was dissolved by the National Government in 1987.

He also played a large part in coordinating the Seminar 2000 Conference. Other committees he was involved with included the Wapiti Crown Herd Management Committee and the Himalayan Tahr Control Plan Implementation Liaison Group (1993 - present). During 2010 he was made chairperson of the Heli-hunting Sub committee following the Department of Conservation’s decision to allow temporary hunting permits for the heli-hunting of tahr and chamois, on public lands managed by the department, while they processed applications for this new concession area/activity.

As a member of the North Canterbury Branch David, has always been on the executive and hence was involved in the development of the McLeans Island Road, Burnett Range Complex – (Commonwealth Games 1994 shooting venue) into a 50, 100 and 200 metre centrefire rifle range during the 1980s, the sale of their church building at 30 Lincoln Road, Addington

and the construction of the new 12m x 24m clubrooms at the Range at 599 McLeans Island Road (opened in May 2011). He was Branch President 1990 – 1992 and Secretary 2006 – present. He is currently Secretary/Treasurer for the Canterbury Shooting Federation, 2008 - present, as an NZDA North Canterbury representative.

David’s hunting has been fairly wide spread, with his first real taste occurring while he was tramping in the Tararua’s just north of Wellington, after seeing a deer on a tramping club trip. He then procured an ex-army .303 rifle and talked a couple of his fellow Railway cadets from the single-men’s camp at Gracefield, Lower Hutt, to walk into Mt Holdsworth looking for those deer again. Success was fairly easy in those days – you just kept walking until you bumped into them.

He had a good background in firearms as his parents were both indoor .22RF shooters and encouraged him to join the Tauranga

Defence Rifle Club. While at Tauranga College he held the top cadetship shooter’s position for three years. Duck shooting and shotguns also came into the picture at an early age as well. The tahr committee work has resulted in considerable hunting trip organising and animal management control over a good part of the tahr range.

Trophy taking has included a nice 8-point Sika from near the lower Mohaka River, Hawke’s Bay while on a Sika Research field trip back in 1975 (Douglas Sccore 164) and a 13-inch bull tahr from the Macaulay River in 1996 (Douglas Score 43). Securing a good Red, Whitetail, pig, Fallow or chamois has yet to happen.

When the mountains get too steep for him to hunt on, David has indicated a desire to fall back to range shooting again, but the hills have not got that steep yet. After a grounding at Lake Taupo back in the 1960s, trout fishing is undertaken occasionally.

David Hodder receiving his National Life Member certificate.

Left to right: Alec McIver, David Hodder, Sonya Hodder and Bill O’Leary

ARTICLE


With a bit of game management we could see more animals out on the tops. The better we look after the environment, the better the trophies. She’s a win-win for all.

Sorry about the language, but at this time I find it very appropriate, as we have just reached a milestone in Wapiti management.

December 19th 2011, will mark a new milestone in managing the Wapiti area of Fiordland National Park with the signing of a management agreement between Wapiti hunters, led by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and the Department of Conservation. We have been fighting this for eleven years, the life of my daughter Emma. She knows as much about bloody Wapiti as I do. This is such a big achievement for recreational hunting in New Zealand and something to celebrate for a change; I can’t think of too many other events of such importance in my life time.

A lot of you will remember all those years ago me nagging at you to get your submissions in for the Fiordland National Park Management Plan Review. At the time we managed to get 2,400 submissions for the plan. About 1,800 of them told DOC that this Wapiti herd meant a lot to New Zealanders - so bugger off and let us keep them. Not only keep them, but manage the environment they live in. Well - that’s the bouncy happy version of the story. But, seven years on we have been doing what we said we would do. We are managing the effects the deer have on the environment and removing close to 5,500 non Wapiti type animals. This is not only improving the environment but improving the quality of the Wapiti herd.

A win - win for conservation and recreation.

Also for good measure, we have chucked in 70 kilometres of predator lines and raised and released 13 whio blue ducklings.

To manage game animals in New Zealand hunters need to get ‘runs on the board’ and prove that they are capable of making the hard decisions for the good of hunting and conservation. The Wapiti programme is ‘runs on the board’. Just that and nothing more. Yes, it’s probably the most successful thing to happen to recreational hunting in New Zealand in most of our lifetimes. We need to celebrate it - and we will I can tell you - but we must then put it to one side and move onto the next fight - the Game Animal Council. I must say I am disappointed how hunters have embraced the Game Animal Council (GAC).

It reminds me of the nightmare we had with this Wapiti programme when we started it off.

Why are hunters so afraid of change? The question must be asked: is what we currently have so bloody wonderful? I don’t know about you guys who sit at home and read this stuff I am writing, but I have been actively involved at the coal face and spent loads of my personal time scrapping with DOC over trying to improve our current hunting regime. I must say it is not hard to improve, as what we have isn’t that wonderful.

Guys, get in behind this Game Animal Council. Repeat after me, ‘change is good’. With the current green movement we live in I do fear for the future of game in New Zealand. The decision makers are better to be the hunters.

There is a huge world shortage of protein in the world. Food supplies have gone from something like 40 days supply several years ago to around 20 today. I can tell you if the New Zealand green movement get what they

want, your protein supplies in New Zealand are going to get a hell of a lot shorter.

This Wapiti thing is a good achievement for recreational hunters and we all need to be congratulated for it, as we have achieved this because of the consensuses of numbers.

Things have happened

that have not happened in the hunting world of New Zealand before. Recreational hunters have started to work with the good guys in the helicopter business. Recreational hunters have worked with local DOC officers. Recreational hunters have started to control excess deer numbers to improve the quality of the herd and the environment. But that’s not all, and I think this is the biggest thing to happen; recreational hunters have started to work with recreational hunters to achieve a common goal.

Sounds like a mini Game Animal Council doesn’t it? Well, to ensure a reasonable tenure for anything we do in the hunting world, especially the Wapiti, we need a GAC, don’t kid yourselves otherwise.

A change of government or a change of mood, and we could be back to where we were ten years ago.

But hey, let’s not darken this achievement by chucking that kind of talk out there. Guys, clean your fridge out and chuck away those ‘Tui’ beers because this isn’t a ‘Tui’ moment. This is time to have a good old ‘Southern Speight’s’ - but be careful, you may enjoy it.

I can tell you we will celebrate this one, but then move on to the next thing and not become complacent....look at the French in the Rugby World Cup.

We, from the Wapiti Foundation would like to thank the recreational hunters of New Zealand who have supported this battle, and those who are adapting to the very quickly changing Wapiti world. If we want a quality herd to hunt in the future we will need to work together even closer now, as we are moving quickly into the world of game management.

But I will say, this one is for the ‘hunters’ and that’s bloody good for a change.

HABITAT

The sun going down in the Tasman Sea, George Sound, Wapiti country. We only hope it’s not setting on the Game Animal Council. Hunters need to get behind GAC. As I said, the current systems we have for our wild animals in New Zealand is rubbish. It can only get better, especially if it is run by hunters.

eureKa anD aBOuT BLOODy TIMe. BuT JusT ‘runs On The BOarD’B y R o y S l o a n , P r e s i d e n t F i o r d l a n d W a p i t i F o u n d a t i o n


CHARTERS • BLUFF

Scenic Trips • Fishing • Hunting • Diving • Tramping

Hunt Stewart Island

Contact: Bob & Chris HawklessPh: (03) 212 7254 - Fax: (03) 212 8321 - Mob: 0274 335 801

Email: [email protected]: www.manacharters.com

47ft Morgan Hull charter vessel, 650hp V8 Fiat engine, cruises at 12-13 knots.

Bob Hawkless: ex commercial fisherman for 25 years plus 20 years hunting experience on Stewart Island.

Hire equipment: 12ft Stabi Crafts, 12ft dinghys, outboard motors, camping equipment,

gas bottles & dive bottles.

GOOD CAUSE: Taygen Hughes starts to hack off her father's 30-year-old beard for charity with a large hunting knife, scissors and a razor.

The last time that Davey Hughes, owner of outdoor clothing company Swazi, shaved his moustache and beard was for a woman, but yesterday he took it all off again for the Movember charity.

The annual event raises money for testicular and prostate cancer awareness. This year, money raised will also go towards promoting awareness of male depression. Mr Hughes put himself up for the challenge recently after other Swazi employees chose to shave it all off for cash.

If you want to donate to the cause or watch video of Mr Hughes' beard coming off, go to clan.swazi.co.nz/Join

NZDA congratulates Davey on rising to the challenge.

Davey huGhes - cLOse shave

Sources: Photo from Manawatu Standard, www.stuff.co.nz Story from www.clan.swazi.co.nz

ARTICLE


Bull Tahr

Orders & payment should be posted to:NZDA, PO Box 6514, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

Under the terms of the Privacy Act 1993, I acknowledge that you are retaining my name for the purpose of mailing further information on NZDA and related matters.

NZDA has produced 100 Limited Edition B&W Unframed Prints (to fit a 16” X 20” frame with matting board) Money raised from the sale of prints will be managed by the National Association to provide funds for research projects. NZDA has commissioned further prints in this big game series, which will also be available as limited editions. The original pencil drawings were created by Wellington artist, Alan Patterson.

I have enclosed my cheque for $ ___________

Name: _______________________________

Address: _____________________________

_____________________________________

Email: _______________________________

Phone: _______________________________

Roaring Red Wapiti Chamois

Red Tahr

Wapiti Chamois

Pig Sika

@ $75.00 each (includes post & packaging)

Limited Edition B&W Unframed Prints

Sika

Pig Hunting


STORY

Our team has recently returned from another memorable hunting and fishing trip to Rakiura - Stewart Island.

We were based at the Port Adventure hut on the Heron River which is one of the most hunted areas on the island, and during our trip the reasons became clear. It is a superb location for all the activities that repeatedly draw us back; with sheltered bays, sandy beaches and an excellent hut.

There were eight of us on this trip, all with previous experience in hunting the wary Whitetail deer or ‘grey ghosts’ as they are often nicknamed.

I was accompanied by Zeke, my 12-year-old grandson, excited to be embarking on his third trip to the island and hoping to see, and possibly shoot, his first Whitetail. The rest of the party consisted of Andy K, Roy W, Pete P and the three Johns, W, I and O. A diverse lot and all great company.

We arrived, after a very favourable crossing of Foveaux Strait, which pleased the landlubbers in the team, via the launch Southern Isle with our skipper and friend from many previous excursions, Herbie Hansen. Soon after arriving and making ourselves comfortable in the hut and tents, we dispersed to various points for some hunting and fishing.

No deer were taken that day but the fishermen, Roy and John O, provided us with a superb tea of fresh fillets to set the high standard of culinary delights we have come to expect on these trips.

Day two saw everybody into serious hunting mode with the dinghies transporting those of us who chose to head for the outer parts of the block. Zeke and I were dropped off at a little beach near an area called Brown’s Garden, chosen because I had read of large bucks being secured near there in the past.

We found the place was indeed a good spot

with plenty of deer (and human) sign. Judging by the boot prints and track marking tapes we found, many other hunters had been trying their luck in the area. One at least had been successful, as a distinctive odour led us to a recent gut pile in the fern.

The country we hunted was typical, varying from good travelling ridges with tall forest and crown fern covering the ground, to tangled supplejack basins and tight scrub faces and gullies near the coast. As usual the most sign was in the tightest and thickest places.

The day ended with no animal sightings for us, although we did find a recently used rub tree but not the rutting scrapes we had expected. We were pleased to see a yearling deer in the dinghy when Andy arrived to pick us up. He has a reputation for providing the camp meat supply and happily for the carnivorous crew at camp he had done it again.

Next day was designated fishing for Zeke and me. A pleasant day was had with the young fellow setting the pace by scoring a double with two cod on his jig at once. He later caught what would be the biggest blue cod of the trip.

A new area was explored next day and after finding promising sign, a decision to set up the hide was made. A clearing on the face above a small beach provided the perfect lookout to watch for any animals that might venture on to the sand.

Tuesday dawned wet and windy so was a rest day for most of us. Reading, yarning and many brews later, we were ready for an early start when the weather came right. Luckily Wednesday morning was okay and off we

went again. It was into the hide for Zeke and me. The hours ticked by and not one deer did we see. We saw the tide go out, and come in again. We watched a pair of oystercatchers opening clams and were visited by a pair of grey ducks. All this happened over a period of some six hours, so by pickup time we were quite ready to call it a day. Boatman Andy told us of a pod of dolphins that they had observed earlier in the day and took us out to see if they were still about. They were and we had a grand encounter with them as they cavorted about the dinghy.

We were pleased to find two deer hanging up back at the hut on our return. Pete had scored a doe and a yearling, inland and north of the hut.

Thursday had us back at our chosen bay with renewed enthusiasm. Others in the party had

PaTIence rewarDeD aT POrT aDvenTure.B y T r e v o r M e i k l e , N o r t h O t a g o B r a n c h

L as t i ssue, (174 , page 31) , we featured Zeke Meik le , Nor th O t ago Branch – as a ‘Young hunter pro f i l e .’ Th is i s the s tor y o f secur ing h is t rophy Whi te t a i l .

… … a dream come true. Zeke with his 9-point Whitetail trophy


been seeing deer and now, with the meat safe filled, bucks were the desired target. Not being too keen on another long vigil in the hide, Zeke and I opted for an exploration of the country adjacent to our bay. We climbed up a steep face and began an interesting wander through an area of easy travel that soon had us emerging on to Salty Beach with its fine white sand. Deer tracks were evident on the beach, but after a traverse through to the safe anchorage of Abraham’s Bosom, that which gives the name to the whole hunting block, we decided to retrace our steps.

Back above our landing point, we began to climb a ridge that led inland. Suddenly Zeke whispered, urgently. He’d spotted movement in the ferns, and a wary deer had slipped away, almost un-noticed. We resolved to make an even greater effort to move quietly and watch carefully. More movement had us on high alert, but this time we were entertained for some time by one of the island’s busiest residents, a foraging kiwi. By approaching carefully, I managed to capture some footage of the bird’s methodical prospecting of the forest floor, as it searched for its favourite grubs and worms.

Shortly after, we were again in a good looking open section of bush when we struck what we were hoping for, an active scrape! Obvious hoof marks and fresh doe droppings were evident so we decided it was time for another stakeout. A concealed mound about 40 metres downwind was selected and we were soon settled in for the rest of the day.

The time was about 12.30 pm and after four hours of nothing but birds – wrens, tomtits, tui and wood pigeons sighted; it was time to return to our pickup beach again. Before leaving we set up the trail camera hoping to at least get a picture of our elusive quarry. (Disappointingly, the trail camera malfunctioned, so no photos were obtained).

Friday morning was our last full day and with

high hopes we were back at our observation spot at 9.30 am, on full alert. Two hours later and Zeke suddenly became aware of the sound of something approaching through the undergrowth. I heard nothing - too many years of tractors and gunshots. The next sequence of events still has a dream-like feel to it. Out of the ferns stepped the scrape proprietor, pausing for a moment, as he somehow sensed that something was up. The sight of antlers and flickering ears silently screamed urgency. ‘There’s a tree in the way Pop,’ whispered Zeke. ‘Can you see the neck?’ I asked. Seconds, like minutes, go by. BOOM and the great buck was down. Zeke didn’t like the neck shot option so had settled for a clinical headshot, just above the eye!

Finding it difficult to get a grip on the reality that Zeke had taken a trophy animal that many hunters spend years trying for, we gazed in awe at the lovely set of antlers, beautifully

pearled with nine points. It was a dream come true.

After photos and video, then the retrieval of the trail camera, we transported the buck and our gear back to the beach, 200 metres and downhill, to wait for our pickup. Time seemed to go slowly till Andy and John, our boatmen, arrived. However, the moment Zeke was able to show his prize to them and then the rest of the team at the hut, all the waiting was well worthwhile.

I believe the experience of taking a youngster hunting – initially with my sons, and now with the next generation - ranks right up there with the most rewarding endeavours I have been involved with. We have grand times sharing the learning curve and feeling the amazing highs and lows of success or failure that are integral to the pursuit of hunting.

I believe the experience of taking a youngster hunting… … … … ranks right up there with the most rewarding endeavours I have been involved with

Left: A pleasant day was had with the young fellow setting the pace by scoring a double with two cod on his jig at once.

Right: BOOM and the great buck was down


2011 harry MaDDen MeMOrIaL cOMPeTITIOnB y I a n O w e n

I would like to thank the shooters, Tony Titheridge, Mark Layland, and Sue Gavin for travelling to the Harry Madden Memorial Competition in Brisbane 12 – 13 November 2011.

They all did very well in the light varmint - Mark was placed 5th, Sue 6th and Tony 11th. The heavy varmint results were as follows - Tony 12th, Sue 16th and Mark 20th. In the 2 gun results (a combination of light and heavy varmint) Tony came in at 9th, Sue tied on 10th and Mark was 13th.

Paul Sullivan (Sporting Shooters Association of Australia) had a mortgage on the Harry Madden trophy and managed the smallest group I've ever seen at 200 metres; a 0.160 of an inch (I, and many others would've been happy with this at 100 metres).

Full results for the Harry Madden are available from www.benchrestbulletin.net

2011 sPOrTInG shOOTers assOcIaTIOn OF ausTraLIa (ssaa) 500 MeTre FLy shOOTB y I a n O w e n

Three of us stayed on in Brisbane after the Harry Madden Memorial Competition and shot the 500 metres fly shoot on Monday November 14th (with our 6mm PPCs).

Sue Gavin was the best placed NZ shooter followed by Mark Layland, and then further down myself - the only consolation for me was that I managed a small group of 2.35 inches - my previous target had a cluster of 3 shots together that measured 0.557 of an inch.

Using the 6mm PPC in the 500 metre fly shoot, is like shooting blind, you don't see where the bullet holes in the target are until the target comes back.

2011 nZDa BenchresT shOOTer OF The yearB y I a n O w e n

Congratulations to Peter Haxwell, Auckland Branch for wining the NZDA Benchrest Shooter of the Year for 2011.

It was a tight race this year with Peter on 179 points, Tony Titheridge on 163 points and Mike Peacock on 162 points.

4Th PacIFIc reGIOnaL shOOTInG chaMPIOnshIPs12 - 18 November 2012This championship is primarily a team event for Pacific countries, with a maximum of three two-person teams from each Pacific country; however, individuals are also invited to participate. For detailed information contact NZDA, Wellington, NZ +64 4 801 7367 or email: [email protected]

The following shooting disciplines will be held at Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex, Newell Road, Tokoroa, New Zealand:

Silhouette Matches: Air Rifle Monday 12 Rifle (Heavy) Tuesday 13 Rifle (Light) Wednesday 14

Scoped Rifle Matches:NRA 120 Shot RF Teams Friday 16NRA 120 Shot RF Individuals Saturday 1760 Shot CF Individuals Sunday 1860 Shot CF Teams Sunday 18

Benchrest Matches: Light Varmint Friday 16 Heavy Varmint Saturday 17 Rimfire Sunday 18

Service Rifle and other disciplines:To be advised

This is a draft programme only with further details available early 2012.

On TarGeTPeter Haxell, Auckland Branch, Benchrest Shooter 2011

ON TARGET


Blake, who has been an active member of the Waikato Branch for over five years, gained his firearms licence with excellent results when he turned 16 in 2010. Prior to this he had hunted with his father or older brother gaining a strong regard to firearm safety.

Blake’s success in the NZDA 2009 national antler, horn and tusk competitions

2009 saw him receive 3rd place in the Z Veronese Trophy for the best horned species taken by a junior with a Fallow that had a Douglas Score (DS) measurement of 194 ¾. The same year he was also placed 3rd in the E Veronese Cup for the best antlered species taken by a junior with his chamois with a DS of 25 ¾.

2010, and his success nationally continued with 2nd place in the Poverty Bay Trophy

(for the best head taken by a junior under 19-years of age) with a tahr that measured 41 ¼. This tahr entry also took first place in the E Veronese Cup for the best antlered species taken by a junior.

Blake has also had success within his own branch, having been awarded the Waikato Branch Norman Douglas Trophy in 2009 and again in 2010, recognising his contribution to the NZDA hunting arena. Competing in the branch 2011 competitions Blake took out the best chamois award - a DS of 24 ½ - which also saw him awarded the best Douglas Score Award for an entry by a member who is less than 21-years of age.

In 2010 Blake completed the HUNTS course with the Waikato Branch, and with an experience level higher than some of the

older participants, Blake interacted very well, assisting some of them in their learning process. It was noted that Blake allowed every other HUNTS attendee in his group to secure their own game animal before he harvested his own two goats with two very quick shots.

In addition to hunting with his rifle, Blake also hunts with his camera and has been the recipient of numerous club and national photographic awards and commendations.

The Waikato Branch committee believes that Blake is a great example of a young NZDA member who demonstrates a high level of ethics and respect for game and its environment.

YOUNG HUNTER

yOunG DeersTaLKer PrOFILe BLaKe cLInch, waIKaTO Branch

Editor’s note:

The two photos on page 13 in issue 174 and credited to Lee Kelly, were in fact photos of Blake Clinch who features in this article. Apologies for this.

Blake and a successful tahr hunt

Blake with a nice 8-point Sika stag


The day had arrived when we headed for one of the farms that we had permission to hunt - but this hunt was going to be a little different from our usual ones - as this was going to be a Fallow hunt. Excitement was at a high level as we knew there were a couple of good bucks in the vicinity.

Weather wise it was going to be a so-so day, and as there had been a lot of rain lately, we were expecting the tracks to be a bit more trying as they were steep and would be very slippery.

Today it was Granddad and I again as it had been for this entire year’s roar. Because of the track conditions, before we headed for the back of the farm we discussed which way we should go. We decided to approach it from the western side and take it from there. Across a paddock we rode, down into a big dip and

then up a very steep ridge until we turned into a side track. Carefully we edged our way through a big mob of ewes until we reached the gate on the other side of the gully. Through the gate we went, around the corner and our first challenge. The track down was narrow and slippery; Granddad took it very carefully and reached the bottom safely.

In front of us was challenge number two – a very steep, slippery, rough piece of mother earth called a track. Granddad and I decided to walk up it and survey the situation. Safety was paramount here.

We were now entering our favourite spot, an area with quite a bit of gorse, and a place where we had watched a beautiful Fallow buck a year ago. We were on high alert – we wondered if we would see him today. Tension was building as we glassed the opposite side

of the gully but with no luck – we saw nothing.

I said to Granddad, ‘you go up the ridge, I will watch from here.’ And off he went. It seemed like only a couple of seconds when Granddad turned and whistled;

I knew from this he had seen something. Quickly I headed for him and immediately I spotted a doe working its way out of some manuka - and behind it I could see a buck. A couple more does pushed past the buck which was checking out the immediate area before coming out any further.

By now I was on my stomach and the cross hairs were searching for the buck’s shoulder. Boom, the Sako M756 exploded into action; the buck shuddered and took off down hill but the shot had been a good one and he dropped to the ground. When I got over to him he was still fighting to get away, but the .270 is a great calibre and he soon slipped away – his days ended.

Hand shakes all round as we studied his head, counting the points and putting up our guesses as to what Douglas Score he would make. The stag made 15-points and a Douglas Score of 193⅛.

This wasn’t the buck we had watched last year, but one of his prodigy. I reckon maybe next year we will get the original buck. We were both disappointed, as it was so close to the magical 200 DS. But now we have a benchmark to do better – we will try hard.

YOUNG HUNTER

DyLan’s FaLLOwB y D y l a n M a n t h e y , 1 4 , B u s h B r a n c h

Dylan with his Fallow buck 15-points and a Douglas Score of 193⅛


Sam Peffers, aged 12, North Canterbury Branch, who shot his first big game animal on the HUNTS course. She was an 8-year-old nanny, taken at 70 metres.

Maddison Butters, 9-months-old, (Jaimee McCarthy’s daughter), at the South Island Championships having her ‘new rifle’ checked out by the range officer.

Ethan Fisher, aged 12, Thames Valley Branch – the hard work is just about to begin.

Khan Caddy, aged 8, Thames Valley Branch, doing his bit towards conservation with a stoat in his trap the result of a 5-hour walk on the Terry Line trap line, Kauaeranga.

Sean Carson, aged 9, Thames Valley Branch with his first magpie taken with his bow

Sam Peffers, aged 12, North Canterbury Branch, who shot his first big game animal on the HUNTS course. She was an 8-year-old nanny, taken at 70 metres.

Maddison Butters, 9-months-old, (Jaimee McCarthy’s daughter), at the South Island Championships having her ‘new rifle’ checked out by the range officer.

Ethan Fisher, aged 12, Thames Valley Branch – the hard work is just about to begin.

Khan Caddy, aged 8, Thames Valley Branch, doing his bit towards conservation with a stoat in his trap the result of a 5-hour walk on the Terry Line trap line, Kauaeranga.

Branch with his first magpie taken with his bow

vaLue ThaT LensB y B r e n d a n A t k i n s o n , A u s t r a l i a n S h o o t e r m a g a z i n e

Reproduced f rom the Oc tober 2011 ‘Aus t ra l ian Shooter ’ magaz ine wi th permiss ion by Spor t ing Shooters Associat ion o f Aus t ra l ia .

I recently saw a very expensive riflescope ruined by some ham-fisted cleaning of the front lens. Now, of course, 99 percent of us would never do what this guy did – or would we?

Our man was out one night and there was a good deal of dust around, particularly when the vehicle stopped. The next morning, he noticed the front lens was covered in dust. Having blown on the lens, he then breathed on it and wiped it off with part of a flannelette shirt. You can guess the result – not only was there fine dust on the lens, but there was some fine grit on the lens and also on the shirt!

The result was a cobweb of fine scratches on the front of the lens, and once you put a scratch there, you have it forever. Yes, perhaps it can be polished out, but why not just avoid the problem in the first place?

Not only do I have a number of valuable riflescopes, I also have a number of expensive camera lenses, so cleaning them all from time to time has become a second nature. Here’s a tip – there are no compromises when it comes to cleaning your lens. So let’s have a look at how I do it. You will need the following items:

• A lens to be cleaned

• A camera lens blower brush

• A camera-grade lens cloth or lens tissue

• A suitable solvent to use

The first step is to blow any loose material from the surface of the lens. If you use a blower brush, you can gently whisk this over the lens while applying air pressure. This will remove any loose surface stuff, but won’t remove smudges from finger marks or wind-blown solvent when cleaning – put the lens cap on next time!

As far as solvents are concerned, use a photographic blend obtainable from any good camera shop. I was instructed by a lens maker to never use the household window cleaning products on quality lenses – save them for your mirrors and glass. Some of the astronomical folks I know will only use isopropyl alcohol on their mirror lenses and this is good stuff if you want to buy a bottle.

Never use normal grade tissues for lens cleaning. These are great for blowing your nose, but are not for lens glass. You can buy photo grade lens tissues, but I prefer a good lens cleaning cloth. These can be washed and used time and time again, where as tissues can’t.

For quick cleanups in the field, I carry a box of Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes; these are high grade tissues soaked in isopropyl alcohol and at about A$6 for a packet of 50, they seem to be good value.

To clean the lens, use the tissue or cloth with a dash of solvent on it. Use a circular motion and always work from the centre out to the edge. Do not breathe on the lens and rub it. Examine the lens to see if it is clean and if you’re not happy, just repeat the procedure until you are. This method also works for camera lenses.

When not being used, make sure your lens caps are on and if you did not get any with the scope, then buy some aftermarket ones or find something else that fits. It only takes a moment to whip the front cover off when you need to.

Look after those lenses and they will outlast you.

LOCk, STOCk & BARRELL

After a week-long hunting trip, the shooter will have their work cut out to carefully

clean this lens. The markes are light reflections, not scratches.

Theses are Brendan Atkinson’s choices at the moment, but there are many good products out there available at optical

or camera shops

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hunTInG Gear - KnIvesB y J e f f B a n k e , D i r e c t B r a n c h

TIP OFFS

A top quality knife is an essential part of the deer hunter’s kit. Buy a good one and it will allow you to butcher and cape out the largest deer without the need for a major resharpening; get caught with a poor quality or unsuitable blade and field dressing your deer will be an exercise in absolute frustration.

Larger folding knives and sheath knives are equally popular among hunters and certainly both will do the job.

If you purchase a folding knife, insist that it is solidly built, is made of good quality steel and has a blade shape that is not overly long and slender but rather a strong, broad blade with plenty of ‘belly’ for skinning and preferably with a drop point. Companies such as Case®, Puma®, Gerber®, Kershaw® and Buck® are all makers of excellent folding knives well suited to the demands of deer hunting.

Sheath knives are more robust by virtue of their one piece construction and can handle the demanding tasks of heavy duty butchering very effectively. They should have a sturdy leather or synthetic sheath to keep the blade out of harm’s way and should not be carried on the belt where they are potentially dangerous in a fall, or will snag on a bush. Carry a sheath knife in your daypack and wear a folding knife such as a Leatherman®for the day-to-day tasks. Once again, look for a strong blade with plenty of sweep for skinning; a drop point is the best. Quality fixed bladed hunting knives from Puma®, Gerber®, Kershaw® and Buck® are very popular amongst deer hunters and although they are not cheap,

they can last a hunting lifetime. Gut hooks can be useful on sheath knives, but limit their usefulness in skinning.

A sharpening tool will be required for the successful hunter as your knives will need some additional sharpening during the caping/skinning and meat cutting process. Gerber® and others market small, flat hone steels in a leather carry pouch, a small Arkansas® sharpening stone may be carried in the daypack or one of the new ceramic or diamond faced ‘steels’ may be used. All are capable of returning the sharp edge to your knife and one should be carried as part of the deer hunter’s kit - it is as essential as a good quality knife.

A selection of commercially available sheath knives:

(Top to bottom)

‘drop-point’ blade

‘common’ type of blade

‘gut hook’ blade

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STORY

The heLLOLe sTaGsB y E r i c H a l l , N e l s o n B r a n c h

Three KIwIs Try TheIr LucK In ausTraLIa seeKInG a TrOPhy chITaL sTaG, recOGnIseD as One OF The MOsT BeauTIFuL Deer In The wOrLD.

Ever since I was a young fella, I have always wanted to hunt overseas; no doubt kindled even more after reading the adventures of Keith Severinsen and Garry Joll.

Last year at a NZDA’s Southern Lakes Branch club night, Mark McKay just happened to ask me if I was interested in going to Australia on a Chital hunt. ‘Give me week and I will get back to you,’ was my response. When I arrived home I casually mentioned to my wife that Mark had asked me to go on the trip, however, having only just got back from a fishing trip to the Ranfurly Banks on the Enchanter, with Paul Bayer’s Northshore Vantage Windows Team, I was keeping my hunting and fishing activities at a low level. Later in the week my wife Sue said, ‘have you rung Mark and confirmed that you are going.’ Tomorrow couldn’t come quick enough when I replied ‘No, but I will contact him.’ That was in November 2009, so I had eight months to wait for our trip scheduled for early July 2010 and before leaving Cromwell to move back to Nelson, we paid for our tickets; so the trip was all go.

I met up with Mark and Wayne Winskell, from Cromwell on the Friday night, ready to fly out to Brisbane the next morning and then on to Townsville. Our hunting grounds were 85 kilometres south near a town called Ayr, so, after fourteen hours of travel, arriving in Townsville we picked up the rental car. Arriving in Ayr we met our guide, Lance Abby for seven days hunting; our main priority the beautiful Chital stags, and if we had time, a pig hunt was on the cards to complete the trip.

A night of restless sleep, due the heat and noise, and up at six-thirty were three real keen guys who wanted to get into the hunting. We had a forty-minute drive to the hunting area called Rita Island, on the way stopping off and

checking out the rifles that Lance owned. We thought bringing our own rifles was too much hassle for one shot. The rifles were in good condition; I opted for the 7mm-08, Mark the Sako .270 and Wayne, a Kimber .243. After an hour’s shooting at a 150 metre target, checking out the rifles to see whether us Kiwis knew how to shoot, we were all happy. We all had our sights set on a stag with 26-inch long antlers, as this length would give us a good representative head of the species, very suitable for my trophy collection.

Arriving at the Hellole Grazing Ranch, a cattle run of some 3,000 hectares surrounded by mangrove swamp on the east side and sugarcane farms bordering the other boundaries, the first thing we all commented on was the lack of hills. The area was dead flat as far as one could see. With the temperature hovering around 26°C, lunch was in the shade under a big tree, before starting out on our first hunt.

I was to hunt the southern side of the farm for the afternoon, therefore Lance dropped me off about three kilometres up the road from the farm house. This area, with rock hard ground, was grassed with a light canopy of palm and gum trees, offering some respite from the sun. Brahma cattle were grazing on the fringes of the trees. Ten minutes after leaving the Landrover, I spotted some Chital grazing 300 metres ahead of me which looked like a mob of about 15 deer. It’s the old story if you can see them, they can see you; the flat ground offered only minimal cover and undulations. When Lance briefed us on Saturday evening in preparation for the week’s hunting, he recommended taking into account the habits of the Chital; the best way to get close on flat ground was by crawling. I managed to

commando crawl to within 130 metres of the deer as they lay quietly in the shade; very hard work in the hot sun. A huge variety of birds could be heard or seen throughout the area, so they needed to be taken into consideration, as many were on the ground. The herd of deer had a mixture of stags and hinds; the biggest stag looked to be a good size. Not having seen a good size Chital stag before, let alone Chital deer, I spent a couple of hours watching the group. The stags never stood up the whole time I was watching them. I quietly backed away, as I had plenty of time and I was not about to shoot the first stag I saw. The other boys hunting the northern side of the farm both saw deer, but no real big stags.

Monday we were all fired up as we left the house and drove down to the hunting area. The big flat areas around the farm house were probably three kilometres wide and six kilometres long; the Chital could be seen way out in the middle of these areas every day. Hunting the area I was in yesterday, Wayne was going along the northern boundary and Mark was keen to check out the eastern mangrove boundary.

Moving back to the area of my previous day’s hunt, Chital could be seen in the distance; in fact two groups were mooching around under the trees. In the distance I could see a stag that looked to be long enough to warrant a good stalk, so I successfully crawled past the first group. Half way to the next group I was distracted by a hind for ten minutes as she grazed past me and then got wind of me lying very still in the short grass. I had no sooner moved ahead, when a lone stag appeared out of nowhere. The stag was wandering around feeding as it went past me at a distance of 75 metres before eventually moving on. I had

Staking country where we took the three stags


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bought myself a new Stoney Creek air mesh shirt and trousers for the trip and now they were coming into their own; not only from the heat of the day that was building up, but also protecting me from the rock hard ground, not forgetting the protection from the thousands of ants that seem to cover the ground in these parts of Australia. They are big and the buggers could really nip leaving a nasty bite, as Mark found out when they got into his trousers and gave him hell, much to Wayne’s and my amusement. An hour crawling and sneaking between the trees, I was finally within 120 metres of the Chital.

Through my binos I could see at least four good size stags lying behind a pile of fallen trees with only the tops of their antlers visible, with a number of hinds were scattered around the stags. Every now and then one stag would stand up for a couple of minutes then lie down again. As I had plenty of time, I was prepared to sit it out and make sure if I fired it would have to be a worthwhile stag. Starting the stalk at 9.00 am, it was just after 1.00 pm when a glance across to my left revealed more deer about 300 metres away heading in my direction. To say that they had got my attention was an understatement. During the next five minutes about 150 deer joined up with the herd that I had been watching all morning - there were stags everywhere, every shape and size.

All this sounds good, but it’s very hard to sort out the big boys as they move around amongst the trees, making moves on the hinds that were on heat. One stag, who kept to the fringes, seemed to be the master stag, and with this very heavy looking antlers he got my attention.. For two hours I watched that group; the big fella who was more wary, would check out the hinds and then lie down about 200 metres away in the

shade with only his antlers showing.

The herd commanded the high ground so I had to bide my time. What a sight to behold, a hundred plus deer only 120 metres away. According to Lance the Chital start feeding around 2.30 pm almost like clockwork, and sure enough, the entire herd moved out into the open area, allowing me the opportunity to sneak up closer. The big stag was there but was hard to keep track of him amongst the other stags. The mature Chital stags usually have six-points that can be quite short and still have the classic Chital look.

After a long crawl, I was finally hidden behind a big cabbage tree, where in amongst the herd the rutting stags could be heard. Lance had informed us that the Chital breed three times a two-year period, so there was always plenty of action in the herd as the stags sniffed out the hinds on heat. I sighted my big stag moving down to my end of the herd and noticed he looked very heavy and had good length. I changed position for a better shot. The herd was starting to get spooky. There he was, boom, the stag collapsed, but no sooner had he hit the ground I realised I had stuffed up. I had shot a real big bodied stag, but the wrong one, so I was gutted as the rest of the deer ran off. I looked around to see the big fella standing and looking at me about 200 metres away as if to say - round one to me. The antlers looked great as he spun around and followed the herd across the open grass and into the mangroves. I instinctively swung the rifle up, but held my fire, a dodgy shot, even more so if one wounds a valued stag and loses it in the mangroves.

The antlers were the classic look but only 20-inches long, not what I had come all the way from Nelson to shoot, however after consoling myself, the stag started to look much better. A magnificent animal, his beautiful chocolate coat covered in white

Lance, Eric and Mark in pig country


spots - like nothing I had shot before. After taking some video and photos Lance was radioed to come and pick me up in the Landrover and take me back at the farm house where we all met up and head skinned my stag. The stag was powerfully built for a smaller animal; the backsteaks were much bigger than a Red deer of the same size, and the front shoulders were a lot more solid than other deer I have taken. Wayne and Mark had both seen heaps of deer but

had nothing on the ground yet. Mark had a close encounter with some stags while sitting in mangroves taking some great photos and at the same time watching a large clearing. Tomorrow was Mark’s and Wayne’s turn to bring home a Chital stag. I shouted the beers that night.

Tuesday woke to another beautifully warm day. I stayed at Lance’s shed on the farm to resalt my head skin and tidy up the antlers, while the boys headed off in great anticipation for the morning hunt. It was not until around 1.00 pm when Lance heard Mark calling on the radio that he had a stag and wanted

to be picked up. Jumping in the Landrover with Lance, we caught up with Mark only 100 metres from where I had shot my stag the previous day. Mark had spent a long morning watching a Chital stag as it lay behind a log, and when it stood up the .270 Sako did its job. Mark’s stag measured 24-inches long - a lovely trophy. Mark took some photos with his new Canon camera, before the stag was lifted onto the back of the Landrover. By the time we had cleaned up the cape ready for salting it was getting late, and by 6.00pm it was very dark.

Wednesday was to be Wayne’s day. We all agreed that he should have a go in the area where Mark and I had been successful the previous days, so we left him at 9.00 am with plenty of advice. While Wayne was away, Mark and I went to hunt the far side of the farm bordering the mangroves, me with my video camera and Mark with the .270. We agreed we would only shoot a really big stag if it presented itself. Arriving back

after an uneventful stalk, we found Lance and Wayne removing the headskin from a stag of similar size to Mark’s that Wayne had taken mid afternoon. Getting within shooting distance of a large herd of Chital, Wayne had to do a tricky stalk to close the gap to 100 metres. Another beautiful animal; we salted the headskin before we left for home. It was Wayne’s shout tonight.

Just about every day during our stay at the Hellole Ranch, there was a large number of Chital spending most of the day out in an area about three kilometres from the farm house. These deer were very cunning and extremely hard to approach and the flat land made it virtually impossible to get closer than 300 metres without being seen. In many places, when lying down with the bipod you couldn’t see over the grass, so to be confronted with so many deer, picking out the biggest stag was a nightmare. On Thursday morning, while we were resalting Wayne’s head skin, Mark got fired up to have a crack at these deer and, if a suitable stag was in shooting range, he was going to have a go at it. We arranged for Wayne to walk up into the wind from the farm house and Lance was to drop us off on a point out in the middle of the paddock where Lance believed the deer would pass on their way to the mangroves and safety.

After Lance dropped us off, and finding a large cabbage type tree to give us cover, we settled down to wait in the shade. I set my video camera up on the tripod and Mark set the .270 up on the bipod. About 1.5 kilometres away we could see the cattle lying undisturbed. All around us was dead flat land, so we had great visibility as long as one got high enough to glass over the grass.

Twenty minutes must have passed before we realized that we could see the heads of a mob of deer walking slowly in our direction. Today, ironically, the wind was no more than a very gentle breeze coming from behind us, a risk we had to take. With the video camera on 40x I could see the deer coming with more detail than through my binos. By now both Mark and I were starting to get excited, our plan may just work. Mark quietly told me to check out the big stag on the left hand side who looked very noble as he made his way towards us; a fantastic sight I will never forget. (I have played that video clip many times and still get a real kick out of watching that stag.)

In front of us, probably 200 deer were moving towards us and half a dozen good stags could be seen clearly at 900 metres, the big fella still the pick of the bunch. As Mark and I realised that they were going

stag was lifted onto the back of the Landrover. By the time we

for salting it was getting late, and by 6.00pm it was very dark.

Wednesday was to be Wayne’s day. We all agreed that he should have a go in the area where Mark and I had been successful the previous days, so we left him at 9.00 am with plenty of advice. While Wayne was away, Mark and I went to hunt the far side of the farm bordering the mangroves, me with my video camera and Mark with the .270. We agreed we would only shoot a really big stag if it presented itself. Arriving back

that he had a stag and wanted to be picked up. Jumping in the Landrover with Lance, we caught up with Mark only 100 metres from where I had shot my stag the previous day. Mark had spent a long morning watching a Chital stag as it lay behind a log, and when it stood up the .270 Sako did its job. Mark’s stag measured 24-inches long - a lovely trophy. Mark took some photos with his new Canon camera, before the

had nothing on the ground yet.

in mangroves taking some great photos and at the same time watching a large clearing. Tomorrow was Mark’s and Wayne’s turn to bring home a Chital stag. I shouted the beers that night.

Tuesday woke to another beautifully warm day. I stayed at Lance’s shed on the farm to resalt my head skin and tidy up the antlers, while the boys headed off in great anticipation for the morning hunt. It was not until around 1.00 pm when Lance heard Mark calling on the radio that he had a stag and wanted

until around 1.00 pm when Lance heard Mark calling on the radio that he had a stag and wanted

spots - like nothing I had shot before. After taking some video and photos Lance was radioed to come and pick me up in the Landrover and take me back at the farm house where we all met up and head skinned my stag. The stag was powerfully built for a smaller animal; the backsteaks were much bigger than a Red deer of the same size, and the front shoulders were a lot more solid than other deer I have taken. Wayne and Mark

Eric’s big chital stag

Eric’s first stag

Wayne Winskill with his trophy

Mark Mckay with his stag


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to come within shooting distance, I was happy for Mark to take the shot if it presented itself. I was watching intently on the video as the deer got to 300 metres; the range finder was working over time. A quick conversation with Mark and then I was behind the .270 as the big stag took off, breaking away from the main herd. Deer were spread out over 100 metres and directly opposite us. The Chital, whose antlers were clearly visible, ran like hell coming to an abrupt halt between the main herd and ourselves, to where he was close enough that we didn’t need a range finder. The bipod was too high so Mark made the adjustments in a flash. I didn’t take my eyes off the stag, and no need to think twice, I fired, the stag dropping like a rock. It all happened very quickly. ‘67 metres. It’s a real beauty,’ Mark commented, as I stood up.

There, lying on the grass, was what looked to be a wonderful stag. After my first stag, I didn’t want to be disappointed, and I wasn’t. When Mark and I got to it, the antlers were everything we thought they would be - it was a very heavy stag measuring 27-inches - a lovely trophy and what I had come all this way for. The stag was a genuine old animal, its teeth very worn; the skin around the head and neck damaged from fighting off other stags. One of his eyes had, over the last day or so, received a severe poke from an antler

making it blind. The headskin was in poor condition, so I elected to use the first stag’s headskin for mounting by David Jacobs in Christchurch. When Lance and Wayne duly arrived in the Landrover, heaps of photos were taken by all of us before taking the stag back to Lance’s shed to remove the full skin for a floor mat.

We had a couple of days up our sleeve, so we spent Friday and Saturday looking for pigs an hour south of Ayr beside the Berdekin River. We saw plenty of sign, but the pigs had either been disturbed or moved out of the area.

Saturday afternoon we arrived at Townsville at the same time as the Townsville V8 Supercars were finishing. It looked as if half of Australia was leaving as three crazy kiwis were trying to get through to the airport. After some good directions from a local trying to get to the Inxs music concert, we finally made it. Sunday evening was the bio-security check at Auckland airport; declaring everything, which was an experience in itself. I had to wait for five days for an email from Jacobs Taxidermy to let me know that my headskin and antlers had finally arrived at their Christchurch premises in excellent condition - all animal

products coming in from overseas have to be fumigated before being released.

To summarise, going to hunt Chital in Australia was a great experience that l will always remember, even more so when my mounted stag arrives back from the taxidermist. All up Mark reckoned that we saw over a 1,000 deer. To view big herds of deer every day was why we went to Ayr and we were not disappointed. To hunt in such a different environment was pretty cool; flat ground, warm temperatures and plenty of stags. Both Mark and Wayne expressed their desire to go back overseas for another hunt but another species. Only time will tell where we will end up in 2012.

Mark’s stag before it stood up


204 R

UGER

32 V-

Max

& 40

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22-25

0 REM

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P

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IN 15

0 PSP

308 W

IN 16

5 Gam

eking

308 W

IN 15

0 SST

308 W

IN 18

0 SST

6.5x5

5 SWE

DISH 1

40 SS

T

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E - GREIG CAIGOU, NELSON BRANCH

The results of Section E, Human Interest, of the naxtional photographic awards were omitted in issue 174, (page 25). They are listed below:SECTION E: HUMAN INTEREST – GORE & DISTRICT BRANCH TROPHY

Total entries: 31

1st: Greig Caigou Nelson Comrades in Arms

2nd: Ian Adamson Bay of Plenty Todd’s View

3rd: Trevor Chappell Taupo Where are they?

HC: Tim McCarthy South Canterbury How Far?

HC: Greig Caigou Nelson Mountain Reverie

HC: Brian Witton Auckland Not much happening here

cOrrecTIOns FrOM 174


KuDu hunT B y A d o l f M a e n n c h e n , W e l l i n g t o n B r a n c h

The KuDu BuLL whO nearLy haD hIs revenGe, Or DID he?

STORY

The morning started off alright, with Drikus and Danita fetching me. I am sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Who am I? I am Adolf from New Zealand who shared the dream that so many hunters have, going to Africa and hunting the mighty Kudu. So when the opportunity came, off I went; staying with a friend at Naankuse made things a bit easier.

After Drikus picked me up that morning, (May 9), we went to the Metro and had a meal in very good company. After the shopping was done, we hopped in the buggy and drove to Drikus’ parents free range farm. After meeting the good folks I was given a grand place to stay in. Their home was sited in a wonderful setting amongst good size hills, dotted around the never ending landscape.

Then, like music to my ears, Drikus announced he was going for an afternoon hunt.

I have to compliment the driver of the buggy who started and stopped without you feeling a bump. Sitting on a plank, which was placed behind the cab across the railings on the tray, was a good place to spot trophy animals. Not only that, the roof of the cab was a handy rest to fire a safe shot from.

So far it had been a perfect hunting afternoon with only one thing missing – the trophy Kudu bull!

Close to 5.00 pm Drikus decided to turn around and head back home for a beer and a meal. The light was slowly fading when Philip pointed his left hand towards a big bull at about 11 o’clock from the point where we were on the track. The buggy’s engine went quiet and Drikus decided to stalk the Kudu.

With the shooting sticks in his right hand we slowly tip toed forward, stalking from one thorny bush to the next, hoping the bull wouldn’t wind us. To my surprise Drikus placed the shooting sticks in front of a bush. ‘Shoot,’ he said, ‘the Kudu is behind the bush.’ I kindly declined to discharge my Blazer 7mm Rem Mag with a 140gr Accu Bond Nosler at a target I couldn’t identify, especially something that may weigh half a tonne.

The look in my guide’s eyes indicated he thought that Adolf must be nuts. He moved the sticks to the right, but again no shot was fired. I knew I only had one shot, one opportunity in a lifetime, to take my shot to secure my trophy. The sticks were again moved, further to the right, to a spot I had chosen. No obstruction between me and the target. This was to pay off for me, but not the bull.

The Kudu had not winded us and slowly moved into the firing line. He had to clear some sort of a depression in the field before he appeared from behind the bushes at an angle to me. My train of thought processing took less than a second. A head shot, my mind said would drop it on the spot. I had the rifle on the shooting sticks by then, and my pulse rate was normal as I placed the crosshair on the spine just in front of the right shoulder before I released the shot. The Kudu bull dropped. It was one of those shots where you know before you release the trigger what the outcome it is going to be.

I approached the mighty bull and a second Nosler projectile fired through the first

One of the magnificent sunsets

Adolf with his trophy Kudu and Blazer 7mm Rem Mag

Adolf with his Zebra


vertebrae ended his glorious days. The usual ritual followed – good shot, well done and then the taking of photos before the buggy turned up. Now the fun began.

In the middle of winching the 500 kilogram beast onto the tray, a tooth broke on the prehistoric turfer winch. Without giving ourselves a hernia, somehow we managed to load the bull onto the tray. Sitting in the cab with Drikus while driving back along the track and talking about a cold beer, a sudden drop and a bang stopped the cruiser on the spot. The rear diff was on the ground, the left rear wheel was freewheeling in a big hole. Thanks to my small Lensor torch we managed to jack the buggie high enough to free the diff and build up the ground under the rear left wheel.

Drikus indicated that it if the rest of us give a push and a lift, he would give it a go to get us out of here. I was pushing and lifting by that left wheel when a milli-second later, I found myself under my Kudu, feeling a hammer hitting impact pain on my upper right arm. ‘Are you alright?’ I heard a distant voice asking. ‘Thanks,’ I said, ‘good four wheel driving mate. What ever happened it’s too late now.’ While under the 500 kilograms of muscle and horns, I checked for leaks on my body and made sure that my pulse rate was OK, before managing to free myself. ‘How lucky can you be?’ I asked myself.

I didn’t curse my hunting guide, but, 500 kilograms and no winch! It was a struggle to load the beast on to the tray for the second

time, but with another team effort we soon saved the evening. I then suggested that one of us should check the ground in front of the buggie before we found ourselves having to do it all over again.

We eventually got home safely, had a delicious meal in wonderful company

and all the pain was forgotten. ‘We have to do this in two years time,’ I said to the folks as I went off to bed.

While with Drikus I was also successful in hunting for and getting a zebra, which was taken for the skin.

Something that I found interesting is that if you wish to hunt the small antelope Klipspringer, your permit states that you must shoot the pair. The reasoning behind this is that Klipspringer usually mate for life, so if you shoot one you must take its partner as well. These are quite small animals that stand about 60 centimetres at the shoulder with short horns.

While seeking our target animals there was time to take in some of the breathtaking views that surrounded us; the landscape that was so much different to New Zealand’s. The sighting and photographing of other wildlife such as warthogs, giraffe and gemsbok was just as exciting as the hunt. As for the spectacular sunsets, they were absolutely fabulous.

Adolf with his Zebra

The small antelope, Klipspringer, who mate for life and when hunted have to be taken as a pair

A couple of warthogs A Gemsbok, sometimes confused with the East African Oryx. (Subtle markings differentiate the two animals)

All 500 kilograms of Kudu

Typical terrain representing the area the writer was hunting in


JOhn ‘JacK’ harvey McKenZIe BeM, 1922 - 2011 B y D B r u c e B a n w e l l

OBITUARY

A very old friend and hunting companion has passed on to ‘The Happy hunting Grounds.’ We have lost yet another icon of New Zealand deerstalking and related conservation.

John Harvey McKenzie, perhaps known to many as ‘Mr Wapiti,’ passed away at Gore, Southland, on June 26, 2011 in his 89th year.

Born on November 11 1922, exactly four years to the day since the Armistice of 1918, Jack had enjoyed a long, interesting and productive life. Those of us who belong to the hunting and deer loving fraternity owe him a great deal, especially those who continue to enjoy the experiences offered by that area of Fiordland we often refer to as ‘The Wapiti Country.’

Jack and I first met in unusual circumstances. At the time in question (1951 from memory), we were both members of the then strong Southland Branch of NZDA. With four others I had been stalking in the area around the Leithen Bush when unexpected rain arrived; the Leithen Stream responding with a high flow. Our 1935 ‘Buick Centennial Six’ failed to make the far side of the ford and we were obliged to wind her out of the deep water by use of the starter!

Managing to extract her from the deep water, we were busy contemplating the next move when a local farmer and friend arrived on horseback. The farmer, noting our predicament, returned to his home to fetch clean oil for the swamped engine. That was my first encounter with Jack McKenzie, a rather fortuitous one from my point of view and there were to be many more. For some reason, better known to him, Jack took me under his wing so to speak, becoming my mentor of the hunting world and taking the responsibility over from my dear father. I am eternally grateful for his guidance. I was only just out of high school at the time.

From that day onwards we spent a great deal of time together out in the hills and mountains, hunting Wapiti, Red deer, chamois and tahr and enjoying many interesting experiences together.

While a pupil at Waitaki Boys’ High School he had his first experience with Wapiti. This while attending an Empire Youth Rally and while in the process visiting Canada’s Banff National Park. That was in 1937. He later visited the United States in 1962, attending the First World Conference on National Parks at Seattle, that trip sponsored by NZDA. His first visit to Canada had sparked off a lifetime interest in Wapiti, but it was to be another ten years before he, John Glass and Jock McQueen entered the Worsley Valley on an expedition which was to prove to be his initial introduction to Fiordland but, of course, to be eventually followed up by many more.

Nevertheless, despite his wide knowledge of ‘The Wapiti Country’ of Fiordland which he had gained by first-hand experience, the Worsley always held a special place in Jack’s love of the area. I was fortunate in visiting that valley on several occasions in his company.

During 1991, in his company, Ken Humphrey and the writer attended a seminar on white Red deer in what was then known as Czechoslovakia. At the conclusion of the seminar the three of us travelled eastwards into Poland, Hungary and

J H McKenzie crossbreed - The fine trophy secured in Cow Valley in 1951 - considered the finest of its breed in the world.

Jack and the writer above the Dark River congratulating each other as the first party into Sutherland Sound to hunt Wapiti – 1955. We had entered via the Worsley and Wild Native Valleys.


Romania. While visiting the Polish Carpathians we were entertained by several rangers and their families, a biologist from the university at Krakow accompanying us on our journey. The Poles at that stage were heavy smokers. We were shown a number of excellent examples of mounted antlers hanging in their homes. Just how these were attained fascinated Jack, as he knew the cost of a licence to hunt there was excessive and probably beyond their pockets. On each occasion on which he inquired, he was informed the stag had been killed by wolves. There were plenty of wolves in the area, as they kept us awake at night with their howling. When we at last departed the area, Jack turned to me and said, ‘You know Bruce, I think those wolves smoke cigarettes.’

Jack’s wife, Gladys, with whom I attended Gore High School back in the 1940s, told me at the funeral that one of the highlights of Jack’s life and which he often talked about, was the day he, Godfrey Reider, Ron Webster and I successfully climbed Mount Christina (2,502 metres), the highest peak towering over the Upper Hollyford Valley and from where one obtains a magnificent view of the Wapiti country to the south and the Greenstone and Caples Valleys to the east. So there was more to Jack’s life and interests than solely Wapiti although they were, undoubtedly, his greatest outdoor joy.

When my wife and I were married in 1957, Jack served us as our groomsman. By 1964 we were living at Tuatapere. My first book, Wapiti in New Zealand was written while living there and it was due to the encouragement of Jack, together with that of the celebrated Wairarapa sportsman and early Wapiti hunter, Kenneth Sutherland, that was responsible for me commencing the project.

He found it difficult to accept the demise of the pure Wapiti herd by the process of crossbreeding despite the fact he also had a soft spot for the European Red deer. His

father had secured two fine examples of first-class Red deer from the Parasol Stream, a watershed adjacent to their property at ‘Leithen Downs’ and of which Jack was extremely proud. He was always critical of many of the inappropriate measures carried out in Fiordland by officialdom and unscrupulous helicopter operators which he considered abuse of a valuable asset.

Jack returned a great deal to the administration and care of the herd over the years, reciprocating for the enjoyment he had derived from his experiences there on its rangeland. He served NZDA as a national executive member, as a longstanding committee member of Southland Branch, later as a member of the Gore and Districts Branch of which he was made a life member, the National Wapiti Committee, the Fiordland National Park Board and the Southland National Parks and Reserves Board for a number of years. He also served on the National Recreational Hunting Advisory Committee until its demise in 1989. For his services to the public and protection of wildlife values, he was awarded the British Empire Medal by Her Majesty the Queen. In 1975 he was granted national life membership by NZDA.

Fiordland eventually rewarded Jack with a great trophy. Considered to be a crossbreed, it is one of the most magnificent specimens of its kind ever secured, including those bred behind wire by the likes of Walter Winans. Taken in Cow Valley, it was a worthy trophy for a great sportsman and he also secured a worthwhile Wapiti in the Mid Burn on a later occasion.

Jack just loved his Wapiti and Fiordland, its inclement weather he handled in his stride and believe you me, that could be a long stride, particularly if you were trundling along behind him. His death marks the end of an era in New Zealand deerstalking history, but all those enjoying the fruits of his labour by taking advantage of hunting the Fiordland deer in an area of great awe-inspiring beauty, both at the present time and in the future, owe John Harvey McKenzie a great deal.

Jack is survived by his wife Gladys, three sons, a daughter and his grandchildren.

His heart’s in the Highlands, his heart is not here, His heart’s in Fiordland, a-chasing the deer.

Farewell old friend. Your name will live on in the annals of New Zealand deerstalking forever.

Jack at the NZDA Conference at Invercargill 1992, admiring the 64 ½ inch cast antler picked up near the Henry Saddle.

On the summit of Mount Christina, Godfrey Reider, Jack McKenzie and D Bruce Banwell.


BUSH TELEGRAPH

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Reload data for CFE™223 is available in 27 different cartridges with 147 loads. Maximum velocities are obtained in the .204 Ruger, 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington, 22-250 and 7.62 NATO/.308 Winchester at www.hodgdon.com in the Reloading Data Center. CFE™223 is a spherical powder that meters flawlessly; it will be available in one and eight pound containers at dealers everywhere beginning January, 2012.

aDvenTuresMarT weBsITe – uPDaTe (www.aDvenTuresMarT.OrG.nZ)

In Hunting & Wildlife issue 173, Bush Telegraph introduced you to Adventuresmart’s new website. Since then it has been developed into quite a comprehensive source of information for the outdoor adventure person. Its aim is to become the one stop shop for outdoor safety.

For example, if you click on the Land Adventures button at the top of the Home Page it will take you to a new page which has a list of land based activities; the fourth one being hunting. Scroll down the page and you will find some interesting links. One in particular is ‘where to camp?’ If you are looking for some campsites for the holidays especially free ones, then this could be worth a visit.

Also on this page is a five point Outdoor Safety Code. Each of the listed safety codes has a link to more information that is on the MSC website. The beauty of Adventuresmart is that it can all be done from the one site.

This will be a site worth bookmarking and keeping an eye on.

are yOu PLannInG a hunT Or BOwhunT In The usa, canaDa, Or MeXIcO?A Direct Branch member and USA International Hunter Education Association instructor, Jeff Banke will be in New Zealand 2012 for the roar. He is offering a four hour California Hunter Education class, which would be held in the National Office, Wellington.

The certificate of completion from the hunter education course is good in Canada, USA and Mexico and one must have this qualification before they can hunt in those areas.

The course requires an 80% pass or better to receive the certificate. If this mark is not reached there is no necessity to take the entire class again, the test can be retaken as soon as 48 hours after the original.

There are some prerequisites that need to be completed prior to attending this course.

• Internet or home study course; an on-line course, which takes 6 - 8 hours but can be completed over time. The certificate of completion (passing grades) must be brought to the 4 hour class.

• Working from a manual and a workbook that must be completed before coming to the class.

This course does not require any live fire, but requires the students to get down on the ground, to demonstrate the various modes of carry, shooting position, matching of ammunition (dummy) to firearm, and crossing fences with another person and solo.

If there was enough interest an International Bowhunter Education Programme 4 hour internet class could be held. However, as this needs an archery range and a location to complete a blood trail, this course would only be contemplated if there was sufficient numbers to warrant it.

For expressions of interest please contact the NZDA National Office, phone 04 801 7367, fax 04 801 7368 or email [email protected]

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Payment in NZ$ by bank draft, international money order or credit card

(Visa or MasterCard)

Send to: New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc, PO Box 6514, Marion Square, Welington 6141

or fax 04 801 7368 or email [email protected] the terms of the Privacy Act 1993, I acknowledge that you are retaining my name for the purpose of mailing further information on NZDA and related matters.

Subscribe to ‘NZ Hunting & Wildlife’ Magazine


BUSH TELEGRAPH

Minister of Labour, Kate Wilkinson, Press release, 13 October 2011

aDvenTure acTIvITIes reGuLaTIOns FInaLIseD New regulations governing the commercial adventure tourism and outdoor education industries have been finalised and take effect from November 1.

Minister of Labour, Kate Wilkinson says while the majority of organisations within the industries already have safety as a top priority, the regulations will ensure consistency across operators and strengthen our international reputation.

‘We want to ensure operators remain viable and innovative and these regulations have been designed to do that, while addressing safety gaps identified in the Adventure Tourism Review to help keep New Zealanders and overseas tourists safe,’ says Ms Wilkinson.

‘Our focus is on activities where hazards need to be actively managed and at the end of the day no operator can afford not to invest in safety.’

Sitting under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, the regulations require commercial adventure tourism and outdoor education operators in New Zealand who provide activities that are designed to deliberately expose participants to a managed risk of serious harm to undergo a safety audit and become registered.

They don’t apply to organisations that don’t charge fees, such as schools or voluntary clubs.

‘We recognise that it will take time for some operators to become audited and registered and that’s why we’re putting in place a three-year transition period from November to ensure all affected operators can comply,’ Ms Wilkinson says.

‘The Department is working to ensure the audit process is robust but also affordable for operators – registration will be automatic once operators have been audited.

‘Early next year the Department will be issuing a guidance document for operators to help them understand the regulations.

‘For now, all operators have to do is notify the Department about their operation – this is not the registration process – but a simple notification of your activity or organisation.

‘This applies to all operators. I recommend that those operators who are unsure whether their activity or organisation fits into the scope of the regulations also notify the Department of their operation.’

Operators have six months to notify the department online or via fax, post or email. The department will then be in touch with each operator to let them know whether they need to meet the regulations, or if they do not apply.

A copy of the regulations is available at: http://www.dol.govt.nz/consultation/adventure-tourism/update.asp

DIsTress BeacOnsBeacons that are available on the market today are designed for use in different environments. If you are contemplating purchasing one, then choose a beacon that will fit the purpose you want it for. Suppliers are listed on the beacons website www.beacons.org.nz

There are three types of beacons:

• EPIRB – (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) usually used on boats and ships. Designed for the maritime environment.

• PLB – (Personal Locator Beacon) for use in remote locations. This would be the type that hunters would consider.

• ELT – (Emergency Locator Transmitter) – for use in aircraft.

Beacons with built in GPS (Global Positioning System) are strongly recommended, due to the fact that they can provide a very accurate position to Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) thus reducing the response time. Non GPS beacons rely on orbiting satellites to identify a position, which can take more time.

Register your beacon – more that 25,000 distress beacons are now registered with RCCNZ (www.beacons.org.nz/406-Registration.aspx) which is a legal requirement for every beacon and a free service.

Don’t buy a foreign beacon – each country has an individual 406 code. When you purchase a 406 MHz distress beacon, make sure it is coded for New Zealand. (NZ’s code is 512). If you buy one from overseas or over the internet, it could be an expensive mistake if it has the wrong code. When activated, the satellite may notify the wrong rescue centre, which could mean a long, potentially life threatening delay in your rescue.

Several branches have purchased beacons and for a reasonable fee make them available for branch members to hire. Check your branch newsletters for any details.

Reference: www.maritimenz.govt.nz/beacons

Editors note: Check out page ??? for a special purchase deal for NZDA members.

FIsh & GaMe cauTIOusLy OPTIMIsTIc aBOuT FIsh DIseaseMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has informed Otago Fish & Game that the hatchery trout infected with the Aeromonas bacteria is not the ‘typical’ strain of the disease.

’The ‘typical’ version of the bacteria is of most concern to hatchery and fish-rearing facilities so it’s encouraging that this has been ruled out,’ says Otago Fish & Game Chief Executive Niall Watson.

MAF has advised Fish & Game that further testing is needed to prove whether it is the more common ‘atypical’ variant.

While Mr Watson and his staff are still very concerned about any disease affecting trout, he says at this stage the latest development appears to be encouraging.

’We understand that if further tests return a positive for the ‘atypical’ strain, then this is less virulent in trout. We welcome the news from MAF and await further laboratory results. We’ll also be considering the implications of this development over the next few days. At this stage, though, it appears to be positive news.’

Mr Watson says there have been no further fish mortalities at the Macraes hatchery and stock held there all appear to be in a healthy condition.

’We are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Since the discovery of the disease we’ve enforced strict hygiene controls on site and have a self-imposed restriction on further fish releases. We will review the situation in mid-November and make a decision then on whether or not to recommence releases from the hatchery.’

Mr Watson says there have been no reports of infected trout from waterways where releases were made before the discovery of the infected hatchery fish.

Otago Fish & Game remains concerned about what, if any, impact the

disease will have on native fish species.

Reference: www.fishandgame.org.nz/


B y F J B r y c k o

R e p r o d u c e d f r o m N Z W i l d l i f e A u t u m n 1 9 6 3 , I s s u e 2

Standing at the back of the Holden out of the wind, Jack Gyde, Don Haycock and myself polished off a few thick ham sandwiches and a bottle of beer. Both the ham and the ale would be the last for about seven days. This was the starting point of our trip that we had talked about all year, and an exploring trip that Don had wanted to do for some years. Along with our friend Gordon, (who was going to take the car back into Taupo later on in the week and leave it at the Rangitaiki Hotel) we decided that by the map the distance was about sixty miles to travel. However, in the seven days of leisurely travelling, we put well over one hundred miles under our boots.

Our route from where we stood that New Year’s Day evening, 1962, was to be up the Waipakahi River from where we were parked just off the edge of the Desert Road, right to the headwaters, then up onto the tops of the Kaimanawas, around the headwaters of the various rivers that start off from an altitude of approximately the five thousand foot mark, down into the Oamaru and Mohaka Rivers and out to the Napier Taupo Road through Poronui Station and straight into the bar of the Rangataiki Hotel.

At 6.30 pm that evening we said goodbye to Gordon and started down the river to find a camping place for the night. Heavy rain and drifting cloud made uncomfortable tenting, but with a cup of tea under our belts we settled down early and slept most of the night. Next morning at 6.30 am, with our packs up, we looked with some dismay at the river we were to travel up. The best route was up the other side and we found the water up to our waists too swift, we had a long and tiring scramble around a few dirty sidings before the going got flatter and we started crossing back and forth, taking the easy walking on the flats. Some hunters, or perhaps they should be called shooters, made us feel pretty sore that day, for we came across about eight carcasses that had neither meat, skin nor ears removed. It’s hard to understand the mentality of some chaps, for all those deer were within an easy walk of a car. We made a very wet camp at

3.30 pm that afternoon, and counting up, we had seen seventeen deer on the river flats, excluding the dead ones.

Our main object in making this walk was primarily to take photos, and as we enjoy plenty of stalking during the year, our only rifle was a single shot .32RF belonging to Jack; the rifle being a very old Stevens rim fire with a hexagon barrel, under lever and hammer action, with a most convenient screw under the breach that allowed the barrel to be removed and stowed in two pieces in the pack. It rolled a little 82 grain lead bullet out of the spout at 940 feet per second, hardly a deer rifle, but by picking our shots and the deer being plentiful, we took one each day, all being one-shot kills.

Our biggest disappointment was the rain. For seven days it fell in torrents. There was always drifting cloud and a cold drizzle; rare breaks in the weather showed fine sunny days all around, but it never let up on the tops. Needless to say our photos were of very poor standard. Don, the owner of a very fine camera and the only one with a telelens, sneaked up the river flats to snap a hind and fawn, and halfway nearly stepped on another pair behind a bush. He has an excellent colour slide taken at ten feet, but from then on the shutter jammed and that ended his photography. We shouldered packs at 7.30 am next morning and didn’t stop until we had a boil up at the remains of an old sod hut about 10.30 am. The large collection of heads lying around was a fair indication that the deer in the area were of poor quality. While we dried our gear in the only bit of sun of the week, five more deer came into view high up above the mountain beech. It was just above the main forks here that we came across a huge slip, about two hundred feet high, and perhaps one hundred feet thick that had dammed the river for nearly the width of the valley. We estimated the water would have been forty feet in depth. It was probably the cause of the flood that washed away the batches in Turangi last winter.

At 5.30 pm we had our camp up and venison

stew on at the very top of the Waipakahi and our course up a ridge to the tops picked out. Our hopes of easy photos rose when out of the scrub, not 200 yards away came a hind, not in the least concerned about our activity, but feeding along like and old cow with just an occasional look down at us. Two or three other deer were in close range and did not seem to be worried by the camp fire smoke or the sound of chopping. The prospect of easy photos looked good, but we didn’t get any there.

Our hopes for fine days were dashed next morning, and with the cloud being right down and heavy rain falling, it was 10.30 am when we broke camp. We had only been taking our time to this stage, and although I had catered for ten days’ food, we decided to move on up. The packs were not weighed, but we judged them to be between 67 – 70 pounds, as our food was all dehydrated vegetables, carrots, potatoes, onions and cabbage, with plenty of soup powder for the thickening of stews, along with dried eggs, fruit, macaroni and plenty of rice. The total weight including bread was only 32 pounds all told. We sealed the bread in plastic bags, which kept it in good condition all the way. We climbed steadily up through the mist on a compass course, our object being a high prominent cone visible the day before, but with visibility down to 25 yards, and a howling wind blowing, we decided rather than go back we would still head for a ridge down to the Ignimbrite Saddle above the Rangatikei River. However, owing to the broken nature of the tops and not being able to see, we spent a long time exploring ridges that ended up in drops that went nowhere. Just on 4 o’clock the cloud lifted and the high cone that was our land mark to be kept on our right was not hard to see. We were standing on the top of the darn thing. As the cloud and mist cleared around us for a few moments, it revealed a breath-taking view and the lowlands were bathed in bright sunlight. We could see the sparkling waters of Lakes Taupo and Roto Aira on our left, behind us National Park and in front of us the looming bulk of Mount Ngapuketurua which was still shrouded in mist. It was round this hulking

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Jack and Don looking up the Rangitikei River

Over The KaIMananwas


dark mass of mountain that our way would take us. Cameras were out and clicking on our way down the Waipakahi, up the Rangitikei River and out over the middle range of the Kaimanawas, then down the river that flows past the Houtaupu Prison farm. By 5.30 pm we were cutting mountain cypress tops for a bed and even with the cold exposed conditions on the snow grass tops, we had seen six Reds close up in the mist. One six-pointer, with a very light head even for Christmas velvet, came clattering back over the greywacke shingle four times to have yet another look at us.

We left that Ignimbrite Saddle camp at six in the morning, going down through a very wet gully that got worse the further we went, but at last we stood in the Rangitikei River, rubbing the welts raised by nettles. We decided that it would be around the sides we would have to travel, as the river was swift flowing with all the rain and was full of rock. This type of walking was not so good with fairly steep and nasty little deep gullies every 100 yards or so to contend with, leatherwood and scabe weed in the fairly high tussock making the footing uneven and hard on the knees and ankles. By 8.30 we were forced to stop and light a fire to thaw out, and then pushed on very miserable to pitch camp at midday. Our little Japara tent, through being rolled up wet each day, started to let in a fine spray and some things were said about our ‘home sweet home’ that could never go into print. Jack took the .32RF meat getter and more or less swam away up hill to get a look if possible of our next day’s march. He was soon back swinging a leg of venison and had been able to see through a rift in the cloud down the long dark bush valley of the Tauranga -Taupo from high above the camp.

That great mass of Ngapuketurua seemed to draw every drop of water in the sky, and as our camp was under it, we got the lot. In fact, at 9.30 that night Don and I divided it half each, half in his sleeping bag and half in mine. Only half a dozen deer were seen that day including the one Jack took for meat. Perhaps they didn’t have snorkels.

There was still a bitter cold wind blowing next morning at 8.30, but a long haul uphill on a fairly easy grade freed up the legs and set the blood racing, and through the now drifting mist, grand views of the Kaimanawas tops opened up. Vast expanses of rolling tussock tops and great sweeps of mountain beech silent and dripping, seemed to be swooping down into the dark silent valleys; many of these never having heard the sound of man’s passing. To be 500 feet up and perhaps the only party to take that exact route, gave one a feeling of achievement and exhilaration. It was here that we found the complete skeleton of

a six-pointer lying on its side on a perfectly black patch of some type of alpine moss. The bones of this snow white carcass had lain there for many a winter; they were the consistency of chalk and just crumbled to the touch, even the skull. Much later that day I picked up an unfired .303 Mark 6 cartridge dated 1920. That also showed many years of exposure.

Our way now took us along the true top of the range making for easy walking to the headwaters of the Mangamaire, which starts from a large basin consisting of boggy flats and waist high tussock. Years back some culling took place in this area, but we found no horse track to follow and just kept to the river for some two hours, our way taking us over wide shingle beds, where we were surprised to find nesting among the stones a sea bird that attempted to draw us away from its eggs by pretending it was injured, fluttering along with one wing spread. The books that I was able to procure on birds described it as being a Dotterel; rather a pretty bird, the size of a thrush with creamy colouring and a reddish brown head and a band of the same colour over the breast.

After leaving the river and climbing up to the saddle to descend into the Mangamingi, we found a peg with an old heel plate on top pointing south-east around the bush edge, which was the way we were going. It was not long before we struck a well-defined horse track leading down through the beech forest to the ford in front of a musterer’s hut belonging to Ngamatea Station. Whilst on this track and in a very exposed place, we came upon the body of a large Red hind that had not been dead five minutes. She was still very warm to the touch, and although we didn’t open her to make sure, it was obvious that it was the unborn slink that had caused her death. Five deer were counted that day and Don knocked over a hind for the pot just before we got to the ford so Jack and I left him while he carved off some meat. We carried his pack down and left it at the crossing, while we went into the hut which had eight bunks where we soon had a fire going large enough to roast a bullock. While Jack got dry clothes on, I went back over the creek to carry Don’s pack, as he was well laden with the meat and rifle. On our return crossing of this swiftly flowing stream we found we had to grasp each others’ hands to steady ourselves. Don’s description of me and my ancestors when I stepped on a rock in

midstream and did a twenty-yard swim under water with his pack on, was not enough to start a bush fire. However, that night was the most comfortable of the whole week, with dry clothes and gear and as much to eat as we could hold; being the equivalent of three meals and supper in four hours.

After a leisurely breakfast next morning, and on filling the firewood bin to overflowing, we had good walking down past the junction of the Wild Wheel Barrow River, (so named because of its long Maori name), to the air strip close by the Boyd Hut of Ngamatea Station. This is a huge valley, flat, and rising up gently to craggy snow bleached tops, covered over with tussock stretching away downstream to the rolling tussock hills of Golden Downs in the distance. The Ngaruroro River runs right past the Boyd’s Hut, although we did not go into it, but turned off at the air strip which lies opposite the Ngaruroro Saddle on the top of which we had to boil up. On our way up four Red stags in velvet, not showing any size of antlers, stood and watched us pass from about fifty yards. There were 35 sheep along the river flats below us but we saw few deer in the Ngaruroro Valley, probably on account of the cold and wet. Down we went through beech the way the old cullers’ track

Drying out

Sika spiker taken for meat

Cont on page 38


GrannIe OLIve’s

recIPes

THE STALkERS’ TABLE

Photo taken by Max Pudney of Grannie Olive, as she would like to be known.

wILD POrK casserOLeIngredients: piece of wild pork American and English mustard

chopped brown mushrooms onions

garlic capsicums

salt and pepper curry powder

2 or 3 fresh or dried sage leaves

small amounts of chopped carrot, swede and kumera

flour, rolled oats or corn flour for thickening (mixed with cold water to a medium paste)

juice of ¾ of a NZ mandarin (slightly unripe, use fallen ones from the ground – they have a nice tangy flavour)

Take a piece of wild pork and dice into a casserole dish and then massage a mix of American and English mustard through it. Place uncovered in a cool place to air over night.

In the early morning when you get up, mix the pork with a fork, and add the juice of the mandarin. Place in the fridge until you are ready to add the rest of the ingredients.

When ready, add brown mushrooms, onions, garlic, capsicums, carrot, swede and kumera. Sprinkle some salt and pepper to taste and curry powder to bring out the wild pork flavours. Add cold water to just cover. Finally press down the sage leaves on top.

Put the lid on and cook slowly for approximately 3½ hours, checking the water level now and again and topping up if necessary.

Lift out and taste juices, add extra salt if needed, thicken. Give a good stir, put lid on and return to oven for 5 minutes.

Easily cooked in a hunting pot or large billy in a bush campsite, or hut.

DeLIcIOus crayFIsh sOuPIngredients:1 crayfish body/shell (what is left after meat has been removed)

1 chopped garlic

1 cup grated carrot for every 6 cups of stock

½ tsp salt (the salt increases the crayfish flavour)

1 cup of lentils (more if you desire, but not too many otherwise the liquid becomes too thick)

Lightly crush the crayfish body leaving the yellow ‘custard’ or remains inside, (but make sure that the intestine has been removed). Add crushed legs and tail pieces, and place all this into a pot and only just cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer slowly for thirty minutes or so, then strain through a sieve into a bowl.

Put the liquid (stock) back into the pot, adding the chopped garlic, grated carrot, salt and lentils.

Bring to the boil again and as soon as the lentils have disintegrated and melded into the soup, remove from the stove, fire or primus.

There you have a lovely nutritious soup for lunch.

An option is to freeze 2 or 3 cups of the soup at a time in plastic bags. Take as many as you need out of the freezer, wrap in newspaper (for insulation), and pack them into your hunting gear and heat for lunch during a day or weekend hunt.

For coastal deer hunting, gather shell fish or a fish, place into your billy or pot, a little hot simmering and there you have a delicious hot crayfish mornay to eat in the bush or on the beach.


SWAZI JUNIOR SHOOTS

W A I R A R A P A B R A N C H S W A Z I S H O O TA very successful and fun day enjoyed by those who attended. The shoot was

conducted at the rifle range of the Wairarapa Pistol and Shooting Sports Club at

Gladstone in sunny conditions but with a wickedly twitchy wind. The prizes were

presented to the winners on the day. Our thanks go to Davey Hughes of SWAZI

Apparel for his continued generous sponsorship.

Left to right: Nicholas Sayer, 3rd; Levi Bengston, 2nd; Jordon Hamilton, 1st and

Connor Elgar, 4th

S W A Z I S H O O T – N A P I E RThis year the Napier club had a great turn out from our junior

members. They kicked off our club shoot with a shot at the

Wilkinson shoot targets at 100m using centrefire rifles.

This helps to build up their skills and confidence, which will transition

into hunting. They then finished the event with a group .22RF shoot at 50m using

standard ring targets.

The shooting and confidence of all our junior members has shown a great

improvement.

Our branch would like to thank SWAZI for their continued sponsorship and efforts

in supporting our younger members.

Members who participated in the shoot were: Jacob Eyles, Nick Campbell, John

Williams, Vaughan Mitchell, Regan Leahy and Louis Bird

must have once gone, but we didn’t find any blaze marks until reaching the junction of the Waitawhero and Oamaru Rivers. The majority of the old blaze marks were over-grown, with nothing left of any sort of track. At Jap Creek, which came in on our left, was a notice stating that 1080 was laid and shooting prohibited. We three had a very good look at a Sika hind from about ten feet for about three minutes. She was on the other side of a large beech tree and was obviously very puzzled about three round fungus covered objects that kept popping out from around the trunk. First one on one side and then two, then three on the other. When she went she really moved. We soon covered a few miles of tussock flats and at the forks of the Kaipo and Oamaru we camped at the pumice chimney, the site of an old cullers’ camp. Imagine our feelings next morning when 200 yards further on we found a brand new state forest hut with stove, bunks and laid-on water. Still a tussock bed is soft if one is tired.

In spite of all the poison operations in the Oamaru we saw more live Sika than dead bones, and I was very pleased to shoot a Sika spiker for meat, and for his skin that now hangs on the wall. The bright summer coat, dappled with white spots with the distinctive black stripe down the back and mousey grey legs, make it a most interesting reminder of a Christmas walk. For the bush stalker, the Sika to my mind, offers the greatest challenge of all the deer. Those little grey legs can ghost them away just like a puff of smoke. From the Ngaruroro River over to the pumice chimney the count of deer was fifteen, seven of these being Sika, but we had travelled eleven hours that day.

The last leg of our journey out through Poronui Station was just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. Cattle and sheep were not interesting after having travelled over the tops of the Kaimanawas and around the headwaters of seven rivers. In those days we had seen 156 deer and had close-up looks at stags that seemed too tame to be true.

Well, out through the station and a stop for a boil up; we were pleased to note our food had lasted well and we had plenty left. Those little lima beans help to make satisfying meals. Just put enough in a plastic bag with water to soak them, tie them on the back of your mate’s pack and by evening they are ready to cook. Every meal we had was different in flavour; for a little imagination with soup powder, curry or marmite can change a stew. As well as having had two cooked meals each day with a sweet at night, we still had three days’ provisions left.

Our luck was in, for around the bend came a truck, and three packs and six boots full of feet drove the last six miles out of Poronui Station and up to the Rangataiki Hotel. In my first aid box nestled a one pound note, and when that was spent over the bar three rather happy and be-whiskered men took off to waiting families in Taupo, agreeing that the piece of country between the Desert Road and the Napier-Taupo Highway would see them back some day.

Over The KaIMananwasCont from page 36


Thanks to some good public relations work by Roger Casely of the Wanganui Hunters and

Deerstalkers Club, the Heritage Trust has become the custodians of the Kitto family rifles

in particular, Arthur Kitto’s who was the younger son of Archie Kitto, (The Golden Days of

Stalking – the hunting diaries of Archie Kitto by D Bruce Banwell).

The firearms consist of two Canadian Ross rifles in calibres of .280 and .303, plus a BSA

.303.

The origins of the Ross rifle lie in the late 1890s patents of the noble Canadian Sir Charles

Ross, who developed his own pattern of the straight pull rifles, broadly based on the

Austrian Mannlicher M1890/1895

system. These rifles were manufactured

at the Ross Rifle Company in Quebec. In

1907 and 1912, Ross turned out several

star-marked modifications of the basic

Mark II pattern, which differed in barrel

length, safety arrangements and other

such minor modifications.

The overly complicated bolt system

of all Marks of the rifle did not help

the proper maintenance in the field

which compromised reliability. This

compromised its ability as a successful

service rifle. The worst thing about the

Ross system, however, was that its bolt

could be eventually assembled in the

wrong order, and in this case the rifle

could be assembled and then fired with

the bolt not locked to the receiver – with

disastrous results to both shooter and

rifle. On the other hand, most Ross rifles

were inherently accurate and proved

HERITAGE

KITTO rIFLes

The three actions. From top to bottom – BSA .303, Ross .303 and Ross .280

The three Kitto rifles. From left to right – BSA .303, Ross .303 and Ross .280

The bolt from the .280 Ross. Note the interrupted thread lugs

Inside the .280 receiver. Note the coresponding interupted threads that the bolt head rotates into

Markings on the receiver of the .280

The locking lugs on the Ross .303

well as a sporter and even match rifles.

All Ross rifles are straight pull, manually operated, magazine fed repeaters. Separate bolt

head with dual opposite locking lugs were inserted into the bolt from the front. The helical

cuts and ribs forced the bolt head to rotate on the opening and closing of the bolt, thus

unlocking and locking it to the receiver. The bolt lugs were made either in solid, Mauser type

pattern or in interrupted thread type pattern, depending on the mark.

The original factory loads were pointed FMJ 180 grain target rounds at 2800fps, and the

146 grain bronze point type spitzer hunting bullet at 3,100fps. Remember this was in 1907

before the word magnum had been co-opted by the shooting fraternity. The .280 Ross is

not far behind the performance of the excellent 7mm Remington Magnum. This was truly an

outstanding hunting round, and it was widely praised. It was a quick and spectacular killer on

deer sized game. Foolhardy hunters were encouraged to tackle larger game for which it was

not designed.

Reference: www.world.guns.ru/riflerepeating-rifle/can/ross-e.html


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Hunting & Fishing New Zealand vouchers

Published stories* in this magazine will now receive Hunting & Fishing New Zealand vouchers to be redeemed at any of their 30 stores throughout the

country from Kaitaia to Invercargill

You can use your voucher to buy the knife you’ve always wanted, to update your outdoor wardrobe, or to bring the price down on a heavy duty purchase.

Note: vouchers cannot be used on purchases of firearms, ammo & licences.

Vouchers - the perfect excuse to visit your outdoor store - again!!

NOTE - we are moving into the 21st century - if possible, please send your stories on disk or email them to the editor. Slides and prints are still preferred over emailed images, to ensure quality reproduction

* Vouchers will not be awarded in sections that offer other prizes eg Beginner’s Luck

Write a story and WIN


FrOM The wILD hILLs OF scOTLanD TO The ruGGeD MOunTaIns OF a scOTTIsh cOLOny - ParT 4 OF 6eDITOr’s nOTe: PrevIOus Issues have FeaTureD heaDs 1 – 3 (Issue 172), 4 – 6 (Issue 173) anD

7 – 9 (Issue 174). heaDs 13 – 18 wILL FeaTure In The neXT TwO Issues.

The OrIGIns OF The OTaGO reD Deer herD (heaDs 10, 11 anD 12)

nO. 10BILL Murray.wesT Branch OF The MaTuKITuKI vaLLey, 1940.L E N G T H - l e f t – 4 1⅞ i n c h e s , r i g h t - 4 0 ⅞ i n c h e s .

S P R E A D - 3 4 ⅝ i n c h e s , S P A N - 2 7 ½ i n c h e s .

B E A M - 6 ½ i n c h e s . D O U G L A S S C O R E - 3 6 4⅛ . P O I N T S - 1 6 .

nO. 12JOhn FOrBes.cLarKe rIDGe, 1927.L E N G T H - l e f t - 4 3 ¼ i n c h e s , r i g h t - 4 2 ½ i n c h e s .

S P R E A D - 3 7 ½ i n c h e s , S P A N - 2 8 i n c h e s .

B E A M - 6 i n c h e s . D O U G L A S S C O R E - 3 5 6 ½ . P O I N T S - 1 3 .

nO. 11arThur h haMILTOn.aLBerT Burn, 1933.L E N G T H - l e f t - 4 2 ⅞ i n c h e s , r i g h t - 4 3 i n c h e s .

S P R E A D - 4 2 ½ i n c h e s , S P A N - 3 2 ¾ i n c h e s .

B E A M - 5 ½ i n c h e s . D O U G L A S S C O R E - 3 5 7 ½ . P O I N T S - 1 6 .

Bill Murray was a builder in Invercargill and a well known sportsman. He was a talented fly fisherman. This

stag was taken by Murray near the Shotover Saddle. It was a straight-forward stalk up a steep corrie in snowy

conditions. The day before, while carrying out the antlers of another stag he had shot, Murray slipped in the

snowy conditions, damaging his leg with the tines of the 20-point antlers he had retrieved. This wound had

made his successful day’s hunting quite a challenge considering his disability with which he had sustained

some considerable pain. A magnificent trophy and one of the best taken from the Matukituki watershed.

In the company of two other Southland sportsmen of the era, J Woods and J Heenan,

Hamilton was stalking the Albert Burn country when he located this stag above some

steep bluffs. He stalked close enough to ensure he would get in a clean shot with the view

to try and prevent his quarry from rolling downhill and over the bluffs below, thus risking

damaging his antlers. Unfortunately, in his death throes, the stag rolled the wrong way

and eventually went over the bluffs, breaking one of his antlers. Fortunately for Hamilton,

a clean break which was easily repaired without any change to the measurements and the

fine trophy was his to admire. Arthur Hamilton was one of the foundation members of NZDA

and its first national secretary.

This attractive trophy was secured by the ‘icon’ of New Zealand deerstalking, John Forbes, also affectionately

known as ‘the Father of New Zealand Deerstalking’. John ‘Jack’ Forbes, a Christchurch businessman, secured

this stag on what is known as the Clarke Ridge, which lies between the valley of the same name and the

MacFarlane. Forbes was always accompanied by his friend, Conrad Hodgkinson, also an icon of New Zealand deerstalking. Forbes secured a number of quality

trophies over his years while stalking in Otago and South Westland, perhaps none better than this one. In earlier years prior to World War I, Forbes took advantage

of stags migrating back to their rutting ground on the permanently occupied hind country, awaiting their arrival on conveniently placed saddles and passes. This

practice proved very successful for Forbes and he secured some great trophies. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the whereabouts of some.


PanIrau anD waITewhena FOresTs Moderate numbers of goats and pigs exist in these forests. These blocks encompass approximately 3,252 ha. The area is forested with many bluffs.

Access - To both blocks is via Waitewhena Road. Ensure you stay on public conservation land, park down by the bridge crossing the Waitewhena Stream and head into the bush from there.

Landholders - There is a parcel of private land that adjoins the Waitewhena Forest along Waitewhena Road. There are DOC signs present on public conservation land; please stay within these areas.

Map information - NZTopo50 Ohura BG32

Dogs - Dogs are prohibited from all public conservation land areas except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. A standard open hunting permit for the Pureora Forest/western King Country allows a hunter to take up to two dogs or party of hunters a maximum of three dogs into public conservation land. All dogs must remain under the strict control of owners and not be allowed to stray onto surrounding farmland or cause distress to other recreational users.

Hut information - There are no DOC huts or campsites available in this area. Accommodation is available in nearby Mokau or Awakino.

PLACES TO HUNT

There are over 20,000 ha available for hunting in the western King Country area. The area is characterised by a mosaic of forest and farmland hill country. Whareorino and Tawarau Forests have moderate pig numbers. Moderate numbers of goats are found in the Waitewhena and Panirau Forests. The coastal Whareorino block enjoys good rainfall levels and crisp temperatures. The other western King Country blocks are more temperate.

Location - Road access is possible into all the popular hunting areas within the Western King Country.

wesTern KInG cOunTry hunTInGhttp://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/hunting/where-to-hunt/waikato/western-king-country-hunting/http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/hunting/where-to-hunt/waikato/western-king-country-hunting/

Tawarau FOresT Tawarau Forest is a popular pig hunting area. Due to pest control, goat numbers are reduced. There are small numbers of deer.

General information - Tawarau Forest (approximately 3,350 ha) is west of the Waitomo Caves and is one of the best remaining examples of a virgin forest growing in a karst (limestone) landscape. The terrain is heavily forested with rocky outcrops and gullys.

Access - Appletree Road, Speedies Road and Were Road are the main access points to Tawarau Forest. If accessing the track from Were Road end or Speedies Road, you cross private farmland.

Map information - Use NZ Topo50 Piopio BF32

Dogs - Dogs are prohibited except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. People wishing to take a dog into this area should seek authorisation from the Maniapoto Area Office. To take dogs across private property you must get permission from the landowner.

Hut information - There are no huts in the Tawarau Forest.

whareOrInO FOresT Whareorino Forest is a popular pig hunting area. Due to pest control, goat numbers are reduced. There are small numbers of deer.

General information - Whareorino Forest lies 30 km southwest of Te Kuiti and is the largest and one of the most significant forested areas in the western King Country (at about 16,050 ha). It is dominated by the Herangi Range. Its proximity to the west coast provides an unusually cold and moist climate.

Access - Is via Leitch Road, Mangatoa Road, and Crawford Road. There are access issues at Gribbon’s Road. Hunters must seek landowner permission if crossing private land.

Map information - Use NZTopo50 Marokopa BF31 and Piopio BF32

Dogs - Dogs are prohibited except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. People wishing to take a dog into this area should seek authorisation from the Maniapoto Area Office. To take dogs across private property you must get permission from the landowner.

Hut information - Leitch’s Hut is a standard 16 bunk hut in the Whareorino Forest.

cOnTacT For all three areas is DOC Maniapoto Area Office Phone: +64 7 878 1050 Fax: +64 7 878 1051 Email: [email protected] Address: 78 Taupiri Street, Te Kuiti 3910 Postal Address: PO Box 38, Te Kuiti 3941


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REVIEWS

Title: New Zealand’s Fiordland Moose - Mystery or History

Produced by: Stealth Films Ltd

Directed by: Steve Couper

Running time: 85 minutes

RRP: $39.95

Available from: Stealth Films Ltd, Steve Couper, PO Box 2149, Queenstown 9349 or online www.stealthfilms.co.nz

Reviewed by: Trevor Dyke

This is the latest DVD to be produced by Stealth Films Ltd. This could have been titled ‘The Ken Tustin Moose Quest’. The full 85 minutes is Ken Tustin relating the history and his quest to prove that moose still exist in the Fiordland National Park.

When I first watched the DVD, and having followed Ken’s moose quest over the years, I thought that this was just going to be Ken narrating his story and perhaps it could become a bit boring. Far from it. With the interspersion of historic photographs of moose and trophies shot, combined with the filming on location, this DVD is very interesting.

Ken starts his story with the introduction of moose to New Zealand, where they were released, their possible success in breeding and then on to the hunting of the moose. This then flows through into his research endeavours and frustrations of proving that moose still exist in the National Fiordland Park.

He takes you to sites such as Herrick Creek, Wet Jacket Arm, Supper Cove, Moose Creek, Moose Lake and the Lower Seaforth. Mention is made of those hunters that shot moose, such as Eddie Herrick, who took the first legal trophy.

Footage from trail cameras reveal some interesting Red deer behaviour that is most probably not observed around human activity.

This DVD should be a must for anyone going to the Fiordland National Park, in particular if they intend going into some of the areas where moose have been or could be. Moose behaviour and signs that could be looked for during a trip are well described and illustrated by Ken in the DVD.

Ken and his wife Maggie have to be admired for the amount of energy and time that they put into the moose project.

Mystery or history? I believe that moose still exist in the Fiordland National Park and after watching this DVD you might too! I rate it as a ‘must have.’

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Title: Stoked – Cooking with Fire

Author: Al Brown

Publisher: Random House NZ

ISBN: 978-1-869794-88-0

RRP: $70.00

Format: Hardback, 205mm x 255mm, 344 pages, colour photographs, illustrations

Reviewed by: Dianne Brown

Many of the recipes in Stoked can be created using any number of heat sources, ie cooking over charcoal or with hard wood (which is Al’s preferred method), however as he states in his book, this is not always practical or possible.

Next to each recipe is a key indicating the different methods or heat sources for making the recipes, ie skillet/saucepan, wood fired over, chargrill, gas or domestic oven.

The book includes recipes for starters; food from the sea; hunting, fishing and foraging; beef and lamb; faster food; and even salads and cakes.

Al Brown quotes in his book ‘there are many things to love about cooking and eating outdoors. To me, there is an overwhelming sense of freedom and an enjoyment of space experienced when not restricted to four walls. It can be as simple as cooking in your background or heading up to the river’s edge, a campground or an isolated beach.’

And indeed, Al’s love of cooking comes through in Stoked; from the hangi preparation section, to traditional outdoor cooking, to third-generation Chinese fare that involves cooking a pig in a pipe.

Al’s outdoor cooking checklist is worth casting an eye over each time you’re venturing into the outdoors with an appetite.

The magnificent photography by Kieran Scott compliments the recipes and the introductions written by Al for each section. These photos not only feature the recipes prepared by Al, but also amazing New Zealand scenery, from the Wairarapa coastline to Central Otago and back to Ngamatea Station. There is also a scattering of some superb black and white illustrations throughout the book.

This is a beautiful book and not only for the hunter/gatherer but for anyone who loves food. It would make an ideal Christmas present, even if only to sit on a coffee table – although this would be a waste of Al’s wise sentiments dispersed throughout the book and his stunning recipes.

Title: River Safety DVD and Handbook

Produced by: NZ Mountain Safety Council and Water Safety NZ

Running time: 50 minutes

RRP: $30.00 + $5.00 p&p

Available from: www.mountainsafety.org.nz

Reviewed by: Trevor Dyke

The updated River Safety DVD and Handbook was released on 31 May 2011. This informative resource was produced in collaboration with the NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) and Water Safety NZ (WSNZ) to replace the previous MSC resource, ‘Do You Need to Cross’ DVD which was part of the ‘Let’s Go Tramping’ DVD set. It should be noted that the making of the new package was supported by the Department of Conservation, Education Outdoors NZ, NZ Deerstalkers’ Association, Fish & Game NZ and NZ Outdoor Instructors Association.

Both the DVD and the handbook deliver safety messages on and around river associated activities. Both resources are made up of three main sections – river crossings, river features and river safety. These in turn are broken down into sub sections to deliver specific safety points.

Anyone who through their outdoor activities that bring them into contact with rivers, eg trampers, hunters, day trippers etc, will get some valuable safety tips from this package. Families who like to camp, swim and play around rivers, especially those with young children, should give serious thought to obtaining a copy. As the children grow reviewing of the DVD will help to reinforce the safety messages.

A feature I found of interest when viewing the DVD with one of my grandsons was in the section titled ‘River Features’. It shows actual river conditions that have the potential to be very dangerous, but they have also added a diagrammatic overlay that highlights the actual hazard so that you know exactly what you are looking for. I consider this to be a valuable aid in helping you in learning how to assess a river’s condition.

Outdoor groups may wish to consider obtaining a copy for on going training purposes and/or as a seasonal refresher.


Title: Untamed – The Extraordinary Adventures of the Swazi Man

Author: Davey Hughes

Publisher: Random House NZ

ISBN: 978-1-86979-439-2

RRP: $45.00 (+ $10.00 p&p)

Format: Soft cover, 320 pages, 191mm x 230mm, colour photographs, pencil drawings, poems, recipes

Available from: Booksellers or on line at www.swazi.co.nz

Reviewed by: Dianne Brown

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new ZeaLanD DeersTaLKers’ assOcIaTIOn new Banners

The Association recently commissioned two banners, (pictured).

Their first outing was the Sika Show, Taupo where very positive feedback was received.

Photographs were selected from entries into the Association’s national photographic competitions.

Thank you Cody Rapley, the NZDA webmaster for designing the banners and to DigitalDecor for their prompt service.

Photographer: Mike Clinch, Waikato Branch Photographer: Greg Duley, Napier Branch

This book celebrates a life that Davey loves and is a damn good yarn as he is a natural story teller – he certainly can spin a yarn as this book is testament to. Untamed includes drawings, tips on how to skin a mountain lion (something everyone should know), favourite recipes (including zebra livers with onions), a walk through his gun ‘closet’, survival tips, and even poetry.

Davey says in his book ‘I hunt because I can. It’s a primal thing. I’m a whole person when I hunt and giving away meat gives you a great sense of pride.’ His general motto is ‘you eat what you kill’ and cites moose steak as a favourite; the worst some rotting trout in Norway; followed by the country’s other delicacy, smoked sheep’s eyeballs.

Davey learnt how to hunt in the Wellington hills, listening to the sound of wild bush pigs rubbing against the weatherboards of the family house, which may have triggered the hunter inside. As a kid, he would disappear into the bush all day with mates, returning home only when he heard his dad’s whistle at tea time.

Born in Glasgow, where he lived until he was 18-months old; growing up in Waimuiomata and shooting his first deer as a 14-year-old; at the ripe old age of 18 Davey departed on his big OE, purchasing a one way ticket to England. His travels and experiences, which did not all involve hunting, took him further to Africa where he travelled in the footsteps of great explorers, only to end up in a Kartoum jail before a deportation to Swaziland and many more adventures.

Arriving back in New Zealand in 1985, Davey took up trapping; deciding that the only thing he was sure of was that he did not want to get married. However coming out of the bush after five months he met with an old mate,

telling him that if whisky and a woman (in no particular order) were not available he would die. Davey married the first woman he met - his first words to the lady who is now his wife, being a very smooth, ‘hey snake, do you wanna wriggle?’ Fortunately his words of endearment to Maggie improved with Davey quoting a few poems by Keats, which Maggie must have found pretty romantic as they have been married for over 25 years and have three children Ryan, Tagen and Tavis.

This is where I found this book provided me with a very different view of the man that I have heard speaking several times - it is not only a book about his life and his hunting adventures, but is a personal insight to the man. Davey’s account of the birth of his children; sharing how amazing having kids can be; a sneak and private preview of their childhood; and Davey’s sentimental ‘God I’m just so proud of each and every one of them’ shows a very separate side to the man who has lived in a bordello in Swaziland learning all about cannibalism; almost died by eating fruit poisoned by African elephant hunters; almost killed in Alaska by grizzly bears; run through cannibal infested forests; hunted Caribou in the Arctic Circle and buffalo in Tanzania, just to mention a few of his exploits.

The book of course talks of the birth of Swazi a Levin-based outdoor clothing company started by him in 1994.

Thanks must go to Maggie who suggested that Davey keep a dairy of his adventures – this was paid off and the result is really ‘the extraordinary adventures of the Swazi man’ true to the name on the cover of the book. Untamed is not just a hunting story, but an eclectic and diverse account of one ‘untamed’ man’s life.


POINTS OF ENVY

wInnInG heaDs naTIOnaL anTLer, hOrn anD TusK cOMPeTITIOns 2011

Daniel put the sneak on this roaring stag, taking him out with one well placed shot.

The chamois appeared 150 yards on the edge of a snow field. Peter shot him with a .300 Weatherby magnum.

cLIFF MarshaLL MeMOrIaL TrOPhy - BesT sIKa anD aLsO wInner OF a BrOnZe MeDaLD a n i e l M c B e t h , T e A w a m u t u B r a n c h , 1 8 7 ¾ , ( D S e q u i v a l e n t 3 2 8 . 5 6 ) , t a k e n a t T e W a k e T o p s .

MccOnOchIe shIeLD – BesT chaMOIsP e t e r F a i r b a i r n , S o u t h C a n t e r b u r y B r a n c h , 2 7 , ( D S e q u i v a l e n t 3 2 5 . 8 5 ) , t a k e n a t F r a n z J o s e f .


Frans stalked a large mob of ewes and rams on the coastal cliffs. He spent about an hour observing the rams before taking a shot at the

biggest ram from 100 metres. The animal collapsed on the spot.25-minute wait, right on dark, the stag stood up and was shot at 275 metres.

TrevOr chaPPeLL TrOPhy – BesT wILD sheeP anD wInner OF a GOLD MeDaLF r a n s L a a s , O t a g o B r a n c h , 9 9 ¼ , ( D S e q u i v a l e n t 3 4 7 . 3 7 ) , t a k e n a t P i t t I s l a n d .


On TarGeT2011 cenTraL reGIOnaL chaMPIOnshIPs B y M a l c o l m P e r r y

The Central Regional Championships were hosted at the Rotorua Branch Range on October 16th and 17th 2011.

The turnout was disappointing with only seven competitors. The reason for some shooter’s absence known, with those who did attend putting up some credible performances.

Although the weather was fine for the rimfire event, the wind though light but shifty, kept the shooters on their toes.

The morning of day one was the 3P @ 50 metre and 100 metre prone, standing and kneeling.

3P 50m Prone Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 972nd: Mark Poots Taupo 963rd: Mike Bailey Taupo 94

3P 50m Standing Name Branch Score1st=: Grant Botting Taupo 891st=: Brenda Perry Taupo 892nd: Mike Bailey Taupo 993rd: Mark Poots Taupo 83

3P 50m Prone Name Branch Score1st: Jacques Jacobs Manawatu 2232nd: Murray Rowe Te Awamutu 2233rd: Micaela Exter - 22RF

3P 50m Kneeling Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 952nd: Brenda Perry Rotorua 913rd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 90

3P 50m Short range agg Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 2812nd: Mike Bailey Taupo 2693rd=: Brenda Perry Rotorua 2683rd=: Mark Poots Taupo 268

After lunch and a target change, the competition was to all be done again - this time at 100 metres.

3P 100m Prone Name Branch Score1st=: Grant Botting Taupo 97.041st=: Mark Poots Taupo 97.042nd: Brenda Perry Rotorua 96.023rd: Mike Bailey Taupo 95.04

3P 100m Standing Name Branch Score1st: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 872nd: Grant Botting Taupo 85.013rd: Brenda Perry Rotorua 84

3P 100m Kneeling Name Branch Score1st: Brenda Perry Rotorua 98.032nd: John Stick Nth Auckland 91.013rd: Mark Poots Taupo 90

Brenda achieved a new record by 2 points.

3P 100m Long range agg Name Branch Score1st: Brenda Perry Rotorua 278.052nd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 270.023rd: Grant Botting Taupo 267.06

Rimfire grand agg Name Branch ScoreGold Grant Botting Taupo 548.06Silver Brenda Perry Rotorua 546.05Bronze Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 535.02

Sunday was centrefire day with the weather threatening for rain, however we managed to get to the last match before any significant rain fell.

Brenda Perry stayed home today, so with her away and Colin Curreen working both days, it was going to be interesting.

C/F 100m Prone Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 99.092nd: Rod Hill Rotorua 99.053rd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 98.05

C/F 100m Standing Name Branch Score1st: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 81.012nd: Mike Bailey Taupo 813rd: Grant Botting Taupo 80

C/F 100m Kneeling Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 97.032nd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 95.033rd: Mark Poots Taupo 94.01

C/F 100m Short range agg Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 100.082nd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 99.063rd: Mike Bailey Taupo 99.05

Some lunch and the targets were shifted out to 200 metres for the remainder of the day’s competition.

3P 200m Prone Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 100.082nd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 99.063rd: Mike Bailey Taupo 99.05

Two of the other 3 Scores were 99s also.

C/F 200m Standing Name Branch Score1st=: Rod Hill Rotorua 831st: Grant Botting Taupo 832nd: Mike Bailey Taupo 773rd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 72

CF/F 200m Kneeling Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 98.022nd: Rod Hill Rotorua 94.023rd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 94.01

C/F 200m Long range agg Name Branch Score1st: Grant Botting Taupo 281.102nd: Rod Hill Rotorua 274.063rd: Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 265.07

C/F Grand aggregate Name Branch ScoreGold Grant Botting Taupo 548.22Silver Rod Hill Rotorua 541.15Bronze Ian Williamson Sth Waikato 539.16

Very special thanks to Sandi Curreen, who because Colin was not competing, made a special trip over to mark targets for us. I would also thank those who did turn up for their cooperative spirit to help make things run smoothly. I carried out range officer duties during the weekend.

Centrefire winners: Colin Curreen (Silver), Brenda Perry (Gold), Ian Williamson (Bronze)

Rimfire winners: Rod Hill (Bronze), Colin Curreen (Gold), Mark Poots (Silver)

ON TARGET

TauPO PrIZe shOOT B y B i l l S e a l

Saturday, 5 November saw the Taupo Prize Shoot, the longest running prize shoot, take place. A big thank you goes to all who helped seek sponsorship for the prizes. This year, numbers were down slightly on the last couple of years, but we still had 43 entries from 13 branches and 31 of those shot in both the open .22RF class and the Big Balls hunter class. The rain held off for the day, but the wind could have played fairer, but I suppose shooting in a howling gale just adds to the sport.

A grade aggregate Place Name Branch Calibre Prone Sitting Kneeling Standing Total Score1st: Brenda Perry Rotorua 6mm 50.04 48.01 46.01 43.01 187.072nd: John Pearce Tokoroa 6mm 48.02 48.02 39 40.01 175.053rd: Mark Poots Taupo 6mm 50.03 45 44 34 173.03

B grade aggregate 1st: Malcolm Gillice Rotorua 223 49.02 38 28 36 151.022nd: Morgan Lissington Bush 223 43 38 33 29 1433rd: Peter Lissington Bush 223 45 36 28 27 136

C grade aggregate Place Name Branch Calibre Prone Sitting Kneeling Standing Total Score1st: Jacques Jacobs Manawatu 223 40 39 32 23 1342nd: Murray Rowe Te Awamutu 223 43 41 31 15 1303rd: Micaela Exter - 22RF 33.01 38.01 30 19 120.02

D grade aggregate Place Name Branch Calibre Prone Sitting Kneeling Standing Total Score1st: Gemma Mason North Taranaki 22H 31 42 28.01 19 120.012nd: Tayla Nicholson Taupo 22RF 37 36 25 18 1163rd: Sian Moffitt Taupo 22RF 38.01 37 25 5 105.01

Big Balls aggregatePlace Name Branch Calibre Prone Sitting Kneeling Standing Total Score1st: Jacques Jacob Manawatu 30CAL 45.02 38 33 35 151.022nd: Peter Lissington Bush 270 41 33 37 40.01 151.013rd: Don Thompson - 7.08 41 41.01 43 16 141.01

Hillary Herd and Bob NecklesonAiden Ralfe and Sian Moffat

Zeff Veronese presenting David Wood, the victor with a bottle of wine, (the result of an annual contest, running between them for the last 30 years).

Matthew Mesmin, North Canterbury and David Wood shooting the 100 metre .22RF standing

sOuTh IsLanD reGIOnaL chaMPIOnshIPsResults South Island Championships, 29/30 October, Taiko Range hosted by South Canterbury Branch

Juniors Name Score1st: J Muir 3902nd: M Mesmin 374.13rd: M Black 285

Seniors top 10 Name Score

1st: J Steans 506

2nd: P Fairbairn 476.3

3rd: J Pearce 467.1

4th: J Truscott 465

5th: G Steans 454.1

6th: B Hutton 448

8th: D Wood 446

9th J McCarthy 401.1

10th: Z Veronese 396.1

11th: J Muir 390.1

Ladies Name Score1st: J McCarthy 401.12nd: M Black 2853rd: J Loach 239

Rimfire 3 person team Team Names Score1st: North Canterbury 1 H Trustcott, J Steans, G Steans 1425.62nd: South Canterbury 1 D Wood, P Fairbairn, J McCarthy 1323.43rd: North Canterbury 2 Z Veronese, B Hutton, M Mesmin 1218.2

Centrefire teams Name 200m 100m TotalSouth Canterbury 1 P Fairbairn, D Wood, J Pearce 247.2 297.1 544.3North Canterbury 1 J Trustcott, Z Verones, G Steans 258.3 284.1 542.4North Canterbury 2 B Hutton, J Steans, M Mesmin 242.1 299.1 541.2

South Canterbury won the centrefire teams by 2 points.


ADVERTISING INDEX

Animal Skin Tanning Services Ltd ....................... 48

NZ Ammunition Company limited . Inside Front Cover

Classic Sheepskins ............................................. 48

Fluid Coatings NZ ................................................18

G D O’Rourke & Sons Ltd .....................................10

Great Lake Tannery & Expediter ...........................10

Gunworks Canterbury ......................................... 39

Hunting & Fishing NZ .....................................27, 40

Kilwell Sports Ltd ...................19, Inside Back Cover

Leica, Lacklands Ltd .......................................... 27

Mana Charters ....................................................10

NZ Police / Mountain Safety Council ....................11

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association ............... 48

Nicholas Taylor, Barrister .................................... 48

Stoney Creek ....................................................... 6

Target Products Ltd ............................................ 22

Top Gear ............................................................ 39

Swazi Apparel ..................................37, Back Cover

ADVE

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2012 National Bowhunters’ Tournament

1st – 4th June 2012

To be hosted by the Thames Valley Deerstalkers Association

The New Zealand Bowhunters Society is to hold its national tournament at the Thames Valley Deerstalkers Association Range, 101 Morrison Road, Paeroa over Queen’s Birthday Weekend 2012.

This will the first time that this competition will be open to non members who will be most welcome to take part in this event.

Further details will be in the next NZ Hunting & Wildlife.

Enquiries in the interim, please contact [email protected]

NICHOLAS TAYLOR BARRISTER - 15 years experience

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Documents

New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife | 175 - Summer 2012