New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife | 182 - Spring 2013

National competition results

Fiordland Wapiti

Heli-hunting – is it allowed?

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Spring iSSue 182 - OctOber tO December 2013

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Issue 182 OctOber – December 2013An 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 Roar Some, Carl Finlay, Te Awamutu Branch. 1st Taupo Trophy for game prints and winner Athol Hood Memorial Trophy for cover photo H&W 2013

FeAturesNew Boys on the Block – New National Executive Members ......................................9

Europe for Roe Buck – Jason Walsh ..................................................................10

Fiordland Wapiti Foundation 2012/13 Report – Roy Sloan ....................................18

NZDA National Competition Results ........................................................................22

Big Game Certificate Recipients 2013 ....................................................................22

Antler, Horn and Tusk Medals 2013 ........................................................................26

Cameron’s First Deer and One Very Proud Dad – Robert Howey ........................28

Yeah Nah Tahr – Sean Johnson ..........................................................................30

New AHT Trophy – D Bruce Banwell Trophy for Red Deer ........................................32

Obituary – D Bruce Banwell ....................................................................................33

Heli-hunting, Are They Allowed to Do That? – Snow Hewetson ..........................36

Preliminary Results – Figgins-Forsyth Hunter Survey ..............................................41

Trails – Greig Caigou ....................................................................................... 44

Perfect Christmas Gift ideas for the Hunter in your Family ...................................... 46

reGuLArsPresident’s Report – Spring – Tim McCarthy .....................................................2

Editorial – The Enemy Within – Chaz Forsyth ....................................................3

Bugle – QSM recipient. Tahr report 2012/13 ..........................................................4

Letters to the Editor ..........................................................................................5, 8

NZDA HUNTS Report – Bill O’Leary .....................................................................6

COLFO updates – Michael Dowling ....................................................................8

Habitat – The Dunny Run and Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust .................................... 12

Young Hunter Story – Dad and Daughter Hunt – Miya Breadmore ................... 14

Kilwell ‘take me hunting’ kid’s photo page ........................................................... 15

DOC Updates – Ian Cooksley ............................................................................ 16

Survival Skills – Backcountry Earthquakes – Linda Flynn .................................21

Blast from the Past – Lessons from the Deer at Lake Monk .................................34

Lock Stock and Barrel – Cartridges of the Early 21st Century – Chaz Forsyth ..37

Places to Hunt – West Coast, Hokitika and Whitcombe Valleys .............................40

Book Reviews .....................................................................................................42

Poem – Keeping Watch – Fran Allcock ............................................................43

On Target - NZDA Shooting Calendar ................................................................... 47

CONTENTS

1NZ Hunting & Wildlife 182 - Spring 2013

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Be safe be seen.

Better No Meat

than No Mate

At the NZDA annual conference and our 65th annual general meeting held 11 – 13 July in Blenheim, hosted by the Marlborough Branch; it was my pleasure to present the annual report of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association to the conference delegates.

Highlights of the year have included the introduction of the Game Animal Council Bill (GAC). I was encouraged to hear the Minister of Conservation, Hon Dr Nick Smith’s comments as read by Hon Eric Roy on the Friday evening, during the opening function.

For the thirteenth year in a row our membership has continued to grow with a membership increase for the year end February 28th 2013 of 14.98% (not including family members).

The continued success of endeavours driven at regional and local levels by individuals and branches are acknowledged. These include the Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust (and its Stewart Island huts); research efforts like the Kaweka Mountain Beech programme involving the Sika tracking collars (which was covered during conference proceedings by way of a Power Point presentation); and those projects relating to tahr and the Stewart Island Whitetail research. Other NZDA branch initiatives include the upkeep of huts and tracks and the stoat

control to protect the whio blue duck.

The NZDA HUNTS programme continues to fly, with three more branches demonstrating buy in to the concepts of a national standard for hunter training. Murray Burns and Malcolm Mitchell (Upper Clutha Branch) have attained their Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (HUNTS) and Gerry Veugelaers of the Hutt Valley NZDA his Diploma in Outdoor Leadership (HUNTS); I congratulate them on their willingness and commitment.

Certificates of Appreciation were awarded at conference to two past big game trophy record convenors: John Crossland, Wellington Branch (Rusa and Sika) and Owen Reed, North Taranaki Branch (sheep). Grateful recognition to these men to for the time and willing service they have given the Association. Congratulations should also be extended to the Gore & Districts Branch for reaching their 50th anniversary.

On another positive note, the generosity of the Wellington Branch who has agreed to pay for the research levy of $2.00 per senior member (as passed at conference for the 2014-2015 year), cannot be overlooked. Thanks.

The current downside is our opposition to AATH (Aerially Assisted Trophy Hunting or heli-hunting as we knew it), which has crystallised with the

realisation that without the political support which we have enjoyed, such opposition would lose its momentum. All branches and members have been asked to write to the Hon Dr Nick Smith and the Right Hon John key in opposition to this unacceptable practice over our national parks and public conservation estates, urging them to put in place legislation and ban heli-hunting before the next round of permits are issued. Some DOC staff has failed to follow a previously agreed policy to refrain from hunting tahr during the kid drop period. Their effort to lure our branches into compromising our National Association’s code of ethics is noted with concern. Also the reluctance of DOC to enforce is own rules about wild animal recovery or WARO operators also continues to cause concern and marks a low point for the year.

I pay tribute to the Hon Peter Dunne, Member of Parliament and leader of the UnitedFuture Party for his stalwart opposition to the AATH – political support like this is very encouraging as we strive to improve ethical attitudes towards our wild animals and their management.

Comments from last year’s conference have not been ignored; with activities such as the membership recruitment poster recently delivered to all branches. Thanks to Gary Keen of the South Canterbury Branch for his work in putting this together.

The president, Dean Mighell and past president, Bob Green of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (SSAA) attended our national conference and were generous in donating $10,000.00 to work to advance the cause of competitive sport shooting on both sides of the Tasman so that our competitors can attend the likes of the Pacific Regional Shooting Championships in Australia in 2014 and 2016.

I look forward to a very exciting year with a general election and as stated by the Hon Eric Roy, Member of Parliament on our opening evening - the passing of the legislation, which instead of tolerating recreational hunting as a way of keeping wild animal number under control - recognising them for the game resource they really are.

It is with regret that I advise that our national life member D Bruce Banwell passed away recently. He will be missed by so many that he has made an impact on. See his obituary page 33.

PresIDeNt’s rePOrt - sPrINGTim McCar t hy - Na t iona l Presiden t, New Zea l a nd D eersta l kers’ Assoc ia t ion

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 182 - Spring 2013 2

EDITORIAL

AN eNemy wIthIN? FIreArm users whO Are NOt suPPOrtIve OF LAwFuL FIreArm use!IntroductIonWe all like to think the near-quarter-million licensed arms users in New Zealand are law abiding, indeed, this is a prerequisite of obtaining and keeping our arms licences. For 99.99% of all licensed users, this is the case. However, two groups exist in New Zealand which thrive on unlawful arms possession and use. One of these is the criminal element of New Zealand, who by their nature, are beyond the law and will not be discussed any further. The other group is made up of the producers and directors of drama productions, movies, musicals, radio and stage shows, and television dramas, all of the ‘mass media’ of which the news media is a part. These people use firearms as props in their portrayals of, in the main, anti-social or at times, outright violent and unlawful firearm possession and misuse.

This article will explore these and their impacts, potential and actual, upon the law-abiding arms users of New Zealand.

the lawSection 31 of the Arms Act (1983 and amendments of 1992 and 2012) permits the possession of firearms, including handguns, restricted weapons and MSSAs, provided a suitably authorised person (meaning licensed user of any these firearms) remains in the immediate vicinity (within ‘arms reach’) of the performer acting with it/them. This does highlight an anomaly, that of allowing even an MSSA to be used in a drama production of some kind; the anomaly being that legitimate user who wishes to fire such a firearm on a range is not permitted to handle, let along fire, such a firearm unless they are (a) the holders of the appropriate licence endorsement (‘E-category’), and (b) have lawfully taken possession of the weapon. The latter refers to the need for obtaining a permit to procure and then becoming the registered owners of the firearm concerned.

So performers in public entertainments such as television shows, stage musicals and the like, can have any firearm for the purpose of their production.

hIstoryThis qualified right has existed under New Zealand arms legislation since the 1958 Arms Act, and conceivably since that of 1920.

the questIonA question arises, given that in the main, public portrayals of firearm possession reflect at best, anti-social behaviour, or at worst, lawless violence with firearms, how can these actors, playwrights, producers, scriptwriters and directors, justify their ability to have these firearms when they are generally used to show firearms and firearm ownership in an undesirable light? Of course, they’ll cite the legislation which permits such possession, but from the viewpoint of law abiding arms owners, these portrayals are negative, showing firearm possession in a light that is not conducive to the promotion of lawful firearm possession.

dIscussIonWhat’s been outlined leads to a discussion between freedom of speech and the rights and responsibilities of arms owners. Recently, many full-page advertisements were taken out by the tobacco industry, questioning a central government move towards a requirement for plain packaging of some tobacco products. References were made to the possibility of plain packaging for wine bottles, and to my mind, the plain packaging of ammunition was but a heartbeat away!

Some years ago, in my first appearance before a Select Committee (debating the Arms Amendment Bill 1991, an aftermath of the Aramoana multiple homicides of 1990), I raised the argument of restricting portrayals of violence involving firearms, and former Prime Minister, The Right Hon David Lange asked me ‘where will it all end – with tobacco?’, to which I could only reply that that matter (the ban on tobacco product advertising) had been addressed by a previous administration. I was of course thinking of the fourth Labour Government, an administration for which he had been prime minister. Lange immediately sat down.

My point was that if it was good enough to try to reduce tobacco consumption by restricting advertising of tobacco products, then a parallel could be drawn by reducing portrayals of violent offending with firearms on mass media entertainments. Interestingly, such portrayals continue unabated, and much

ink, celluloid and digital space has been expended arguing over the linkage between public displays of firearm misuse and actual firearm-armed violent offending.

Quite apart from the distortions shown by the mass-media (the sideways-held handgun, the ‘never-miss’ capabilities of firearm users), evidence of a double standard emerges, and we do not have to look too far to find them. Here are a few examples: newspapers show photographs taken from what might best be described as doubtful positions, when firearms deployed by the police are shown along with a masked putative offender, held for the time being under the muzzle, taken from a photographic position arguably within the firing zone. Regular references are to be found in the overseas and foreign media to ‘gun control’ linked with the supposition that firearm controls will automatically lead to reduced violent offending by criminals. And of course, the New Zealand radio station which broadcast that ‘…Only killers need guns…’ in 1996.

We can of course also think of Garry McCormick who leapt upon the bandwagon of anti-firearm posturing inspired by Mr Alpers in the early 1990s. Mr Alpers, a long-time TV talk-show host, adopted a position of ‘arguing for those who don’t have firearms’, in an attempt to address a perceived imbalance, and his credentials as publicity spokesperson concealed interesting and at times shortages of formal research training when striving to intensify controls upon firearms.

By Chaz Forsyth

cAN yOu heLP us PLeAse?We are trying to track down the past winners of the John Murphy Memorial Trophy for Administrative Excellence and would be most grateful if anyone can advise us if you know who may have won this award for the years listed below. On a few occasions the trophy has not been returned from previous years and when looking back through old H&Ws, some issues are missing etc.

We have filled in a lot of the gaps but your help with tracking down these last few would be fantastic by emailing [email protected] or calling us on 04 801 7367.

year conference held at name of recipient1985 Levin

1986 Christchurch

1987 Taupo

1988 Gore


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

Patron: Ian Wright

National President: Tim McCarthy

Immediate Past President: Alec McIver

National Vice President: Bill O'Leary

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

Chief Executive Officer: Dianne Brown

National Treasurer: Tony Allen

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, I D Wright NZDA recOGNIseD sPONsOrs 2012/13:Halcyon Publishing, Kilwell, Hunting & Fishing NZ, NZ Guns & Hunting, 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, North Taranaki, 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

BugLE

Press reLeAse: FIsh & GAme vOte tO remOve sub-GAuGe exemPtION.Page 5, NZ Hunting & Wildlife issue 180.

Further correspondence has been received on this matter. It was addressed in issue 181. The media release was reprinted with its source; there were no inaccuracies in what was printed. No further correspondence on this matter will be entered into.

QueeN’s servIce meDAL AwArDeD On June 3, 2013 Queen Elizabeth ll awarded Bud Jones, Wellington NZDA the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in the New Zealand Queen’s Birthday Honours. The New Zealand Royal Honours provide a way for New Zealand to thank and congratulate individuals who have served their communities and the country well, and to recognise their achievements.

The selection of Bud Jones for an honour reflects the contribution he has made to New Zealand and its people for: 1. Outstanding achievements in arboretum and

wetland creation, environmental protection and wildlife conservation

2. Service to professional music and performance.

3. Service to secondary and tertiary music education.

Bud has made outstanding environmental achievements in the creation, restoration and development of wildlife habitat. He and his wife, Dr Elizabeth Jones, own Pokai Parera Farms in the northern Wairarapa where Bud has created wetland wildlife habitat including 5 large lakes and 21 smaller ponds spread widely over 85 hectares. All the wetland areas have adjacent complementary tree planting where he has personally planted over 30,000 native and exotic trees specifically for birdlife, beautification and enrichment of the countryside.

The autumn colours are consequently outstanding, with planting carefully designed to provide a spectacular visual image, using a mix of evergreen

and deciduous trees.

The wetlands are home to most of the native, endemic and introduced waterfowl and wading birds. These areas provide secure nesting, feeding and resting cover for the birds but also outstanding habitat for endangered species like the NZ Dabchick, NZ Scaup, NZ Grey duck, the Australasian grey teal, and many others. Many common wetland birds are also present, including: mallard duck, NZ Shoveler duck, NZ Paradise Shelduck, plus, Canada geese, black swan, pukeko, herons, black and pied shags and many more.

The trees that surround each wetland also provide superb habitat for endemic, native and introduced song birds, which are found in large numbers, especially: tui, bell bird, fantail, bush robin, morepork, welcome swallow, kingfisher and grey warbler. Numerous exotic birds, including ring-necked pheasant, chaffinch, goldfinch, thrush, spur-winged plover, eastern rosella, yellowhead, silvereye, yellowhammer and many other birds are also found throughout Bud’s extensive created habitat.

A significant aspect of Pokai Parera Farms is that it is a virtual wildlife oasis in the middle of a ‘moonscape’ monoculture ‘sea’ of agricultural grass where all of the magnificent lowland native forest has been cleared or destroyed, wetlands drained and wildlife habitat lost. The significance of this cannot be over-stated. The property is protected in perpetuity by a Queen Elizabeth ll Open Space Covenant.


hImALAyAN tAhr rePOrt 2012 - 2013 By david hodder, himalayan tahr control Plan Implementation liaison Group• Approximately 4,070 tahr were killed. (2012

= 3,765)

• DOC aerial SAD operations – 2,763 tahr

• The TIG organised culls – NIL – survey only

• Balloted hunters 2012 in West Coast Wilderness Areas - 451 tahr

• Recreational hunters in Mt Cook NP November/December 2012 – 92

• AATH – 763 tahr –figures provided by DOC. (2012=394)

• Vegetation plots remeasuring continues

(The above figures cover from January 2012 to Feb 2013).

A full report is available on request from the NZDA National Office.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In July, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment publicly called for more 1080. She has it wrong on a number of counts.

Firstly she described it as ‘humane’. It is not. It takes about two days to slowly kill. Research has documented that a deer takes two days to die a ‘very prolonged, painful death’ from 1080. The creatures die the slow, agonising death. The death throes of a 1080 poisoned dog is well known.

1080 was never supposed to be used like topdressing. Hunters are concerned about the fate of deer but also equally, the birds and the total environment. Hands up those who want silent forests? Don’t the NZDA photo competitions with insect and bird photography featuring show a wider concern of hunters beyond game animals?

Dean Maisey’s excellent letter last issue showed ‘deer repellent’ to be a farce and a sop to appease deerstalkers. Most hunters are concerned not for just deer but the bigger picture of the forest ecosystem and birds too.

The fact is the poison is banned in almost every other country. It is a broad spectrum non-selective poison, killing everything that requires oxygen for its metabolic processes. In short it is an ‘ecosystem poison’.

Perhaps, the Commissioner doesn’t understand food chains? After all her science is in physics not biology. But those who frequent the mountains ‘off-track’, such as hunters, do understand.

The toxin, developed about the 1920s as an insecticide is ‘non-selective’, killing everything including animals and birds. It poisons everything. Scientists like the late Mike Meads, Peter Notman and others warned 1080 disrupts whole forest ecosystems. Apart from poisoning, birds suffer afterwards from 1080 causing predator numbers to rise rapidly. After a poison drop the fast-breeding rats and stoats with litters totalling 30 kittens per annum explode in numbers. Possums, (one kitten a year), do not. The stimulated plague of rats and stoats seeking food then ‘prey-switch’ to birds.

Every environmental-conscious hunter

should read conservationist Bill Benfield’s The Third Wave. It chronicles all the effects and side effects of 1080.

The whole 1080 saga has been corrupt. Scientists who have voiced concerns have had findings ignored, even lost jobs or had funding cut, the rest are forced to comply with pro-1080 policy.

The 1080 programme is backed by government for vested interest reasons. The Commissioner, DOC and Animal Health Board are employed by government. Empires and jobs are at stake. Government owns the 1080 company Animal Products. When will a newspaper do a factual, revealing investigative journalism story?

Poisons, not ‘pests’ are killing forests and bird ecosystems - a major environment tragedy.

What are you dear reader doing about it? Send an email to the prime minister and all political parties? Or are you going to be mute?

Laurie Collins, Spokesman, Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust

1080 POIsONViewers of TV1 at 6:00pm Tuesday July 16th should be rightly annoyed at the glib reporting exercise of a complex subject whereby the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment called for the use of more aerially broadcast 1080 poison.None of the facts were emphasized:

1. 1080 is a broad spectrum poison that kills everything that metabolizes oxygen from insects right through to large animals.

2. 1080 was developed as an insecticide in the 1920’s and is banned in almost all countries.

3. There is a severe risk of secondary poisoning of scavengers and sub lethal uptake right through the food chain.

4. There is every risk of non-target unintended consequences of indiscriminate aerial broadcast of poison in vast areas of wilderness under no control or scientific monitoring.

5. There is no scientific evidence that there is a so called “pest” out there in numbers that would warrant such an extreme and dangerous exercise.

6. The poisoning regime favours fast breeding animals like rats and stoats and disadvantages slow breeding native birds.

7. 1080 has been used for 60 years and has not worked against fast breeders but has decimated native birds like kea.

8. The forest evolved with the presence of browsing [moa and others] from snow grass down to lowland and swamp. Unlike the myth propagated of forests evolving in the absence of browsers.

9. The government owns the 1080 factory; jobs of DOC, AHB and the factory are all tied up in a $120 million dollar poison industry spinning go around.

10. The PCE Jan Wright has no qualifications whatsoever in biology or zoology, she is nothing but a state mouth piece for the poison industry.

Year 10 biology would reveal to students that you cannot aerially spread a broad spectrum poison indiscriminately across vast areas of wilderness without disrupting the entire ecosystem and food chain.

It is time the PCE and the Minister of Conservation, DOC and the AHB enrolled in a basic high school biology course before they find themselves in a world environment court charged with massive destruction of our native species.

If this madness persists our grandchildren will be gob smacked at our stupidity just like we are gob smacked at bad ideas like slavery, genocide, female genital mutilation and cannibalism.

Bud Jones QSM


“don’t give up hunting ‘til you are in the hut.”One old Nelson hunter used to quote an even older culler who encouraged culler trainees with the above words. A Selwyn River fisherman I knew in my youth would look at his watch at 2.00am and reply to my query with, “just ten more casts”. Both gentlemen had reputations for success.

I had occasion to reflect on this as our Nelson NZDA HUNTS course got into the last hours of the hunting weekend and two trainees had not stalked an animal. One had some difficulty in identifying animals on the hillside under damp and murky conditions and the other had some problems with the challenge of the terrain. Having said that, both had participated fully in all those other aspects of the course including the recovery and processing of animals shot by other trainees.

At ‘half past’ the eleventh hour, for one trainee the opportunity was there and the shot taken. The success was witnessed and celebrated by the whole group and importantly, the sole remaining unsuccessful trainee shared in the congratulations that followed.

In debriefing the exercise the point had to be made that ‘success’ is not always measured in personal ‘kills’.

The hunting weekend was the culmination of the course and the learning that came out of the whole group experience (including the individual hunting successes) reinforced key messages the HUNTS programme has pushed.

Hunting is not just about the ‘kill’. The animals need to be respected and you need to work for your animal. The assistance and support of your mates is important and in a group situation the success of one person should benefit all, both in practical ways (the meat was shared) and in the less tangible ways of shared experience and mate ship.

Hopefully those HUNTS trainees will see continued membership of NZDA as providing continued opportunities to enjoy the hunting experience with like-minded people.

warrantingAt the moment the printing of the warrant cards is the only thing holding up the process. As explained at conference the longer term plan is for the warrant card to include all NZDA appointments including HUNTS, Range Officer, Douglas Scorer, etc. Unless something unforeseen happens HUNTS instructors will have their warrant cards by the time this edition of NZ Hunting & Wildlife goes to print.

Practical Firearm usageA number of branches have experimented with public delivering instruction on practical firearm usage with an emphasis on zeroing, positional shooting and in some cases reloading. North Canterbury has progressed this with a new course taking an extended period of time and covering ballistics, choice of firearm, maintenance and safe handling in a hunting context all in addition to practical work on the range.

A number of range convenors have expressed their frustration at seeing new shooters turning up on ranges with firearms and ammunition

inappropriate to the expectations of the owner. Most regular users of branch ranges would have seen new shooters turning up with rifles that are neither dry, cleaned, nor zeroed and in some cases, with no idea that this is necessary, let alone how to do it.

Branches that take the initiative and deliver courses such as North Canterbury are to be commended. I expect that out of the North Canterbury programme we can pick up some ideas for improvement and I am certain that these can be shared to the benefit of all.

Sometimes I reached the hut without success but there was always the next day - or another ten casts.

NZDA HuNTS REPORT

huNts Bi l l O ’Leary, Na t iona l Coord ina tor, NZDA HUNTS

Bill O’LearyNational Coordinator,

NZDA HUNTS

happy hunter, alli Mitchell, nelson Branch nZda hunts course.

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dear Members

The council has held it AGM this year and we have not met since then.

The Strategy Committee has been tasked with coming up with key issues for the Council to consider for the next five to ten years and review agreements for how they should be engaged with the Council.

We continued with the informal meetings with the police representatives, and have spoken twice more with the Manager Police Vetting and Firearms Licensing.

We also attended the inaugural NZ Police Firearms Community Advisory Forum on the 18th June in Wellington. The forum was formed as a result of the Select Committee

Process with the Arms Amendment Bill 2012. Police were encouraged to set up a forum to ensure the firearms community are engaged early in any proposed changes. We have kept in touch with Police to ensure we understood how this would be achieved.

When the forum met there were seven firearms groups representative attended along with seven police representatives and a minute taker.

The minutes of this meeting have been released and are available on request. The intent of the group is to discuss policy and is an opportunity for firearm user groups to be involved and discuss potential unintended consequences, however it is not a decision making group. While it was agreed there would be visibility of the proceeding available to all

interested parties, we cannot speak on the detail of the meeting prior to the release of the minutes.

We are in the process of finalising the 2012 accounts which will have our accounts up to date, then we will move the Council to the Xero accounting software so we can have visibility to all member associations on the internet.

Given it was busy start to the year we are working on general business at the moment and expect to update you in two and four months on our other activities.

If you have any thoughts or feedback please email me at [email protected]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

all the best Michael dowling, chair, colFo

COLfO

cONGrAtuLAtIONs AIr New ZeALAND!I write to congratulate Air New Zealand for its grace in hearing the concerns of licensed, law-abiding competitive shooters when they learned of the surcharges imposed upon their overseas travel arrangements. Although this action appeared to be a fait accompli, Air New Zealand showed willing to listen to the concerns and was able, after due consideration, to withdraw from the position it had created.

In contrast to this is the recently-learned decision by New Zealand Post to not only declare, under their empowering legislation, that firearms and parts of them are ‘dangerous goods’, but as a result of this unilateral decision, to refuse to handle any such item in the New Zealand mail system. Two questions arise here: the first is, it is clear that New Zealand Post will be invading the privacy of everyone who sends a parcel through its system, because it will require either a declaration of what the goods are (already needed for international parcels of course for customs reasons), or will be entertaining systems for detecting the contents of whatever we send?

Either way, this seems outrageous because this topic was considered some two decades ago by the police, who eventually found that, in the case of rural mail deliverers, there was no need for them to contemplate becoming licensed to own firearms, in case they had to transport these as part of their deliveries, any more than New Zealand Railways Road Services (now privatised) or a courier firm would have to.

It does seem that the somewhat monopolistic State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are attempting to take advantage of their position to impose some quaint view that firearms beget violence, or some such nonsense. That Air New Zealand was able to see its way clear to review a policy is to its credit. Should New Zealand Post choose not to reconsider is simply to invite potential users to consider alternative means of delivery which may exist.

Yours faithfully, Chaz Forsyth

AvAILAbILIty OF cOmPuter GAmes I am very much aware of the stance that the association places on the need for people to NOT shoot each other, either accidentally or intentionally.

I am concerned and dismayed at the availability of computer games which simulate the hunting down and shooting of the people you are playing the game with. I am even more concerned about the fact that such games are available for kids to play after school in the local library. I don't know if there is any evidence available to suggest that playing such games

increases the likelihood of kids growing up and shooting each other either accidentally or intentionally, but it certainly does encourage them to think that guns are a 'game', and pointing a loaded gun at another person is part of the game. I wonder if anyone any one would be able to access any information regarding the detrimental effects of such games, and if you would be prepared to support my intended recommendation to district councils that they ban such games from being played in the library. Any help I can get would be much appreciated.

Pyllis Leigh (by email)


New Nat iona l t reasurer – tony a l l e nAllow me to introduce myself; I’m Tony Allen from the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association.

On a personal level I’ve being married for 20 years to Joanne; we have two lovely boys – Zac and Reuben. Side note don’t spend your 20th wedding anniversary hunting Wapiti – the cost of putting it right is too high.

I’ve been involved with the Wellington Branch of the NZDA for approximately the last nine years joining the committee some seven years ago. During this time I’ve held a number of roles within the committee, including four odd years as the newsletter editor/postie, two years as vice president and two as president.

My interest for allowing for my name to be nominated for North Island Member of the National Executive and, if successful, joining the National Executive has been driven by recent involvement with a couple of branch members and projects they are working on.

Wellington Branch member, Barry Insull and his eleven year battle with the Department of Conservation over its treatment of hunters and its management of regional hunting areas (RHAs). The continued driven approach taken by Barry resulted in Felicity Lawrence, Deputy Director-General Science & Capability Department of Conservation attending conference and discussing the need for increased relationships between DOC and NZDA. While Felicity acknowledged DOC should shoulder most of the responsibility for the lack of trust and relationship break down, this has proven to me that charge can be created. It however also requires a change of mind set from within NZDA.

While working on a small aspect for the Cattle Ridge Hut, a rebuild project run by Tony Macklin of Wellington Branch (for which Wellington Branch is a major sponsor). a number of organisations associated with the great outdoors expressed the need or desire to start working together with the NZDA. This degree of openness must be viewed as positive.

While there may be aspects of some relationships where we will have to agree to disagree, that is life. In the case of Department of Conservation this may even develop into working together on projects, as long as hunting benefits remain the objective. Remember basic sand pit politics apply, and the big kid doesn’t always get it his own way.

This has never become more important as my own children’s interest continue to grow in the sports of hunting and shooting. This has highlighted to me what does the future hold for our children as I would like to see access available to future generations. It is the work we undertake now will go some way towards ensuring this happens.

I believe being based in Wellington creates the opportunity to develop and work towards increasing these relationships as required for the betterment of the NZDA.

Editor’s note: Whilst Tony was not successful in the bid for the North Island Member of the National Executive, he was nominated, accepted and voted in as the National Treasurer.

New Nor th Is land member o f the Nat iona l execut ive – st eph e n sh awStephen, 43 years-old was raised as a keen outdoorsman but it wasn’t until 2006 that he became completely obsessed with big game hunting.

Stephen and his partner Lynne have been together for 20 years and have raised two boys, Cody and Connor to become exemplary young men.

He is an arborist by trade: Lynne and Stephen have been running an arboricultural contracting and consultancy business for the past 17 years.

Stephen joined the NZDA at the Hastings Branch in early 2007 and started attending committee meetings later that year. At the following AGM he was elected as branch secretary and held that position for four years. During that time he revised the branch antler, horn & tusk and the photographic competition rules to align them with our national rules.

He was also instrumental in helping Mr Graeme Withey consolidate years of study and research to form the Withey System for Sika antler formation.

Stephen is also very keen on measuring and judging AHT trophy heads. For two years he has had the privilege of being in the judging room at national conference as an observer; this year being accepted as a trainee

judge to the national AHT judging panel.

He is very interested in big game animal management and is a keen trophy hunter that likes to put quality late summer venison in the freezer.

Hopefully, the establishment of the Game Animal Council in the near future will enable the NZDA to become involved in the development of local policies for special interest herds. It would also allow us to grab the proverbial ‘deer by the antlers’ and be up and running with some more infrastructure and partnerships for herd management.

Stephen would like to assist branches that are close to or surround the herds of interest to play a major role in their management and protection to ensure that the resource is the best that can be produced for future generations.

ARTICAL


Jason’s mounted roe buck

STORy


It has just gone 9.30pm and the light is fading badly and my host will be back at 10.00pm to pick me up. As the light ebbs away I reflect upon how it is that I find myself sitting in a ‘High Seat’ on a Friday evening in Rhineland, Germany waiting for a chance to secure a trophy Roe buck. I’d had some preconceived ideas about this type of hunting. Having been brought up with the ethics of NZDA I really wasn’t sure about shooting deer in paddocks whilst sitting in a seat, but after weeks of talking to Dad back in Wellington I had accepted that if that’s what it was going to take to get a Roe buck then… Three hours had raced past and I had already discovered (the hard way) that the differences in etiquette, rifle setup, more specifically ‘set trigger’, and having to wait until the deer is in front of you had made for a heart pumping, frustrating and almost surreal experience. I kicked myself for leaving my phone at the house as I knew Dad would have woken early in Wellington in anticipation of my phone call, I could have ‘Skyped’ him whilst I watched the two does 20 metres in front of me. 9.40pm and it’s now almost dark; there’s movement, yes a Roe deer on that newly ploughed paddock, it’s only 30 metres away but I can’t see its head. I think it’s a buck, it must be a buck. 9.45pm now and I still can’t make out its head, the little deer still has its dark winter coat – if it’s a doe it will have young and if I shoot it …. well I have to be certain. Yes, those are antlers – the hair trigger has already cost me a buck, not 10 minutes after sitting down and in almost the exact same spot. I push the safety off and turn on the red dot scope. The scope drags in the light but that dot just gives that surety that you know where you’re aiming. Deep breath, 30.06 lead in the air.

Now my blood is pumping. At the edge of the

forest the regrowth seems to be alive, surely it can’t be my buck or the two does that were feeding, as they bolted at the sound of the shot - my buck is down. I pull him from the blackberry where he has fallen. The noise, its pigs, the ‘Black Pigs’. They sound miffed that I’m between them and their nightly feed of corn and entrails.

It stuck with me for a few days about how excited Dad was about my trip; he’s not all that well and can no longer hunt as much as he used to, but his email with, “I’d give my eye teeth for a Roe buck trophy” had struck me deeply. It wasn’t hard to book the flights….. telling him he was flying to Switzerland… “You’re going Roe buck hunting in Austria next week Dad!” That was great!

As I made my way to Zurich airport on the train it dawned on me what a whirlwind three weeks had just passed. Now it’s Tuesday afternoon and Mum and Dad have landed. He got a doctor’s clearance, but how the hell is he coping? What’s more, its 34 degrees and summer!

Friday morning, one and a half hours from home, and Dad has just been through three countries. We arrive at the 560-year-old family run guesthouse at noon. With over 100 years of trophies adorning the walls; chamois, Mouflan sheep, giant Red deer and the local Alpine ibex - it’s amazing. But what grabs Dad is the Roe buck heads. They are all shapes and sizes; to the Austrians they are all trophies and all displayed on hand crafted shields. Eva our host sits us down and we discuss the size and number of trophies we wish to take. Each head is priced by weight (24 hours after being cleaned). We have said something in the 300 gram range, based upon the heads that we have just looked at. Dad then heads off for

40 winks and I head out to the next village for some sightseeing, a sandwich and a cold beer.

Dinner is served at 5.30pm in the dining room and we have opted for ‘1/2 board’ breakfast and dinner. Dinner is a set menu of soup, main and dessert and Eva joins us over a glass of wine to run through the plans for the night’s hunt. We jump into the Land Rover at 6.30pm sharp. The trip in the Land Rover is about as eventful as any Land Rover trip can be as we make our way through villages and farms on the valley floor. Just as we turn off the road a couple of bright orange deer stand and look at us, probably last year’s ‘kids’. A buck and doe that mum has now sent packing. As we head further up the forestry track Eva describes the area and its history to us. About half way up we stop to glass for chamois on a cut over piece of forest as the ding, ding of cow bells floats across from the distant mountain meadows resting in the subtle light of the early evening.

7.15pm sees Dad settled into his seat, just into the forest edge at the base of a huge avalanche smashed gully with lots of dead wood and regenerating pine and oak. Dad gets himself comfy after his 150 metre walk and settles in with a rest with the .243 Styer. We all glass the opposite side of the gully. At 7.30pm high on the ridge top Eva spots movement, then a magnificent buck walks out onto the ridge top. Initially Eva instructs Dad to wait as it is too far, but after a few minutes and a recheck of the distance in the range finder, 320 metres, Eva gives Dad the OK to take the shot………. By the time Eva and I reach the spot where the buck was standing it is clear that Dad has missed. But under

eurOPe FOr rOe buckBy Jason wa lsh

rae and his guide walking to a seat just over the ridge top ahead

Glassing for chamois on rock outcrops jutting out from the forest


Austrian law she must check and follow any animals shot at.

Dessert was served with a cold beer, our first day was at an end, it was now midnight of the summer solstice; we had seen nearly 20 deer and Dad had been put onto a great buck.

4.30am, a quick coffee then off again. This time Dad is put into a seat on the edge of a large flat at the head of a swampy nature reserve. This is one of the many areas where game congregate in winter. The hunt owner feeds out to insure that animals don’t starve during the long dark months. Austria requires that hunt owners manage the wildlife, but are also very clear baiting of animals with food is illegal. We watch as hare and deer make their way across this spot. Just as it starts to lighten a young buck ghosts away to our right, but it’s still too dark to clearly shoot. We then watch several does move quickly in front of us at less than 20 metres.

Breakfast is served in the dining room - typical European fare of cold meats, cheese, muesli and yoghurt, boiled eggs, jams and fresh bread or pastries. Dad heads off to rest and I head off to the nearest town for some shopping.

It is not usual to hunt during the day but Eva offers to take us for a drive straight behind the guest house. As we climb higher deer

materialise from behind pine and oak trees. How we don’t see them first, I don’t know as there is 50 to 100 metres clear view between them. The great surprise was to see a young buck run in one way with six forest chamois heading in the opposite direction at around 60 metres. These chamois only have a few spots to get out in the open and in winter feed right down to the guest house in the valley floor.

We weren’t to know, but Saturdays night’s hunt was to be Dad’s last. After a massive thunder storm the prospects were looking very, very good for Dad to get his buck. It was disappointing that we had our post hunt beer having only seen does.

The next morning I wake to find Dad in a bad state. His illness had caught up with him and

we were forced to pack our bags and head back to Zurich.

rae walsh is a life member of wellington Branch and a former member of the national executive.

Jason’s buck

a young doe (at 15 metres) who appears to have just had her young

HABITAT

This autumn, Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust volunteers have been involved in installing long-drop toilets at six campsites in hunting blocks in Rakiura National Park.This is the latest episode in a long-running partnership with DOC on Stewart Island/Rakiura. It’s a story of co-operation, the tale of a project driven (as is often the way with successful schemes) by the determination of a few people.

Keen huntersJohn DeLury and Ray Phillips, both from Southland NZDA, are themselves keen hunters. Since 1979 they’ve been visiting Stewart Island on at least one 10-day hunting trip per year, but some years as many as six. They are passionate about the places they spend their recreational time in. Over the years they’ve been involved in a range of backcountry projects, along with other members of the

Southland Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association (NZDA) including dealing with rats and weeds.

cleaning upBut they’ve also become the driving force behind a scheme that has changed the experience of hunting on the island and supported DOC’s management of Rakiura National Park. During the 1980s, John and Ray had become concerned about the build-up of rubbish and discarded items at camp sites by hunters. They made trips to clean up these sites, removing all manner of detritus (tarpaulins, bottles, jars and junk), half

tumbled-down bivvies and lots of rats. Round the edges of the site would be the stumps of manuka, cut down for poles for bivvie construction.

What they did solved a whole swag of issues, if not overnight then over time. Initially, the

every day, t here is a d if ferent story on l i ne about aspec ts of doc work around t he count ry .

the DuNNy ruN AND the rAkIurA huNter cAmP trustBy lindsey sh ie l ds

the loo crew, assembled and ready

for action

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By looking at our website you will find:* A large selection of second hand firearms

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men adopted Cavalier and Martin’s Creek huts as a personal project, putting in private money and enlisting the help of other members of the Southland Branch of the NZDA.

a single hut designIn the late 1990s, a scheme was hatched, based on a suggestion from DOC’s then Area Manager for Southern Islands, Greg Lind, to build basic huts for hunters on some of the major hunting blocks on Stewart Island. A single design was developed for huts with six bunks, a potbelly stove and a tank collecting roof water, and so the Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust was formed to manage funds and carry out the work.

selling the messageBy providing good huts and establishing rules associated with their use, both the rubbish problem and the issue of trees being cut have been largely solved. John DeLury says that, if nothing else, they have educated hunters and changed the way DOC is viewed by them. He says it’s been a matter of selling the message regularly and consistently.

John and Ray say hunters have become much more responsible, taking away rubbish and bringing firewood in with them. But more than this, hunters replenish rat poison dispensers and deal to feral cats caught in traps at each hut, so that hunters’ permit returns show not only deer shot and seen, but also feral cats

and possums.

trust fundingThe trust initially had $87,000 from various sources including hunting clubs, the Southland Community Trust, DOC, Lotteries and from individuals. In the first two years, the trust was able to build eight huts using voluntary labour. Many hunters from other NZDA Branches and other individuals gave their time and effort. Ian Munro, ferry operator at the time, also donated in kind, carrying people and goods.

A levy for the use of a hut is included when hunters book a hunting block. At $20 per stay, which may be up to 10 days, it’s very cheap. According to Ray, this is just enough to keep the project running, at least for the time being.

Everything comes at a cost. Rat poison alone runs to $1000 a year and inflation and increased building compliance costs mean that funds have to be carefully managed. Ongoing maintenance includes toilets being shifted and a fresh coat of stain for huts every four to five years. All the fire places have had to be replaced at least once since the huts were built.

Into the futureThere’s a new generation of hunters coming

through now, assisting on the new toilet installation and helping take care of facilities, with a growing understanding that it’s in no-one’s interests to have bad behaviour and unhealthy sites in the forest.

Hunter numbers have increased steadily over the past 20 or so years with over 3000 people using facilities in the hunting blocks annually.

Visit the Southland Branch - Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust website. http://www.southlanddeerstalkers.org.nz/index.php/rakiura-hunter-camp-trust

where there’s a will… chain gang gets the gear up the beach at little Glory

Please don’t tell me it’s in the wrong place

dunnies can fly

campsite with abandoned plastic and poles cut from the bush


yOuNg HuNTER

DAD AND DAuGhter huNtBy Miya Breadmore, Por irua Branch

About a month back I went hunting with my dad (Malcolm), his friend (Lyndon) and Lyndon’s daughter (Ashleigh).

We had been trekking around for a good few hours searching for some Fallow deer. It soon came to be lunchtime and we had unfortunately had no luck sighting any deer, so we decided to look in a completely different place. We were sneaking around a big dirt hill where we spotted quite a few does and a spiker or two. Lyndon took the shot at the spiker and it was down, and after Lyndon got his spiker back to the quad bike we all decided it was my turn. We were all walking along the top of a valley tracing where all the deer had run once Lyndon shot his, and about 700 metres away we saw a huge bunch of them resting under a massive tree in a clearing.

Dad and I started to walk down to the bottom of the valley. We came to a rounded hill above from where the deer were, and we valley crawled near to the edge but we still couldn’t quite see the spiker. There were three deer in the middle of the clearing, but if we had gotten any closer they would have spotted us so we crawled back and went to a different spot again. With no luck, we crawled back and tried again but the three deer were still there so Dad and I decided to valley crawl a little closer, keeping well hidden. It was my time to shine. When the spiker came into sight I was in the perfect spot, the spiker was in the perfect spot, and then a doe decided it would be fun to put its butt in front of my spiker. Dad was saying to take the shot. I said, “I can’t because the doe was in front of the spiker.” The deer were on to us and as soon as the doe moved away from in front of the spiker they were on the run I took the shot with Dad’s 3006 but there was no luck, damn.

We carried on walking about 100 metres and I was talking to Dad I felt him pull me back from a post that was sticking up from the ground he whispered, “There’s a stag.” He said it was about 80 metres away, so gun at the ready I rested upon the post but I was too short to see the stag. I rearranged my position but by the time I had done this the stag had walked in the gully covered with manuka. It wasn’t moving out of the gully so Dad was going to move us to try and find a better place to shoot but when I looked again the stag was looking straight at us. As the stag ran up the hill, Dad remembered Lyndon telling him to whistle. Dad whistled and the stag stopped for one second 120 metres away. I pulled the trigger and BOOOM!!! I saw it drop, but for a moment I couldn’t hear a thing. Then Dad said, “Time is of the essence because we don’t want it to be suffering.”

I ran to where I had shot it and as soon as it came into view I saw its leg move, freaking out that it was still alive I tried to free its antlers from the manuka but it was no use because the rest of its body weight was going down the hill so I called Dad over and he lifted it up. I got my knife and started to cut its neck, and of course Dad had given me the knife that was as blunt as a butter knife. I took Dad’s other knife out and cut its throat. Dad released my stag and it fell right on to the edge of the track. As we were looking at it we found I had shot it straight through the neck, I was so relieved that it died straight away.

Lyndon to came and pick us up. We returned back to camp with a smile on our faces.

14-year-old Miya Breadmore with her first Fallow stag. no problem using dad's 3006. straight through

the neck at 120 metres.



ethan Fisher with his goat on a thames Valley Branch trip.

owain Jacques, Malvern Branch 12-years-old, with a chamois buck taken with dad at 1100 metres on Public conservation

land, otago (that's 1100 metres altitude, not how far we shot it from!!!).

Josh Fisher with his first goat taken on a thames Valley Branch club trip.

Kelvin hewetson, Marlborough Branch with his tahr and Mt cook in

the background.

aidan hodgson te awamutu Branch just turned 5, out for his first hunt.

wInner oF the KIllwell PrIZe PacK

DOc uPDAteNATIONAL HuNTINg ADVISOR

By Ian Cooksley, National Hunting Advisor/Community RelationsContact details: Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai Telephone: 06 350 9705 E mail: [email protected]

Manawatu Rangitikei Area Private Bag 11010 Palmerston North 4442 717 Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North 4414

annual conference:Once again I appreciated the opportunity to attend the Association’s annual conference held this year in Blenheim. For me it is a chance to catch up with members and to hear first hand issues of concern re the management of hunting in New Zealand.

Presentations on the Saturday by Tony Orman and Alex Gale left no one in doubt that from a hunter’s perspective there are still issues to be addressed and perhaps new initiatives required to achieve change.

It was interesting to hear from members of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (membership 150,000 plus) that some of the issues they face are very much the same as New Zealand.

I’ve said it before that an important element in achieving understanding and possible change on issues is maintaining dialogue and I would encourage this.

Prior to the conference I spent a couple of days with executive member Bill O’Leary, one day looking at rifle ranges and the other talking to an overseas’ visitor involved with the Deer Management Qualification system in the UK.

The rifle range inspection was hopefully a precursor to the provision of more ‘sighting in’ ranges where there is a deficiency at present.

Despite the hunting scene being quite different in the UK, with the majority being paid hunting on private land, there were several matters discussed that I found particularly interesting.

• Hunter training: Whilst the training is voluntary the reality is that most land owners will only allow holders of hunting qualifications access to their land. Generally a landowner decides on the number of deer to be removed on their property and a hunter pays for the privilege of contributing to the annual ‘cull’. Qualification assessment includes the ability to shoot straight, identify various deer species and a strong emphasis on food hygiene.

• Tradition: I got the impression that tradition still plays an important role within hunting circles both in the terminology used and hunting ethics employed.

• Infra red binoculars: Whilst there have been no accidents there have been cases of infra red binoculars being mistaken for deer eyes, something to be aware of.

• The Deer Initiative Website: This website although reflecting the UK situation is full of interesting information on deer management, biology and hunting rules etc. (www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk) Terms such as ‘gralloching’ (gutting a deer);‘lardering’ (dressing out the carcass) and deer being ‘hefted’ animals (recognise their own territory) add an interesting dimension to the various topics covered.

doc restructuring.As of the 2nd of September the Department’s restructuring came into effect. There has been quite a shuffle of staff around the country so when you next contact the Department you may end up talking to someone new to the area or a particular job. If your local area has been affected please call in and make your self known.

until the recent cold snap you could just about hear

the grass growing on those river flats so to you all

have safe spring hunting. all the best, Ian.

Sir Howard Morrison Super 4 Hunting and Fishing Competition 2013

Friday 25th – Sunday 27th October HOSTED BY THE TAIHAPE ROD & RIFLE SUPER 4 COMMITTEE

THINK YOUR CLUB OR GROUP CAN BAG THE BIGGEST STAG, BOAR, SNAPPER AND TROUT??

Grab your entry form now by emailing: [email protected] or by phoning 021 834 998

Entry Fee: $500.00

Deadline for entry: Wednesday 16th October 2013

Hunting clubs and groups from all over New Zealand are encouraged to enter.

Prize categories include: Bragging rights for 1 year plus the right to hosts next years competition

Overall winners 1st place cash prize $5000.00 Sponsored by Taihape Rod & Rifle 2nd place cash prize $2000.00 Sponsored by the Morrison Family 3rd place cash prize $1000.00 Sponsored by Taihape Rod & Rifle

4th place cash prize $500.00 Sponsored by Hooked on Boars Magazine 1st – 3rd placing‛s for: Heaviest stag Heaviest boar Heaviest snapper Heaviest trout

Sir Howard Morrison Super 4 Hunting and Fishing Competition 2013

Friday 25th – Sunday 27th October HOSTED BY THE TAIHAPE ROD & RIFLE SUPER 4 COMMITTEE

THINK YOUR CLUB OR GROUP CAN BAG THE BIGGEST STAG, BOAR, SNAPPER AND TROUT??

Grab your entry form now by emailing: [email protected] or by phoning 021 834 998

Entry Fee: $500.00

Deadline for entry: Wednesday 16th October 2013

Hunting clubs and groups from all over New Zealand are encouraged to enter.

Prize categories include: Bragging rights for 1 year plus the right to hosts next years competition

Overall winners 1st place cash prize $5000.00 Sponsored by Taihape Rod & Rifle 2nd place cash prize $2000.00 Sponsored by the Morrison Family 3rd place cash prize $1000.00 Sponsored by Taihape Rod & Rifle

4th place cash prize $500.00 Sponsored by Hooked on Boars Magazine 1st – 3rd placing‛s for: Heaviest stag Heaviest boar Heaviest snapper Heaviest trout



REPORT

FIOrDLAND wAPItI FOuNDAtION 2012/13 rePOrtThe Wapiti committee would like to thank all of our volunteer, sponsors and Wapiti hunters around the country as without your support we would be able to achieve the feats that we do. People need to remember that the Wapiti Foundation is there to manage the Wapiti for all hunters around New Zealand and we like to think we have an open door policy for sensible recommendations so please don’t hesitate in contacting us.

recovery1. The target set by the Foundation and the Department of Conservation

for 2012/13 was 850 animals. Again for the year the committee worked closely with Cam Speedy and the criterion for the season was to concentrate more on the female population.

2. Historically the Wapiti has been used as a trophy herd and the recreational harvest has been male dominated. Sighting of animals from hunters has been of a higher ration of females. Successful trophy herds around the world tend to be a 50:50 ratio of male-female, or even male dominated.

Environmentally we feel that we need to control the female numbers. It’s the female that increase the herd size as they are the breeders. The female family groups can consist of larger numbers. The females tend to be home range feeders and so do more damage in a given area where as the males tend to cover a larger area and are in smaller groups. The females do not play a large part in the recreational harvest. We see controlling the females as future proofing the Wapiti programme.

The recovery team really struggled for numbers throughout the season with the weather playing a huge part in this. The weather pattern across New Zealand was full of cold snaps and droughts.

Earlier on the weather was very cold and deer were not on the tops, then it warmed up and dried out very quickly which had the same affects on the animals and they stuck to the bush. A large amount of the seasons' take was shot on clearings and slips.

Both helicopter operators said it was one of the more difficult seasons they have had.

For the season a total of 60 missions were flown into the Wapiti area, 35 by Fiordland Helicopters and 25 by Southern Lakes. Fiordland helicopters accounted for 402 animals and Southern Lakes 480, with a total of 882 animals shot.

This season we adjusted the recovery boundaries in the Wapiti area and the operators found it trying at first to get use to the change. Both animal knowledge and terrain knowledge played a huge part in this and pointed out to the committee that continuity is very important with both helicopter operators and observers. It is something that needs to be taken into account for the future.

animals removed per blockhunt Block Female Male spiker yearling calf totalBilly Burn 1 1 15 6 4 9 34Catseye 27 10 5 3 1 46Charles 1 1 18 5 4 6 1 34Dark River 1 1 2 5 3 2 3 13Doon 2 1 1 4 28 14 5 5 4 56Edith 18 2 9 29George River 1 1 2 34 1 8 43Lake Katherine 3 2 1 2 8Large Burn 1 2 1 4 15 11 6 6 3 41Light River 10 3 7 9 29Loch Burn 1 1 15 6 2 3 26Looking Glass 1 3 1 5 17 5 6 6 1 35Lower Glaisnock 26 15 41Lugar Burn 1 1 20 2 4 4 6 36Mid Burn 17 7 3 6 33Mt Longsight 6 6 4 1 17Mt Tanilba 2 2 9 16 10 4 2 41Narrows Creek 4 1 1 6Stillwater 1 1 10 7 3 20Stina Burn 9 1 2 12Upper Glaisnock 15 1 6 22Whitewater 7 2 1 10 5 3 2 1 11Wild Natives 20 4 2 7 33Worsely 19 5 7 3 34Wapiti River 1 1 9 4 2 4 2 21unknown 18 18 8 44 407 145 82 137 29 800Catseye 2 2Dark River 1 1 2Edith 1 1 1 1George River 5 1 6Loch Burn 2 3 3 8Looking Glass 1 2 3Lower Glaisnock 1 1

3 1 3 7Lugar Burn 7 1 1 1 10Mt Tanilba 1 1Narrows Creek 2 2Stillwater 1 1Stina Burn 1 1Upper Glaisnock 4 3 1 8Whitewater 1 1Wild Natives 5 1 6Worsely 1 1Wapiti River 2 1 3 6 1 2 9unknown 6 2 8 49 12 2 13 6 82 456 157 84 150 35 882


Going forward the Foundation needs to look into more micro management of the Wapiti area. Some catchments are looking good but we need to control population spikes and will continue to adjust our methods as we learn.

recreational huntingThe ballot continues to be as popular as ever with 296 parties placing a ballot application. Out of the 296 we had 129 successful parties winning a ballot or 431 individual hunters.

The average size of a party applying for ballot is 3.3 people per ballot. This year we had a huge number of party changers with 35 people mainly due to farmers battling the droughts.

Permit return. We were very disappointed with the 2013 permit returns with 40 permits not returned. The Foundation doesn’t ask a lot from hunters and are investigating ways to limit parties from entering future ballots for not returning their permit data. The data from the permits is vital information for the Foundation as it plays a huge part in how we manage the Wapiti in the future.

animal returns For a full report please refer to the spread sheet.shot anIMalsBulls cows staGs hInds16 0 34 7

sIGhtInGsBulls cows staGs hInds327 533 234 377

Shot animals. Going by the returns the amount of males shot in the Wapiti area is reducing which is refreshing for all hunters with 16 bulls and 34 stags. Like all reporting in the field, it is in the eye of the beholder but what we find is most of the stags are in fact young Wapiti.

Sightings of animals. Again reporting is not perfect. We don’t know how many animals are seen more than once or in fact if they are Red deer or Wapiti. The recovery team finds it difficult enough telling the differences between Wapiti and non Wapiti so the recreation hunters will have the same problem. With permit returns, it’s about comparing each year and taking into account the same margin of error. It’s the best data we get and over the rut we have a lot of eyes in the hills. From the permit returns hunters did 745 days hunting, an average of 8.5 days per party and saw an average of 1.9 deer per day, or an average of 19 deer per block. If we put this into perspective hunters spend more than two man years on the ground during the rut, then we start to realize why we want the permits back and as much data as possible on them.

The problem for the Foundation is the pre and post rut hunting. We do not have a clue what happens in the area at those times of the year and we need to.

Promotions It is very important for the Foundation and recreational hunting to find new ways to promote our sport. We need to keep re-inventing the wheel. Recreational hunting is riding on a wave at the moment and we need to maximize the opportunity that arise form this.

The Foundation has entered into a partnership with Stoney Creek clothing company. The clothing started with us designing an expedition coat specifically designed for Fiordland then the rest of the line followed. We have two main coats, ‘The Glaisnock’ and ‘The Stillwater’, a couple of pullovers called ‘The Rock’ and waterproof over trousers called ‘Dream Bull’. A lot of work has gone on to get the partnership to the shop stage. Unbeknown to us our initial arrangement was with a clothing company in financial difficulty but thankfully it was sold to a new owner who believed in the partnership and is making every effort to ensure it is successful. He also has a good understanding of what we are trying to achieve as he is a recreational hunter.

A big part of the Foundation’s time goes into education with the continuous push to try and save the young bulls from being harvested before their time. You will see the Foundation at the Sika and Tahr Shows plus publications in NZ Hunter and now because of the growing number of Australian hunters there will be articles in the Wilddeer magazine.

Wapiti clothing

conservationFiordland Stoat Control ProgrammeAgain the stoat programme was hindered by the weather so bad that over the Christmas period we lost a few traps in the Worsely, Castle and Glaisnock due to heavy flooding.

It was an unusual season for stoat numbers (caught) they were very low. This is across the board as DOC staff has also reported low numbers and juvenile numbers are down which indicates a poor breeding season.

This unfortunately is the same for whio river surveys indicating good numbers of pairs but very few ducklings.

Section 1 Worsley 1-8-2012 to 30-7-2013• 5 trips, 21 stoats, 15 rats• 9th January: whio river survey DOC staff and dogs • 16th January: all traps replaced with DOC 150s in upper Worsley and

most of the lower Worsley• 16th February: track maintenance done on upper Worsley DOC staff

and FWF volunteers work to be completed in this section, some traps to be replaced in lower section and track maintenance to be completed

Section 2 Castle• 5 trips, 12 stoats, 6 rats• Whio river survey• 16th February: track maintenance completed• 23rd February: all traps replaced, work to been done to tidy up track

and trap markers some numbers out of line.Section 3 Nitz• 5 trips, 10 stoats, 1 rat• 2 trips where no stoats were caught looking good for this valley• 9th January: Whio river survey• 2 trap boxes replaced, no other maintenance needed


Section 4 lower Glaisnock• 5 trips, 50 stoats, 7 rats, 2 mice• 9th December: Whio river survey • A couple of sections could do with a bit of track maintenance, 2 trap

boxes missing, there was a big hit of stoats caught in November but after that things were very quiet.

Section 5 Upper Glaisnock • This section has had the track and trap sites GPSed and is ready for

trap placement which will happen as soon as possible, all trap boxes and traps are ready.

whio river surveyThe river surveys (Whio that were seen) Worsley/Castle/Saints 10 pairs and 8 single adults. Glaisnock 7 pairs and 3 single adults, Nitz 6 adults but 3 pairs have been seen in this valley.

Proposed areas of future trappingThe Doon is basically all ready to go, the traps have been dropped off in bundles and are ready to be laid out, there is still some track work to do but everything should be completed late August early September or as the weather allows. This is a project that could be worked between FWF, DOC, and 2 other sponsors. This work was started by another company and the Foundation has the option to adopt it but it needs to be discussed and signed off by the Foundation's committee.

There are two other areas being investigated at present; one is the Saints Creek which runs into the Worsley the other is the Lugar Burn, which is a great habitat area for whio river surveys, indicated good numbers of whio so that’s worth looking into.

The Whio One project will be happening this season if the eggs are available and if all goes to plan 20 whio eggs will be removed and reared in Te Anau with the ducklings being released back into either the Worsley or Castle with the possibility of some being released into the Glaisnock. All sponsorship has been secured for this project ($20,000).

Genisis sponsorship has allowed us to update our traps and carry out other maintenance work. We have spent approx $70,000, of which $30,000 was spent on stainless steel DOC150s and boxes which will last forever. $30,000 on flying time getting volunteers into areas, transporting and dropping of off traps, river survey work etc, and $10,000 on track maintenance; so as you can see it doesn’t take long to spend, and the cost of keeping these programmes running.

I have gone ahead and ordered new water proof note books for volunteers to record stoats caught and trap number also to record other information like wekas spotted or whio, etc. This information will be given to DOC staff and entered into the data system after each trip where it can be viewed on the website by anyone.

One thing that needs to be updated is our health and safety plan which all volunteers need to sign. New hi viz back packs have been bought and we also need a new freezer for bait.

I would just like to finish by saying thank you to all our volunteers, sponsors, DOC staff, and FWF members for all there help over the past season. Without this, none of these projects would be achievable.

thanks from the Fiordland wapiti committee. roy sloan

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survIvAL skILLs – bAckcOuNtry eArthQuAkes By Linda Flynn, Thames Va l l ey Branch

Steep slopes can be particularly hazardous during and after earthquakes, so get off the slopes.

If you or a group is on a slope exposed to avalanche or rock fall, spread out to reduce the risk of everyone being buried at once.

Due to rain in the winter and spring, soils can become saturated and quakes can produce rapidly moving landslides.

In dry areas, rock fall can be an issue and in winter avalanches can be a risk.

Most earthquake related injuries and deaths result from falling debris and collapsing structures such as buildings and bridges.

Earthquakes can also trigger flash floods, falling trees and fire. They can turn soil to quicksand, particularly along current or former river channels.

Be vigilant near riverside tracks where bank undercuts may be created or enlarged. Rock fall may cause rivers to change course or disappear and flash floods may become an issue even without heavy rainfall.

An earthquake may compromise the foundation of backcountry huts or they could be in a rockslide/avalanche pathway. If you are at a hut check for damage around gas bottles and pipes. Be aware of broken glass and objects strewn across the floor and loose articles stored overhead. Water tanks may be damaged and check for any damage to fireplaces and chimney before lighting fires.

Assess all bridges thoroughly prior to using them and if in doubt don’t use but find an alternative way to cross.

the key to surviving dangerous situations is to stay calm and make good decisions.

TIP OffS


special awards 2013newton Mcconochie award – For the Most outstanding young deerstalker of the year (nil entries)John Murphy Memorial award – For administration excellence on the Part of Branch administratorsBarry McAuslin Auckland

Morrow trophy – For Branch Membership Percentage Increase1st: Bay of Plenty 44.63%2nd: Whangarei 43.90%3rd: Upper Clutha 43.55%

John t dillon Memorial trophy – For the Branch with the greatest numerical Increase 1st: Bay of Plenty 792nd: Rotorua 533rd=: North Canterbury 393rd=: Thames Valley 39

harvie Morrow award For nZda research Hastings Branch for Sika Research

norman douglas Memorial trophy – For Promotion ds systemMurray Douglas

Monarch of the Glen award – For the Member who Performs ‘above and Beyond’Jonathan Young South Canterbury

shooting competitions 2013champion of champions The winner of the 2013 Champion of Champions is Malcolm Perry despite the low number of competitors qualifying for the event.

Brown trophy For F class competitionNot competed for

new Zealand deerstalkers’ association Benchrest shooter of the year award1st: Graeme Smith Nelson

literary awards 2013Phillip holden cup – approximately 4,000 words (5 entries)1st: Rusa Hunting Maureen Coleman Thames Valley H&W 1792nd: Trails Greig Caigou Nelson3rd: Nek Minnit Nightmare Jason Searle Kapiti H&W 180

tony orman shield – For stories of 1,400 words (15 entries)1st: The Future Calling Greig Caigou Nelson H&W 1772nd: Chatham Islands Ben Humphrey Hastings H&W 179

3rd:Stewart Island Adventure

Steve Playle Wairarapa H&W 179

halcyon Poetry competition (4 entries)1st: Keeping Watch Fran Allcock Te Awamutu

2nd:The Legend of the Kaipara Buck

Mark NobiloNorth Auckland

H&W 180

3rd: Blazing Trail Greig Caigou Nelson

rotorua Branch trophy – For Branch newsletters1st: South Waikato2nd: Thames Valley3rd: Bay of Plenty

Postal shooting 2013JM wilkinson trophy – open (11 entries) 1st: James Steans Marlborough 123.112nd: John Lumsdem Napier 115.93rd: Rob Underwood Hastings 115.3

JM wilkinson trophy – ladies (2 entries)1st: Cynthia Page Northland 822nd: Kerstin Stanley Northland 73

JM wilkinson trophy – Junior (1 entry)1st: Isaac Alpin Northland 76

Junior hawke’s Bay challenge cup (2 entries)1st: Isaac Alpin Northland 852nd: Thomas Myles Marlborough 64

new Zealand deerstalkers’ association Incorporated65th NAtIONAL cONFereNce Blenheim, 12 – 14 July 2013, hosted by the Marlborough Branch

NAtIONAL cOmPetItION resuLts

nZda aht coMPetIt Ion 2013 record BooK certIFIcatesName Branch Species Locality Date Taken DSThomas Dalley Otago Chamois Eyre Mountains 17/11/12 27Grant Tipling Taranaki Chamois South Westland 1/12/12 28Andy Smith North Canterbury Chamois Lewis Pass 13/5/13 27 ¾

Glenn Ralston AsburtonDrawn tusks

Rakaia River 23/3/13 29 ½

Roger Winslade Auckland FallowSouth Kaipara Head

March 2013 225 ⅝

Tony Schofield North Otago Fallow Millers Flat April 2013 236 ¾Richard Patterson South Canterbury Fallow Kakanui Range 25/4/13 220 ¼Raymond Selman Bay of Plenty Fallow Kaipara 10/6/12 213 ¼Peter Fairbairn South Canterbury Fallow Hunter Hills 22/4/13 240Peter Fairbairn South Canterbury Fallow Central Otago 16/4/13 228 ¾Tom Park Otago Fallow Southern Lakes July 2012 229 ⅛Ray Webb Otago Fallow Blue Mountains 23/4/13 212Tom Park Otago Fallow Southern Lakes June 2012 234 ⅛Lyn Candy Blue Mountains Fallow Moa Flat 25/4/13 231 ¾Laurie Cain Rakaia Fallow North Otago 26/4/13 221 ¼Regan Jefferson Otago Wild goat Palmerston May 2013 96 ¼Paul Anaki Otago Wild goat Coastal Dunedin 21/10/12 99Ian Irvine South Canterbury Red deer Lindis Pass 25/5/13 322 ¼

Andrew Galloway Manawatu Red deerNorthern Wairarapa

27/4/13 300 ¾

Ian McBride Ashburton Red deer Hakatere CP 10/5/13 357 ¼Matt Guthrie Thames Valley Red deer Puketoi Range 2/4/13 337 ⅛

Grant Sime Otago Red deer Otago Coast March 2013 301 ⅛Simon Lander Bay of Plenty Rusa Urewera 3/11/12 165 ½

Stephen Shaw Hastings SikaSouthern Kaweka

30/3/13 195 ⅜

Tony Burt Bay of Plenty Sika Kaimanawa 15/4/13 183 ¾Jacob Marr South Canterbury Tahr Mt Peel 15/9/12 40

David Keen South Canterbury TahrTwo Thumb Range

15/12/12 45 ¾

Joshua Keen South Canterbury TahrTwo Thumb Range

15/12/12 40 ¼

Kelman Wallace North Otago Tahr Jollie River 3/6/12 40Willis Macbeth West Coast Tahr Karangarua 15/11/12 43Glenn Ralston Ashburton Tahr Mt Cook 15/7/12 42 ½Kevin Deadman Direct Tahr Lord Range 19/5/13 44 ¾Dion Patterson Waikato Tahr South Westland 24/5/13 44 ½Simon Boag North Canterbury Tahr Mt Cook 7/10/12 43 ½

Craig Harris Thames ValleyUndrawn tusks

Coromandel 7/2012 20 ¼

Tom Brough TaupoUndrawn tusks

Aria 19/9/12 22 ⅜

Tom Park Otago Whitetail Glenorchy 27/5/13 130 ⅜Kerry O’Rourke South Canterbury Whitetail Dart River 13/5/13 129 ⅝

Martin Parsons North OtagoWild sheep

Pitt Island 20/3/13 78 ½

Peter Fairbairn South CanterburyWild sheep

Mt Cook 8/7/12 73 ¾

Bob Ramsay, Dragon Fly

Photographic competition results 2013training/Promotional - north canterbury Branch trophy Video (1 entry)1st: Zeff Veronese North Canterbury Chinese Hunt

hunting - ramsay trophy Video (7 entries)1st: Greig Caigou Nelson Thousands of words

2nd: Jamie Fairbairn Bay of Plenty Sika Roar 2013

3rd: Zeff Veronese North Canterbury Old Farts Hunt 2013

HC: Zeff Veronese North CanterburyTahr Hunt May 2013 Westland

hunting - ramsay trophy Video (nil entries)new Zealand wildlife - John anderson Memorial trophy (nil entries)Game animals taupo trophy, Prints (47 entries)1st: Carl Finlay Te Awamutu Roar Some

2nd: Jamie Fairbairn Bay of Plenty Stare from the Rut Pad

3rd: William (Bill) Wallace Bush You Called?

HC: Malcolm Hogg Bay of Plenty Silly Deer

HC: Graeme G Withey Hastings Is that you Mum?

HC: Malcolm Hogg Bay of Plenty Running on Water

other wildlife - Birds north otago Branch trophy, Prints (60 entries)1st: Peter Flynn Thames Valley Waiting for Tea

2nd: Richard J A Morton Manawatu Love that Nectar

3rd: Richard J A Morton Manawatu Resting between Calls

HC: Norm C Lumsden Napier Kingfisher

HC: Zeff Veronese North Canterbury Hi my name is Robyn

HC: Jamie Fairbairn Bay of Plenty More Eyes

other wildlife - Mammals Jock Mcquilkan cup, Prints (15 entries)1st: Ray W Webb Otago Itchy

2nd: Trevor Chappell Taupo Bunny

3rd: Ray W Webb Otago Feeding Time

HC: Robyn Harper South Canterbury Yawn – Hookers Sea Lion

HC: Ray W Webb Otago Sand Bathing

HC: Paul Peychers Nelson Daytime Possum

other wildlife - Insects, reptiles amphibians wh robinson trophy, Prints (31 entries)1st: Bob Ramsay Taupo Dragon Fly

2nd: John Lumsden Napier Cicada and Friend

3rd: Robyn Harper South Canterbury Alpine Grasshopper

HC: Paul Peychers Nelson Weta close up

HC: Brian Witton Auckland Big Eyes

HC: Malcolm Hogg Bay of Plenty Night Weta

scenic - Veronese trophy, Prints (46 entries)1st: Lewis Hore Direct ‘Entrance’ Sutherland Sound

2nd: Brian Witton Auckland Natural Contrast

3rd: Warren Hall North Canterbury Landsborough Tarn

HC: Robyn Harper South Canterbury Wild West Coast

HC: Paul Peychers Nelson Greenstone Valley in Winter

HC: Robyn Harper South Canterbury Chamois Country

Flora - harris trophy, Prints (28 entries)1st: Carl Finlay Te Awamutu Koru

2nd: Paul Lenz Golden Bay Mycena Fungi

3rd: Jamie Fairbairn Bay of Plenty Funky Fungi

HC: Brian Witton Auckland A Sunlit Kidney Fern

HC: Jamie Fairbairn Bay of Plenty Cluster of Mush

HC: Robyn Harper South Canterbury Rananculus Species

human Interest Gore & districts Branch trophy Prints (31 entries)1st: Zeff Veronese North Canterbury Any Bulls out There?

2nd: Sean Johnson Hutt Valley Hunger Games

3rd: Jamie Fairbairn Bay of Plenty Smokey Bacon

HC: Willis Macbeth West Coast Red Skies

HC: Brian Witton Auckland Ye Olde Fireplace

HC: Bob Ramsay Taupo Old Mans Beard

Best Print of all sections carter cup 1st: Carl Finlay Te Awamutu Koru

Best Junior Print thames Valley Branch Junior trophy (3 entries)1st: Sean Johnson Hutt Valley On the Move

2nd: Sean Johnson Hutt Valley Hunger Games

3rd: Josh Horan Waikato Foggy Grass Sunrise

Best digital Print wellington Branch trophy (16 entries)1st: Paul Peychers Nelson Mollymawk at Rest

2nd: Brian Witton Auckland Island in the Sun

3rd: Jamie Fairbairn Bay of Plenty Forest Boss

HC: Paul Peychers Nelson Lords River Reflection

HC: Brian Witton Auckland Intriguing

HC: Carl Finlay Te Awamutu Boulder Bliss

hunting and wildlife cover athol hood Memorial trophy1st: Carl Finlay Te Awamutu Roar Some

supreme Branch Photographic award Ian d wright trophy1st: Bay of Plenty 72 points

2nd: Taupo 58 points

3rd: Nelson 51 points


COmPETITION RESuLTS

Sean Johnson, On the Move

Peter Flynn, Waiting for Tea

Zeff Veronese, Any Bulls out ThereCarl Finlay, Roar Some

Paul Peychers, Mollymawk at rest

Ray W Webb, Itchy


Carl Finlay, Koru

Lewis Hore, 'Entrance' Sutherland SoundSean Johnson, On the Move

Peter Flynn, Waiting for Tea

Zeff Veronese, Any Bulls out There


national antler, horn & tusk competitions 2013McGowan shIeld – Fallow deer (12 entries)1st Peter Fairbairn South Canterbury Central Otago 2402nd Tony Schofield North Otago Millers Flat 236 ¾3rd Tom Park Otago Southern Lakes 234 ⅛

Mel larrItt troPhy – red deer (7 entries)1st Ian McBride Ashburton Hakatere CP 357 ¼2nd Matt Guthrie Thames Valley Puketoi Range 337 ⅛3rd Ian Irvine South Canterbury Lindis Pass 322 ¼

seddon shield – rusa deer (1 entry)1st Simon Lander Bay of Plenty Urewera 165 ½

henderson trophy – sambar deer (nil entries) cliff Marshall Memorial trophy – sika deer (3 entries)1st Stephen Shaw Hastings Southern Kaweka 195 ⅜2nd Tony Burt Bay of Plenty Kaimanawa 183 ¾3rd Dennis Shine South Auckland Kaimanawa 163 ½

Manawatu Branch trophy – whitetail deer (2 entries)1st Tom Park Otago Glenorchy 130 ⅜2nd Kerry O’Rourke South Canterbury Dart River 129 ⅝

Keith severinson trophy – wapiti/Fiordland deer (2 entries)1st Trevor Bently Otago Upper Gaisnock 327 ⅝2nd Thomas Dalley Otago Glaisnock 303 ⅞

Mcconachie shield – chamois (7 entries)1st Andy Smith North Canterbury Lewis Pass 27 ¾2nd Thomas Dalley Otago Eyre Mountains 273rd Willis Macbeth West Coast South Westland 26 ½

Mount cook trophy – tahr (12 entries)1st David Keen South Canterbury Two Thumb Range 45 ¾2nd Kevin Deadman Direct Lord Range 44 ¾3rd Dion Patterson Waikato South Westland 44 ½

colin Porter trophy – Goat (2 entries)1st Paul Anaki Otago Coastal Dunedin 992nd Regan Jefferson Otago Palmerston 96 ¼

dillon shield – drawn Pig tusks (4 entries)1st Glenn Ralston Ashburton Rakaia River 29 ½2nd Tony Schofield North Otago Wainakarua River 27 ½3rd Harold Cox Auckland East Taupo 23 ¼

Putaruru Branch trophy – undrawn Pig tusks (3 entries)1st Tom Brough Taupo Aria 22 ⅜2nd Craig Harris Thames Valley Coromandel 20 ¼3rd Lionel Whitwell North Canterbury Rakaia 17 ⅜

trevor chappell trophy – wild sheep (3 entries)1st Martin Parsons North Otago Pitt Island 78 ½2nd Peter Fairbairn South Canterbury Mt Cook 73 ¾3rd Hayden Breakwell Ashburton Waimak 66 ½

Poverty Bay Branch trophy – Best Game animal shot by a Junior under 19 (8 entries)1st Jacob Marr South Canterbury Chamois 316.782nd Joshua Keen South Canterbury Tahr 306.243rd Jacob Marr South Canterbury Tahr 304.34

leithen award – Best non-typical (0 entries)Z Veronese cup – Best antlered species taken by a Junior (2 entries)1st Brema Berger Auckland Fallow Kaipara Head 161 ⅞ 246.32

e Veronese cup – Best horned species taken by a Junior (6 entries)1st Joshua Keen South Canterbury Tahr Two Thumb 40 ¼ 306.242nd Jacob Marr South Canterbury Chamois Lake Sumner 26 ¼ 316.783rd Jacob Marr South Canterbury Tahr Mt Peel 40 304.34

Kaimanawa Branch trophy – Best Game trophy taken by a lady - (3 entries)1st Lyn Candy Blue Mountains Fallow Moa Flat 231 ¾ 352.652nd Jane Cochrane North Canterbury Chamois Clarence River 25 301.703rd Brema Berger Auckland Fallow Kaipara Head 161 ⅞ 246.32

norman douglas trophy – Best Branch entry – consisting of one set of antlers, horns and tusks (entries: branches)

1st AshburtonDrawn Tusks 29 ½ 303.67

984.28Tahr 42 ½ 323.36Red Deer 357 ¼ 357.25

2nd North OtagoDrawn Tusks 27 ½ 283.08

953.39Fallow 236 ¾ 360.26Tahr 40 ¾ 310.05

3rd OtagoDrawn Tusks 23 236.76

918.85Chamois 27 325.83Fallow 234 ⅛ 356.26

orbell trophy – Best head of all deer species1st Ian McBride Ashburton Red deer Hakatere 357 ¼ 357.252nd Peter Fairbairn South Canterbury Fallow Hunter Hills 240 365.203rd Tony Schofield North Otago Fallow Millers Flat 236 ¾ 360.26

egmont trophy – Best head of all horned species1st David Keen South Canterbury Tahr Two Thumb 45 ¾ 348.092nd Kevin Deadman Direct Tahr Lord Range 44 ¾ 340.483rd Andy Smith North Canterbury Chamois Lewis Pass 27 ¾ 334.88

Bow hunting Junior (0 entries)Bow hunting ladies (0 entries)Bow hunting senior (1 entry)1st Willis Macbeth West Coast Tahr Karangarua 327.16

waikato Branch troPhy, over 65 (2 entries)1st Ray Webb Otago Fallow Blue Mountains 322.602nd Stan Lowe Bay of Plenty Tahr Mt Cook 287.22

d. Bruce Banwell trophy1st Matt Guthrie Thames Valley Puketoi Range 337 ⅛

nZda aht coMPetIt Ion Medals 2013Name Branch Species Locality Date Taken DS MedalGlenn Ralston Ashburton Drawn Tusks Rakaia River 23/3/13 29 ½ BronzeRoger Winslade Auckland Fallow South Kaipara Head 3/13 225 ⅝ BronzeTony Schofield North Otago Fallow Millers Flat 4/13 236 ¾ SilverPeter Fairbairn South Canterbury Fallow Hunter Hills 22/4/13 240 SilverPeter Fairbairn South Canterbury Fallow Central Otago 16/4/13 228 ¾ BronzeTom Park Otago Fallow Southern Lakes 6/12 234 ⅛ BronzeLyn Candy Blue Mountains Fallow Moa Flat 25/4/13 231 ¾ BronzeTrevor Bently Otago Fiordland deer Upper Glaisnock 3/4/13 327 ⅝ BronzeIan Irvine South Canterbury Red deer Lindis Pass 25/5/13 322 ¼ BronzeIan McBride Ashburton Red deer Hakatere CP 10/5/13 357 ¼ GoldMatt Guthrie Thames Valley Red deer Puketoi Range 2/4/13 337 ⅛ SilverStephen Shaw Hastings Sika Southern Kaweka 30/3/13 195 ⅜ SilverDavid Keen South Canterbury Tahr Two Thumb Range 15/12/12 45 ¾ GoldKevin Deadman Direct Tahr Lord Range 19/5/13 44 ¾ BronzeDion Patterson Waikato Tahr South Westland 24/5/13 44 ½ BronzeTom Park Otago Whitetail Glenorchy 27/ /13 130 ⅜ Bronze


STORy

Like all hunting trips it began with some high level planning. Lots of conversations; “We must plan a trip for Cam some time!” “Yip let’s do that.”

Well finally words became action, and a date was set, the place was set, approvals were obtained (landowners and more importantly wives/mothers!!)

The week leading into the trip saw the worst storm in years hit the Wellington region and most of New Zealand so mid week things were looking dodgy but the long-range forecast was improving so we forged ahead. The plan was to leave Wellington at 4.00am, drive to Wanganui and be hunting by 7.00am and with luck be heading home just after lunch. (You have to be ambitious!)

Saturday afternoon the weather was still pretty poor but getting better so we continued with our preparation. Extra clothes were packed so we had dry gear for the drive home after hunting.

Rifle, check, bolt, ammo, food, check, a full tank of petrol in car, check. Alarm for set 3.30am. We are good to go. Eat dinner, watch All Blacks beat France, again, and hit the sack early.

I wake two minutes before the alarm goes off and avoid waking the wife (that’s a good start!), quietly get dressed in the bathroom, glad I got all my gear ready the night before! Wake Cameron and remind him to be quiet!

Double check gear and load car (making sure the rifle, bolt and ammo are loaded in the car), grab some food for breakfast on the road and depart. We pickup Richie on the way; we are heading to his personal hunting spot so he knows the area very well and has the landowner’s permission. It’s a pretty uneventful drive to Wanganui except for the fact Richie makes us drive past the turn off! Then waits till we are five minutes down the road before he states we have driven past the turn off - so back we go.

We finally arrive at the river and unpack the car, put on our boots and we are good to go. Thankfully it has stopped raining but the river

is up pretty high. We load the gear in the boat get the motor going and head across. Once we have tied the boat off to a tree we check the gear and head off into the bush. Cameron like all keen 12 year-olds is eager to confirm that he gets first shot. “Yes, yes don’t worry - you get first shot!”

We are only five minutes in to it, walking along the track just above the river in gloomy bush when Richie halts, turns and with a calm look motions ahead and whispers, “there’s a deer just ahead.”

I cautiously peer around him and 30 metres up the track is the head and shoulders of a Fallow spiker staring straight at us. I haven’t even loaded my rifle yet! We quickly agree that the ground is too uneven for Cam to take the shot and he isn’t steady enough to shot offhand so I will take the shot. Quietly loading a round into the chamber I drop to one knee and look through the scope. In the gloom I can’t see the spiker and think it must have departed but wait, I shift my aim further to the right there he still is wondering what we are! And that is to be his last thought as I centre the crosshair on his neck and squeeze the trigger. Down he goes and we have our first animal for the day. So far so good but this was supposed to be a trip to get Cameron his first deer so I am feeling a bit guilty. We quickly field dress the spiker and leave it hanging just off the track to collect on the way back.

A bit further up the track and we climb on to some open flat areas which we scan carefully from the edges, it is quite misty after all the rain so not the easiest to see. We move slowly through the first area and back into some bush. Through the bush and into another open grassy area. Slowly moving around the edges again we come around a clump of trees and look across a small gut and there on the other side is a mob of five to six Fallow quietly feeding maybe 70 or so metres away. We drop back and prepare Cam to take a shot, I can feel the excitement starting to rise and take a breath to calm myself. I can see Cameron is excited and a little nervous so Richie and I talk to him about how to set up for the shot, take it slow, pick your target, line up and when you’re ready squeeze the trigger, just like at the range. He lays down and positions himself and the rifle, take aim, looks and me and asked if he can shoot, yes of course. Bang

cAmerON´s FIrst Deer AND ONe very PrOuD DADBy Rober t Howey, Por irua Branch


goes the suppressed 7mm08, the mob scatter, all but one. Great shot Cam. I am keen to head straight over but calm and wise Richie tells me to wait. Then we see the buck has stopped and is looking around. Well it would be rude not to have a crack so down I get down and line him up through the mist. Bang, whump, that’s a hit, and he is down. Congratulations all round.

We make our way over to the doe that Cameron has shot; it’s dead already with a perfectly placed neck shot, well done Cameron. I cut its throat and break the neck (just like Bill showed us on HUNTS training) then gut it and go to find the buck. Damn, where is it? It’s disappeared. Richie spots it moving above us and to our right, disappearing into the bush, it’s wounded and moving slowly, I am no longer so happy with my shooting ability. We need to finish it quickly. We follow it into the bush and it is quickly dispatch with a shot to the head and I finish by cutting the throat and breaking the neck. Another round of congratulations and we drag the carcass back to the doe where photos are taken and we finish the field dressing. Once that job is complete we spend another hour hunting as Richie would like a pig but alas none are forthcoming even with plenty of sign about. Maybe next time!

Back to the deer and we hoist them on to our backs piku style and head back the way we came stopping

to collect the spiker shot earlier. We make our way back to the river and load the deer into the dingy. Richie ferries them and Cam to the other side, which takes longer than expected due to the current. Seeing this I decide to head upstream to speed the process up a tad. I collect all the bags; one on my back, one on my front and two in my hand - along with rifle on shoulder and one in hand. Then off I trot up the side of the river.

Now you would think this would be a simple undertaking right? Not at all, as I was about to find out. I got to a small side stream running into the river with lots of silt buildup on the edges, crossing it seems easy so I took a long stride across the stream to the other bank and immediately sunk to mid thigh in mud. The more I moved the deeper I sunk in! So laying on my belly, thankful that Richie’s bag was there trying and failing to keep my rifle out of the mud and the two bags in my other hand, I belly crawl across the mud till it firms up enough to stand again and I continue my journey up river. After more slipping and sliding I make it to where Richie is waiting with the dingy and having a good laugh at my expense, till I show him his bag and rifle!!

We get across the river and haul the deer and bags up the track to the car and that bar the drive home is the end of a great hunting trip finished by lunch time with three deer in the bag and a boy’s first deer.

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STORy

yeAh NAh tAhrsean Johnson, h ut t Va l l ey – 14 years-o l d

Recently we were gearing up to head south to Macaulay River for another crack at the mighty Himalayan tahr. The year before we went down and shot a gaggle of juveniles and nannies with the rifle so this trip’s aim was to either get a bull with our rifle or more importantly get a tahr with the bow.

Previously Dad and I have had a taste of bowhunting and we both were catching the addictive thrill of the bow over a rifle. We had shot rabbits, hares, goats and an earlier trip of Reds and pigs which was the big introduction to the sport. It was late March about two months earlier and we were in the thick of the action in the middle of the Haurangis; the deer were roaring and the pigs were tromping round waiting to be darted by an arrow. Dad had shot a pig earlier in the trip and had just shot at a stag that was

destined to be mine but that’s another story.

We woke up on the last morning, Dad was ready for another search for his stag and I was keen to get my own animals. This was going to be my first big solo hunt without the guidance of Dad or anyone else. So we set off in our different directions, (cut to the chase) I was sneaking down a really nice looking spur when a couple of pigs came rustling out of the undergrowth just to my left, I thought this is it, I was amped and ready to knock them down but the little buggers had their own plan of playing and chasing after each other. I would see a tail here and a hoof there and finally one decided to cut out the nonsense and was walking straight for me. I knocked an arrow and drew back, then ‘clock’ a direct head shot and the pig feel straight to the ground. I was wrapped to get my first proper big game with my bow and by myself, I started chopping it up and was so caught up in the glory, a Red hind came straight up to me about 15 metres away without my knowledge. I was so surprised that I didn’t think and reached for my bow and put my camo balaclava on (way too much movement), the thing didn’t stick around and scampered away down the hill. That was all for that trip, Dad found his stag and had already bagged a pig and that was that.

Back to the tahr trip.One night Dad asked me the question of if I

wanted to whack a tahr, or have my first trip to Australia to visit my aunt and cousins, I tried to make it sound like a tough decision by saying yea nah tahr!!!We had been driving all night and day and by the time we tramped in we all felt a bit spent. The next day we were all refreshed and ready to go with our official guides; Dads’ friend Gordy and his southern mate ‘Iron-Leg’ Ian. We set off up the main river. Dad and I set off up one of the side creeks but there wasn’t much on offer for us as bow hunters and we were soon up quite high and the weather was clagging in. We are now stuck in a complete white-out so we started heading down, hoping to clear out of the cloud so we can at least see more than a couple of metres in front of us. Before long we were out underneath the cloud and started seeing things again. About 300 metres away, high above us up a daunting looking assent were a mob of about 10 or so tahr. As I said earlier that the assent looked daunting, well you can double that and double that again. It was an arduous task scrambling up a steep slippery scree slope that extended far above what the eye could see. Eventually we were vertically above them but still 150 metres to the side of them so what a slog it was to get to the top already; we now had to skim across the scree. This was easy but

Sean’s first proper big game taken with his bow and without any assistance from Dad


horrendously noisy, and there is no quiet way across scree so we ran for it. I was the first to arrive at the rocky outcrop that they were in and to my delight there was a few still kicking around not 30 metres away so I aimed, and fired. A direct hit that knocked the tahr off the rock and barrelling down off into the abyss. Dad arrived and had a shot at the others scrambling along the face and whack he got one too. We happily recovered the animals and went to camp.

The following morning we decamped and headed further up the main river leaving the others behind. About two and a half hours later we arrived at or new home, not quite as luxurious as the last merely a small bumpy pad on the edge of a tributary to the main river. That night we chased some tahr up behind our camp but no result.

The day after we headed up for what we thought would be the day to get something as the weather was clearing and it was looking good but turned out to suck. All we saw was one medium sized bull up high that Dad shot with the rifle, it was more of a scenic trip than anything.

Our last day was here and we set off up the hill in search for anything to whet our appetite. Today was my day, I had my bow and Dad carried the 7mm mag for me to use for anything at long range. To our delight Dad spotted something above us through the binos that didn’t look too far away until I took them away… they were only unrecognisable specs far off in the distance but there was a good bull in the mob with my name written all over it. After the sighting we both grew another set of legs and powered up the mountain, about two hours of constant climbing we got to another viewing spot where we could see him, and he looked huge. We could hardly recognise

him and thought of it as a massive rock or a matagouri clump until we looked carefully and there he was sitting majestically on his mound. Too bad for us the hardship wasn’t over yet he was some 500 yards away and we could get no closer.

I found a good shooting position, he then ranged at exactly 457 yards, this was it. I had to put my nerves at rest and lower my heart rate, I settled in for the longest shot of my life.

Kaboom………………………then Pock !It took about a half a second for the projectile travelling at 3000 fps to reach the target and another second for the impact sound to come back - it flattened him. It was high-fives all round until we saw the ground erupt with tahr; nannies, juveniles and some more bulls. Thwack another down at 300 yards then Dad took the rifle and he nailed one. We then put the rifle aside and started videoing and snapping pictures. We retrieved them to find Dad’s was slightly longer (a sniff under 12 inches) but narrower than my big one because his horn tips were munted off (both scored exactly the same Douglas Score ratings of 40 2/8). The other a real cracker I shot measured 12 inches but only he only had one horn! It had

an estimated Douglas Score of 41 if it had an identical horn on the other side, this concluded a fantastic and rewarding end to our hunt that’s hungered us both for more.

sorry aunty, I’l l come visit another day.



New ANtLer, hOrN & tusk trOPhy FOr NZDA NAtIONAL cOmPetItIONsA new trophy donated by National Life Member, Bruce Banwell to be known as the D Bruce Banwell Trophy was awarded at conference 2013 for the first time for Red deer antlers – judge’s choice.the following rules apply:• All Red deer entered into the AHT competition are eligible to be

awarded this trophy.

• The judging panel does not have to award the trophy if they feel no entry meets the criteria as set out in the guideline to judges.

Judge's Guidelines:• To be judged taking into account the symmetry, the Douglas Score,

the mass (beam), and the aesthetic value of the entry.

• The winning entry should be a classic example showing typical characteristics from the bloodline of the area it was secured. Possible outside influence should be taken into account in overall judgement.

the construction of the award was a joint effort:• Tony Macklin, Wellington Branch drew up the plans for the trophy

• Andrew Rowland, Porirua Branch provided the rimu and made the box for housing the trophy

• Steven Knapp, Wellington Branch did the perspex work which Wellington Branch paid for.

• Albie Frampton, Wellington Branch provided a solid brass plate with the trophy’s title

and the inaugural winner was:Matt Guthrie, Thames Valley Branch with a Red taken in the Puketoi Range and measuring in at 337 1/8 Douglas Score.

D bruce bANweLL, NAtIONAL LIFe member11 september 1932 - 4 september 2013Bruce Banwell was born in Dunedin, September 11, 1932. He was brought up and educated at Gore Main School and Gore High School.

Bruce joined the Southland Branch NZDA in 1948, the National Bank of New Zealand Limited at Gore January 9, 1950, and retired September 30 1992 following 43 years’ service; the final 20 years in management.

Bruce registered his first rifle on September 11, 1948. On being questioned by the sergeant of police at Gore about when he turned 16, Bruce responded with ‘at ten minutes to two this morning’.

His father took him hunting from about the age of eight – Merino sheep and wild pig on the Hokonui Hills, Red deer in the Pomahaka watershed of West Otago and Waikaia and Fallow deer on the Blue Mountains.

In his youth Bruce spent a great deal of time trout fishing on the Mataura River, and in more recent times salmon fishing on the Waiotaki, Rangitata and Rakaia.

From age of sixteen Bruce went hunting in a serious manner with companions and extended his activities as far as Wanaka, Te Anau, Manapouri, and many other parts of the South Island, including extensive time in the Wapiti country; later spending time in the Kaweka, Kaimanawa, Ahimanawa and Urewera.

Since 1980, Bruce’s attitude towards deer has changed and he has spent considerable time studying, observing and photographing, both here and overseas. He became interested in the history, origin, taxonomy and biology of game animals, particularly in regard to Red deer and other species introduced to New Zealand.

Bruce’s association with NZDA includes Southland Branch (treasurer, secretary and committee member, secretary to the Wapiti Committee, NZDA Western Southland (first president and foundation member), Otago Branch (president), North Otago Branch, Poverty Bay Branch (committee member and president), along with Ashburton Branch and North Canterbury Branch on two occasions. His movement around the branches was due to transfers within the bank, during a time when he gained considerable experience with the deer farming industry in that capacity.

Bruce married Barbara Cameron in 1957, and they now have five children and seven grandchildren.

Travelling widely in search of subspecies of Red deer, Sika and Wapiti, Bruce has visited in excess of 100 countries across the Euro-Asian Continent and North America, from Ireland to Eastern Canada across the Holarctic, or temperate zone of the northern hemisphere.

Bruce is a member of the Species Survival Commission and Deer Specialist Group of the IUCN (World Conservation Union).

Involved with a number of international projects of great interest, Bruce has been asked for advice on several political and religious matters concerning deer, including taxonomical advice to the Deer Industry New Zealand. He has been the guest of institutions and government departments of several foreign countries, lecturing at universities on the taxonomy of Red deer and Sika, including China, Japan, Iran, Georgia,

Australia and Britain. Bruce has presented papers at international seminars in China, Japan, Czech Republic, Britain and Ireland.

He has had 14 books published on the subject, another in train and has written articles for both local and international journals and magazines. Bruce has recorded the rutting calls of most forms of Red deer which have been used extensively internationally in research work with the view to separate identification.

He enjoyed the honour of identifying a form of Red deer of Eastern Europe as a separate subspecies after a century of controversy over its identification, his submission being accepted and recorded as described by the international authority as Cervus elaphus pannoniensis (Banwell 1997).

Bruce attended his first NZDA conference as a delegate for Southland Branch in 1961 at Timaru and for the last 25 years has been involved, except when overseas, with the judging process at annual conferences. He is currently Deputy Chief Judge of the NZDA National Judging Panel and responsible for the training of the current personnel of the panel.

Bruce was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1986.

Several years ago Bruce Banwell received a letter from the then minister of conservation, Steve Chadwick in response to his articles and correspondence on different kinds of serow, jharal and tahr. Ms Chadwick stated a ‘misunderstanding of the differences between the various species and genera could well explain how the misspelling of tahr may have arisen all those years ago.’ Bruce was advised that DOC had agreed to use the correct version of tahr (not thar).

His latest accolade, Bruce was both delighted and surprised to be made a life member of the Saint Hubert’s Club of Ireland while there as their guest during 2009.

aoibhinn an obair an t-sealg - Joyful the work, the hunting.

OBITuARy

D Bruce Banwell was honoured with National Life Memebership of the NZDA at the Oamaru conference 2009

NZDA National President Alec McIver, presents D Bruce Banwell with his National Life Membership. CEO Dianne Brown was also there for the presentation.


BLAST fROm THE PAST

A bit more from around 80 + years of news clippings on naturalist items that Nick Bukholt handed to Bill Benfield. A report on the Lake Monk Expedition. This report pretty well ended Thane Riney’s career in New Zealand, and he moved on to work on wildlife for FAO in Africa. In succeeding weeks, IWT Munro also copped quite a bit of flack from readers of the Weakly News, however, he vigorously defended this article.

Soon after Riney left, he was followed by his former field assistant, Graeme Caughley, who went on to become one of the international superstars of vertebrate ecology. He remains almost unknown in his native New Zealand.


BugLE

huNtING chArGes INtrODuceD IN murIhIkuThe Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Murihiku District Office will be introducing an application fee for hunting during balloted periods from 1st September 2013.

The application fee has been set at $11.50. This will apply to all applications for hunting in the Blue Mountains Recreational Hunting Area between February and November; and Leithen Bush Scenic Reserve and Waikaia Forest Conservation Area during the roar period between March and April.

The additional work involved in managing the ballot has grown significantly over the past few years and the fee will cover the administration required to make sure the ballot continues so hunters can enjoy restricted hunting seasons. Hunting in open areas and outside the ballot period will remain free of charge.

DOC has met with hunting groups to make sure that they are aware of the new charge and to understand what it might mean for future hunting use. There is a strong demand by hunters for DOC to continue operating a balloted system says Murihiku Biodiversity Ranger, Colin Bishop. “Hunters enjoy the experience offered by exclusive hunting rights to blocks and they’ve indicated to us that they would prefer that this remains in place.”

It is expected that an online booking system will be put in place for Murihiku balloted hunting blocks during 2014.

A fact sheet with more information on the new hunting ballot fees can be found on the hunting section of the DOC website at www.doc.govt.nz/hunting

Contact: Murihiku Area Office, Department of Conservation, Ph: (03) 211 2400 Email: [email protected]

Jack McKenzie Wapiti HunterThis is the story of Jack Mckenzie’s life as a hunter, from the rolling tussock clad hills of Southland to the wild and intimidating valleys of Fiordland.

Magnificent film shot by Jack illustrates his love of the animals and the mountains.

Throughout his life he has fought not only for the preservation of Wapiti but for a hunting heritage, so that it may continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

Jack was a life member of the NZDA.

All hunters owe Jack McKenzie a debt of gratitude for dedicating his life to the preservation of hunting in New Zealand.

Available from Hunting & Fishing, Farmlands, CRT and South Coast Productions.

PO Box 58 Riverton www.videosouth.com

All true hunters must have a copy of this DVD.


OPINION

heLI huNtING, Are they ALLOweD tO DO thAt?By snow h ewe tson, Member of t he nat iona l execut ive Published in September issue Fishing and Outdoors newspaper

Kelvin and I climbed over the front of the boat and on to the rocks of the glacier moraine. We pulled our packs and rifle out of the boat and thanked the guide for dropping us off, then quickly went over our plans for the next few days to ensure a pick up at the same spot later in the week.

We turned our backs on the lake and started the relentless boulder hopping that is travel on glacial moraine, into craters and out of them, up and down, around the rim wherever it looks easier - but easy it never is.

After a couple of hours of this we reached the edge of the moraine wall and sat down to look for a camp site.

By now it is late evening and the light is fading fast. I take out my binoculars to look for a camp site but can’t resist glassing for tahr and almost straight away I pick out two bulls low down but probably another two kms up the valley. Do we keep going and try for them tonight?

We have a hurried discussion about pushing on up the valley now or do we wait until the morning. Despite being well and truly ready for a rest we decide to give it a go; we’ll just have to make camp wherever we end up and accept that it will be well after dark by then.

Just as we have hoisted our packs back on and started down the moraine wall I spot another animal across the valley from us on a scrubby bluff and not far away. If this is a good bull then we have a much better option for an evening hunt where we are, so we quickly descend to the flat and drop our packs again.

This spot will do for camp and a hurried look through the binos reveals a bull that should go 12 inches, just what we are looking for and perfect for Kelvin’s first tahr. We creep along the edge of the moraine wall and cross a small creek to a sand bank where we can set up for the shot. The range finder gives us 319 metres so we won’t need any dial up, Kelvin knows the rifle well and has had plenty of practice leading up to this hunt so I am confident he will make the shot. He takes his time to get a good rest and when he’s ready one shot peels the bull off his bluff, a good shot well executed and one very proud dad gets to share his love for the mountains and hunting alpine game with his son.

There’s just enough light for a couple of photos and after that we elect to set up camp and return to skin the bull first thing in the morning, it’s been a long day that started in Wairau Valley Marlborough and finished at Mt Cook.

As the first light of day creeps into our fly we crawl out, eager to return to last night’s bull and get the cape off him. No sooner are we out of the

fly and I pick up the sound of a turbine engine coming our way; I immediately know what this means.

The sound of a Hughes 500 is distinctly different to that of a Squirrel or Jet Ranger which are the preferred machines of tourist operators, so to me the approaching machine is a heli hunter.

Very soon my suspicion is confirmed when a blue 500e comes up the valley at low level and is seen scouting in and out of likely gullies and bluff systems obviously looking for tahr.

We are so lucky we got the bull we did the previous evening, I would have been gutted if we were hunting him this morning and this thief had flown in and taken him in front of us. The machine with a heli hunter on board continued up the valley and then not too long after we heard him returning, and confirmation; slung under the machine were two carcasses, a bull tahr and a chamois.

Kelvin looked at me and said “are they allowed to do that”?

“No, they definitely are not but DoC is not doing anything to stop it” I told him. There are limits on the type of activities permitted in the Park and heli hunting doesn’t fit into any of them.

It is not a Wild Animal Recovery Operation (WARO) because the WARO permit excludes the carrying of fare paying passengers; the genuine tourist operators have concessions which are governed by regulations aimed at protecting the public’s right to enjoy the Park without excess noise or intrusion by commercial interests.

This all took place in 2008 and when we left the Park I lodged an official complaint at the visitors centre with the Head Ranger, Ray Bellringer. He told me to provide photos and details by email when I got home, this I duly did and got no response so I sent it again requesting a response and again it was ignored. I was not surprised by this because it was not the first of these complaints I have attempted to have addressed.

The public’s contempt for this activity taking place on public lands like National Parks and designated Wilderness areas has been clearly spelt out at meetings and in the media. Calls for a ban on the activity by hunters, trampers, mountaineers and Conservation Boards have largely gone unheeded until Peter Dunne cleared the way to have the activity banned.

Heli hunting - are they allowed to be doing that? The answer today is Yes and they will be allowed to keep doing it unless the necessary legislation to stop it is passed before the current 2 year permits get renewed in February 2014.

The future of heli hunting lies in the hands of the current Minister of Conservation the Honorable Dr Nick Smith.

If you are appalled by this activity then you should write to the Minister of Conservation and stress to him the need to pass the necessary legislation ASAP. Nick Smith has demonstrated a willingness to protect the people’s interests on public land and the conservation estate by declining the proposed Milford tunnel development. In declining the proposed tunnel he clearly demonstrated his intentions, I look forward to him doing so again by putting an end to heli hunting.

I urge you to please write to Dr Nick Smith and ask that the necessary legislation be put in place to have heli hunting banned before any permit renewals are undertaken.

This legislation must be in place well before February 2014 so letters to the Minister and even a copy sent to the Prime Minister and your local MP right now are what are needed from as many people as possible.

Your help will be invaluable in this fight so that many other parents can have the pleasure and joy that I got from being in that magnificent environment with my son when he took his first tahr.

hunting and rivers are Important New Zealand First in its recently released outdoor recreation policy has pledged to ensure sustainable management and preservation of New Zealand's rivers, waterways, wetlands and wilderness areas. MP and outdoor recreation spokesman Richard Prosser said the party believed in "the right of all New Zealanders to responsibly hunt, shoot, fish and enjoy the great outdoors."

On sea fishing he said there would be no recreational saltwater licence. New Zealand First has also opposed commercial marlin fishing saying big game fishing is a $100 million industry and it's essential marlin are preserved for recreational fishers and the tourism industry.

New Zealand First has adopted a policy of banning aerial dropping of 1080 poison. Richard Prosser said 1080 was an inhumane and indiscriminate poison which is banned in many countries. New Zealand uses 90% of the world's supply of 1080. He said game animals like deer are now naturalized and endemic and should be available to New Zealanders for sustainable hunting.

But nothing about banning chopper hunting. Ed.

Heli hunter with tahr and chamois slung under machine


LOCk, STOCk AND BARREL

cArtrIDGes OF the eArLy 21st ceNturyBy chaz Forsy t h, o tago Branch

Introduct IonCalibres of less than .22” (5.56 mm) have attracted some rifle folk, perhaps because they saw advantage in going that small. Experiments in .17 calibre (4.5 mm) date back to the nineteenth century, when the self-contained cartridge was still more conceptual than real. Much more recently, Remington introduced, in 1971, its .17 Remington, and wildcats like the .17 Hornet have been around since the early 1950s. The .17 Mach IV appeared much later, in the early 1960s. Maybe the emergence of the .204 Ruger in 2004 inspired sub-.22 calibre development because in 2008, the .17 Remington Fireball was introduced.

The attraction of the sub-.22 calibres is their perceived lack of felt recoil, their downside is the need to have .17 calibre cleaning gear, and the need to use it religiously (every, say, 10 shots, if downrange grouping performance is not to become degraded as fouling accumulates. Early barrels of the 1970s fouled quickly, but those of the 00s seem more tolerant of use, despite retaining a need for regular, careful cleaning if they were to keep on shooting. Curiously, when the Remington 5 mm rimfire appeared in 1970, few worries appeared about the need for bore cleaning, perhaps because its velocities were of the order of 2100 ft/sec, and perhaps because it was a .20” calibre. (Fouling worries accumulate as bore size diminishes and velocities increase!)

Now, just for the curious, there are calibres smaller than .17, going right on down to .10 calibre. Some of these date from the 1920s, and Charlie O’Neil, then P O Ackley developed wildcats based on the .218 Bee cartridge and other cartridges.

In the meantime, the subject of this article, the .17 HMR, (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) was introduced in 2002, sparking more interest in sub-.22 calibre. In comparison to the .17 Mach II, another rimfire chambering developed by Hornady and CCI in 2004, the .17 HMR has been a runaway success, the latter, until recently, being the highest velocity rimfire cartridge in the world.

.17 hornady MaGnuM rIMFIre (hMr)Developed upon a case of similar length to the .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire), the .17 HMR is a bottleneck design operating at slightly higher pressures than the .22 WMR, outshooting it as well, because of the better downrange external ballistics of .17 calibre bullets. The .22 WMR has been around since 1959 and has sold well, offering muzzle-distance ballistics for a 40 grain bullet of 1910 ft/sec velocity, and at 100 m, remaining velocity of approximately 1330 ft/sec. (The latter is probably of more use because very little is shot at the muzzle!) The table provides a comparison between the .22 WMR and the .17 HMR for velocities, bullet path (BP) and wind deflections (WD), assuming a scope height of 1.5” (38 mm) above the bore:

Cartridge Bullet Vm (ft/sec)

V50m (ft/sec)

V100m (ft/sec)

V150 m (ft/sec)

V200m (ft/sec)

BP100m (ins)

BP200m (ins)

WD100m (ins)

WD200m (ins)

.17 HMR 17 gn V-max 2550 2210 1900 1620 1380 0 -8.5 3.3 15.3

.22 WMR 40 gn JHP 1910 1590 1230 1130 1010 0 -18.7 5.7 24.6

As the table shows, the little .17 HMR to 100 m is a pretty good match for the .22 WMR, but beyond 100 metres, wind deflection is much less, and the penalty for wrongly estimating distance is a lot less. This is supported by users of the .17 HMR, who, having used the .22 WMR, find that holding off for cross-gully shots at rabbits in Central Otago is far, far easier with the .17. Furthermore, they tell me it is much easier to spot the result of a shot from the .17 because they can see the bullet-strike, and its results. This chambering has been a success, perhaps because it offered a measurable gain over the .22 rimfire, just as the .22 WMR did.

The .17 HMR has impacted upon rifle designs too, but not in the way the manufacturers intended: semi-auto versions in this chambering have been withdrawn from the market, allegedly because of problems arising from occasional case failures. It appears that the bottleneck design poses its own problems in this matter, because as far as is known, no semi-auto exists for the smaller .17 Mach II chambering.

success For the .17 hMrEvidence of the success of this cartridge is provided by not only the manufacturers who offer ammunition, but rifles for this cartridge. To date, ammunition manufacturers CCI, Federal, Hornady, Remington and Speer offer .17 HMR loadings in 17 and 20 grain bullet weights.

From left; 22 Long Rifle; .223 Remington; .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire.


Nope, you cannot hand load for this cartridge, but with four ammunition manufacturers in the game, so to speak, a shortage is unlikely and if you are prepared to undertaken some testing, getting good groups from your rifle (if you remember to clean it often) should be no trouble.

An advantage enjoyed by these rifles (and by users of the .22 WMR as well) is the use of jacketed bullets in their loads. These overcome the problems of using that anachronism of the nineteenth century, the heel bullet crimped firmly into the cartridge case: this makes it much more difficult to ensure minimal dispersion from shot to shot on a target down range, as manufacturers of .22 rimfire match ammunition will testify (to the detriment of their hairlines, no doubt).

More eVIdence oF successMany arms manufacturers, scenting commercial success, have offered their products for this cartridge. These include CZ (formerly Brno), Henry, Marlin, New England Firearms (now owned by Marlin), Remington, Rossi, Thompson/Centre, Savage, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, and Taurus. Only learned of recently, is the likelihood of Lithgow chambering a new rifle in the .17 HMR too, arguably further evidence of the inroads this cartridge

must be making in the face of stiff competition from the hand loadable centrefires cartridges from the .22 Hornet upwards.

coMPetIt Ion For the .17 hMrThe .17 HMR has had to endure some competition. Stung by complaints about the cost per shot (bigger bangs do indeed cost more bucks!), it has endured despite the more introduction in 2004 of the .17 Mach II, a cartridge based on the .22 Stinger case, which offered the same bullet weight at slightly lower velocity and at lower cost per shot than the .17 HMR. However, it appears that the margin of performance between the older and the newer is so small as to practically guarantee oblivion for the .17 Mach II, because sales have fallen away.

Much more recently, Winchester has worked with Savage to offer the .17 Winchester Super Magnum (WSM), a rimfire magnum, still bottle-necked, but with greater performance than the .17 HMR. This new offering fires 20 grain polymer V-tip bullets at a little over 3,000 ft/secs, and 25 gn bullets at more than 2600 ft/sec. These are chambered only in a rifle newly-developed by Savage, designed around the higher pressures of this new cartridge. This alone deserves another article.

referencesBarnes, F.C. and Simpson, L. (Ed) (2009), Cartridges of the World (12th Edition), Gun Digest Books, Iola, WI, USA.

Barnes, F.C., and Skinner, S. (Ed) (2003), Cartridges of the World (10th Edition), Krause Publications, Iola, WI, USA.

Carter, A. (2013), Teamwork. The American Rifleman, August, pp. 52-57, 90, 91.

Cundiff, R.E. (2007), The 17 calibre – redux. Varmint Hunter Magazine, Pierre, South Dakota, USA. http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-

guides/17caliber/, downloaded 22/08/2013.

Emery, N. (Ed) (2012), Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (Ninth Edition), Hornady Manufacturing Company, Grand Island, Nebraska, USA.

Forker, B. (2003), Ammo & Ballistics II. Safari Press, Long Beach, California, USA.

Hawks, C. (2013), Compared: .17 Mach II and .22 Long Rifle. http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_22LR_17M2.htm, downloaded 22/08/2013.

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The Hokitika and Whitcombe Valleys are popular areas for hunters and trampers. The two rivers are linked by a track through Frew Saddle. Toaroha Saddle provides a link to the Mungo and Upper Hokitika Rivers. There are gorges in the lower reaches of both valleys but the middle and upper valleys are more accessible with small river flats in places. There is a good track up the Whitcombe Valley. The middle section of the Hokitika River to Bluff Swingbridge is untracked. These two moderate sized catchments have steep forested hillsides, dense alpine scrub near the bush line and tussock tops.

Hunting information: Red deer can be found throughout the area at any time of the year however spring hunting on the Whitcombe River flats and the roar is most popular. There is some good hunting on the front faces near the road end too. Chamois are found mainly in alpine areas in reasonable numbers. Tahr can be found in Prices Basin and the Wilkinson River. Hares are found throughout. Possums are controlled by AHB in the lower parts of the valley. Feral pigs and goats are uncommon.

Access: Walking access into the Whitcombe

Valley is straightforward but the upper Hokitika/Mungo can only be reached via the Toaroha or Frew Saddle routes. The Whitcombe Track is reached by following signposts from the Hokitika Gorge access road 25 km from Hokitika. A rough vehicle track through cutover bush leads to a locked gate. Permission and a key is required to drive past this point. The rough track ends at the lower cableway (locked) over the Hokitika River and the walking track starts on a low terrace 500 metre walk along the boulder river bed. This is followed for several kilometres to the Hokitika-Whitcombe Junction. To get to the Whitcombe Track cross the second cableway to Rapid Creek and follow the marked track. It is 3 hours to Rapid Creek and 6 hours to Frews Hut. The track continues up the valley to the Wilkinson River then the Whitcombe Pass.

The true left of the Hokitika and Murray Saddle to Doctors Creek can be reached by crossing the Hokitika Gorge swing bridge and travelling up the true left of the river. Access into the upper Hokitika or Mungo valleys is via Frew Saddle or Toaroha Saddle. Alternatively use local helicopter services for access.

Landholders: Vehicle access past the locked gate to the Hokitika-Whitcombe road end requires permission and a key from Don Harcourt phone 03 738 0505. Foot access is allowed. Please do not disturb stock on the private property.

Map information: NZTopo50 BU18, BU19, BW18

Dogs: All conservation land areas are prohibited to dogs except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. People wishing to take a dog into this area should seek authorisation from the area office. To take dogs across private property you must get permission from the landowner.

Hut information - Hokitika catchment:

Rapid Creek Hut: Standard hut, bunks, heating. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV18, E1437922, N5235997

Serpentine Hut: Basic bivvy, 4 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV18, E1443531, N5235877

PLACES TO HuNT

west cOAst huNtINGPart I - hokitika and whitcombe Valleyshttp://doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/hunting/where-to-hunt/west-coast/hokitika-hunting/

The Hokitika area is in the centre of the West Coast and lies between Arthurs Pass, Hokitika; the Taramakau River in the north and Waitaha River in the south. There is about 200,000 ha of public conservation land within this area that includes part of Arthurs Pass National Park, many small reserves and large areas of stewardship land. Conservation areas are mostly forested with many wetlands and lowland hill country areas west of the alpine fault and larger river systems east of the Alpine fault. Many of these rivers have gorges in their lower reaches and alpine basins in the headwaters. Most valleys have maintained walking track access and there are plenty of backcountry huts but a few remote places do not have tracks, footbridges or huts.

Hunting for Red deer, goats, chamois and feral pigs is popular throughout much of the area. Most species have a preferred hunting season. The climate is wet at times with over 3000mm of rain each year with westerly winds predominating. In winter several falls of snow can be expected that blanket the tops and upper forests. Spring to autumn is mild with regular spells of fine weather.

Safety!Follow the Outdoor Safety Code:1. Plan your trip2. Tell someone3. Be aware of the

weather4. Know your limits5. Take sufficient

supplies


DIscOuNt remINDersdepartment of conservation annual backcountry hut pass Hassle free use of over 900 huts Available from DOC visitor centres to NZDA members. $85 (normally $122.00), youth (11 – 17) $42 (normally $61). Please present your current NZDA membership card.

Frisco Hut: Basic bivvy, 4 bunks, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV19, E1446099, N5233932

Poet Hut: Standard hut, 4 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV19, E1449430, N5233577

Mungo Hut: Basic bivvy, 4 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV19, E1453040, N5234717

Sir Robert Hut: Basic bivvy, 4 bunks, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV19, E1449782, N5231214

Bluff Hut: Standard hut, 6 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map

sheet BV19, E1447445, N5232296

Hut information - Whitcombe Valley:

Frew Hut: Standard hut, 10 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV18, E1440660, N5231821

Frews Saddle Bivvy: Basic bivvy, 2 bunks, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV19, E1444641, N5228886

Price Flat Hut: Standard hut, 7 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BW18, E1437831, N5224979Price

Basin Hut: Basic bivvy, 4 bunks, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BV18, E1434388, N5222826

Wilkinson Hut: Basic bivvy, 4 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BW18, E1436530, N5219779

Neave Hut: Standard hut, 6 bunks, heating, mattresses. Grid reference: Topo50 map sheet BW18, E1436030, N5217179

Poison operations: Before going hunting check out: http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/threats-and-impacts/animal-pests/pesticide-summaries/west-coast/

west coast hunting Part II - Kokatahi-toaroha Valleys: see nZ hunting & wildlife issue 183, January – March 2014

FOr mOre INFOrmAtION cONtAct

Hokitika Area Office.

Phone: 03 756 9110. 10 Sewell Street, Hokitika 7810. Email: [email protected]

PreLImINAry resuLts FrOm the FIGGINs-FOrsyth huNter surveyBy chaz Forsy t h

IntroductionThis survey went on-line in late February this year, and by late August had attracted 293 viewings, 194 ‘starts’ at completing the questionnaire, 169 completions (87%) and 25 who gave up and chose not to finish. This was not a random questionnaire; it was restricted to those who went on-line through the www.fishnhunt.co.nz website.

Preliminary resultsApproximately 30 questions were asked of the interview subject, relating to how often they hunted, the sort of rifle they preferred, and how they carried it when expecting to see game while in the hunting field. Of the respondents, 43% were in the 45 – 65 year age range, with 42% in the 25 to 45 year age-group. All respondents were male. 49% had tertiary education, 34% had secondary education. Respondents were from all over New Zealand, with a slight majority, 21% from the lower South Island, and 19% from the central North Island.

Of those who had rifles, 43% used them for hunting, 23% for ‘target’ shooting. 46% had

bolt action rifles, 27% had semi-automatic rifles. For the big game hunters, 90% chose the bolt action, and 6% chose semi-autos (the next most popular mechanism). For all rifle users, 89% used a rifle scope, and 10% used open sights.

The preferred carrying method before sighting game for semi-auto rifle users was 51% 'unloaded’ and 49% loaded with safety catch applied. For bolt rifles, 30% stated they were unloaded, 18% were loaded but with the bolt handle up and the safety catch off (not applied), but amazingly, 7% carried the rifle loaded with the bolt down and with the action uncocked, that is with the firing pin resting upon the rifle primer.

• This is a most hazardous situation, suggestive of failure to understand the operation of the rifle mechanism.

91% had their bolt rifles left unmodified for a ‘half-cock’ position, where the bolt handle initially engages the locking lugs, but 9% had undergone modification to create that situation. (Some modern rifles are thought by some of their owners to require such a modification. This is regarded by some

engineers as creating a hazardous situation which compromises safety.) Training in firearm handling was fairly evenly split, with 25% getting it from family members, 16% from a friend, with Mountain Safety Council training in fourth place, with 13% of respondents indicating this source.

Other questions relating to the wearing of high-visibility clothing, the time since its purchase, the chosen quarry, and location of the hunting area were also answered. Of interest was the distance at which the most recently shot big and small-game animals were shot: for big game, it was evenly split across all the ranges (25, 50, 75, 100, 200 and 300+ metres) with a slight majority (18%) being shot at 100 metres. For small game, 47% were shot at 25 metres. 96% of respondents undertook spotlighting, and the main species hunted under these conditions was possum.

The website (direct link) is http://questionpro.com/s/1-2094717-3249408, or http://www.fishnhunt.co.nz/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=136932198 if you wish to see more.


REVIEWS

Title: The Practical Guide to Long Range Hunting Rifles

Author: Nathan Foster, (2012)

Publisher: Terminal Ballistic Research, www.lulu.com, USA

Format: Soft cover, 190 pages, illustrations. Monochrome

RRP: NZ$38.49 via the website (price may vary as NZ dollar changes)

Reviewed by: Chaz Forsyth

This book is a very concise analysis of observations derived from hands-on practical work and vast field experience, by a New Zealander living in the North Island. Aimed at the person for whom having a rifle capable of grouping reliably, under field conditions, into 0.5 Minutes of Angle, it provides brief coverage of nearly 20 key topics which the author considers to be important in getting the best from a factory rifle.

Nor does he overlook the custom end of the scale, but his focus remains on the factory rifles, partly because in his view, some provide a suitable foundation (action) upon which to build when your barrel finally goes sour. Foster's skills include rifle tuning, to extract their best performance under field conditions. Despite its title, I believe his book would also apply for those wanting to start out F-class rifle shooting because the sort of precision for which he is advocating is of the

same order as that desired by long range hunters.

A crowning achievement in the view of this reviewer are the author's expressions of opinion about the suitability for long range hunting of more than a score of rifle makes and models commonly found on dealers' shelves in New Zealand. He justifies his viewpoints, basing them on insights gained from earlier work with these rifles. Although this book lacks references, and does not go into the detail that Harold Vaughn, or Franklin W Mann did, in my view it succeeds in its aim of informing the interested rifle owner into what to do about his/her rifle.'

So, if you are not a keen ‘diy’-er, but feel the need to seek out a superior hunting rig, this is the book for you!

This publication is also available as an e-book, cheaper than the hardcopy, at NZ$25.64, and the illustrations are in colour. Mr Foster has at least two more textbooks planned, on the care and feeding of rifles, and on how to use them.

bO

Ok

Title: Get Fresh with Al Brown Stories from the Heartland

Author: Al Brown

Publisher: Random House NZ

ISBN: 9781869796952

RRP: $60.00

Format: Hardback, 304 pages, colour and black

& white photos

Available from: All good book stores

Reviewed by: Dianne Brown

Al Brown is the author of Stoked, Go Fish. He also wrote Hunger for the Wild with Steve Logan. Al is the star of TV series Dishing Up Australia, Get Fresh, Coasters and Hunger for the Wild.

Get Fresh contains stories and recipes from the heartland New Zealand - one man, a ute and a frypan visiting Northland, Coromandel, South Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury, Central Otago, Dunedin and Southland.

Al arrives at each province with an open mind and an empty stomach, visiting the farmers’ markets to experience what is unique, fresh and in season in that particular area.

This is not just a recipe book - each chapter has

Al’s own personal vibes about the area; notes of history; places of interest to foodies; what to visit; where to eat and drink; amazing photos of points of interest and the locals; and finally his reasons behind the menu and his chosen recipes for three dishes in each province consisting of an entrée, a main and a dessert.

This book comes with a CD of local bands including Fat Freddy’s Drop tune The Nod to put you ‘in the mood’ to cook to – although I enjoyed just putting the CD on and listening to the best of New Zealand’s local talent.

I recommend this book, which is an extension of Al’s TV series Get Fresh for its delicious recipes; the portrait of regional New Zealand; the spectacular photography; and Al’s sense of humour and articulate writing - there’s about 60,000 words describing the delights of these places plus 30 wonderful recipes.

bO

Ok

Title: Post X Hunting New Zealand 3rd Revised edition

Authors: Mark Draper – Mark Airey

Publisher: Spot X Publications Ltd

ISBN: 9781877374753

RRP: $39.99

Format: Softback, 256 pages, colour photos, maps

Available from: All leading bookshops, hunting stores or mail order through www.spotx.com

Reviewed by: Dianne Brown

This book contains an accumulation of knowledge from many different hunters and includes chapters on: Auckland/Waikato, Canterbury, Fiordland, Glossary of Terms, Hunt Smarter, Hunting Region Map, Index, Kaimanawa/Kaweka, Nelson/Marlborough, Northland, Otago, Raukumara, Ruahine Ranges, Stewart Island, Tararua, Te Urewera, and the West Coast.

Spot X Hunting (3rd Edition) follows on from the sell-out success of the first two editions of Hunting New Zealand. The co-authors, Mark Draper and Mark Airey have added over 300 new hunting spots making this edition over 40% bigger than their previous editions.

The latest edition has 20 additional pages of hunting spots; cabins, camping, lodges and facilities; regulations and permits; and access and contacts for public and private hunting.

Mark Draper and Mark Airey have also illustrated this edition with 1:50 000 and 1:250 000 topographic maps; and included information on over 1000 hunting spots; species available; restrictions; and expert hunting tips that all hunters will need to know when planning their next adventure.

In the book’s foreword Mark Draper states: ‘what this book does offer is good sound advice on hundreds and hundreds of hunting places across New Zealand.’

Any hunters wanting to harvest game animals from chamois to Sambar or visit locations from Stewart Island to the far north, this book will show them where to go, and with a number of spots in each area for every species one can pick a location to suit your capabilities.

Whether a novice of seasoned hunter, this book has something new for everyone and there is no doubt that this issue will grace the book shelves of many hunters.

bO

Ok


A History of Hunting The Deerstalkers Part 2 1987-2012

Compiled by: Ian Wright

Publisher: The Halcyon Press

ISBN: 978-1-877566-35-6

Format: 240mm x 170mm, 324 pages, colour and black & white photos

RRP: $49.99: In soft cover format from any good book seller

RRP: $55.00: For the limited edition of 500 numbered copies, hard back, gold embossed on the cover with the NZDA 75th logo and gold embossed with title on spine, head and tail bands, with full colour dust jacket from NZDA, PO Box 6514, Marion Square, Wellington, 6141

Reviewed by: Tony Orman

This book is essentially a celebration of the last 25 years of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association. NZDA patron Ian Wright has spent much time in collaborating with NZDA members - including yours truly - for contributions. The contributions vary greatly in subject thus making for a wide ranging embracing of the Association's activities, competitions and of course the wild animals and the hunting of them.

The result is a nice blend of hunting tales, instruction and a summary of Association activities plus a historical summary of various herds.

While reluctant to draw comparisons, for me I particularly enjoyed Bud Jones ‘Through the Shutter, Through the Years’ on hunting with the camera. Bud describes hunting with the camera as ‘one of the superb joys that only seeing can provide.’ Maureen Coleman's recounting of a woman's foray into the world of hunting was another to savour as were Mark Nobilo’s, Ray Webb's and Howard Egan's on Fallow herds. Tom Brough on pig hunting, Ian Wright's fine encapsulation of 25 years of conferences, Bruce Banwell's chapter on European Red deer, the tale of a big 334 Douglas Score stag from south Westland, Chaz Forsyth's summary of firearm legislation, but hey where do you stop? All are fine contributions in their own individual right.

On the dust jacket it wisely says ‘any organisation is only as strong as its membership’. And inside compiler Ian Wright sets out the achievements of NZDA such as preserving the right of law abiding citizens to possess and use firearms, saving large game hunting in New Zealand, preserving the right of access to hunt on public lands, recording history, giving much education in mountain safety and hunting and providing facilities such as ranges. “NZDA members can hold their heads high," says Ian.

This book not only entertains but enlightens about firearms, herds and management and doubles as a valuable reference book.

My only quibble, it deserved an index to readily flick back to a subject.

bO

Ok

POETRy

winner of the 2013 halcyon Poetry competit ion

There was no-one else in camp last night …. Just me, all solitaireI watched a galaxy of diamond stars in the clear cold mountain air

Elsewhere the world was sleeping, but I don’t have a care …And wherever you have gone to, I wish that I were there.

I watched the distant river glint like twisted hand-blown glassAnd the moon-lit dewdrops glittered like rhinestones in the grassThe shingle fans shone vibrant from a moon of polished brass …And I wished that I could join you near that rocky mountain pass.

My eyes are drawn again now, to where they last saw you go …Far down the valley, to the mountains caped with sparkling snow

which last night were quite transformed with a luminescent glow …And the places you have gone to – I so want to go.

As I gather up my walking stick, and turn, about to leaveI catch a glimpse of something … so small I can’t believe!

Through the shimmer of the heat haze – if my eyes do not deceive …so I polish my binoculars with my worn-out swanni sleeve.

From wherever you had gone to … I watch you coming backtrudging down the river, weary from your weighty pack

and proudly carried on your shoulders a splendid antler rack …to the place that I can join you … along the well-worn track.

keePING wAtch …By Fran al lcock, te awamutu Branch

Interislander rates for nZda member Generous discounts for members

Renegotiated for the 2014-year

Contact the NZDA National Office for your discount code.

Must present NZDA membership card when checking in.


STORy

trAILsby Gre ig ca igou, ne l son Branch2nd p l ace sec t ion a : - Ph i l ip ho l den trophy 2013

We’d pitched up through the thick stuff looking for a good level to contour into the valley. Packs were heavy, with every successive gut and tangle of windfall just adding to our burdens. An hour or so went by and we felt the heaviness of the valley closing in around us – high bluffs above with steepening slopes and a damp, tight gorge below - the terrain costing us dearly in terms of effort and travail.

We crossed a severe cataract, cutting down from a massive bluff which we could make out through the high foliage above, but finally we could perceive better travel ahead. Rather suddenly though, we also came across a well-used trail leading down through the bush abruptly and heading straight into the gorge below. It seemed to suggest we abandon the clearing country ahead and disappear into the

canyon instead . . . what to do?

I’d not been into ‘tiger country’ before . . . well that’s what the old-timers had called this place. Fiordland, by any estimate, is an untracked and formidable wilderness, full of challenge and rich experiences for any would-be hunter. During those formative years, one old-timer (call him Jock) had leaned over to me and said:

“If you strike a deer lead, you’d better follow it – they live there, they know where they’re going!”Certainly this sort of advice was reinforced through my avid reading of books by pioneering hunters to this neck of the NZ woods. Tales abounded of hunters coming across trails on the tops, but when keeping to

their own way instead, have discovered some sort of difficulty on the route. After much grappling with terrain those same hunters would finally emerge to easier going, only to once again come across some heavily-used trail coming in from another angle (which upon some inspection would reveal an easier way through the obstacles!)

Well there we were, facing this exact dilemma . . . the trail imprinted down the slope was well used, yet it headed so directly down into that dank, dark and formidable looking canyon. The slopes before us looked much clearer going. They held some promise of better travel after all the nasty little guts we’d traversed through and we’d searched for a good level at which to make our assault on the valley.

In all such situations it seems necessary to have a meeting of the committee! So we stood around for some time discussing the merits of our alternatives, all the while hunched over, bearing the weight of our burdens.

Our ‘experience’ suggested that usual bush travel necessitated getting above a gorge and contouring into the upper valley and the favoured headwaters. The thought of dropping height that we’d only have to reclaim didn’t exactly add fuel to the mental tank or spark

TRAIL, \'tral\ nouna. a trace or mark left by something that has passed or been

drawn along: Scent, trackb. (1) a track made by passage especially through a wilderness

(2) a marked or established path or route, especially through a forest or mountainous region

c. a course followed or to be followed

¯


I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I’ve ended up where I

wanted to be.

to the physical engine room . . . we’d already exerted ourselves lugging heavy packs, gaining altitude through windfalls and other taxing hurdles.

The ‘committee’ was leaning toward making way forward through the clearing terrain ahead, but that niggling set of old-time advice hung with me as we finally trudged off into the easy going . . . which, as you might guess, turned to custard after not too many hundreds of metres!

Should we turn back, or staunchly muscle on with testosterone fuelled, character- building determination? (Read naivety)

Yes, (did you guess correctly?) Rather than turn back, we assailed forth, embarking on a bush bash of not quite epic consequence . . . and thus another generation of hunters learnt some ancient wisdom.

Several days later we were retreating down the opposite side of that valley when we struck a good deer trail in the forest, providing very quick travel. We followed that dutifully, reaping the benefit of easy going as we whisked along, contouring through bush terraces interspersed with rock gardens. Soon we were back above the gorge, when the trail angled down toward the river . . . into the chasm! This time we followed downward, eventually coming to a solitary quiet section amidst the thundering turmoil of water and massive rocks. The trail seemed to disappear, but as we gazed around on the opposite side of the river we saw a tracked-out section where animals had clambered up onto the bank. We crossed rather easily and soon climbed steeply up through the bush. While still having to exert ourselves, the travel was certainly quite straightforward.

Keeping our nose and boots fully in that trail, we eventually came upon a section in the bush that looked quite familiar - something like a meeting place for a bushland committee!

We sucked it up, laughing at our flogging from the harsher route we’d endured some days earlier. Then we turned again to our travelling and struck out up the hill . . . now staying with our deer lead. This soon contoured down valley again, coursing its way above a lot of the creekheads and windfall we’d thrashed ourselves through earlier in the trip . . . a much better level, somewhat higher up than we’d thought and plain sailing all the way to our destination!

Lesson learnt. End of story.

trails. We come to value them. We come to trust them. We come to look for them and the ease of travel they promise because we can glean from those who live, move and frequent such wild spaces.

Of course many of the trails laid down in the NZ high country originated from the days of large herds of animals pushing into new country as they colonised the pristine wilderness that was NZ. Rich and abundant food sources drove beasts ever afield and soon established routes became evident. Deer moved up off valley floors, discovering passage through gorges and onto good leading spurs. Pushing up through the scrubline onto alpine grasslands these trails crossed over high passes and down into new territory.

The animals learnt to migrate along some routes too, moving between wintering zones and the fields of summer before taking up rutting grounds. Such migratory routes are well known in some regions. I still recall the tales of those same old-timers as they illuminated my young mind with tales of hunting forays into the Whitcombe to intercept stags on trails between the eastern Rakaia country and the vast bushlands to the west.

Chamois and tahr were also moving into new country and travelling to rutting grounds, but these animals blazed their pathways in a less obvious manner, being most evident however with the movement of tahr out of prime scrub cover and into bluff systems.

These trails left upon the landscapes of New Zealand are as much a resource as the network of cut tracks, bridges and other amenities that have opened up travel to adventure seekers infiltrating the wild spaces between the cities. These trails mark the way, telling us where those before us have gone, giving us insight to best routes, lending confidence to a course of direction and in turn, once travelled, further establishing the route and trail for those that follow.

Trails . . . are they defining where we may go or are they impressions on the land of where something has been!Of course trails get ‘blazed’ and animals followed scent of their kind much more than hoofprint as they traverse terrain. By repeated usage however, they embedded hoofed tracks further and further into the substrate.

Humans blazed away with axe cuts, dazzle, ribbon, plastic or metal disks and all manner of other ways to mark the way ahead. From subtle bend of leaf to the nylon whipped

edging of maintained track networks, these paths almost draw you in, to follow on - almost by compulsion.

But, what of the places that have seen such trails fall into disuse? What of the paths that were once maintained by great numbers of animals passing along established routes?

As the helicopter pressure of commercial killing of wildlife escalated, so the pathways have become faint. Old routes through the sub-alpine belt are growing over and except in very narrow confines, require some sort of tactical manoeuvring before discovering any old, less-used trails. This was quite evident to me recently when traversing the alpine tops of Charles Sound during the Wapiti bugle. Down in the bush, out of harm's way, trails were more evident and still provided good clues on best access into prime feeding areas. Alpine places with vast space and decimated populations are where the degree of tracking is most diminished, but then these areas and habitats were in need of reduced pressure from browsing animals anyway. A consequence of this is that fewer hunters make the effort to visit such far-flung environs now and altogether this adds to the reduced use of such mountain trails.

The very presence of a trial somewhat defines where people go though - doesn’t it. If it’s there, they follow!

So, what about trailblazing, of another sort then! What of the temptation to ‘step out’ and seek new ways across the landscape for yourself? I know ‘Explorer Greig’ calls out inside of me, as I yearn to find my own way in the wilderness.

My own way has some appeal too - it lights up the adventure of the unknown, heightens my skills of observation, increases my craft in discovering suitable lines of travel. It also amplifies the imperatives and wearying consequences of wrong evaluations or choices of route . . . further adding to the sense of mission and ‘adventure’. Surely, treading new paths and forging forth brings its own rewards and sense of satisfaction as well as lessons learnt or experience gained – all just a part of the allure of wilderness travel and hunting in general.

A quiet chuckle now reminds me of passing that place of the committee meeting in the Fiordland bush some many years ago now – it is part of a reminder of thickened, weathered skin, a far-gazing look, richer meanings and the mountain wisdom now gained along the trail . . . as I now slowly evolve into that ‘old-timer’!


Item NZDA Price – Including P&P Quantity Amount to Pay

Limited edition pencil drawing prints - Limited to 100 in each series

‘Bull Tahr’ limited edition print $75.00 unframed

‘Big Red’ limited edition print $75.00 unframed

‘Wapiti’ limited edition print $75.00 unframed

‘Pig/dog’ limited edition print $75.00 unframed

‘Chamois’ limited edition print $75.00 unframed

‘Sika’ limited edition print $75.00 unframed

NZ Hunting & Wildlife Subscription

New Zealand

1 year (4 issues) $38.00

2 years (8 issues) $73.00

Australia



Rest of World



Membership for Life

Endowment Membership$225.00 per 5 years or $937.50 lump sum fee

NZDA Badges

NZDA pewter look $10.00

NZDA 75-year plastic $5.00

NZDA 75-year pewter look $15.00

NZDA black enamel $7.50

Publications

New Zealand Firearms: an exploration into firearm possession, use and misuse in New Zealand: by Chaz Forsyth (signed by the author)

$30.00

A History of Hunting The Deerstalkers Part 2 1987-2012: Special hard cover limited edition, numbered 1 – 500, gold embossed

$55.00

Golden Days of Stalking: Dairies of Archie Kitto compiled by D Bruce Banwell $38.00

Guns & Game by Lynn H Harris $30.00

A Lifetime Love of the Outdoors by Dave Atkins $30.00

The Douglas Score 3rd edition – handbook of measuring antlers, horns and tusk. HUNTS (Hunter National Training Scheme) manual

$20.00

Big Game Record Series, by D Bruce Banwell

The Sika $36.00

The Wapiti and the Moose $35.00

The Fallow Deer $35.00

The Rusa, Sambar and Whitetail Deer $42.50

The Red Deer: Part One $42.50

The Red Deer: Part Two $42.50

The Alpine Chamois $42.50

NEW ZEALAND DEERSTALKERS’ ASSOCIATION INC MERCHANDISE FOR SALE – IDEAL CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Send to: New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc, PO Box 6514, marion Square, Welington 6141 or fax 04 801 7368 or email [email protected]

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.

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

I enclose my cheque for $ __________________________________

Or charge my Visa Mastercard

Expiry date: _____________________

Cardholder name: ________________________________________


ON tArGet

ON TARgET

New ZeALAND DeerstALkers’ AssOcIAtION INc PrIZe shOOtING cALeNDAr 2013date Branch contact ranGe

november 2013Saturday 2nd

taupo Prize shoot20 Shot 4P @ 100mGraded, All equipment

Bill & Margaret sealPh: 07 378 9630 [email protected]

Jack Dillon RangeMountain Road, Taupo

NAtIONAL shOOtING cALeNDAr 2013-2014date Branch contact ranGe

october 2013Saturday 5th -Monday 7th

Murchison BranchBenchrest south Island championships5th 12.30pm - LV 1006th 8.30am - LV2006th 12.30pm - HV 2007th 8.30am - HV 100Factory Class competitors will also be welcome

Mike Peacock Ph: 03 523 [email protected] owen Ph: 021 221 [email protected]

Murchison

octoberSaturday 19th Sunday 20th

rotorua Branchcentral regional championshipsSaturday - 120 Shot R/F 3P @ 50mSunday - 60 Shot C/F 3P @ 100m(PRSC Format Matches - Qualifying Match)

Malcolm PerryPh/Fax: 07 348 [email protected]

Meads RoadRotorua

november 2013Saturday 9thSunday 10th

south waikato BranchPrsc – qualifying MatchSaturday - 120 Shot 3P R/F @ 50mSunday - 60 Shot 3P C/F @ 100m

colin & sandi curreenPh: 07 886 [email protected] Malcolm Perry Ph/Fax: 07 348 [email protected]

Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex, Newell Road, Tokoroa

novemberSaturday 23rd Sunday 24th

south waikato Branchnorth Island championshipsSaturday - 60 Shot R/F 3P @ 50m & 100mSunday - 40 Shot C/F 4P @ 100m

colin & sandi curreen Ph: 07 886 [email protected] Malcolm Perry Ph/Fax: 07 348 [email protected]

Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex, Newell Road, Tokoroa

February 2014Saturday 22nd Sunday 23rd

south waikato BranchPrsc national championshipsSaturday - 120 Shot 3P R/F @ 50mSunday - 60 Shot 3P C/F @ 100m

colin & sandi curreenPh: 07 886 [email protected] Malcolm PerryPh/Fax: 07 348 [email protected]

Tokoroa Shooting Sports ComplexNewell Road, Tokoroa

At time of writing dates and venues were to the best of our knowledge at this time. Please check with the host branches nearer the time of the event.

adVertIsInG IndeXAnimal Skin Tanning Services Ltd ............................. 48

Ampro / Bushnell ......................................................17

Archetype Precision Systems / Pulsar ....................... 21

Bright Ideas / McMurdo GPS .................................... 20

Cameron Sports Imports Ltd / Ridgeline ................... 27

Clasic Sheepskins .................................................... 48

Council of Licensed Firearms Owners Inc ................... 8

Eurohunt ...................................................................11

Ezdirect / Nebraska Boots .........................................14

Freezedry Taxidermy ................................................ 37

Great Lake Tannery Expediter ................................... 37

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

Hunting & Fishing New Zealand ...........................12, 39

Kilwell Sports Ltd ......................... 15, inside back cover

Lacklands Limited / Leica ................... inside front cover

Mana Charters ........................................................... 6

New Zealand Ammunition Co Ltd / Norma ................. 29

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council ........................ 7

New Zealand Police .................................................... 7

NZDA suggested Christmas presents for hunters ...... 46

NZDA member discounts .................................... 40, 43

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association subscription 48

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

Sir Howard Morrison Competitions ............................16

Southland Beacons .................................................. 38

South Coast Productions – DVDs .............................. 35

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

Swazi New Zealand ......................................back cover

Taranaki Rubber Company – a boot for all seasons ... 20

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(09) 362 0622 – 24 hrs (021) 362 123 – 7 DAySwww.firearmslawyer.co.nz by solicitor referral

Name: ___________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________________________

Email: ___________________________________________________

I enclose my cheque for $ _________________________________

Or charge my Visa Mastercard

Expiry date: _____________________

Cardholder name:

YES I want to subscribe to ‘NZ Hunting & Wildlife’

New Zealand one year (4 issues) $38

New Zealand two years (8 issues) $73

Australia - one year NZ$40

Australia - two years NZ$78

Rest of World - one year NZ$45

Rest of World - two years NZ$85

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


KIWI LEGENDS.

START YOUR ADVENTURE NOW AT: www.swazi.co.nz

Hunting in the Southern Alps is no place for pretenders. It’s a place where you will be measured. A place where supreme demands can and will be placed upon you,

your gear and its reliability. It’s about trust. About intuition. About guts. The Swazi Tahr Anorak®. Measured. Proven. A true Kiwi legend. Born and bred in the Southern Alps.

NICK KING A Kiwi hunting legend on a Chamois hunt high in the Southern Alps.

The hood enables excellent peripheral vision and has exceptional water shedding capability

New improved zip flap to keep out even the most extreme storm

The new AEGIS® 3-layer fabric is absolute protection against rain, sleet, snow and wind while allowing your moisture vapour to pass through its unique Watershield membrane.

Large bino pocket with elasticated bullet loops and drainage slip stitching

Side vents for extra climbing movement

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Documents

New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife | 182 - Spring 2013