New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife | 176 - Autumn 2012

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Issue 176 AprIl - June 2012An official publication of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated

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COver phOTO ‘SPOTTED SIkA STAG’ Photographed by kees Swanink, third place Athol Hood Memorial Trophy, (Section H), 2006

FeATuresHeli-hunting - Through the Eyes of a 15-year-old ............................................... 3

COLFO Report ................................................................................................... 4

We Came, We Saw, and We Conquered - Carol Orbell ........................................ 6

The Ultimate First Date - kylie Schofield ............................................................ 10

Hunting Queensland Reds - ken Barrow ............................................................ 14

The ‘Archery Direct’ New Zealand Bowhunters Society 2012 Tournament .......... 22

Hong Tse - Obituary .......................................................................................... 26

1080 Aerial Drops and Effects of Buffer Zones - Graham Sperry ........................ 30

reGulArsPresident’s Report - Tim McCarthy ................................................................. 2

HUNTS Report - Bill O’Leary - And Still No Fish .............................................. 6

Letters to the Editor ....................................................................................... 8

New Zealand Wild Game - Another Aspect - D Bruce Banwell ..........................12

Young Hunter Stories - Fernridge kids’ Hunt ....................................................17

Young Deerstalker Profile - Regan Jefferson ....................................................18

‘Take me hunting’ kids page - win a free kilwell prize ......................................19

Tip Offs - The Poor Man’s Pikaul - Dale Williams ............................................ 20

Otago Red Deer Herd Trophies (Continued) - Heads 13, 14 and 15 .................. 25

Lock, Stock and Barrel - Cleaning a Firearm - Chaz Forsyth ........................... 28

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

Blast from the Past - Ghost Herds of the Sky - Red Stag ................................. 34

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

Swazi Junior Shoots - Thames Valley and Marlborough ...................................37

Heritage - Nitz Red Head Update and Packs ................................................... 38

Places to Hunt - Mckenzie Country and Waitaki .............................................. 40

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

Poem - When You Leave Me - Mike McGee ..................................................... 43

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

On Target - various shooting event results .......................................... 5, 16 & 46

CONTENTS

1NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

First I would like to introduce myself to those of you who do not know me. My name is Tim McCarthy and I have been the National Vice President for the last 18 months and a member of the heli-hunting sub committee since its inception. I have been the President of the South Canterbury Branch for the last four years, and a member of the Association for 30 years.

My heart has always been in hunting as a past time. Now, as I have aged, I find myself getting very passionate about the future of hunting in New Zealand and what we are leaving behind for the future generations of hunters to come.

Since I have taken over from Alec McIver I have found myself being very busy.

Our two major battles are heli-hunting (now referred to as Aerial Assisted Trophy Hunting or AATH) and the formation of the Game Animal Council (GAC). These issues are definitely matters that will affect hunters now and in the future.

I would like to start with heli-hunting; we had a major win in the last election with UnitedFuture’s supply and confidence agreement with the National-led Coalition Government. Although this is not a five-minute fix, I think we can be confident that a change in legislation will loom in the not too distant future.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is

calling for submissions for and against AATH in the Hooker, Landsborough/Adams and Olivine Wilderness Areas. I trust all members and branches made submissions before the due date as per our recommendations.

I would love to see many more vehicles sporting the NZDA anti heli-hunting bumper stickers, as sent to every one of our members around the country in November last year. If you want more stickers please contact the national office.

The Game Animal Council (GAC) is on its way to becoming a reality. On Thursday the 1st March 2012 the first reading of the Bill was presented to the House with a resounding success by a majority of 97 for and 23 against. The politicians were voting for a bill that was drafted with a huge input from DOC and is significantly at variance from the recommendations made to the minister by the Establishment Committee who spent two years on consultation and deliberation. NZDA policy has always been to see hunting and animals managed by a system in which hunters had a genuine say. Currently, hunters have very little say, and where they do, there is no guarantee that what they say they have had will continue. Congratulations to the Hon Peter Dunne and all the people who have been working on the GAC for a very long time. We have still got a long way to go, as it has to go through the select committee process and then on to a second

and third hearing before it can be made into law.

The first reading in parliament can be viewed on hhtp://inthehouse.co.nz/node/11653 and the Bill downloaded from: www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2011/0347/latest/versions.aspx

Again, I trust members and branches took the opportunity to have their say using the guidelines provided.

As your National President I was invited, along with my wife Chris, to attend the signing of a formal agreement between the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF) and the Department of Conservation handing over the wild animal management of the Wapiti area to the Foundation. Congratulations to Roy Sloan and all the members of the FWF on this ground breaking achievement. The model the Wapiti Foundation used to achieve this agreement leaves us with food for thought as to how we could manage our deer, tahr, chamois and pigs in the future.

It is with great sadness that my first report brings notification of the passing of our National NZDA Patron, Hong Tse. (See Hong’s obituary on page 26.)

By the time this goes to print the ROAR will be upon us. Remember, SAFETY FIRST. Identify your target

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Tim McCarthy receiving the National President’s badge from Alec McIver.

The signing of a formal agreement between Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and the Department of Conservation. Left to right: Ron Peacock, FWF; Eric Roy, MP; Barry Hanson, DOC; Roy Sloan, FWF

presIDenT’s repOrTT i m M c C a r t h y - N a t i o n a l P r e s i d e n t N e w Z e a l a n d D e e r s t a l k e r s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012 2

EDITORIAL

Conference 2012 the Association will celebrate 75-years of existence. Over this time the Association has been involved in advocacy of some form or another, whether it has been for or against issues that impact on our recreational hunting sport.

There are three recent important issues that come to mind; one dates back to 2005 and the other two are current. They are the Arms Amendment Bill No3 (AAB), the Game Animal Council Bill (GAC), and the Aerial Assisted Trophy Hunting concessions (AATH), (formerly known as heli-hunting), which covers concessions for the Hooker/Landsborough, Adams and Olivine Wilderness Areas.

All three of these have some influence on recreational hunting, either by impacting on the sports equipment that we use, our hunting areas or the ability to be able to manage the animals we hunt.

Bills that go through parliament have set protocols and procedures. Government departments have similar obligations to follow. These obligations are set in concrete and we cannot change that, and nor should we attempt to. However these protocols and procedures also have an impact on our members. How? Once bills, in particular, have been accepted and passed to a select committee, this committee in turn calls for written submissions. Government departments go through a similar procedure - they refer to this as ‘consultation’. Submissions received and analysed, the select committee or department allows those who have indicated they wish to do so, an opportunity to speak to those written words.

So what is this impact? It is all in the timing!

• The AAB No3 select committee announced that they were going around New Zealand in April to hear oral submissions, as their protocols allow;

• The Department of Conservation called for submissions on the AATH concessions to be lodged in April, again as required;

• The Local Government and Environment Committee Select Committee called for submissions on the GAC Bill with an April close off, again as per the rules.

All looks good and above board. But is it? Why choose the month of April for the above issues to be addressed. April! The main hunting month of the year!! The roar!!!

Why is this? I suspect that the month chosen is most probably linked to the time as the bill reaches the select committee and possible report-back dates are set; it is possibly the same for government departments. I would like to think that some common sense flexibility could have been applied to their consultation process.

It is quite plain that the seat-polishers involved in setting the dates are not aware of what goes on in the real world - the hunting world!! Some prior consultation would be helpful so that our members and fellow hunters are not inconvenienced in such a manner on such important issues as these, particularly when their focus is elsewhere, ie the roar and hunting.

However there is another train of thought that could be considered. That is – have the dates been chosen on purpose? Of course if this were so, and it could be, that perhaps the bureaucrats wish to limit the number of submissions received. Rather odd, don’t you think? Especially as it has happened on more that one occasion.

Conspiracy? Coincidence? I leave it for you to decide.

COInCIDenCe? COnspIrACy?

helI-hunTInG ThrOuGh The eyes OF A 15-yeAr-OlDB y M i c h a e l a B l a c k ( 1 5 ) , S o u t h C a n t e r b u r y B r a n c h

Heli-hunting is destroying the natural quietness of the New Zealand backcountry. Who would want to pay to hunt, tramp or climb in the outdoors when a heli-hunt could ruin your experience at any time? Recreational users have no idea when or where a heli-hunt will occur. We do not wish to be anywhere near an untrained shooter firing from a low flying helicopter at a high speed.

Our mountains in New Zealand are a place to explore. They are places that many respect. Our backcountry is becoming a place where profit is overriding decency and this is because of unethical and unsporting heli-hunting. The only benefit that heli-hunting has to anyone in New Zealand is that it will bring more money into our country. Heli-hunting has no conservation benefits whatsoever.

The definition that the Department of Conservation has given heli-hunting is - ‘this activity involves the conveyance of a client in search of a trophy animal. The helicopter positions the client on the ground and the

client shoots the trophy from the ground or the client can shoot the trophy from the helicopter, the helicopter then takes the client, guide and trophy home.’

What this really means is – searching for a trophy animal from the helicopter, chasing it until it is exhausted and gives up and then shoot the animal either from the ground or directly from the helicopter. It is cruel that a helicopter can chase an animal until it is exhausted, just so they can kill it; there is no fairness in that. Once the animal is exhausted it just gives up.

Having heli-hunting as a legal activity means that it can take place in our national parks, conservation managed lands, wilderness areas and general public areas that are deemed public land. This then brings up a safety issue to other outdoor users. A helicopter pilot carrying a heli-hunter has no idea where hunters, trampers or climbers are. It would be so easy to shoot at an animal during a heli-hunt while someone else is using the same

public area.

It is not fair that heli-hunters can ruin a foot hunter’s hunt at anytime by disrupting it. They are also affecting the quality of the animals available to foot hunters by taking out the bigger animals, all because it is so easy for them to do so.

To make our backcountry safe, quiet and enjoyable for all users, heli-hunting needs to be made illegal.


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

Patron:

National President: Tim McCarthy

Immediate Past President: Alec McIver

National Vice President:

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

Chief Executive Officer: Dianne Brown

National Treasurer: John Crone

Advisor to the National Executive: Matthew Lark

Honorary Solicitor: Peter Barrett

Auditor: Signal & Associates

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

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

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

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SERIAL NUMBER977 1171 656 006

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

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

Aldo Leopald

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc, formed July 1937

COLfO

Dear Members

A few months ago I considered the statistics for New Zealand of deaths and injury relative to the hours of loaded firearm use that occurred in 2008. I estimated there are 1.9 million hours of safe firearms use every year in New Zealand.

In statistical terms there was one accidental death every 8.9 million hours of loaded firearm use, per 100,000 of population.

This time I look at New Zealand’s statistics in comparing international death rates. This is not easy; different countries measure in differing ways and call the measure different names; there is a move in recent times to move to a standard measure however there is no long term consistency.

Accidental death is simple to search, however in a number of cases with firearms the shooter is found to be culpable, so the death becomes manslaughter and may result in a conviction, therefore not accidental.

In 2008 New Zealand recorded 1,918 deaths as a result of injury. The majority of these were as a result of motor vehicle accidents, suicide or deliberate self harm, falls, assault or drowning. I have looked at activities that are accidental rather than intentional.

I have prepared two simple tables below comparing data from 2008. The sources are - The National Injury Prevention Research Unit at Otago University NZ; Australian Bureau of Statistics for 2008; Canadian Statistics from the CANSIM site for 2008 and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA, whose latest data was 2007 in the same areas. While I considered United kingdom the data is separated between England, Wales and Northern Ireland with unique issues, so no combined view is available.

No. of Deaths - in NZ in Australia in Canada In USA

Unintentional Deaths 1,305 5,410 10,234 123,706

Falls 473 1,412 3,098 22,631

Motor vehicle 365 1,519 2,628 42,031

Poisoning 105 784 1,441 29,846

Drowning 57 169 275 3,443

Unintentional firearm 4 10 20 613

Firearm related Total 7 32 217 31,724

Deaths per 100,000 of population - in NZ in Australia in Canada in USA

Unintentional Deaths 30.6 25.5 30.7 41.0

Falls 11.1 6.7 9.3 7.5

Motor vehicle 8.6 7.2 7.9 13.9

Poisoning 2.5 3.7 4.3 9.9

Drowning 1.3 0.8 0.8 1.1

Unintentional firearm 0.09 0.05 0.1 0.2

Firearm related Total 0.16 0.15 0.7 10.4

What does it all mean? As a snapshot in time it says two things to me –

Firstly - in New Zealand firearms are largely in responsible hands. The number of firearm related accidental deaths is small compared to other causes of death such as falls, motor vehicles and drowning. Given the high number of deaths by falling, I am surprised a licensing system has not been suggested for ladders.

In comparison to Australia, in 2008, we have similar levels of firearm related deaths as a percentage of population, but we had more unintentional or accidental deaths and less intentional deaths.

Secondly - trying to control accidents through legislation is expensive and ineffective.

In my opinion New Zealand’s excellent firearms safety record has been achieved and can be improved through three areas:

• Education – such as is offered by the Mountain Safety Council, teaching responsible and safe

COlFOM i c h a e l D o w l i n g , C h a i r p e r s o n


practice with firearms. If these courses were offered in schools it would reduce the number of airgun accidents, as defensive driving courses have reduced youth motor vehicle accidents;

• Safe areas for firearms to be used – up to now ranges have been a part of most communities. Look at your local map you will find a road called ‘Range Road’ near most towns. Every district should plan for ranges to provide a safe training and shooting area for their population; and

• Reward compliant behaviour – ‘fit and proper person’ test allows individuals to be assessed for the appropriateness to access firearms as they demonstrate their interest and responsible behaviour. Rewarding the right behaviour rather than banning access is preferable. Banning can create a decision cross road for young people to head down a criminal path if it is their only opportunity to pursue an interest.

The point of this baseline is to measure the public safety of responsible firearm owners against their own actions, accidental death and injury, and not against the actions of criminals.

COrreCTIOn: CenTrAl reGIOnAl ChAMpIOnshIps 2011 B y M a l c o l m P e r r y , R o t o r u a a n d S o u t h W a i k a t o B r a n c h e s

Editor’s note: Although the results were correct, the written report for the championships in issue 175 was incorrect and should have been the following;

The championships were hosted by the Rotorua Branch on their Tarawera Range over 15 - 16 October 2011.

The conditions for the weekend were not too bad but the number of entries was dismal, although I must commend one member from Taupo who came out to the range to give his apologies for not being able to participate. We also had a junior from Taupo who only shot the rimfire match which was held on the Saturday, and gave a very credible performance.

There were only six shooters in the rimfire match, two of whom did not shoot Sunday, but luckily two others turned up to take their place.

This is the last time we will be issuing medals for the Waikato and Central Regional competition while attendances are so low; every winner, top three and grade will get certificates.

Although the low entries were disappointing, the two days went well with the shooters doing their bit to help. Once again a big thank you to Sandi Curreen for looking after the marking and scoring for us; I did not shoot but acted as the range officer for the weekend.

nZDA TArAnAKI BrAnCh 50Th AnnIversArysTrATFOrD

Saturday 23 June 2012Past members who wish to attend please contact:

PO Box 92, Stratford or Telephone Nigel 06 765 6314


Wet and now really feeling the cold we were moved in single file back to the swirling water, the commandant’s orders ringing in my ears. Dive face down, turn, and in a spread eagle fashion plead ‘Take me now’ to the two waiting guards. One, we called the praying mantis, the other, 007. Their strong arms grabbed my pack, and flipped me over face down in the water and held me there. My arthritic hands, now very cold, refused to undo the pack clip, I had to keep trying, trying, trying, my reserves of oxygen diminishing by the second but I had to keep trying, if I was ever going to escape my pack and swim to freedom. At the last moment the clip gave, just as I was being dragged over gasping for air, but I was free, at last free and

elated to have passed the final hurdle…..

It had all started earlier in the day at the Albert Town Tavern. I looked around at the motley crew assembled and was surprised to see most were 45+ with the exception of two young teenagers Logan and Natasha from Te Anau. I guessed I was the oldest female, being in my 60s but I knew one of the other blokes was in his 70s so I couldn’t use age as an excuse to back out. An assortment of guards stood around looking important and one ‘President Neil’ introduced the commandant, Bill O’Leary who had a very impressive past history of teaching all kinds of self preservation techniques. Any

water training I’d had was either while still at school 50-odd years ago, or while on school camp with my own children in the 80s, and how things had changed. It was interesting to learn of the work going on behind the

The holiday season has been and gone and for me based in Nelson it was a non event. The weather was atrocious and resulted in major floods and property damage that mercifully left my home and extended family unaffected. Many Nelsonians and holiday visitors were not so lucky.

The weather affected the fishing with inshore waters muddy for some weeks and my plans for sea fish meals almost totally stuffed. Thank fully (???) HUNTS has kept me occupied.

Nathan Dawson (Southland) has just finished his first course with a successful hunt. Pete Oldham (Rakaia) is in the middle of his and had run the navigation phase when I saw his group this week.

Glen Hartstone and Gavin Bennett (Waikato) were due to start at the end of February and Gordon Mckenzie (Nelson) will have his first enrolments for a youth course. In South Canterbury I know that there is enough demand to run several courses a year, which is what Pete Henderson in Southern Lakes has delivered in recent years.

In addition we have inquiries from branches looking to start HUNTS and we are reaching an interesting point when NZDA’s capacity to service the increasing number of courses and instructors will be severely stretched.

Last week I was in Wanaka to deliver a range officer course and oversee a public river safety course hosted by the Upper Clutha Branch of NZDA. This served as a training opportunity for that branch’s HUNTS instructors and an opportunity to involve Southern Lakes Branch as well. This is a model for training that is cost effective and that we will repeat in the central North Island later in the year.

On the national scene, we are engaged in redefining our relationship with Mountain Safety Council (MSC) and Ross Meder the chair of MSC has met with National Executive and myself on separate occasions. The anticipated outcome of these and future meetings would be a new memorandum of understanding that spells out how our organisations would collaborate in promoting hunter safety through education.

At the same time NZDA has participated in discussions on the formation of a registration board for outdoor instructors. These discussions have involved Skill Active, MSC, NZOIA (NZ Outdoor Instructors Association), Rafting Association etc. If a national registration board emerges, it is important that NZDA represents the interests of HUNTS instructors and our qualification. Also we are waiting to see how the Game Animal Council legislation develops because there is provision for a GAC to become the standard setting and registration body for hunting related activities such as guiding and hunter education.

Well enough of the hard stuff. I need to try and catch up with my wife who has already caught a salmon this season, following on from last year when I was relegated to the office of ‘bag carrier and tier on of hooks’.

HUNTS REPORT

‘AnD sTIll nO FIsh!’B i l l O ’ L e a r y , N a t i o n a l C o o r d i n a t o r , H U N T S

Bill O’LearyNational Coordinator, HUNTS

Take me now … … Please.

We CAMe, We sAW, AnD We COnquereD!!!B y C a r o l O r b e l l , 1 4 t h F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 2 , U p p e r C l u t h a B r a n c h


scenes and the time that had been put in by a variety of outdoor groups, to assess the best possible methods of self help or mutual support. We were to cross the river with the aid of sticks, in pairs and in groups. We were to learn how to turn safely with the sticks and as a group, the centipede method. We also learnt how to recognize river hazards and ways to protect ourselves. By now, I was studying the motley crew very closely. I needed brawn, brains and possibly youth to help short dumpy me to survive what we were obviously about to endure.

After a quick lunch the guards reassembled us outside, tramping packs on, and we attempted to perform all we’d learnt in the class room, before actually breaking the ice on the edge of the river. One exercise was to cross the imaginary river in teams of four, blind folded, the leader instructing us as to avoiding any hazards we encountered. The guards became the hazards, one definitely felt like a familiar hand, possibly representing an eel, although my brawny neighbour seemed to find the hazard somewhat more disconcerting. At this point I must say I chose my men very well, they all had brawn, brains and one even had youth well and truly on his side. Malcolm, the incredible hulk, was a great shield to keep

the force of water off me, Mark, the 6 million dollar man, a natural leader and Logan full of youthful exuberance, made up our team. I’m not sure how they, in turn, would describe me in their team. I’ll look forward with trepidation to their articles should they write one.

Next it was off to the Hawea River and now there was no escape. More lectures, how was I going to remember anything by this stage!! The guards took up positions. Alan, down stream with a bag rope to rescue us, if required. Murray (alias the praying mantis) and 007, Pete Henderson, from Southern Lakes, in wet suits, also ready for the rescue. Dan on the bank opposite keeping an eye on river levels, taking photos and there to help, and Neil, with his camera and a basket, ready to relieve us of our valuables (those that survived did get them back!). And finally, Tim, dear Tim, with his kind encouraging smile, there with us, as we broke through the ice to follow the commandant’s orders. And were we having a good time? Believe me the answer was always ‘Yes Sir’.

And so at last we had all reached that ‘final hurdle’ … … I did it, I survived, and I loved it!!

Actually the whole motley crew survived. What a great feeling of achievement. Thank you, thank you thank you Bill, from us all. You were such a good tutor. Instructions were clear with a bit of humour to keep us going. I may have been physically or intellectually challenged at times following them, but we gave it our all. Thank you to the deerstalkers, our guardians, who organised the event and helped us survive the experience. I’d also like to acknowledge Wendy at the Albert Town Tavern for the use of the room and coffee.

There really wasn’t any ice in the river, this all happened in February but, as the saying goes, ‘never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn’.

The first group takes the ‘plunge’

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HUNTS REPORT


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The excellent letter by Bud Jones of SHOT

about the reclassification of Canada geese,

(Issue 173), from game bird to pest by minister

kate Wilkinson, is a strong warning that the

pest syndrome is still alive and well.

The recreational deer hunting public should see

the parallel to deer, chamois, tahr and other

big game. Bud Jones said the Canada geese

decision ‘was an archaic step back in time.’

Yes, the deer management parallel goes back

to the 1930 Deer Menace Conference. Tony

Orman in his book About Deer and Deerstalking

said, ‘in a ‘kangaroo court’ the gathering

laid down a life sentence of extermination on

wild deer - it was called The Deer Menace

Conference, surely an admission the decision

had been made before debate and discussion.’

Minister kate Wilkinson by her decision on

Canada geese has shown the 1930 prejudice

is still there. There was no calling for public

submissions, no public debate. She obediently

obeyed Federated Farmers NZ and that was

that.

So what’s this mean to Joe Deerstalker? I say

get off your butts and start fighting for your

sport and rights. Think political.

What did you do last election? There were

three parties, UnitedFuture, NZ First and

Conservative, with good outdoor policies.

Perhaps you were one of the apathetic one

million who did not vote at all? Or did you vote

but not with your party vote for one of the

three above?

Apathy is hunting and fishing’s biggest threat.

It allows governments like we’ve now got and

Ministers like kate Wilkinson to do what they

like at the bidding of course, of plotting public

servants and lobby groups like Federated

Farmers and Forest and Bird.

For heaven’s sake, wake up by 2014 - the next

election.

Lloyd Hanson, Blenheim

The letter of Alain Jorion (issue 175) and its call for unification of outdoor people rightfully identified the need. But I’m not at all convinced that the solution lies in ‘a statutory government recognised organisation that is thus very powerful.’

A good example of a ‘statutory government recognised organisation’ is Fish and Game. However like many I discuss such matters with, I am not convinced it is a ‘very powerful’ organisation and a strong advocate. Perhaps the reason lies in the very statutory base, ie the fact that it is written into law. When I have asked senior Fish and Game people why the organisation is not opposing some threat to a river or public fishing and hunting, the response I have had is that the organisation, by the Act, is responsible to the Minister of Conservation.

I personally believe Fish and Game’s first and foremost responsibility is to the fishing and shooting public, ie trout and duck shooting licence holders. But because it is tied to a statute (law passed by Parliament), it seems Fish and Game feels responsible more to the Minister. In other words being a statutory body means it is gagged, hog-tied, hamstrung or whatever other form of crippling - perhaps a lame duck?

The Recreational Hunting Advisory Committee set up by government about 30 years ago was similar. It was hog-tied and advisory only. Government still did what it wanted and allowed rampant heli-hunting by commercial interests.

Don’t be naive to think if any public fishing or hunting was to come under a bill to be put before Parliament to become law, that bureaucrats who draft the proposed law, would want a free thinking, independent vigorous sportsman’s body. To the contrary, the bureaucrats will ensure it is a weakened lame duck.

In other words, I fully support Alain’s excellent call for unity and a ‘very powerful’ organisation(s) - but not the statutory body.

But you could have strong advocacy if there is a sufficiently strong will by the 800,000 voting outdoor public.

But I have to admit the will currently is not strong judging by the last election. The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations (CORANZ) publicly identified three good options for an individual’s party vote. The vast majority took no notice or couldn’t care less about tomorrow and their children and grandchildren’s hunting, shooting and fishing.

It’s known as political inertia.

Tony Orman, Marlborough

Editor,

I was most disappointed with the interview on National Radio, 6 December 2011 simply because ‘Joe Doakes’ the everyday New Zealander could not care less about who receives justified treatment in hunting. In fact, in the eyes of many it is a ‘blood sport’, the only positive note being that hunting encourages healthy, outdoor sport.

The most positive approach in my opinion is animal welfare and we should be supporting that ticket at all times in order to obtain the sympathy and support of the general public.

Prouting's claim that a wild animal could not care which rifle the bullet came, from the sportsman's rifle or that of the heli-hunting client, is a weak argument. A valid point if he had been honest about the use of shotguns, both to shift animals or kill them. Shotguns are not designed to kill mammals, they are intended for birds. The fact they are used to shunt animals out of cover and also to kill them is in my opinion, the lobby we should be pushing. Animal welfare and cruelty.

There is ample evidence in a Canterbury journal styled ‘Latitude,’ the summer edition of 2010, wherein appears an article on a woman ‘hunter’ supported by an illustration showing Prouting's machine and her with a bull tahr and posed over it holding a shotgun.

I have contacted Hon Peter Dunne and Hon kate Wilkinson on several occasions regarding the subject and emphasised the fact that animal welfare is my prime concern. kate told me that introduced mammals were not covered by the Animal Welfare Act and I made it clear to her that they should be. I have also taken that matter up with Dunne and I think NZDA should push for an amendment in that act to include them. As I said to kate Wilkinson, they have nervous systems and sustain pain just the same as domestic and indigenous animals. So why should they be omitted? The philosophy of ethical sportsmen is to conduct as clean a kill as possible and avoid wounding or slow death, certainly not deliberate attempts to slow animals down for some over-fat Yank to blast them into eternity.

For goodness sake get on the best bandwagon to suit our ends and I believe that harassing animals and blasting them out of cover with shotguns and even shooting them with shotguns should be our target for change. That is how to get public opinion on our side, not trying to battle for hunting rights, a personal lobby lacking general appeal.

Regards, Bruce (Surname supplied but withheld on request)


I have always enjoyed bush walking and camping with my family as a child, so when I was introduced to Glenn, I was delighted to finally find a man who loved the outdoors as much as me. At the time I met Glenn we were living on opposite sides of the North Island, so we spent our time getting to know each other via the telephone. I was in Waitomo and Glenn lived on his family sheep and beef farm inland from Wairoa, on SH38 going towards Lake Waikaremoana. As time progressed Glenn and I decided to meet for the first time and he invited me to go fishing and hunting with him in the Te Urewera National Park. This is where my story begins ……..

Like most typical ‘girl scout’ girls, I wanted to be prepared for all possibilities, so I packed something that would help me in any situation that might come along while in the bush. When it came time to load the pack into my car, I soon realised that lifting it into the boot was a mission, let alone carrying it on my back. So, having removed the vodka, orange juice, spare pair of boots and exchanged the litre of sunscreen for a sachet, I headed off on my five-hour road trip to Wairoa.

We set out from Glenn’s farm and headed inland to the DOC headquarters at Aniwaniwa. Here we set out on foot to Lake Waikareiti, about an hour’s walk up a gentle incline. I had luckily been preparing for this hike by training with a stack of books in my backpack to build up my shoulder and back muscles. Still, I was most grateful for the convenient seats along the track to rest my shoulders. I

was so impressed with Glenn, carrying his rifle and with rods and net sticking out the side of his pack. I was so excited to be ‘going bush’ with a real hunter for the first time in my life.

When we reached Lake Waikareiti, I was blown away by the stunning view. Greatly relieved to drop my pack, we unlocked our dingy and hauled our packs onboard. Glenn’s first comment was, ‘What have you got in this pack, girl?!!!’ I sheepishly grinned and explained about the bottle of wine I couldn’t part with and the few extra junk food items stashed here and there.

After detangling the lines on the rods and a few choice words later, we were ready to go. We set out into the lake and I remember so clearly the feeling of being cut off from reality and the world I knew was disappearing with each stroke of the oars. I hadn’t realised just how far into the wilderness we were really going and all with a man I had only met in person the day before. I didn’t have long to contemplate our remoteness though, as due to the sunny day, I soon started drifting off in a doze. The next moment I got such a fright that I nearly fell over the back of the dinghy. The fly reel line was whizzing out at great speed and Glenn was yelling, ‘You got one babe, you got one,’ while I was squealing, ‘Ahh, what do I do now?’ ‘Start winding, wind babe, wind!’ Glenn was fabulous and clearly instructed me on how to land a trout. With much grinning and clapping, I had landed my first ever trout. After that, I didn’t feel so isolated or did I have the time to either. Nearly every ten minutes we

were reeling in a trout. Some we kept and others we threw back. What a buzz, my adrenaline was pumping and I felt like I would have made a great representative on the ITM fishing show.

That afternoon we made camp in a little clearing by the lake edge. We set up camp and to my delight we found an old frying pan left behind by someone else who must have also known about the clearing. We didn’t have a complete tent, just an old army tent fly and ground mats to sleep on. That evening I proudly fried my first ever trout in the white wine I had stashed in my pack. I knew that bottle of wine was worth the effort of hauling it up there! Never had I experienced anything as romantic as sitting next to a fine looking man in the middle of the bush with a stunning lake view, sucking fresh trout off the bone that I had reeled in myself.

We headed back out in our dinghy and caught the last of our eight trout limit. That evening we bush bashed for about ten minutes to a clearing that Glenn knew about, which was also a good hunting spot. On

STORY

The ulTIMATe FIrsT DATeB y K y l i e S c h o f i e l d , W a i r o a & D i s t r i c t s B r a n c h

Kylie and her first trout fishing experience

The proceeds of two days trout fishing with each day producing the allowed limit


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arrival we hunkered down to await a deer. I had never seen a deer in the wild before, let alone hunt one, so I was totally on edge with anticipation. However, after about an hour of studying the distant tree line, the long day started to catch up with me and my eyelids started drooping to the point of dozing off. However, what seemed like only a few minutes later, I heard the click click of Glenn’s rifle and my eyes shot open. Sure enough, there was a stag across the other side of the clearing. Nothing had prepared me for the boom of Glenn’s gun, and I felt I was being blown backwards by the sound. By the time I had my senses back in my head and my eyes had cleared from the gun flash, Glenn was half way across the clearing at full gallop. I followed as fast as I could. A 6-pointer stag on our first date! Glenn was ecstatic and his excitement was infectious and I was hopping around in delight. Reality hit when it came time to gut it, but I was determined to prove to this handsome hunter that I could hack it. So, when he handed me the paunch and intestines to dispose of away from the public eye, still warm and almost pumping, I sucked it up, ran like the clappers, trying hard not to squeal out loud, disposed of them in the bush as instructed. I think Glenn was quite impressed that a girl like me who was raised in a city, didn’t back down and could hack the grossness of it all.

I still had no idea that the hard work had just begun. We intended to come back the next day and butcher it. That night, about 1.30am, I awoke with a hell of a fright to the most awful squealing coming from the other side of the tent fly. Glenn casually muttered that it was just two opossums having a fight. What!! I grabbed the nearest stick and threw it out the tent entrance. That helped to move them on a bit but they kept squabbling for at least another half an hour. I kept a stick next to my hand for the rest of the night prepared to do battle with the angry opossums if they came back again. So much for sleep!

5.30am and we were up and back out there in the dinghy trout fishing. Sunrise and sunset was the best time for trout fishing Glenn reckoned and this proved to be so true. More trout and almost constant whizzing of the reel kept us going for three hours. Never did billy boiled spaghetti in the tin can taste so good when you have just reeled in numerous trout and rowed around a lake for three hours at sunrise. I still hadn’t comprehended that the real work was still to come.

We made our way back to the clearing to butcher our stag. I was fascinated watching Glenn skin and dismantle the carcass. My job was to bag the

meat and an hour later, we had 40 kilograms of venison in plastic bags plus the head and antlers. This is when I finally realised just what was involved in getting this 40 kilogram pile of meat back to the car. Just getting it back to the campsite had me huffing and puffing. I could barely lift my pack onto the boat.

On our way back to the Lake Waikareiti day shelter we caught our eight trout limit again. Once back on land we divided up our second day’s catch and stuffed them into our packs as well. This was when the real slog begun. I could hardly stand up straight with my pack on and we carried our stag head between us, one hand on each antler. No matter the pain, we proudly staggered back down the track showing off the head. Pride helped me stand a little straighter whenever we passed people coming up the track. I felt like telling everyone we passed - this is my hot date and look what we got!

Although it took me nearly a week before I could roll my shoulders

without flinching, I couldn’t stop telling anyone who would listen about my time ‘going bush’ with Glenn. I proudly took home a heap of meat and trout to Mum and Dad and we had our first ever taste of venison stew. Glenn kindly boiled the head and let me keep the antlers too. They now take pride of place outside my parent’s front door.

Glenn and I have now been together two and a half years and on the 11th of February 2012, I proudly married my hero hunter and fisherman. We have had many great trips hunting and fishing at Lake Waikareiti and have many great photos in our album. I have now honed in my ‘girl scout’ ‘be prepared’ ways down to carry as little as possible, yet still cover all eventualities. This way I can carry much more venison and trout back down with me. The wine stays in the fridge now and we have a celebration drink when we get home again with all our ‘catches’.

The day Glenn decided to take me ‘bush’ on our first date was the day he won my heart forever. He took me to a piece of heaven and who couldn’t fall in love in such a place as that!

Glenn posing with his weekend trophy

The happy couple on their wedding day


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ARTICLE

Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of articles written by D Bruce Banwell for what will be a new regular feature in future issues of ‘New Zealand Hunting and Wildlife.’ The articles will be varied and based in and around Bruce’s vast knowledge and experience of New Zealand’s wild game animals.

Predation is a natural process in most of the countries from where our big game species originated, but have their descendants now living in the New Zealand hills and mountains retained that survival instinct despite never having encountered the process here other than the effects of man? A very interesting question indeed!

All of our established, traditional herds of introduced big game animals have only one predator – man! Back in their countries of origin they had to cope with a much wider range of predation and exercise a system of survival which they inherited, of course, as an instinct. Sambar, Rusa, Sika, Wapiti, White-tailed deer, Alpine chamois and Himalayan tahr had all been exposed to predation, while Red deer and Fallow deer had only been exempted from the list because of the demise of the Grey wolf in Britain during the mid-eighteenth century when it is claimed the last animal had been destroyed in Scotland.

We have a seal-pointed Burmese cat. He is a young fellow, but returns home with rabbits and exotic birds particularly while we are occupying our crib at the mouth of the Rakaia River and there salmon fishing. Yet he was born in a pedigree cattery without access to the outside. His mother was born there and she too had never been outside in the open. That hunting instinct had been latent until the opportunity presented itself. It had been stored away in his instincts until it was required. I suspect his pedigree background suggests that the female line had been enclosed for generations, but the hunting instinct had

been preserved regardless. However, he is the predator, but should the predated be any different? I believe if it was put to the test, the instinct of survival would return just the same way as his hunting instincts had been stored away until opportunity arose despite a number of generations of denial. It would be interesting to know what instincts would return if our wild animals were returned to their original habitats.

While Sika, Rusa, Sambar, White-tailed deer, Wapiti, chamois and tahr are still predated in their native countries, in the case of the Red deer the situation is a little different. Our wild Red deer belonging to the original, traditional herds came from Britain where over recent centuries man has dealt with predators in no uncertain terms, as already pointed out the last Grey wolf claimed to have been destroyed about 1746. On the European continent such a task would be greater with larger landmass and more cover. Nevertheless, man has had a mania about wolves for centuries, connecting them with evil and witchcraft and this wonderful animal having to pay the consequences. Despite the fact there is no evidence whatsoever of wolves ever harming

human beings, they have been guilty of preying on domestic stock which does not enhance their reputation with man. From Spain eastwards, with the exception of a couple of western European countries, the Grey wolf still exists and Red deer constitute part of their prey especially the young, aged and disabled. This process is very evident in the likes of Poland where the writer and others had first-hand experience with this species.

A set of antlers from a Carpathian stag, Poland

neW ZeAlAnD WIlD GAMe – AnOTher AspeCTB y D B r u c e B a n w e l l


While visiting the Polish Carpathians during 1991 in the company of the late Jack Mckenzie and ken Humphrey following attending a white Red deer seminar in what was then Czechoslovakia, the three of us toured around a large area of eastern Europe including this part of Poland. We saw some magnificent specimens of antler from Carpathian stags. We had been invited to take part in a wolf/Red deer relationship study but, unfortunately, time did not permit. However, we were kept awake at night by the persistent howling of the wolves, in particular in the village of Cisna near the Ukrainian border.

On several occasions while visiting ranger stations, we were shown some magnificent sets of antlers from local stags which, it was claimed, had been found after the stag had been the victim of a pack of wolves. The body size of these Carpathian stags and the fact their antlers indicated they had been in the prime of life caused me to wonder how such

a group of small animals could possibly deal with a large, strong, healthy stag when it was indicated the wolves took calves, sick, aged and smaller specimens.

We were aware of the fact that taking one of these stags was expensive and probably beyond the income earned by these people. This caused us to inquire how the stags died and the answer was repeatedly ‘wolves’. I can still see the look on Jack’s face as we headed towards our rental vehicle and looking at me stated: ‘I think those wolves smoke cigarettes!’

While on the subject of wolves, the reintroduction to Yellowstone National Park has evidently proved successful several packs from Canada being released there with the view to controlling the Wapiti population and dispensing with the need for the rangers to resort to shooting. Natural predation was preferred. From all accounts the Wapiti population has reduced considerably and the

A wolf in Poland approaches a dead stag in the winter snow

estimated wolf population increased from a small number to a present level of around eight hundred. However, the traditional ‘rules’ of the wolf pack whereby the only breeding pair constitutes the ‘alpha’ male and female, in Yellowstone it was soon discovered the ‘beta’ pair were joining in the breeding due to the low level of the original population. The laws of nature can, evidently, be cast aside under special circumstances.

During the early 1990s I was invited to the North-East Forestry University at Harbin, situated in the area we once knew as Manchuria with the view to me lecturing the staff on the taxonomy of the Asian forms of Wapiti and Red deer. While there I was treated to a tour of the very northern region of China as far as the Amur River which forms the border between China and Siberia.

After climbing high on a forested ridge I encountered a small group of Sika and while recording their reactions with the video camera they continuously barked and stamped the front hooves, but it appeared they were more interested in a patch of thick cover about 20 to 30 feet away from where I was positioned. This behaviour continued for some time until I heard one of my Chinese companions, a lecturer from the university, bleating behind me; ‘Mr Bluce, tiger, tiger!’ The hairs on the back of my neck arose to an erectile position. I had noticed that scrub to my right moving and suddenly realised why those Sika were more interested in it than in my presence.


STORY

hunTInG queenslAnD reDsB y K e n B a r r o w , B r i s b a n e , Q u e e n s l a n d

For many years now I have been fortunate to have access to prime Red deer country in the Brisbane Valley where our party of three have had many enjoyable and successful hunts.

We don’t always take an animal, either as a trophy or for meat, but as we say, every hunting trip is an enjoyable experience with good mates sharing their hunting passion together.

This year we were all excited about the 2011 roar as the rain in the preceding year had revitalised the feed and hopefully the antler growth of the resident stags. The Brisbane Valley holds a large number of Red deer but antler growth has never reached the standard of other herds in many parts of Australia and New Zealand.

A 12-pointer with an antler length of more than 30-inches would normally be considered a good trophy from this region.

We had an early season scouting trip at the beginning of March when Steve managed to secure a small 13-pointer and we heard some roaring. Our next week long trip was planned for early April as I had previously decided that this might be the peak of the roar.

April 6th duly arrived and we set up camp at our usual spot in an old disused shed in the bottom of a valley away from all other signs of roads and people. By the time I arrived Jim had been for an early morning hunt and had heard stags roaring but had not sighted them due to the wind and a time restraint, as he had agreed to help the farmer that morning.

The next couple of days were spent looking over the property and trying not to disturb the deer too much. There are usually only one or two good stags and we were trying to locate the areas where they would be holding the majority

of the hinds. Roaring was spasmodic and it was hard to get in a decent stalk. Nevertheless, a few small stags were seen but nothing worth taking.

On the third morning, Steve and I decided to hunt together on one side of the property while Jim hunted the other side. We left camp at 5.30 am, just on daylight, and headed up a long winding creek to the head of a major gully system. We had heard only the odd roar during the night (possibly due to the deep sleeping and snoring) and even on the walk up the gully we heard nothing.

Though once we started the climb up a lead ridge to the main ridge on the back of the property, we heard a roar ahead of us, closely followed by an answering challenge. I had heard and seen a small stag in the same area earlier in the week, so after glassing the opposite gully face without seeing anything we decided to keep stalking up the ridge. This would keep us above the stags and hopefully let us stalk into the rising morning breeze when we located a decent stag.

We reached the top of the main ridgeline and were sitting and glassing when all of a sudden there was loud roaring from across the gully and deer running as a stag stole a hind from a rival.

Steve caught a brief glimpse of one stag through the binoculars and thought it was a big stag but carrying only 8-points. A typical 4X4 for this area and not what we were after.

The roaring continued from over the hill for a good ten minutes until it all went quiet again and we decided we should move around the ridge, get the wind right and look into the gully system where the deer had gone.

On the way we passed a spiker with two hinds and a small stag on his own. Once

we reached the ridge where the deer had disappeared we began sidling along below the ridgeline so that we could look over with the wind in our faces. As we quietly moved along a hind suddenly appeared in front of us. Steve was behind me and we both stopped, hoping for a stag to follow. Almost immediately he stepped over the brow of the hill, just 40 metres in front of us. We both looked; then looked at each other and whispered, ‘He looks a bit small.’ Then he turned slightly and I could see 6-points on one antler with good length. ‘Shoot him Steve.’ I said, as he was now in a better position to shoot and the stag was moving off. The stag ran until I could no longer see him, then, bang!

Steve wasn’t sure of a hit as the stag was almost out of view when he was able to take the shot. knowing what a good marksman he is, I was fairly confident we would find him. Sure enough, as we reached the position he had been in when Steve fired, we could see an antler lying in the long grass between the blackboys. We were both thrilled to find a good trophy for this area - good length of antler and eleven-points. Steve’s best head so far.

We sat down for a drink and to savour the hunt and the trophy. A stag roared in the gully below and sounded to be heading our way. We quickly grabbed our rifles again,

Typical Brisbane Valley hunting countryThe young stag trying to work out what

happened to his 12-point mate


and then suddenly we saw him on the opposite side of the gully. We moved quickly to head him off as it was starting to rain quite heavily and visibility was deteriorating. While we moved he also moved into a heavy patch of scrub and that was the last we saw of him, even though I gave a couple of roars to try and get him to respond. Deer can disappear so quickly and although we probably could have followed him up we already had one nice stag and plenty more hunting days ahead of us.

Photos were taken of the trophy and the long carry out to the hut saw us back by midday for a well-earned light stubbie to quell the thirst and celebrate the morning hunt.

Next day saw us all hunting across the road. Jim headed to the back corner of the property while Steve and I decided to take a gully each in the middle of the property and hunt back to camp. We moved off together and it wasn’t long before we heard our first roar of the morning from deep in the gully below us. After listening for a while Steve moved off in the direction of the stag whilst I waited at the top of the gully. Soon the roaring intensified and the stag seemed to be heading my way. Finding a good high rock in the long grass I sat down and waited. Soon I could see hinds moving towards me, at least six, then I saw the darker body of a large stag. With the binoculars focused in his direction I could see he was an old stag with good thick beams and quite long brow, bez and trez tines.

He was moving around a lot and Steve told me later that he was chasing a spiker backwards and forwards in the gully, trying to keep him away from the hinds.

Slowly the hinds moved closer to me and were now about 80 metres below me and starting to look like they would settle. The stag joined them and now the 10X binoculars revealed a solid 10-pointer. I hadn’t shot a stag for five years, so I decided I would try and take him if a good clean shot presented. Suddenly the stag lay down and all I could see was his head and neck and I wasn’t going to risk a shot.

‘I’ll have to wait until he stands.’ I thought to myself and a few minutes later he did just that to follow a hind into some cover. As he moved side on to me the crosshairs on the Tikka .308 suddenly seemed to align themselves on his shoulder and the trigger was squeezed. He lunged forward, galloped about 10 metres and collapsed dead. Later

we retrieved the 165gn projectile from just under the skin on the opposite shoulder.

Steve arrived and we celebrated the second nice stag in two days. The stag’s antlers were heavy with good even tines, marred only by a broken tip on one of the top tines. His teeth showed definite signs of wear and we estimated him to be at least 7-years-old. This would probably be as good a head as he would grow given the abundant food available during the year.

We didn’t take any more stags during the rest of the week although Steve saw another he would have liked but wasn’t able to score on.

Seven weeks later, after the roar was over, we were back for two days of hunting. Steve and Jim arrived on Friday afternoon and set up camp prior to a quick evening hunt when they saw some hinds but no stags. I had decided to spend one extra night in a warm bed at home and left Brisbane at 3.30 am for the two-hour trip to the property, arriving just past daybreak. Jim and Steve duly arrived at the gate shortly after and we headed off to the back of the property. Leaving the 4WD at the top of a ridge we parted company to each hunt our way back to the main camp.

I hadn’t gone far when I saw a hind about 20 metres in front of me. She hadn’t seen me and the wind was in my favour so I let her move off. Then, as I moved forward a fawn jumped up in front of me and I waited for it to move off as

well. Once they were out of sight I was able to continue around the side of the hill. Suddenly I could see antlers across the gully!

There were two stags and although they were some 200 metres away in light scrub, I could see that one of them was probably a trophy for me, with white pointed tines glistening in the rising sun.

Without wasting any time I sidled around the face of the hill opposite them and was able to take a good rest over a log directly opposite my trophy stag at about 150 metres. Once again the crosshairs were centred on his shoulder and a squeeze of the trigger saw him run a few metres before collapsing in a small gully.

The smaller stag couldn’t work out what had happened and stood around for ages, even to the point where I was able to take some photos of him standing just above where my stag had fallen.

This time, I had scored a nice even 12-pointer and I took my time admiring the trophy and taking photos before heading on to camp.

As always, the Red deer hunting season had been a very enjoyable experience with good mates. At the age of 62 I am as keen as ever to keep hunting the Queensland Red deer and can’t wait until the roar of 2012.

As they say, ‘All time’s wasted wot’s not spent huntin’.

Steve and his 11-point Red stag

Ken and his 12-pointer Red along with his Tikka .308

Ken Barrow’s first stag of the hunt, a

10-pointer

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ON TARGET

On TArGeTON TARGET

2012 nATIOnAl shOOTInG WeeK B y M a l c o l m P e r r y , R o t o r u a a n d S o u t h W a i k a t o B r a n c h e s

National Shooting Week was hosted by South Waikato Branch at the Tokoroa Sports Shooting Complex, over 3rd to 9th March 2012.

Saturday 3rd, saw the rimfire 3 position 60 shot take place. Fifteen entries, which included two juniors from the Taupo Branch.

Prior to the day I was unsure what to expect as the weather forecast was for a weather bomb!! A rimfire match in those sorts of conditions?

As it turned out the weather was rather windy but fine, and we were lucky not to be in southern Taranaki. I had intended to shoot but as our regular range officer was unwell I took over that role.

After the shoot, as is customary, we held our shooters’ meeting; the main topic of concern was the lack of entries in both of the moving target events, only one at the time. There needs to be at least three entries and myself to run the events, and as there were no additional entries from the floor it was decided to cancel the two events. The sole entry was advised by email that evening and he replied to say that he had another person in his branch keen to come and knew of another person from another branch who was interested. This is the whole point of prior entries so we know we have enough people, targets, etc. However all is not lost, as we will endeavour to hold the event in June over a weekend, which solves another apparent problem; people getting time off work mid-week. This will still be regarded as the national event.

Sunday 4th was the centrefire 4 position 60 shot event. Fourteen entries including one of the juniors from the previous day. John Stick had entered both these events but discovered he was unable to shoot, so he kindly offered to range officer for this match allowing me to shoot, thank you John.

Monday 5th was the 60 shot 200 metre prone, This match is shot straight off in one hour and forty-five minutes; the conditions were very good wind wise, which meant that mirage was likely to be a problem and it was to some degree. There was some

expectation that given the conditions, this might be the day the record for this match could be broken. After about one hour and thirty minutes, Mark Poots from Taupo Branch had finished, and had only dropped one point; the record broken by one point, now stands at 599.43. Very well done Mark. I think the next point is going to be very hard, and will take a while to get.

Tuesday 6th and the 80 shot metalic silhouette match. Conditions were fairly quiet, with nine entries. The rifle silhouette group based at the complex have got an electronic ‘range officer’ so we ran a single detail which meant we were finished shortly after lunch time.

Wednesday 7th, Short F Class, 100 and 200 metre, 60 shots. Conditions for this match were good; a light wind that proved to be reasonably consistent, with the occasional switch to keep shooters on their toes. We started out with six entries but one pulled out after the first 15 shot match as his rifle did not handle the heat buildup with the successive shots. Dean Maisey (Bay of Plenty Branch) was defending his win from the previous two years, and managed to do so by just two points.

Apart from having to defer two matches for the present, it was a very good week with lots of very close scoring by the shooters. It was good to have two juniors competing, though there should be several more if our sport is to be looking healthy for the future. It was noted that there were some of the top shooters missing in some of the competitions.

Many thanks to Sandi Curreen who does an excellent job, scoring targets, compiling entries and collating scores; John Stick for staying to range officer for us when he could just as easily gone home; and last but not least of all, the shooters who pitched in as and when required to change targets shift target frames, and set out wind flags. Every one did their bit to ensure a great week. THANk YOU.

FOr resulTs pleAse see pAGe 47

Short F Class: Silver: Allen West, Gold: Dean Maisey, Bronze: Hamish Orr

NZDA 200 metre Prone: Silver: Colin Curreen, Gold (new record): Mark Poots, Bronze: Grant Botting

Silhouette: Silver: Brenda Perry, Gold: Steve Smith, Bronze: Bryn Blythen

50 metre NRA Rimfire: Silver: Mike Bailey, Gold: Rod Hill, Bronze: Grant Botting

NRA 100 metre Centrefire: Silver: Mike Bailey, Gold: Colin Curreen, Bronze: Mark Poots

50 & 100 metre Rimfire Junior: Jamie Ralfe

NRA Two Gun Event Winner: Mike Bailey

Short F Class Junior: Grant Piper

100 & 200 metre Centrefire: Silver: Grant Botting, Gold: Colin Curreen, Bronze: Mark Poots NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012 16

50 & 100 metre Rimfire: Silver: Bryn Blythen, Gold: Mike Bailey, Bronze: Rod Hill

The weekend of 4 – 6 November 2011 saw Fernridge School in Masterton for the second year play host to the ‘Take a Kid Hunting’ competition as a fund raising activity for a playground.

Overall it was a weekend enjoyed by all ages, from preschoolers through to young adults, families and grandparents The stories below indicate the enjoyment had by all.

Recognition must be paid to the fifty-odd sponsors that contributed to the weekend resulting in a good range of prizes for distribution; without the support of sponsors events like this would not happen.

The school principal, Paul Adamson teamed up with Mark and his son John Jerling for the ‘Small Critter’ event. Hunting out at Rangimau, and at over 30, it was also his very first hunt! It took over an hour to see anything, as the grass was quite long and helped to make finding the small critters difficult.

YOUNG HUNTER

TAKe A KID hunTInGFernrIDGe KIDs’ hunTB y v a r i o u s c o n t r i b u t o r s .

Toby Cundy, 11-years-old, ‘Big Game’ event (5-15 years), Red deer, 54.5 kg.

Hunting out Tinui, only one hour in, when we saw five deer before taking this one - my very first deer. I have had hunted rabbits, hares and pigs before, but I will always remember my first deer. ‘Sure will’. I have saved the cartridge as a souvenir.

Lucas Davies, ‘Big Game’ event (5-15 years), boar, 30.4 kg.

Coming from Opaki School, Lucas went out hunting with his dad and got this boar, which was the first pig to be brought in for the competition. ‘I was really thrilled’.

Jayden and Natasha Lehmstedt, ‘Big Game’ event (5-15 years), Jayden, 11-years-old, Red deer, 69.5 kg. Natasha, 9-years-old, Fallow deer, 28.4 kg.

Got up at 4.30 am and hunted all day before finally seeing this Fallow in the last area we looked at. We were so tired but really excited that we had shot something.

Sunday morning we got up and went to look for a Red. We went to our secret hunting spot and Dad found one and shot it, then carried it out, it was fun. Had an awesome weekend, we had no luck this year with pigs, can’t wait until the next hunt.

James (6-years-old) and Abbey Crawley (8-years-old) ‘Little Critter’ event.

We went out spotlighting with Dad at Bankview where we got some hares. Really enjoyed it and got to bed late at 11.00 pm.

The playground that the fundraising was for

The participants gathered for the prize giving


Regan, now aged 11, began big game hunting at 6-years-old and has won the Otago NZDA Spiky Cup (Best Junior) for three years running. He started his hunting with a single shot .223 then moved on to a single shot suppressed .243. So he quickly learned to make sure of that first shot. He now uses his father’s Remington Mod 7 .243 and has shot numerous ‘big game’ with it, including bull tahr, Red stag, Fallow, chamois, pigs and goats.

Labour Weekend 2011 saw him progress to Dad’s Remington 700 7MM Rem Mag fitted with a muzle break and pulled off a clean one shot kill on a bull tahr at 320 yards. No mean feat for a 10-year-old.

Regan did extremely well in the 2010 - 11 season scoring six entries for the Otago Branch antler, horn and tusk competition.

The entries with their score and place in the overall competition:

Animal Score Placing

Red stag DS 165½ 6th

Fallow buck DS 171¾ 7th

Bull tahr DS 37 4th

Chamios DS 20¼ 3rd

Goat DS 69¾ 1st

Wild sheep DS 70¼ 2nd

He again won the ‘Granger Spikey cup’ (fourth year running) and ‘The kevin Weir Cup’ for the best game animal picture (with a nice picture of a Fallow buck). Two of the heads went to the national competitions; his tahr and his sheep. His tahr earned him two awards. 2nd place, E Veronese Cup - Best horned species taken by a Junior member and 3rd place – Poverty Bay Branch Trophy for Best Game Animal taken by a Junior member.

Dare I say it, but he is piling up the trophies for next year already. keep an eye on the competitions this year.

Take a kid hunting, it’s great fun!

YOUNG DEERSTALkER PROfILE

reGAn JeFFersOn, OTAGO BrAnCh

A very happy Regan with his national competition double

award winning tahr - 2nd place, E Veronese Cup - Best horned

species taken by a Junior member and 3rd place – Poverty

Bay Branch Trophy for Best Game Animal taken by a

Junior member.

Chamois trophiesRegan’s goat, 1st place, Otago Branch competition

Fallow buck, DS 171¾, 7th place, Otago Branch competition

Red stag, DS 165½, earning 6th place in his Otago Branch competition


Regan’s wild sheep that earned him 2nd place in the Otago Branch competition

The photo that won him the Otago Branch Granger Spikey Cup for the fourth year running.

Joshua Keen, South Canterbury Branch, 11-years-old with his first tahr, shot with his dad’s Sako .223, at 240 yards with a bit of help from his dad and Wayne Cassidy on the 10 January 2012.

Chamois trophies

Sean Davies, Nelson Branch, 14-years-old, with his first pig, which he shot between the eyes.

Baxter Kemp, with a Fallow spiker shot at 110 metres.

Melissa Christall, Hutt Valley Branch, 10-years-old with a goat she shot (her third) on a recent trip to Napier. The rifle used was a .223. She is a very keen hunter.

TIP OffS

The pOOr MAn’s pIKAu B y D a l e W i l l i a m s

I still clearly remember my first serious deer hunt. I was on the foot slopes of Wherearoa, one of the high points on the Hauhangaroa Range, west of Lake Taupo. As I ducked under a wind-fall kamahi, my light canvas daypack rubbed against the underside of the tree’s trunk, producing a faint whistle.

I had never heard a Red deer bark before, so I nearly filled my pants, when a big old hind let rip from less than 10 metres away. After I unfolded myself from the windfall and got my heart rate down a little, my hunting mate on that day, John Innes, suggested I remove my daypack then put it back on underneath my woollen Swannie. I finished the rest of that unsuccessful hunt looking like Quasimodo. I didn’t hear ‘the bells’ but I did hear a little voice in my head saying ‘never wear noisy gear while hunting’.

Back in the 80s it was still possible to buy spuds in a hessian sack, so, on my next hunting trip I ditched the canvas daypack in favour of a traditional gunny-sack pikau.

On my next trip out, with my gunny-sack pikau, I was lucky that I didn’t attempt to carry anything more than my lunch and a raincoat, because the piece of rope I used was a tad thin and it left some angry marks on my shoulders, which stuck around for a day or two.

I continued to hunt with a gunny-sack pikau for a number of years but I was very quick to swap the rope for a piece of broad nylon webbing which made it a whole lot more comfortable to carry. Because hessian is similar in colour to a deer, I attempted to brighten it up a little with some dazzle spray paint but that was pretty hopeless really as it rubbed off in no time.

The next incentive to upgrade my pikau came shortly after I attempted to carry a pair of hind quarters in it. The bag was bulging and the straps were pretty damn tight as I wriggled them onto my shoulders. I had only taken about three steps towards home when the bum blew out of the gunny-sack and its entire contents dropped on the ground.

If I wasn’t so miserable with my money, (my brothers say that I’m so tight that when I fart only dogs can hear it), I would have rocked off down to the local sports store and bought a Huntech™ pikau. But no, I had a cunning plan. keeping true to my character, I dragged my old Swannie out of the dog’s kennel and fired it into the washing machine. Then I chopped the arms and collar off and sowed the remaining material into a new sack for my pikau. My ‘Swantech’ pikau gave good service for a number of years until I replaced the bag with one made from polar fleece.

Now if you are scared of using a sewing machine, have plenty of dosh or

are short of time, many companies including Huntech™, Stoney Creek™ and Swazi™ make fleece covered pikau daypacks and even bum bags that turn into daypacks. They are robust, silent and specifically designed for hunters.

If you are a tight-wad like me, here’s how you can make a poor man’s pikau.

You can pick up a metre of fleece for $6.00 - $12.00. It comes in a variety of colours including camo. The rolls of cloth are generally 1.7 metres wide, (the cloth is folded double on the roll), so purchasing a 1.5 metre length of polar fleece will give you enough material to make four bags. You may be wondering why not purchase just enough material to make one bag. Most of the cheap polar fleece materials stretch in one direction. If you are going to sew the bag together with a normal sewing machine using a straight stitch; then the seams on the bag are going to be a lot stronger if you have the fabric so that it stretches across the width of the bag rather than along its length. So you need to purchase 1.5 metres to get a strip of material long enough to make your bag. Besides once you get the hang of it you can always make pikaus for your mates with the left-over material.

I usually aim to have a finished bag that measures approximately 400 mm wide by 650 mm long. When cutting the material you’ll need to allow extra for the seams and hems. You can vary the size of the bag to suit yourself, for instance, I’ve made a couple of small ones for kids.

To give the pikau further strength and some water resistance you will also need some material to line the bag.

The Huntech™ pikau comes with a light canvas bag. It remains rolled up inside the fleece bag until you’ve got your deer. Then you remove the straps off the fleece bag and attach them to the canvas bag which is larger and stronger.

My preference is to keep the contents of my pikau reasonably dry while I’m hunting, so I make the two bags similar in size and they act like a double

To convert a small potato sack (sugar bag) into a pika; simply drop a small rock into each corner of the bag, tie a 1.5 metre length of rope to the bottom corners of the bag (the rock stops the rope from slipping off). That’s it. Simple aye!

Fill it with a bit of food, your rain coat and survival kit

I usually aim to have a finished bag that measures approximately 400 mm wide by 650 mm long


lining; the polar fleece ‘outer’ for silence and the ‘inner’ for strength and water resistance.

You could purchase some light canvas or similar material, but a friend of mine figured out that old thermal curtains are just the berries. They get their thermal qualities from a rubberised coating on one side. This also makes the material reasonably waterproof.

Once you have sown the material into a bag the next step is to make the straps. Old car seatbelts are perfect for this. Ask the mechanics down at your local garage to keep some aside for you. Once you explain what you are going to do with them, (ie not putting them back into a car), they are usually happy to give you them to you for free.

I cut the webbing into a 1400 mm length, and then I melt the fibres on the cut end with a cigarette lighter. This stops the material from fraying. I then fold the ends back about 30 mm and sew them flat. These loops will form the attachment points to the bottom of the pack. Finally I fold the webbing at its mid-point and sew the triangular folded section flat. In the past I used a leather stitching awl but found this frustratingly slow. The manufacturer of my awl clearly had a sense of humour as they called it the ‘speedy stitching awl’. I have since found that you can stitch through

seatbelt webbing on a normal sewing machine provided you take your time and don’t force it.

Lastly I melt a 3 mm hole through the centre of the triangular folded section with a heated nail or piece of No.8 wire. Braided nylon cord is then threaded through this hole to make the tie string for the top of the pack. Two pieces of cord are threaded through the bottom folds and tied in a loop about 140 mm long.

To attach the straps to the pack, I drop half a wine cork or a plastic bottle cap into each corner of the pack (it’s lighter than the traditional rock and a damn good excuse to knock off a bottle of plonk). Flick a half hitch in the cord at the end of the webbing belt and pop this over the bulge formed by the cork. Repeat the process to attach the other end of the webbing to the opposite corner of the bag and you’re done.

There you have it, your poor man’s pikau. Easy to make and cheap. Just throw it in the washing machine when it gets all bloody and when the bush lawyer finally rips the bag apart you can just whip up another one.

Now all you need to do, is fill it with; a bit food, your rain coat and survival kit. Grab your knife belt, ammo and rifle, and then head for the hills! Happy hunting!

Fold the ends back about 30 mm and sew them flat. Two pieces of cord are threaded through the bottom fold and tied in a loop 140 mm long

TIP OffS

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Queen’s Birthday Weekend 2010 saw the New Zealand Bowhunters Society hold its 52nd annual tournament at the Thames Valley Deerstalkers’ Association’s property in the hills just north of Paeroa at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula. The venue is a great location overlooking the beautiful Hauraki Plains and Firth of Thames with facilities capable of handling a large number of people in tranquil bush clad and grassland surroundings.

2012 will once more see the cooperation of the New Zealand Bowhunters Society, Archery Direct and the Thames Valley Deerstalkers’ Branch, when it again holds this annual event at this fantastic location. This very proud award winning club, with its dedicated membership and picturesque grounds has a wonderful history of catering for top level events such as the recently hosted 2011 World Sporting Clay Target Championships, and numerous other regional, island, national and Oceania events over many years.

The Archery Direct NZ Bowhunters Society Annual Tournament is a unique event, which encompasses far more than just an archery field shoot. It is the culmination of a year

of hunting achievements and rewards, where hunters come together to celebrate the successes of that year. There are presentations to those that have achieved at the highest level for the eighteen categories of historical hunting trophies competed for every year. ‘The Ingerson Shield’ for the best overall deer antlers, ‘The Secombe Shield’ for the best pig tusks and ‘The Mountain Trophy’ for the best tahr or chamois horns to name just three. As many as possible of these ‘trophy’ antlers, tusks and horns will be on display at the venue, for those attending to view. Not forgetting, that with every trophy taken, there is a wonderful story to match.

All entries that qualify for the NZ Bowhunters Society record book inclusion must be present and every year our record books for game continue to grow with quality additions; an example of this is our new number one Rusa stag, which will be displayed for everyone to appreciate at this year’s gathering. Further to the eighteen hunting and nineteen field archery competition trophies, there are three photographic competitions, categories for

tanned game skins and the deer roaring competition. All will be judged at the weekend’s event. This outstanding weekend justifiably sees the culmination of a year’s bowhunting successes right across the board, with many bowhunters of all ages and experience, getting together to enjoy the highlights, camaraderie and competitions. But over and above this wonderful selection of trophies are the two most sought after trophies, the ‘Bowhunter of the Year’ and ‘Junior Bowhunter of the Year’.

Complimenting the many annual trophies there will also be lucky draw prizes where all entrants have a chance of winning; all you need to do is be there to possibly take away a prize and to help make this weekend an outstanding success. One note worthy prize this year will be a free seat on a helicopter.

The ‘ArChery DIreCT’ neW ZeAlAnD BOWhunTers sOCIeTy 2012 TOurnAMenT.B y K e v i n L o w , T h a m e s V a l l e y B r a n c h

ARTICLE

Stu, (whose arrow has jest been released) watched by Melissa and Izzac Scoring a 3D target (2011)

The camaraderie of being part of the event (2011)


The lucky winner will accompany two NZ Bowhunters Society members on an Urewera hunting trip. This prize is for any brand new member (renewals not included) joining the Bowhunters Society prior to the tournament.

This is certainly a weekend not to be missed for anyone interested in bowhunting or field archery of any kind and this year, everyone and anyone can participate as entries have been opened up for non members to be able to be part of this exciting weekend of festivities and competitions. All you need to do is complete and post in the entry form with your entry fees and make plans to be in Paeroa over the weekend of 2 – 4th June 2012. For full details regarding entry forms, venue map, rules and conditions of entry, prizes, accommodation etc, go on line and visit www.nzbowhunters.co.nz and click on the Tournament Information link. (Some files such as entry forms, will not be live until later in 2012 but this will be noted on the website).

Prior to the weekend several field courses are set up in a simulated hunting style and entrants shoot on both Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to twenty static targets laid out through a mix of native bush, exotic trees and open country there are four specialty targets on each course where speed shooting, or shooting at moving targets, add some excitement and extra dimension to the day. Shooters are placed into a squad prior to the tournament and it is a great way to mix and meet new people. The trophies for the tournament shoot cover both modern compound weapons and the more traditional longbow and recurve equipment. Junior and cub divisions are also catered for, as are the compound users with both sighted and unsighted equipment. There is most definitely something for everyone at the tournament, no matter your skill level, age, gender or whether you are a hunter, target archer, photographer, spectator or whatever aspects in archery are of interest to you – this weekend will provide highlights aplenty, so make sure you book it into your calendar and we will see you there.

Although the tournament is competitive, it is worth noting that for many of the attendees this gathering and shoot is just as much a social affair without the pressures of wanting to win as the main aim. Plenty of laughs with friends, both new found and of long standing will ring out around the grounds and this sets a wonderful ambience and atmosphere for the entire weekend. In addition to the daytime events, Sunday night is the much

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A moving target

‘One mean target’ – you have to take the shot as it presents itself

Maureen Davidson lines up her target


looked forward to dinner and social time with this year’s theme or fancy dress, for those who are keen or brave enough is ‘P’ – punks, princesses, priests, police or whatever. The options are endless, so you can be shy, brave, brazen or just arrive in your normal getup and enjoy a great meal and a fantastic nights entertainment with well known and much

acclaimed Mark Taipari, a professional singer and musician who has more than 27 years experience in the music industry.

As outlined earlier in this article, for the first time, this, the 54th tournament, is open for non members to participate, so we look forward to having you all join us for what will surely be a wonderful weekend to remember.

Details for the NZ Bowhunter’s Society (including full tournament information) and the Thames Valley Deerstalkers’ are available at the following website addresses: www.nzbowhunters.co.nz or www.tvda.co.nz

A young competitor using a compound bow (2011)

Competing in a field event (2011)A competitor using a longbow (2011)


FrOM The WIlD hIlls OF sCOTlAnD TO The ruGGeD MOunTAIns OF A sCOTTIsh COlOny – pArT 5 OF 6eDITOr’s nOTe: prevIOus IssueD hAve FeATureD heADs 1 – 3 (Issue 172), 4 – 6 (Issue 173, 7 - 9

(Issue 174) AnD 10 – 12 (Issue 175). heADs 16 – 18 WIll FeATure In The nexT Issue.

The OrIGIns OF The OTAGO reD Deer herD (heADs 13, 14 AnD 15)

nO. 13l erlTOn WIlsOn.FIsh rIver, 1929.L E N G T H - l e f t – 4 0 ½ i n c h e s , r i g h t – 3 9 ¼ i n c h e s .

S P R E A D – 4 1 ¾ i n c h e s , S P A N – 3 5 ¼ i n c h e s .

B E A M – 5 ½ i n c h e s . D O U G L A S S C O R E – 3 1 7 ¾ . P O I N T S - 1 2 .

nO. 15.WIllIAM DeWAr.huxley sTreAM, luKe OhAu, 1924.L E N G T H - l e f t – 4 3 ⅜ i n c h e s , r i g h t – 4 2 ⅞ i n c h e s .

S P R E A D – 4 5 ¼ i n c h e s , S P A N – 3 5 ⅝ i n c h e s .

B E A M – 4 ⅞ i n c h e s . D O U G L A S S C O R E – 3 2 0 ¾ . P O I N T S - 1 2 .

nO. 14.ChArles TeMpleTOn.hunTer vAlley, lAKe hAWeA, 1927.L E N G T H - l e f t – 4 6 ⅝ i n c h e s , r i g h t – 4 3 ⅝ i n c h e s .

S P R E A D – 3 7 ⅜ i n c h e s , S P A N – 3 1 ⅛ i n c h e s .

B E A M – 5 ⅜ i n c h e s . D O U G L A S S C O R E 3 3 8 ¾ . P O I N T S - 1 4 .

This very pretty trophy of very traditional Scottish form, typical of Scotland’s famous Black Mount Forest and which

was part origin of the Invermark Red deer brought to Otago, was taken by Erlton Wilson in the valley of the Fish

River, an upper tributary of the Makarora River. Wilson and his companion, C Harvey, were nearing the crest of a

high ridge when a stag was seen descending a slope to their right. The wind was in their favour. Just as Wilson was

setting off to stalk him, the stag changed direction and almost walked up to the muzzle of Wilson’s rifle.

At the conclusion of a prolonged snow storm in the Hunter Valley at the head

of Lake Hawea, after the sun had ultimately broken through, Templeton

and his companion, James Gillespie, discovered this stag after pinpointing

his location by his roaring. However, just as the pair of stalkers had clearly

identified the animal’s whereabouts and began to move in to stalk him, a

rather violent snow storm erupted once again. Fortunately for Templeton, he

ran headlong into the stag while negotiating a small burn and shot him at a

range of about fifty yards.

Probably only second to A P Cameron’s trophy from the Dobson Valley as far as trophies taken from the Lake

Ohau area is concerned and within the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society’s district, this fine, wide, sweeping set of

typical Otago configuration was taken in the major tributary of the Hopkins River at the head of Lake Ohau. The

stag evidently rose up out of a patch of alpine scrub behind the stalker while he was busy stalking another animal.

Evidently, Dewar was required to swing around very rapidly and get a shot away in a manner usually referred to as

a ‘snap shot’. Dewar was a member of a party of Otago sportsmen who hunted the Lake Ohau area on a regular

basis, as well as expeditions from time to time into other areas such as the tributaries of the Matukituki Valley.


hOnG Tse 18/11/1923 – 4/3/2012 B y I a n W r i g h t , N a t i o n a l L i f e M e m b e r

OBITUARY

It was with regret that the National Executive received notice that our National Patron, Hong Tse had passed away on 4 March 2012. Hong is survived by one daughter and three stepchildren. The Association’s condolences go out to the Tse family.

Ian Wright, a National Life Member of New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association recalls his fond memories of his long time association with Hong and his family … …

I first met Hong at a meeting of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association in 1953. It was, for me, a life changing moment. He had similar interests, was knowledgeable and articulate. His influence will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Hong was born in China in 1923 and came to New Zealand with his parents and elder brother Gordon in 1925. He said that at the time he was a reasonably valuable commodity because his father had been required to pay 100 pounds poll tax on arrival when he came on an earlier trip and then had to pay another 300 pounds for the rest of the family.

You could buy a car for 100 pounds in those days and Hong always nurtured the hope that when apologies became politically fashionable he would get his 100 pounds back with interest.

His family emigrated to work in the fungus business. Chew Chong, the dairy industry pioneer, had a flourishing off-season business exporting to China a dried edible fungus collected from the bush in the king Country and Taranaki.

The family settled in Te kuiti, where Hong’s uncle owned a general store; it was an area where most people hunted rabbits and Hong gained an early interest in firearms. There was a Winchester .22 traded for groceries at the store. It was put out back in the store room and was like a dream come true for Hong. It was a large and heavy toy for a 7-year-old, but he recalled the immense excitement of secretly raising it to his shoulder.

The family moved to Wellington in the depression year of 1930 and Hong became a city boy living in the Chinese community of Te

Aro. Despite the times, the family prospered due to a mixture of hard work, luck and leadership from Hong’s mother.

In an interview for New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife ten years ago Hong said, ‘My mother was a really strong woman, she held the family together, and like many Chinese families, she controlled the money.’ He also said that his father had an involvement with ‘pakapoo’ games, (a very illegal form of lotto but run by private banks), which provided school uniforms and other essentials. When the law caught up with them, shopkeepers involved in ‘pakapoo’ were given the option of having their fines paid by the banks or serve a term of imprisonment, (usually 14 days), and be paid while they were there. Hong said it was good money in those days and that his father went to jail once and was paid 10 pounds a week for sitting there. With the money he got, they bought their first shop.

The family was close knit with eleven children and Hong’s friends were welcomed into the circle and became part of the extended family. Hong said that this gave each group an insight into the other. He felt that experience was a two way thing.

Hong’s passion for the outdoors was rekindled at technical college and at university when friends invited him to go tramping and hunting. He joined the Tararua Tramping Club and grew to love the hills, but found his real calling when he saw a notice in 1950 about the forming of a Wellington Branch of the Deerstalkers. He joined as a foundation member and became Branch President in 1960, the National President in 1977 and the National Patron (a position once held by Governors General), in 2000.

Hong had a justifiable pride in his heritage, but he knew who he was as he became a naturalized New Zealand citizen in February 1955. Peter Plim always recalls an incident in Queenstown when we were coming back from the hills. Hong was approached by a lady who had dined too well and asked if he was Chinese. He said, ‘no I am a New Zealander.’

In his younger days as Hong’s love of hunting grew, so did the family business. The more the family prospered, the harder they worked. Twelve to fourteen hour days were expected. He had to struggle to get away but he made as many trips to the Wairarapa as he found possible to private properties and he admitted to a cunning plan for a period during the war and the following two decades. These were times of shortages and he always took ample supplies of fruit, like bananas, to the ladies at the farm house. He was always assured of another invitation.

His hunting took him from Hawke’s Bay to Fiordland and he shot his biggest trophy, a seventeen-pointer, in the Rees Valley headwater. He and Reg Bowater tossed for the shot and Hong won.

In 1963 he married Joan and gained an instant family of Denise, Neil and Ross. Tracey followed and his life was full.

Part of the family business changed and he worked for the Toyota group for nine years but returned to the manufacturing side of the family company.

He was a meticulous administrator and applied


all those skills to the shooting world. He was one of a very small group that formed the New Zealand Shooting Federation (the Olympic shooting body) and managed the shooting section of the New Zealand team to the Munich Olympics. He became the chairman of the Federation in 1980 through to 1983.

When Hong was elected to the National Executive of the Deerstalkers’ Association in 1972 he brought an idea with him for the Association to hold a national exhibition of hunting trophies. It would be necessary to hire the Winter Show Building, which was then the biggest exhibition hall available. The proposal was huge and the then president told him that it was his idea and his job.

In 1978 the Exhibition of Hunting was held. It was huge and it was a success.

In more recent years he persuaded the Association to formalize their growing library and trophy collecting into the NZDA Heritage Trust, recording the heritage of the

Association and its members. In 2000 he became the initial chairman and continued to serve on the trust until his death.

Throughout his involvement in hunting and target shooting he became known as an administrator with strong interests in target shooting. His main interest however always remained in hunting and it is in that activity that I and others will always think of him first. He was a tower of strength in bad places, a calming influence on more impulsive companions, a great camp cook and an inveterate experimenter with gear, previously untried recipes and rifles.

Reflecting to Andy Taylor about his lifetime interest in firearms, the outdoors and hunting,

he said, ‘all my firearms have sentimental value – especially the .318 Westley Richards, a classic hunting rifle made in England. I love the companionship of hunting with others, like my friend Ian Wright – although I did have to question his loyalty once. I went down in a river and thrust my rifle out to him. Ian grabbed it and I swear he tried to kick me off the end of it. I’m sure he was only interested in saving that rifle.’

Well, we both survived that and other adventures and Peter and I have both used that rifle successfully over the years.

Hong was a distinguished member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, the New Zealand Shooting Federation, the Wellington Pistol Club, the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association and of the National Association. He also served with distinction on the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council where he represented the NZDA from 1980 to 1985 and the Shooting Federation 1992 to 1996. He was a leader in the creation of lawful pistol shooting in New Zealand.

He was a gold medalist as a family man and his heritage will linger as long as there are shooting organizations in New Zealand.

204 R

UGER

32 V-

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55 PS

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223 R

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243 W

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A proud moment for Hong Tse (Wellington) as he receives his National Life membership badge from National President, John

Henderson at NZDA’s 34th Annual Conference.


LOCk, STOCk & BARRELL

CleAnInG A FIreArM B y C h a z F o r s y t h , O t a g o B r a n c h

Briefly

You can push as well as pull with a cleaning rod, you can only pull with a pull-through cord.

In More Detail

For action types without a removable breech bolt, like most civilian sporting semi-auto designs, lever and pump actions, the rod may only be used via the muzzle end. Bolt actions usually have a readily removable bolt, which promotes cleaning from the breech end.

Cleaning from the muzzle end, whether with a pull-through or cleaning rod, imposes a slight risk of damage to the muzzle, at the crown, by means of cord wear, or by friction from rubbing the rod against the crown. This is resolved adequately by:

(a) By taking care with a pull-through cord (watching as you pull it through so it does not touch the sides at the muzzle), or

(b) By using a conical ‘muzzle protector’ to ensure the rod does not stroke the side of the muzzle as it is pushed in and out of the barrel.

Some argue that fixing a damaged muzzle is a lot easier than repairing a damaged breech, (a slight amputation fixes the damaged crown, but cutting a new chamber and setting the barrel back is a far bigger job), then go on to argue for cleaning from the muzzle. Although this is unavoidable for some action types, generally, and with care, cleaning from the breech is widely considered to be better because it pushes the fouling out of the muzzle, while clearing detritus and fouling which accumulates in the action area is harder, and more likely to be neglected.

Cord wear may result in a groove being formed where the cord has physically worn the crown (the extreme end of the barrel; the last piece of barrel which the bullet touches as it goes out). Rod wear at the muzzle is more subtle, being harder to see, but is just as damaging to accuracy.

Advantages of the cord pull-through - it folds away easily into a small space like a pocket.

Disadvantages are as outlined above, and cords sometimes break off while a tight patch is still in the bore. This too can be a nuisance as you may not be able to remove it if in the field on a hunting trip.

Cleaning rod advantages are as outlined above. However, I have not yet mentioned a possible further disadvantage of cleaning rods when used from the breech end - rod wear. This can affect rifling at the rear of the barrel, and a rod - guide (not the same as a ‘muzzle protector’) is recommended. This does two things: being a tube through which the rod closely fits, it guides the rod centrally through the throat, and (maybe more important) prevents solvent and other rubbish from dropping into the action bedding area.

The best cleaning rods are one-piece ones. Less-than-best are cleaning rods which dismantle into shorter lengths (their packaging is easier) but being less-than-perfectly-straight, are not quite as well regarded by barrel-cleaning purists like target shooters. It is quite easy to bend a cleaning rod, especially one for a smaller calibre. Once bent, they are difficult to straighten. Purists tend to replace bent cleaning rods with new ones. They sometimes sell off the straightened (but still slightly

bent) ones at gun shows and auctions...

I always carry a pull-through (might usefully double as a tourniquet), but almost always use a rod when cleaning a firearm, and wiping preservative out of the bore before taking it hunting or to a range.

Oh yes, there is sometimes a huge debate about whether cleaning rods coated in plastic, or aluminium rods, or plain steel rods are better.

1. Plastic coated cleaning rods eventually get their plastic coating dissolved (attacked) by bore solvents. They are more colourful than the plain metal rods. It is alleged that the plastic forms a matrix into which abrasive particles (mainly from primer residues) may embed themselves, because what is in effect an abrasive rod is formed. This is to the detriment of barrels through which they are then used.

2. Aluminium cleaning rods are also thought to have a soft surface into which small abrasive particles (primer residues in particular) might embed themselves, again forming that abrasive rod mentioned above.

3. Plain steel cleaning rods are thought by some to be the best, because the harder steel surface does not provide an opportunity for such embedding to take place.

4. Jointed cleaning rods (also known as ‘takedown’) have a similar propensity for attracting a holding area for abrasive particles which might damage the bore. They may be more easily bent by accident too.

5. Physically wiping the rod down after each and every pass through a rifle barrel will effectively (in my view) eliminate the threats posed by observations 1 to 4 above.

6. Opinions differ on the arguments raised at over these five final points too. I’ve found that one-piece rods need no assembly, making them more convenient to retrieve from their rack, but for hunting party equipment, would not hesitate to take a take-down rod with me into the hills. By myself, the pull-through suffices.

7. Another thought is that skinny rods will fit into larger calibre barrels, but fatter cleaning rods definitely won’t fit into smaller calibre barrels. The take-down ‘M-16’ style five piece rod is an

Three different cleaning rods. Top: three-piece aluminium rod with a built in muzzle protector; Middle:

one-piece rod; Bottom: One-piece thin rod for .177 air guns.

The take-down ‘M-16’ style five-piece rod is an excellent device for the hunting party to have with it.

Three-piece cleaning rod. It may be possible to see that this rod has been bent and straightened at some time.


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excellent device for the hunting party to have with it, but the rise of .20 and .17 calibres may require something smaller.

8. When cleaning from the breech end, avoid pulling patches back through the barrel once they’ve left the muzzle. Likewise for bore brushes. Both of these can wear the crown, again to the detriment of precision or even accuracy. Some very caring people unscrew the jag, brush or loop before withdrawing the rod from the barrel. That’s a good technique, because it ensures you don’t deposit used solvent and whatever it has accumulated back along the bore and into the breech mechanism.

I am a strong believer too, in putting an oily patch through a barrel if I’ve fired a shot that day, remembering to wipe it out the next morning before going hunting. This is after seeing a beloved hunting rifle gradually lose its accuracy from 2 inch groups at 100 metres to around 4.5 inches, prematurely in my view, developing lots of very fine, shallow pits all the way down it after I failed to oil it each evening after use. It took about 10 years, but that’s what happened. The rifle never got wet, but maybe just a little bit of

atmospheric moisture did the job on it. Lesson learned here!

Non-corrosive primers were always used too, but although they do nothing to promote corrosion, they do nothing to prevent it either.

Hope that helps.

An example of a plastic coated wire pull-through kit.


1080 AerIAl DrOps AnD eFFeCTs OF BuFFer ZOnes B y G r a h a m A S p e r r y

Editor’s note: The following was sent to us by Graham Sperry and is reproduced here in the interests of hunters and their views on the use of 1080 poison and its impact on their sport. NZDA is happy to support those producing well-structured arguments against the use of 1080.

HABITAT

The ruru (morepork) was found two weeks after

the late June 2011 poison application.

IntroductionSeveral dead deer were located up to 6 km from the centre of a treatment area of kaimanawa Forest Park in early December 2011, several months after a 1080 poison drop carried out by the Animal Health Board (AHB) in late June 2011. Some of these deer were in the catchment environs in running water of a stream from which park users drew their water. The deer and owl were located during a casual survey of the margins by a trapper looking for possum sign.

Area of a circle. Pi x r2

A = 22/7 x radius squared

If A (area of treatment) = 18,000 hectares then r = A / 22/7/r

18,000ha/ 3.142 = r2

18,000ha = 180,000,000 sq metres / 3.142 = 57,288,351 metres = r2 r = 7,569m (7.57 km radius or 15 km diameter)

Now add 2km buffer zone

Viz: Diameter = 2 x 7.57 km plus 4km = 19 km (19,000 metres)

r = 9,500 m r2 = 90,250,000 m

A + 2km buffer = 3.142 x 90,250,000 = 283,565,500 sq metres

/10,000 sq m per ha = 28,356 hectares

Now, if the danger zone is increased to a buffer of 6 km instead of 2 km, the area A increases from the treatment area of 18,000 ha to:

Viz: (7,569 + 6,000) = 13,569 = r

r2 = 184,117,761 metres

R x 3.142 = 578,498,005 sq m = A + 6km buffer = 57,849 hectares

Increase of affected area compared to treatment area is 320 percent MINIMUM

Note: This is a ‘least impact’ scenario. When a treatment area is long and narrow with a long perimeter compared to internal area, the affected buffer becomes much larger relative to the actual treatment area. This means the potential health and safety risks are also increased by 320% +.

While a 6 km buffer has been used in this calculation, the true buffer, if measured from the periphery of the treatment area would potentially be more like 8 km. The present New Zealand Food and Safety Authority (NZFSA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) recommended buffer zone for deer at risk of being poisoned is 2 km, which is obviously inadequate in view of the evidence now presented.

Assuming on average probability that the deer, numbers 3,4,5,6,7 and 8, migrated from an approximate centreline running north/south through the middle of the poisoned area then all could potentially have gotten outside the NZFSA 2 km buffer and this is vindicated by the positions of deer 7 and 8 in particular.

Note also that these deer, except for photo 2, were located early December 2011, some five months after the poison was applied. Some have deteriorated as one would expect over a 5-month winter period, but others are in a more intact condition indicating the likelihood of cereal baits both dropping out of the forest canopy for a period after the drop for a month or more (also proved by observations in recent West Coast aerial operations; personal comments M and L Molloy) and that cereal baits remain viable for considerable periods after they have been applied.

Also note that no large omnivores like wild pigs live in this area. The largest carnivores/omnivores are cats, rats and mustelids.

Since the cereal baits were also treated with deer repellent, the deaths of these deer indicate that the repellent is not effective and further, that early trials aimed at establishing possible percentages of deer which succumb to deer repellent treated baits are probably an underestimate of actual fatalities because these surveys did not take into account the massive increase in area actually affected outside the borders of the poison application. In this case the area would have increased by an estimated 200+ percent if the farmland to the east is discounted.

Assuming on average probability that the deer, numbers 3,4,5,6,7 and 8, migrated from an approximate centreline running north/south through the middle of the poisoned area then all could potentially have gotten outside the NZFSA 2 km buffer and this is vindicated by the positions of deer 7 and 8 in particular.

Note also that these deer, except for photo 2, were located early December 2011, some five months after the poison was applied. Some have deteriorated as one would expect over a 5-month winter period, but others are in a more intact condition indicating the likelihood of cereal baits both dropping out of the forest canopy for a period after the drop for a month or more (also proved by observations in recent West Coast aerial operations; personal comments M and L Molloy) and that cereal baits remain viable for considerable periods after they have been applied.

Also note that no large omnivores like wild pigs live in this area. The largest carnivores/omnivores are cats, rats and mustelids.

Since the cereal baits were also treated with deer repellent, the deaths of these deer indicate that the repellent is not effective and further, that early trials aimed at establishing possible percentages of deer which succumb to deer repellent treated baits are probably an underestimate of actual fatalities because these surveys did not take into account the massive increase in area actually affected outside the borders of the poison application. In

8 7

3456

2

1Rurururur

Aerial 1080 treated end of June 2011. Cereal + deer repellent.

NB: Grid squares are 1000 yards. Red border was drop boundary. No’s 2-8 are dead Sika deer.

8 7

3456

2

1Rurururur

8 7

3456

2

1Rurururur

Right: Please compare the degree of breakdown of this carcass which probably died very shortly after the drop and been decomposing for 5 months, to the other photos and it will become apparent that many of these deer have succumbed several months AFTER the poison drop and a long way outside the drop boundary.

Deer number 8. Note the deterioration of this carcass.

Photographed 3/12/2011.


Some of these deer and of course, other carcasses, such as possum and rat would also be in or close to waterways from which recreational users draw drinking water.

Conclusions:

Deer repellent is not effective. (It is ineffective after a day in the rain.)

Cereal baits can kill deer for a long period; long after the date of application as will carrot based baits.

The ‘safe’ buffer zone is not two kilometres as approved by NZFSA, but likely to be over 6 kilometres.

The area in which deer are likely to be found poisoned by aerial 1080 is likely to be several hundred percent larger than the described drop zone. Viz; 18,000 hectares treated with aerial poison is likely to affect 58,000 hectares or more.

The pollution of waterways by carcasses and poison, however diluted, extends massively; in this case into both the Waikato and the Mohaka catchments.

The safe time period when all carcasses are decomposed after a 1080 poison drop is likely to exceed 6 months and is more likely to be nine months after the poison application.

Animals may enter and then leave the poison zone up to several months after the poison drop date and still succumb to immediate lethal dose or slow death by sub-lethal or lethal dose.

This actually indicates 2-300% more deer are probably killed even with the use of deer repellent, than previously assessed, because areas outside drop zones were not surveyed and not rechecked after 6 months.

What’s next?

Right is a map of the proposed AHB 1080 drop over the kaimanawa RHA commencing mid-May 2012.

In addition to the DOC area of 16,290 ha shown the boundary also includes additional area of Maori land covering the upper/mid Tauranga Taupo catchment area.

Based on the information discussed in this report, the affected area is likely to be

triple the size shown on the DOC map.

It is my belief that ground based trapping and cyanide baits could be used through this area with no negative effects on deer or the environment and at equal or less cost than the aerial poisoning operation.

One of the other major areas the AHB plan for this winter is over 55,000 ha in the southern Urewera/Whirinaki.

The areas of farmland supposedly being protected by these two massive poison drops are kilometres away and miniscule in comparison to the areas to be poisoned. We estimate the AHB will be using approximately $900,000 of taxpayer funds to finance the kaimanawa drop and over $2,000,000 for the Urewera drop.

The question arises as to whether the economics of the small amounts of farmland remotely associated with these drops can justify such expenditure and threats to the wildlife, game animals and environment.

Acknowledgements:

Trapper S Anderson; Dave Mingins; NZ Wildlands Biodiversity Management Society Inc, (C/o Environmentally Safe Pest Control, PO Box 1700, Taupo); www.1080science.co.nz and www.1080.org.nz

Comments from NZDA’s poison and toxin spokesperson Harvie Morrow follow:

In my opinion Graham has produced evidence of what has heretofore, been speculation. Graham’s deductions make sense to me and follow my own convictions.

There has been some limited evidence around the persistence of carcasses of possums; some purported to be as much as 10-months-old. What Graham is saying is that with the current practice of waterproofing the baits with a waxy type compound during manufacture, those baits caught in the canopy stay as poisonous as the day they were manufactured. When these finally drop, we are potentially getting a second wave of poisoning. This may be contributing to the longevity of carcasses.

Graham’s other concern about the process of applying ‘repellent’ is upheld by me. It is not waterproof, and will, by admission of the manufacturer, wash off in rainy conditions. This process clearly is being used to gain approval from the hunting fraternity for 1080 to be used. I personally abhor the entire process, it raises false hopes and does not prevent the application of this broad spectrum poison.

Another area of concern is just how far from the poisoned area these animals have travelled. It definitely raises food safety concerns as highlighted by Graham.

We need to oppose ALL such applications of 1080. The proposed use over Recreational Hunting Areas (RHA), only raises our level of opposition. These areas were set aside for recreational harvesters to use for recreation. The AHB is hiding behind the Biosecurity Act to force this on us. I believe NZDA has successfully made a case to prevent the poisoning of a RHA in the past.

Deer number 7 photographed 3/12/2011. This stag is exhibiting a summer coat (no longer grey) and still

with hard antler and is almost within a flowing creek. Estimated time of death is September/October, 3 to 4 months after the poison drop and was found several

kilometres away from the drop boundary.

Deer number 6 taken 2/12/2011. This young stag is also recently dead and certainly not been rotting for 5 months.

Deer number 5 taken 2/12/2011. This yearling hind has died in a stream and unlikely to have been

decomposing for 5 months.

Deer number 2 taken 2 weeks after the poison drop, in the same area as the dead ruru (morepork). Note

position and body attitude of this animal and the similarity to the body position including neck and

mouth as compared to the other dead deer located. Note also the scars on the belly where the deer typically kick their own gut during the agony of

death from 1080 poison.

The areas of farmland supposedly being protected by these two massive poison drops are kilometres away and miniscule in comparison to the areas to be poisoned. We estimate the AHB will be using approximately $900,000 of taxpayer funds to finance the Kaimanawa drop and over $2,000,000 for the Urewera drop.

The question arises as to whether the economics of the small amounts of farmland remotely associated with these drops can justify such expenditure and threats to the wildlife, game animals and environment.

Acknowledgements:Trapper S Anderson; Dave Mingins; NZ Wildlands Biodiversity Management Society Inc, (C/o Environmentally Safe Pest Control, PO Box 1700, Taupo); www.1080science.co.nz and www.1080.org.nz

Comments from NZDA poison and toxin spokesperson Harvie Morrow follow:

In my opinion Graham has produced evidence of what has heretofore, been speculation. Graham’s deductions make sense to me and follow my own convictions.

There has been some limited evidence around the persistence of carcasses of possums; some purported to be as much as 10-months-old. What Graham is saying is that with the current practice of waterproofing the baits with a waxy type compound during manufacture, those baits caught in the canopy stay as poisonous as the day they were manufactured. When these finally drop, we are potentially getting a second wave of poisoning. This may be contributing to the longevity of carcasses.

Graham's other concern about the process of applying ‘repellent’ is upheld by me. It is not waterproof, and will, by admission of the manufacturer, wash off in rainy conditions. This process clearly is being used to gain approval from the hunting fraternity for 1080 to be used. I personally abhor the entire process, it raises false hopes and does not prevent the application of this broad spectrum poison.

Closest farms are several Km away.

55,000 ha

Deer number 4 taken 9/12/2011. This hind has suffered terribly while dying as can be seen by the skin scraped

from its back legs during its death throes. Note also the areas around these deer where the vegetation has been

thrashed away.

A fully formed fawn can be seen hanging from its belly which indicates it probably died September or October,

some 3 to 4 months after the poison drop and several kilometres outside the drop boundary.


BUSH TELEGRAPH

Media releaseThursday 23 February 2012

IMpOrTATIOn OF IlleGAl DOG-TrACKInG DevICes TO Be prOhIBITeD The importation of illegal dog-tracking devices became prohibited from 1 March 2012 under changes to the existing regulations.

The government is clamping down on the illegal dog-tracking devices as they can dangerously interfere with radio transmission services used by people working in rural or remote areas, such as search and rescue crew. The devices are most often used by hunters to track their dogs in the bush.

The change to the regulation will mean that the New Zealand Customs Service may seize illegal devices at the border, says Chris Brennan, Compliance Manager for the Radio Spectrum Group at the Ministry of Economic Development.

‘While possession and use of the illegal

dog-tracking devices is already punishable by fines of up to $30,000 or prosecution and conviction, importers and hunters are continuing to take the risk. Under the new change to the regulation, people importing these illegal devices into the country may have them seized and potentially face prosecution,’ he says.

‘Not all dog-tracking devices are illegal, but we want to make sure that people are using ones that don’t dangerously interfere with those parts of the radio spectrum that are licensed to others. Anyone looking to import radio-transmitting equipment should first check whether it is acceptable in New Zealand and authorised for a radio licence.’

The dog-tracking devices to be avoided are sold under the Garmin and SportDOG TEk brands, however, all devices should be

checked before purchase. Devices should not operate on the 151.820 MHz, 151.880 MHz, 151.940 MHz, 154.570 MHz and 154.600 MHz frequencies.

The new rule prohibiting importation is now included in the Radiocommunications Regulations (Prohibited Equipment – Dog Tracking Devices) Notice 2012 and came into force on 1 March 2012.

The Ministry of Economic Development will be working closely with the New Zealand Customs Service to ensure that illegal radio-transmitting devices are not imported into the country.

For more information, go to the Radio Spectrum website, www.rsm.govt.nz, or call the free helpline 0508 RSM INFO (0508 776 463).

purple lOOsesTrIFe - A GArDen esCApee On The runThis summer sparks a call for help to identify purple loosestrife.

In a combined effort with Environment Canterbury and Christchurch City Council, DOC is asking local landowners for sightings of Lythrum salicaria, commonly known as purple loosestrife.

Once popular for planting alongside residential ponds and streams, purple loosestrife has jumped the garden fence to invade precious wetland habitats, river margins and has even been found marching into farmland. With a growth of up to two metres, it has potential to override natives and pasture alike.

Biodiversity ranger Craig Alexander has seen this first hand.

‘Purple loosestrife can be a real issue for farmers, invading pasture and waterways and clogging drains.’

‘Once established, you’re looking at several years of active control to deal with the problem. Sadly it’s not just a matter of digging it out.’

‘Purple loosestrife is easy to identify - just look out for the bright purple-magenta flower heads that are on show from December to February.’

‘By winter, all the foliage dies off to re-emerge in the summer so it is important to nip it in the bud while it is visible.’

If you suspect you have seen purple loosestrife on public or private land, contact Craig Alexander on + 64 3 341 9110 or email [email protected]

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BUSH TELEGRAPH

DOWnlOAD The AlpIne CrOssInG ApplICATIOnCheck out the free interpretive application for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It’s just like taking a ranger with you in your pocket!

Anyone who has done the Tongariro Alpine Crossing can relate to marvelling at the sheer beauty and scale of the landscape and wondering why the Red Crater is red, the Emerald Lakes are just so, and whether or not the hot ground under your feet is likely to erupt from under you. So we have developed an application you can download for free and take with you, to help tell the unique stories of the awesome landscape of the Alpine Crossing.

Called the Pocket Ranger, the application provides stories, photos and video, maps, and safety messages for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, as well as providing information about the local area including accommodation, activities, transport, guiding and dining.

Developed by DOC and Project Tongariro you can download on: www.tongariro.org.nz/pocketranger.

AerIAl AssIsTeD TrOphy hunTInG COnCessIOnsBelow is a list of helicopter operators who applied for aerial assisted trophy hunting concessions. The concessions are for a two-year period.

The concession holder’s legal name has been used where possible and their trading name where known is shown in brackets alongside.

Alpine Deer Group Ltd (Alpine Helicopters)

Mount Hutt Helicopters Ltd

New Zealand Mountain Hunting Ltd

Station Air ltd

Amuri Helicopters Limited (Hanmer Helicopters)

Back Country Helicopters Ltd

Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd

Central South Island Helicopters Ltd

Mountain Helicopters Fox Glacier Ltd

Aspiring Helicopters Ltd

Nokomai Helicopters

Heliventures NZ Ltd

Way To Go Heliservices Ltd

Mt Cook Trophy Hunting Ltd

Glenroy Station Ltd

South Pacific Safaris (NZ) Ltd

Editor’s note: Hunters may wish to use their discretion as to who to use when seeking aerial access into hunting areas within the concession regions.

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13 – 15 July 2012Will be celebrating

75 years of the Associationand

25 years of the HUNTS programme

Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Solway Park, Masterton

An evenT nOT TO Be MIsseD

The neW ZeAlAnD DeersTAlKers’ AssOCIATIOn’s AnnuAl COnFerenCe


BLAST fROM THE PAST

B y ‘ R e d S t a g ’

T h i s s t o r y w a s f i r s t p r i n t e d i n T h e R o a r , V o l u m e 6 , N o v e m b e r 1 9 5 9

So you would like a trophy tahr? Let me take you on a typical trophy hunting trip.

The scene - A farmhouse kitchen at 7.00 pm. The children in the process of going to bed.

The lady of the house - ‘How did you get on with the ploughing today?’

The tired farmer - ‘Not so badly - another couple of days should see it finished.’

Telephone rings - ‘Hullo - HULLO! Are you there? Oh. Gore calling … Shut those kids up would you! Yes - Hullo. That you Jack? Nice to hear your voice. You’re coming up? - No! - Not work that can’t wait. Too right! - See you tomorrow night … I’ll get all the stores.’

‘That was Jack. He’s coming up tomorrow night - bringing Alan with him. They want to have a lick at the tahr. We’ll go up the Godley on Thursday and be back Tuesday night.’ So starts another adventure after tahr.

Thursday morning sees us stacking packs and rifles in the truck. ‘You chaps got plenty of ammunition?’

‘Sure - we’ve each got thirty rounds in our packs.’

‘Better put in fifty at least - tahr shooting sure runs away with your ammo.’

‘We’ve never taken more than thirty rounds on a trip in our lives. However, if you say so.’

Sixty miles by truck, sixteen miles by foot, and Jack for one, twenty rounds of ammunition lighter; we roll into our sleeping bags in our pup tent.

‘What did you say the name of this creek was?’ said Alan.

‘Mckinnon Creek. I found an old bivvy here many years ago. In it was a perished oilskin and a few tins and part of an Oamaru newspaper dated 1916. I believe it could have been one of the survey - or kennedy’s bivvy.’

‘What are the plans for tomorrow?’ said Alan, yawning.

‘If the weather is fine we’ll go up Separation Stream, it’s about 4 miles further up. There are usually some good bulls on the bluffs in there,’ I replied.

‘Heck! I’ve never fired so many shots without hitting anything as I’ve done today - those chamois certainly can tramp. I’m not used to this long-range shooting - never shot a trophy at over 40-yards in my life. Do we have to do much climbing?’ asked Jack with some concern.

‘If the day is fine we’ll get out on the tops at about 7,000 feet. It’s best to get above them. Mind you, you can have a lot of fun shooting from the creek bed, but it’s dynamite on the ammunition.’

‘If I’ve got to scale these hills tomorrow I’d better get some sleep. Pass me a barley sugar before you blow out the candle - thanks. See you in the morning,’ said Jack, pulling his sleeping bag up around him.

‘Daylight! - Am I glad to see the sun on those peaks! … What are they called?’

‘Conrad, Anthill, Ackland, Livingstone, Fletcher and Wolseley. They’re all about 800 feet. That’s the Classen Glacier you can see between Ackland and Livingstone. The other two glaciers are the Grey and the Maude. You can’t see the Godley Glacier from here, it’s hidden behind Bloody Point.’

‘So that’s Bloody Point - I’ve heard of it.’

‘Yes. Well named at that. Coming up the Godley you see it first thing in the so-and-so morning, walking towards it all the so-and-so day, and by night it’s no so-and-so nearer. That’s how it got its name - at least, so I understand.’

A couple of hours later, after having threaded our way through an area of large broken rocks we forded the Separation Stream and rounded the corner.

‘There is you’re first bull. No - away up there at about 6,000 feet, on those pink- coloured rock bluffs.’

‘Go on, nothing could stand on there!’ said Jack incredulously.

‘He’s not only standing, see, he’s moving along - right across the face. Do you see him now? There’s a nanny following him.’

‘Sure! I see him now - was looking far too low before. Do you see him, Alan? What a mane he’s got. Here, take a look through my glasses.’

‘My word these glasses bring him up, Jack - looks to have a good set of horns too. You’d wonder how they could stick on a face like that. What are we going to do?’

‘One of you might as well try from here. It’s only 900 yards, and there is a good rock over there to rest on. You have a shot at him Alan; only set your sights at 300 as you are shooting at a very steep angle up hill. It’s no use climbing up that ridge as we wouldn’t be able to see him from the top.’ BANG!

‘See that puff of dust on the rock. You are just a

fraction high. He’s off! Get stuck into him!’ BANG! BANG!

‘That’s hit him - you could hear it from here. Look at him tumble.’ THUMP!

‘Rather him than me.’ THUMP!

‘What’s that?’

‘Didn’t you see? The nanny was running after him and ran right out into space.’

‘She must have fallen 1,200 feet; I’ve never seen anything as spectacular. I wish I’d got it on the movie.’

‘Well I suppose that has frightened the rest of them out of the valley. I must get a skin off one to take home.’

‘No Jack! They don’t frighten that easily. Not during May and June anyway. We’ll brew up a billy of tea and I’ll tell you a bit about them. At this time of the year you will find them scattered through the bluffs every few hundred yards. They are usually in small family groups of a bull and one or two nannies and kids. Most of the years the bulls are in big mobs in high basins and the nannies and kids are on the lower country from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. In November the nannies and kids come right down into the scrub. Mostly, the bulls stay very high, ’though you sometimes strike the odd bull crossing a riverbed when they are on the prowl in May. Bulls love to stand on top of a bluff and let their mane blow out in the wind - they’re mighty proud of that mane.’

‘Getting a trophy bull looks like a lot of hard work. You could climb up there and shoot one only to have him smash his horns to pieces when he falls. What do you think, Jack?’

‘Yes! Me, I’m all for getting one on the flat. I suppose that if you came in here in July when there is more snow about they’d be down in the valley. No doubt that would be the time to get one we’ve come a month too early.’

‘No boys. You’re wrong there. They prefer to hole up under rocks and weather out the storm. Let it come a fine day and you’ll see them on the wind-swept rocks at the top, although there is feet of snow in the valley. Have a close look at the hide on one and you will see that their mane is 9 or 10 inches long and the hair over most of their body about 3 inches. Part the hair and you will find a thick layer of wool about an inch long close to

Mt Livingston towers above the junction of the Grey (centre)

and Godley Glaciers (right)

GhOsT herDs OF The sKy


the skin. The skin of a good-sized bull will weigh all of 60 pounds green and will dry out between 20 and 30 pounds. They are usually very fat and really I think that they can live on their own fat for a period such as during heavy snow, either that or they’re just too lazy to climb down into the valley.’

‘How is the tea coming along Alan? You know, Alan and I never bother to boil up when stalking. Takes too long we reckon - there’s all too few hours in the period after dawn and before dusk for us.’

‘There’s no doubt that you are typical Southlanders. Dawn and dusk shooting is the caper down there alright. Up here, the old tahr doesn’t like to stir himself until the sun has warmed the rocks and he lies out in it all day. You get very little shooting on a dull day – although you’ll hear them whistling at you from above in the mist. The more time you scan the rocks on a fine day the more you will see, that’s where a boil up comes in handy. You can look around and spot a few. You know, the more I think of it, the more I’m convinced that they’re just downright lazy. I said that they like the sun, so they do, but there’s always just enough contrary ones to make the shady faces interesting. No matter how steep or ice covered they are. There is a high shady bluff just round the corner past that shingle slide - a favourite spot for a bull.’

Ten minutes wander up the creek brought us in sight of a magnificent shady bluff, magnificent - that is from the point of view of a tahr. On a small bench some 2,000 feet above us grazed a solitary bull. We sat down and got out the binoculars.

‘Have a good look at him boys. A lone bull like that is often a good one. There, he’s got his head up now. Did you get a glimpse of his horns?’

‘No! The glasses were fogged up, and now he’s got his head down in the celmisia daisy. There it is now - looks pretty good all of 12 inches I’d say. Here, have a look!’

‘Yes! He’s a trophy alright. I think we could work our way up through the bluff; we’d be out of sight

under the lip of the bench.’

As is usually the case the easy route through the bluff turned out to be pretty sticky, and it was soon apparent that we would have to climb it as it was impossible to retrace our steps. After an exciting forty minutes we paused for breath just under the lip of the bench. It was Jack’s shot so we pushed him up until he could grasp the daisy plants above and pull himself up. We reckoned that he should be within 60 yards of the bull, but it was not in sight so we handed up our rifles and scrambled up after him. Although we searched the half acre of that flat bench very thoroughly, including several rock caves, we could not find any trace of the bull. A strenuous two hours of climbing, firstly up a rock chimney then upwards over 3,000 feet of snow covered slab rocks brought us finally to the top of the ridge. It was with no little relief that we were able to relax in the sun on the ridge. Below, an almost sheer face dropped away into the Fitzgerald Stream, a mere silver thread some 5,000 feet below, while in the head of the stream Mount D’Archiac reared its 9,000 feet of glaciated rock, scarcely a mile away. The climb had truly been worthwhile, tahr or no tahr. Twenty minutes easy walk along the ridge brought us to the top of a leading shingle slide, and in short time we were back in the Separation. A few more minutes and we were back at our packs beneath the bluff.

‘To heck with this, next time I come up here I’m bringing my 7mm Mauser and telescopic sight,’ said Jack. ‘I’ll be able to nail them down before I do any climbing.’

‘Look! Of all the cheek. There’s that old bull back on the bench and looking down at us. Let’s try and shake him up from here.’ Two puffs of snow rose from near the feet of the bull and he galloped off up hill and in behind a large rock. From behind the rock handfuls of snow and grass were being thrown out.

‘Take a look at that with the glasses. It’s something you don’t often see.’

Jack’s bull which carried horns a shade over 14 inches. From nose to tail it was 6 foot 6 inches and

42 inches at the shoulder

Cont on page 37

Weighing about 60 pounds each, green tahr skins are a load in themselves. In May and June they are beautifully coloured and make worthwhile trophies

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GrAnnIe OlIve’s

reCIpes

THE STALkERS’ TABLE

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

WIlD pOrK rOAsTIngredients:

Piece of wild pork

Curry powder

Black pepper

Chopped onions

Chopped garlic

Sage / thyme or what ever herbs you desire

Water

Rub the meat over with curry powder and black pepper then leave on a bed of fresh sage and thyme over night in a baking dish, hunting pot or a camp oven.

In the morning lift the meat out and put in chopped onions and garlic. Add a little more sage and thyme or what ever herbs you desire. Replace the meat and add a dash of salt and about 25 - 30mm or so of water. (Optional is to rub sauce over the top the meat). Do not add fat or oils.

Pop the lid on and place into the oven, or sling the hunting pot or camp oven over the fire and slowly cook for 3 – 4 hours or so. The roast will cook in its natural juices and any fat it contains. The water will evaporate, so check now and then and add a little more until cooking is done.

When cooked, lift the meat out and make a gravy.

pOunDeD venIsOnIngredients:

Pounded venison pieces

Butter or oil or bacon fat

Salt

Black pepper

Bacon

Small pieces of sausage

Presuming you do not have a mincer, pound pieces of venison, (except the back steaks), with the back of an axe, hammer or a rock.

Heat up a frying pan, put in some butter, oil or bacon fat and add the pounded meat and cook quickly. Add salt and black pepper if you wish, turn over, and then move to one side of the pan.

Next add some bacon, small pieces of sausage, and also cook quickly. Move the pounded venison back into the pan. Serve.

Mop up any pan residue with a bread roll.

Great breakfast before heading into the dawn for the day’s hunt.

DryInG herBs FOr sTOrAGe

Drying herbs for storag

e is simple. If you

haven’t any in your gar

den ask your friends f

or

some.

Pick off little ‘branches’, and tie them together in

small amounts. Suspend them from narrow manuka or

silver birch branches placed in a cool dry airy place.

You will get the benefits of a lovely aroma during this

stage. When dried, place into brown paper bags. Very

handy for taking on hunting trips.


SWAZI JUNIOR SHOOTS

T H A M E S V A L L E y B R A N C H S W A Z I S H O O TThe branch junior Swazi shoot held last October was a 10 shot event using .22RF

rifles at a 100 metre target on our 50 metre range. This had real appeal and made

it a great day. The event was combined with the branch’s rimfire and centrefire

championship shoot with several of the juniors joining in afterwards.

L - R: Logan Clark, Lee Juett, Brent McNeil, Harry Clapp, Dayna Balsom, Daniel

Lesley, kahn Caddy.

M A R L B O R O U G H B R A N C H S W A Z I S H O O TLast September on a fine and calm day we held our junior Swazi

shoot. The match was shot with .22RF rifles consisting of 5 shots at a deer

target at 75 metres and 5 shots at metallic silhouettes (25, 50, and 75 metres).

The competitors all had a great time and shot very well. Congratulations to the

winners who were the lucky recipients of Swazi garments.

L – R: Thomas Myles, Maddi Loughnan-White, Alex Steans.

GhOsT herDs OF The sKyCont from page 35

‘Great Scott! He’s trying to shove that rock down on top of us; lucky for us he picked such a big one. It won’t shift but he’s trying for all he’s worth.’

With the sun getting low we headed back for camp. Shortly after crossing the Separation Stream Alan picked up a cast Red deer antler. ‘Deer come away up here, do they? I thought we’d have been well past deer country.’

‘Yes! There’s always a few, particularly over on the Classen face, but they’re easily shot out in this type of country. We’ll shoot one over there on Monday, so that we can take out a bit of venison - it’s a pity to shoot more of them than you need.’

As we neared the mouth of Mckinnon Creek a solitary animal could be seen coming towards us from the direction of Rankin’s Stream on Godley Peaks.

‘Lend me your glasses Jack. Thanks! You boys are in luck; it’s a big bull tahr crossing the riverbed. If you follow that gut down you should intercept him Jack. Alan and I will wait here.’ For the next fifteen minutes we had a grandstand view of a tahr being stalked. Finally the old bull heaved himself over a shingle bank only 40 yards away from Jack. We saw the bull stop, stagger and fall, and then faintly heard the sound of the shot. As we approached we could see Jack spanning the horns with his hand. He looked up with an ear-splitting grin.

‘What do you know? Must be all of 14-inches, and to shoot him in the river bed of all places. How lucky can you be?’

‘Congratulations, you would shoot many tahr before you would shoot a better. He’s got a darned good hide too. Why don’t you take it for a mat, seeing it is so handy to camp? It will weigh all of 60 pounds and you’ll never get one handier. We’ll be able to get another head-skin over on the Classen for sure.’

‘I’ll whack the hide off him then while you and Alan go on to camp. Won’t be long,’ said Jack.

‘You won’t get the hide off that animal in a hurry. We’ll cut off some meat and Alan can cook it for tea while I give you a hand with the skinning.’

‘Do you mean to say that you can eat them?’

‘Next to Wapiti meat, the meat is the best I know. Very fine in the grain and not strong in flavour like venison. We’ll take the inside back-strips, they cook in a few minutes. The liver and kidneys would come in handy for breakfast too.’

It took 35 minutes for us to get the skin off that bull, it was three-quarters of an inch thick on the shoulders. All knife work, no pulling or punching.

Another 20 minutes saw us in sight of the camp where Alan was busy at the fire. That night we slept warmly as we spread the tahr skin on the floor of the tent. With the skin beneath us and a trophy set of horns on a rock outside we all agreed it had been a very successful day.

Saturday we visited the head of Mckinnon Creek, Sunday it snowed, and Monday we visited the faces above the Classen Glacier. Tuesday morning saw us packing out with a load including two bull tahr skins, a tahr head and two legs of venison. We had shot 25 tahr, 9 chamois and a deer. It is most important to shoot as many nannies and kids as possible when you get the chance. We had accounted for 27 of them, so were well pleased.

Alan and Jack left this morning. Ambassadors of goodwill for South Canterbury, and high in their praise of our winter weather and shooting. They will no doubt be back in their thigh gumboots tomorrow morning, swimming their sheep on and off their chow mollier.

Well chaps, must away and finish off that ploughing!


We are now starting to build up a small collection of packs from the earliest ‘frameless’ pack, (an original ‘pikau’ that has had five new sacks and three sets of ropes or straps), through to the newer ergonomic style ‘frameless’ packs.

The condition of the packs varies from good+ down to deteriorating. On average though, and considering their age, most are fair to average+.

Besides the pikau, the oldest would be the ‘triangular’ cane framed pack. Building these would have required some skill, to be able to shape the cane

and then bind it together with whipping. The cane frame was replaced with a steel frame.

The next packs were the Mountain Mule, they were very popular and used for a number of years and consequently underwent a number of changes. The first were an all wood frame, and then we have a wood with aluminium cross bars. This was followed by a steel tube frame which also doubled as a stove fuel carrier. The last Mountain Mule

we have is an all aluminium frame.

The last two packs we have fall into the ergonomic era that has now become the norm for packs. The yellow one is an example of an ergonomic aluminium frame that was

shaped to fit your back. The second one (red and black) is an example of an early ‘frameless’ ergonomic pack. The condition of both these packs is below average.

HERITAGE

pACKs

Before

After

You will recall that when we featured the Nitz brothers’ Red deer heads there was a 12-pointer that had started to deteriorate. The antlers were sent away to well known taxidermists, G D O’Rourke & Sons Ltd who very kindly remounted the head using a donated headskin donated by Ian Irvine, South Canterbury Branch. The before and after photos say it all!

nITZ reD heAD - upDATe

The ‘triangular’ packs

Mountain Mule frame types, from left to right: wood; wood with aluminium; steel; all aluminium

The steel fuel carrying frame


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PLACES TO HUNT

The area

Twizel Te Manahuna Area Office administers the Mackenzie Country and Waitaki area, managing over 220,000 hectares of public conservation land which includes Ahuriri and Ruataniwha Conservation Parks as well as the Godley, Oteake, kirkliston and St Marys Range. The terrain ranges from steep rock and scree slopes, glaciers, braided rivers, beech forest and open tussock country.

species

The Mackenzie Country and Waitaki hunting blocks are well known for their tahr hunting potential, especially places such as Dobson, Godley and Macaulay Valleys and Ben Ohau Range.

Chamois can be found in low numbers spread across most conservation areas. Wallaby are located in the southern end of the Two Thumb Range and Hunter Hills. Meanwhile pigs are resident in the Waitaki Valley on Hunter Hills and St Marys Range.

Red deer are also found here. Special permits for small game animals, such as rabbits and hares, are not issued.

restricted hunting areas

The kirkliston hunting block contains wallaby, chamois and Red deer but two catchments within this area are closed to hunting. This is due to forestry contractors working within the block at various times of the year.

Hunters are advised to check for current pesticide operations that may be in progress where they intend to hunt. Summaries are published every four months by each conservancy.

Where to hunt

There are numerous hunting blocks in the Mackenzie Country and Waitaki area. Details about each block are listed below. There are a total of 17 blocks.

MACKenZIe COunTry & WAITAKI hunTInGhttp://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/hunting/where-to-hunt/canterbury/mackenzie-country-and-waitaki-hunting/

AhurIrI hunTInG BlOCK General information

This block is part of the Ahuriri Conservation Park. A detailed Ahuriri Conservation Park brochure is available from Twizel Te Manahuna Area office. A significant amount of beech forest covers the Ahuriri Valley margins, while the tops are exposed rock and scree. Animals present are Red deer, tahr and chamois.

Access - is via Birchwood Road, off State Highway 8 between Omarama and the Lindis Pass. The road is suitable for all vehicles to Birchwood Homestead; from there 4WD is recommended to reach the car park area at the road end.

There are two marked easements for accessing the public land west of Ben Avon Station. One easement is via a waterfall track and the other is via Birch Creek. There are also two marked easements through Ben Avon farmland to access the Ahuriri River and the public land on the true left of the Ahuriri River. Hunting is not permitted on the access easements crossing private land.

Map information - Topo50 BZ14.

Dogs - are not permitted on Ben Avon Station or on the marked public easements through Ben Avon Station.

Dogs are allowed in the Ahuriri Conservation Park but are required to

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be under control. They should be kept on a lead at all times while in riverbed areas and wetlands between the months of August and the end of February, to avoid disturbing nesting birdlife.

Hut information - Ahuriri Base Hut - (GR: E1328602, N5092290), standard hut with 6 bunks, mattresses and heating; Top Dingle Hut - (GR: E1325318, N5091234), standard hut with 6 bunks, mattresses and heating; Shamrock Hut – (GR: E1330418, N5099540), basic hut, with 2 bunks, mattresses and heating; Hagens Hut - (GR: E1331317, N5105444), standard hut with 4 bunks, mattresses and heating; Top Hut – (GR: E1333150, N5109168), basic hut with 2 bunks, mattresses and heating.

Ben OhAu hunTInG BlOCK

General information

The Ben Ohau Conservation Area consists of open tussock country, within the Ruataniwha Conservation Park. A brochure on Ruataniwha Conservation Park is available from Twizel Te Manahuna Area office. Tahr and chamois are found in this block.

Access - is signposted from the Aoraki/Mt Cook highway (State Highway 80) on the true right of Boundary Stream. Another access easement follows the true right of Big Rock Stream from the Aoraki/Mt Cook highway (State Highway 80).

A walking, mountain biking and horse riding easement goes through private farmland to access the Gladstone and Twizel River catchments of the Ben Ohau Range. Access is from the Aoraki/Mount Cook Highway (State Highway 80) where there is a designated car park area. To drive to Baikie Hut, 4WD access permission and a key must be obtained from Pukaki Downs Station. This track may be closed at times eg, during periods of high fire danger. A fee or bond may be payable to the owners of Pukaki Downs Station. In order to protect the fragile environment above Baikie Hut, vehicles are to be left at the hut.

The southern end of the Ben Ohau Range is accessed via two walking easements through private farmland. There is a walking easement for Fraser Stream and another walking easement to Dart’s Bush area and Flanagan Pass.

Landholders - For permission for 4WD access to Baikie Hut contact Pukaki Downs Station.

Map information - Topo50 BY15, BZ15.

Dogs - are not permitted on the marked walking easements without landholder permission. However, they may be taken on the public conservation land marked on the true right of Boundary Stream.

Hut information - Baikie Hut, (GR: E1365071, N5111929), basic hut with 4 bunks, mattresses and heating.

DOBsOn hunTInG BlOCK General information

The majority of this hunting area consists of beech forest located within the Ruataniwha Conservation Park. A brochure on the recreational, cultural and natural values of Ruataniwha Conservation Park is available from Twizel Te Manahuna Area office. The tops are exposed rock and scree with the terrain becoming more challenging at the northern end of

the valley where it borders with Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Red deer, tahr and chamois are found here.

Access - Public access is via Glen Lyon Road to Glen Lyon Station. Permission is required from Glen Lyon Station to continue beyond the homestead. 4WD vehicles are required to access beyond Glen Lyon Homestead.

Landholders - ken and Jane Wigley, Glen Lyon Station.

Map information - Topo50 BY15.

Dogs - Permission is required from Glen Lyon Station to access the Dobson Valley with dogs. Dogs should be kept on a lead at all times in riverbed areas and wetlands between the months of August and the end of February, because of nesting birdlife.

Hut information - Station Hut - Glen Lyon Station - private hut; Grough Hut (GR: E1354921, N5131061), basic 2 bunk and mattresses; kennedy, Memorial Hut, (GR: E1356121, N5136964), standard hut with 6 bunks, heating and mattresses; Waterfall Hut, (GR: E1357921, N5142166), basic hut with 4 bunks, heating and mattresses and Reardon Biv, (GR: E1358621, N5145768), basic hut with 2 bunks and mattresses.

GAMACK hunTInG BlOCK General information

The Gamack Range extends south from the Liebig Range bordering Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. The Gamack Range sits between the Jollie and Cass Rivers. Animal species are tahr and chamois. This block has unfenced boundaries.

Do not enter the Tekapo Military Training Area, a defence area, without permission. Live firing can occur at any time. Do not touch or pick up anything as it may be an unexploded ordinance.

Access - Permission is required from Mt Cook Station and Braemar Station for walking or driving access via Jollie Stream to the Gamack Range. For access via the Forks Stream and Fraser Stream, permission is required from both Braemar Station and Glenmore Station.

On occasions, the New Zealand Defence Force may, at its discretion and with consultation with adjacent property managers, allow access over defence land to gain entry to Fork Stream. Such parties will be escorted through the defence area by the warrant officer in charge from Tekapo Military Training Area, or his representative.

Landholders - Mt Cook Station Braemar Station - Hamish and Julia Mckenzie, 03 680 6844 Tekapo Military Training Area, Tekapo-Twizel Road, Lake Tekapo, 03 680 6891

Map information - Topo50 BY16, BX16.

Dogs - are only allowed on this block with permission from landholders, and must be under control. Dogs must be on a lead at all times in riverbed areas and wetlands between the months of August and the end of February, because of nesting birdlife.

Hut information - Green Point Hut - Braemar Station, private hut.


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REVIEWS

Title: Healthy Bastards

Produced and presented by: Dr Dave Baldwin

Director: Joe Boon

Running time: 120 minutes

RRP: $30.00

Available from: www.flyingdoctor.co.nz/buydvd

Classification: M

Reviewed by: Trevor Dyke

To quote from the back cover, ‘this movie was developed from Dr Dave’s best selling book Healthy Bastards which, like this movie, combines non PC humour with serious messages.’

The DVD starts off with a bit of bull but the messages being delivered in Dr Dave Baldwin’s humorous way are no bull. The opening section of the movie introduces you to the various vital organs within our bodies describing what they do and what can go wrong. This is done in Dr Dave’s humorous way but delivering an underlying health message to all the ‘unhealthy bastards’.

Dr Dave uses experts to discuss the serious issues to discuss the effects of what happens when a heart attack strikes, what the consequences can be and what needs to be done to recover. However he also uses ordinary people when talking about being a ‘healthy bastard’. If you have ever wanted to know how an examination of the prostate is carried out, Dr Dave shows you thanks to a willing ‘patient’.

Once the main message has been delivered Dr Dave sets out to find New Zealand’s most ‘healthy bastard’. To do this he takes you on a journey through New Zealand based along his Flying Doctor Services route. On this journey he asks some of his clients if they are or know who would be New Zealand’s ‘healthiest bastard,’ and the scenery seen when flying from airstrip to airstrip would be amongst some of the finest to be seen. This becomes more so when the journey reaches areas in the southern South Island.

The further south he goes the answers start to build a picture that some will be able to work out who it will be.

On the whole I found the DVD interesting, informative and it made me more aware of what to watch for or check for if any changes should become apparent. Not only that, but do not hesitate to see your doctor if you notice something and also maintain a regular check up cycle.

My only criticism would be the journey to find New Zealand’s ‘healthiest bastard’. I felt that it went on a bit too long and could have been shortened and still delivered the same message just as effectively.

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Title: Does the Trigger Pull the Finger? The Uses, Abuses and Rational Reform of Firearms Law in the United Kingdom

Author: Richard Law and Peter Brookesmith

Publisher: The Spitfire Press, Pembrokeshire, Wales

ISBN: 1906174996

RRP: $31.99

Format: Soft cover, 176 pages, black & white illustrations, 220mm x 150mm

Available from: www.fishpond.co.nz

Reviewed by: Chaz Forsyth

This book is a ‘rattling good read’, being at times amusing, instructive and entertaining. The authors delve into numerous case studies which result from the complicated firearm controls to be found in the United kingdom.

The authors criticise the efforts made towards controlling the minority of firearms in the Uk which are legitimately held, noting that something like ten times that number exist outside the systems operated by the police.

These controls provide for a form of firearm registration, although the authors take issue with this expression, as they do for ‘firearm licensing’; they prefer to consider the process as being ‘firearm certification’. Their exploration of how British firearm controls are ‘worked’ by the British politicians (through their Home Office), the judiciary, the police, ‘policy’ and the courts, are mind-boggling in how the different groups act at times beyond the law, at times in a manner which makes it impossible for the citizen-taxpayer to comply.

One example will suffice: a firearm might be approved for a given owner, for use at a designated range. However, if while transporting it from his/her home to the place of use, and if the vehicle is broken into and the firearm stolen, the owner faces charges of having left the firearm insecure – the fact of the theft justifies the charge, which is indefensible. Neat. This and other measures, often derived from ‘policy’ bring the law into disrepute.

The authors hold the view that it is all part of a significant job creation scheme, aided and abetted by the absence of a national registration system, but 50 or more county constabularies.

Unfortunately, the authors then proceed to suggest many revisions to address the anomalies they identify. Their revisions include the continued listing of firearms by a central authority, the continued need for limiting the amount of ammunition able to be held, even purchased at one time, by licence holders, and of course other measures which have never been observed by the criminal element.

The obstacles put in the way of potential club members towards recruitment, membership, even existence, boggle the mind, when compared to what we in New Zealand enjoy. However, it is also a warning for law-abiding New Zealand arms owners to remain united in the face of attempts to introduce ineffective restrictions to violence and the threat of violence which, by their passing into law, affect only the law-abiding, and not those who, by definition, are beyond the law.

The book is seriously disadvantaged by lacking an index and a list of references (although there are a few footnotes).

Title: Life on Wheels

Author: Graeme Sinclair

Publisher: Halcyon Press

ISBN: 978-1-87756-613-4

RRP: $39.99

Format: 220 pages, 240mm x 170mm, colour and black and white photographs

Available from: Booksellers or Halcyon Press at www.halcyonpublishing.co.nz/

Reviewed by: Tony Orman

Graeme Sinclair producer, writer and compere of the TV3 show Gone Fishing is also a keen hunting enthusiast. Indeed he hunted extensively in places like Fiordland with the late Ray Tinsley who wrote some great books on Wapiti and moose. However in his forties Graeme was afflicted with multiple sclerosis (MS) and has since been largely confined to the wheel chair. But back then he grabbed control of the situation, took a deep breath and plunged on with life as normal, but on wheels.

‘In many ways this disease (MS) was a wakeup call, a chance to really count my blessings and appreciate what I have. I thought I was appreciative before MS came along but in many ways I was treading water,’ writes Graeme Sinclair. ‘Attitude in life is almost everything. A positive one will lift you into the stratosphere and a negative one will sink you but the great thing is YOU get to choose.’

This book is largely autobiographical from Graeme’s childhood and upbringing in a turbulent family situation to the mental and physical challenges of dealing with the onset of MS about 14 years ago.

It’s a candid, no holds barred, ‘all-out-in-the-open’ book that is an absorbing read on not only his battle, but marriage, divorce and remarriage, to family, to kids and of course fishing. And then there’s hunting in Fiordland which Graeme recalls after a visit there.

The only grating chapter for me was one extolling current Prime Minister John key. But you may agree with Graeme’s views. It just that on that subject, I don’t.

Put that aside and the book is absorbing, at times inspirational and a very fine read. Don’t miss reading it!


POETRY

When you leave me, can you leave me,

where the big trees bend and sigh.Where there’s birdsong in the

morning, and a river running by.

I’ll find a big rock overhand, enough to keep my dry.

With a gap or two, amongst the trees,

so I can see the sky.

When you leave me, can you leave me

with a breeze upon my cheek.Where the crystal clear bush

water,murmurs gently in the creek.

I’ll hope the place you leave me,will have leaves to make my bed.

And if I’m in luck there’ll be,a mossy bank to lay my head.


with a billy-can or two.And a heap of dry red totara

chips,so I can make a brew.

I’ll live in hope a robin,might just visit now and then.

With just maybe a verse or two,still flowing from my pen.


with my rifle by my side.Just in case a pig or deer, should

pass by,close to where I hide.

I’ll keep a pile of dry manuka,handy if I can.

And I hope there’ll be the smell of bacon,

frying in the pan.


where I’ll hear a morepork call.Where maybe there’ll be a trout

of two,below a waterfall.

I hope that when you leave me,my mind is crystal clear.

So I can see picture faces,of the ones that I hold dear.

Any my mind will bring me visions,of wonders I have seen.

Distant memories stirring lightly,of the places I have been.

Then I’ll settle down and make the most,

of everything I’ve got.And you can rest contented,

I’ll be happy with my lot.

When yOu leAve Me(A hunTer’s pleA)

By Mike McGee

This poem has been has been reproduced from Mike

McGee’s book, ‘For Those Who Understand’, as a dedication to Hong Tse

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Title: Hodgdon’s 2012 Annual Manual

Author: Davey Hughes

Publisher: Hodgdon Powder Company

ISBN: 10-1616082380

RRP: NZ$20.00 (approxiamately)

Format: Soft cover, 170 pages, 215mm x 280mm

Available from: Review copy was obtained from www.hodgdon.com however major shooting outlets should have it in stock.

Reviewed by: Chaz Forsyth

The idea of an annually appearing reloading guide may sound odd when we think of the near decade-long period between those by other reloading tool and component manufacturers.

Splendid lead articles written by the likes of Bryce Towsley, Layne Simpson and Charles Petty describe products which have appeared on the American market during the year since the ‘Annual Manual’ for 2011 appeared. Layne Simpson, who visited New Zealand for a hunt about four years ago, describes the ‘green bullets’ (lead-free) like those pioneered by Barnes and their competitors such as Hornady, Woodleigh and Winchester. In a world that is increasingly being threatened by anti firearm related hysteria, the avoidance of the dreaded ‘lead’ is thought by some to be a ‘good thing’. That these bullets, although as pricey as any other controlled expansion offering, are already recognised as being effective on game animals, even within New Zealand, merely shows how well New Zealanders keep up with overseas trends.

The development of a type of propellant, by Hodgdon, known as ‘CFE 223’ which contains an ingredient which reduces copper fouling. This propellant was first created for the .204 Ruger, which has never had a reputation for fouling barrels with factory ammunition (now we know why), and is now available for handloading. ‘CFE’ is an abbreviation for ‘copper fouling eraser’.

Mention too is made of black powder and its more modern substitutes. Although perhaps not likely to interest many NZDA members, black powder has been around for a lot longer than New Zealand has been known to Europeans and so captures the attention of those with an eye for history.

The book then explores briefly the techniques of metallic ammunition reloading, noting the range of propellants available and some of their characteristics.

Covering all of the powders currently manufactured, the loading data is very comprehensive, being presented in tabular form. It features well over 5,000 loads with the latest information on 30 Hodgdon®, 19 IMR® and 10 Winchester® brand powders. Rifle chamberings run from the .17 Ackley Hornet through to the .50 BMG. Handgun data starts with the .22 Remington Jet, extending to the .500 S&W Magnum.

Throughout, it might be expected that Hodgdon propellants might dominate, but the reality is a wide range of suitable propellants are cited as appropriate, for loadings in approximately 118 rifle cartridge combinations (this is a ‘weasel’ way of saying data for chamberings like .45-70 are offered in rifles of three action strengths).

All in all, a pretty good $20.00 worth in my view.


POINTS Of ENVY

WInnInG heADs nATIOnAl AnTler, hOrn AnD TusK COMpeTITIOns 2011

KeITh severInsOn TrOphy – BesT FIOrDlAnD Type DeerT i m F l o w e r , W a i k a t o B r a n c h , 2 6 6 ¾ D S , t a k e n a t S t i n a B u r n .

The animal was bugling on a ridge and I managed to sneak in and shoot it.

COOK TrOphy - BesT TAhr AnD WInner OF GOlD MeDAlM a t t h e w B l a c k ( j u n i o r m e m b e r ) , S o u t h C a n t e r b u r y B r a n c h , 4 6 ½ , ( D S e q u i v a l e n t 3 5 3 . 7 9 ) , t a k e n i n t h e P o r e r o a G o r g e .

I came around the side of the hill into a gully, spotted the bull 200 metres away and shot it with my second shot while it was on the move.


puTAruru BrAnCh TrOphy – BesT unDrAWn pIG TusKs AnD WInner OF A BrOnZe MeDAlG l e n n R a l s t o n , A s h b u r t o n B r a n c h , 2 3 ¼ , t a k e n a t t h e R a k a i a R i v e r .

I had already taken four good pigs for the morning, and was on the way to a bail, when I shot this one sneaking out. I was wrapped with the jaw.

DIllOn shIelD – BesT DrAWn pIG TusKsG l e n n R a l s t o n , A s h b u r t o n b r a n c h , 2 9 ½ , ( D S e q u i v a l e n t 3 0 3 . 6 7 ) , t a k e n a t t h e R a k a i a R i v e r .

I finally took this boar after the dogs and I losing it twice before. The dogs bailed it on a steep face. I snuck in close through thick scrub and took him

with a head shot. He weighed in at 153 lbs.


On TArGeTnOrTh IslAnD ChAMpIOnshIps (sCOpeD rIFle) 2011 B y M a l c o l m P e r r y , R o t o r u a a n d S o u t h W a i k a t o B r a n c h e s

The South Waikato Branch hosted the championships on November 26th and 27th 2011 at the Tokoroa Sporting Shooters Range Complex.

Entries were again disappointing, but we did have two juniors take part in the rimfire event. This year we did not have top ten awards as we have done during the last two years. We did not even have ten entries and there were only just ten for the main awards. This matter will be discussed at the shooters’ meeting at the nationals to try and reach a proposal that will suit the fewer entries we are experiencing recently. Apart from that, the weekend went well and as is often the case,

we had more wind for rimfire than centrefire.

It was good to see our competitor from Whangarei and the junior entry from Taupo making us very aware of their presence.

Sunday saw the 100 metre four position centrefire match.

In spite of the low turnout the weekend was very enjoyable. The fellowship amongst the shooters was great and in spite of the low numbers the competition at times was very close. A big thank you to Sandi Curreen who, even though Colin was unable to attend, came along and did a great job marking targets and posting final scores in very quick time.

ON TARGET

Rimfire - A Team Branch ScoreBrenda Perry, Rod Hill, Malcolm Perry Rotorua 1498.10Ian Williamson, John Pearce, Brian Lambert

South Waikato

1441.03

Mike Bailey, Mark Poots, Adian Ralfe Taupo 1506.03

Rimfire 50 metreProne StandingM Poots 99 R Hill 85I Williamson 98 B Perry 83M Bailey 98 M Poots 82R Hill 98kneeling TotalM Bailey 94 R Hill 273B Blythen 94 B Perry 272B Perry 92 M Bailey 270

M Poots 270

Rimfire 100 metre Prone StandingB Blythen 98.06 B Perry 84.00B Perry 95.04 B Blythen 77.00B Lambert 92.02 M Bailey 77.00kneeling TotalB Blythen 86.00 B Perry 264.05A Ralfe 86.00 B Blythen 261.06B Perry 85.01 M Bailey 251.00M Poots 85.01

Rimfire Aggregate ScoreB Perry 536.05B Blythen 527.06M Bailey 521.00

Centrefire - A Team Branch ScoreBrian Lambert, Ian Williamson, John Pearce

South Waikato

1045.20

Rod Hill, Malcolm Perry, Brenda Perry Rotorua 1041.23Mike Bailey, Mark Poots, Adian Ralfe Taupo 1506.03

Centrefire 100 metresProne StandingB Perry 100.04 B Perry 85.00I Williamson 99.03 B Blythen 80.00B Blythen 98.07 I Williamson 79.00 kneeling SittingB Perry 97.03 B Lambert 97.02B Blythen 93.02 J Pearce 96.02J Stick 93.00 J Stick 95.03

Centrefire Total ScoreB Blythen 365.12M Poots 359.09I Williamson 358.04

Grand Aggregate Rimfire and Centrefire ScoreB Blythen 892.18B Perry 885.15M Bailey 875.02

A Grade - Grand Aggregate ScoreB Blythen 892.18B Perry 885.15M Bailey 875.05

Centrefire winners – 2nd: Mark Poots, 1st: Bryn Blythen, 3rd: Ian Williamson.

Teams trophy winners – Rotorua, (Brenda Perry, Malcolm Perry and Rod Hill)

Rimfire winners – 3rd: Mike Bailey, 1st: Brenda Perry, 2nd: Bryn Blythen.

Grand aggregate winners – Bronze: Mike Bailey, Gold: Bryn Blythen, Silver: Brenda Perry.

B Grade (Rimfire only) ScoreAdian Ralfe 471

D Grade (Rimfire only) ScoreJamie Ralfe 225

Juniors (Rimfire Only) ScoreAdian Ralfe 471Jamie Ralfe 225J Stick 804.07M Perry 794.08B Lambert 783.10

A - Team Trophy Rimfire Centrefire TotalRotorua Team 1498.10 1041.23 2539.33South Waikato Team 1441.03 1045.20 2486.23

North Island Sooting Trophy - Grand Aggregate ScoreB Blythen 892.18B Perry 885.15M Bailey 875.02

North Island Rimfire Shooting Trophy - Grand Aggregate ScoreB Perry 536.05B Blythen 527.06M Bailey 521.00

North Island Centrefire Shooting Trophy - Grand Aggregate ScoreB Blythen 365.12M Poots 359.09I Williamson 358.04

North Island Ladies Trophy ScoreB Perry 885.15

2012 nOrTh IslAnD BenChresT ChAMIOnshIp Hosted by the South Waikato Branch on 28th and 29th January 2012 at the Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex.

LV Grand Aggregate1 Graeme Smith 0.33432 Peter Haxell 0.34673 Alan West 0.3799

HV Grand Aggregate1 Graeme Smith 0.37782 Mark Layland 0.40343 Tony Titheridge 0.4078

2 Gun Aggregate1 Graeme Smith 0.35612 Peter Haxell 0.38053 Tony Titheridge 0.4351

2012 nATIOnAl ChAMpIOnshIps NRA Rimfire 50m ProneG Botting 381.12R Hill 380.17M Bailey 375.09

NRA 100m Centrefire ProneG Botting 200.08M Poots 200.04C Curreen 199.08

Rimfire 50m Prone (10 Shot)M Bailey 99G Botting 99B Lambert 99

Rimfire 100m Prone (10 Shot)B Blythen 95.03M Bailey 95.02H Heard 91.00

NRA Rimfire 50m StandM Bailey 339.03R Hill 331.04G Botting 318.00

NRA 100m Centrefire StandC Curreen 184.02M Bailey 180.01R Hill 173.01

Rimfire 50m Stand (10 Shot)M Bailey 85R Hill 81B Blythen 80

Rimfire 100m Stand (10 Shot)M Bailey 84.00B Blythen 79.00A Ralfe 77.01

NRA Rimfire 50m kneelR Hill 372.06G Botting 367.09M Bailey 360.06

NRA 100m Centrefire kneelC Curreen 198.06G Botting 197.03M Bailey 196.04

Rimfire 50m kneel (10 Shot)R Hill 94B Blythen 92M Poots 90J Pearce 90

Rimfire 100m kneel (10 Shot)B Blythen 92.01M Bailey 86.00G Botting 84.00M Poots 84.00

NRA Rimfire 50m TotalR Hill 1083.34M Bailey 1974.18G Botting 1066.21

NRA 100m Centrefire TotalC Curreen 581.16M Bailey 574.12M Poots 560.04

Rimfire 50m Total (10 Shot)M Bailey 271R Hill 271B Blythen 269

Rimfire 100m Total (10 Shot)B Blythen 266.04M Bailey 265.02G Botting 245.01

2 Gun Event NRA Rimfire & Centrefire

M Bailey 1648.30R Hill 1623.49G Botting 1623.32

200m Prone (60 Shot)M Poots 599.43C Curreen 595.29G Botting 588.24

Rimfire Grand Agg 50 and 100mM Bailey 536.02B Blythen 535.04R Hill 513.00

Rimfire Grade Medal PlacingsB - A Ralfe 479.01C - H Orr 425.01D - P Chubb 399.01

Short F Class 100mA West 314D Maisey 312H Orr 280

Metallic Silhouette (80 Shot)S Smith 61B Perry 59B Blythen 55

Rimfire VeteransB Lambert 458.00B Neckelson 436.00

Rimfire TeamsTaupo - A Team 1547.04South Waikato 1418.02Taupo - B Team 1297.01

Short F Class 200mD Maisey 300A West 296H Orr 275

Centrefire 100m Prone (10 Shot)G Botting 100.08B Blythen 99.04C Curreen 99.03

Centrefire 200m Prone (10 Shot)M Poots 100.05G Botting 98.02M Bailey 98.01

Centrefire Grade Medal PlacingsB - A RalfeC - H OrrD - P Chubb

Short F Class 100 & 200 Grand Agg

D Maisey 612A West 610H Orr 555

Centrefire 100m Stand (10 Shot)I Williamson 87.01C Curreen 87.00M Bailey 85.02

Centrefire 200m Stand (10 Shot)M Poots 86.01C Curreen 86.00J Pearce 83.00

Centrefire VeteransM Perry 507.08B Neckelson 505.09B Lambert 473.06

Ladies Records NRA 100m Centrefire

H Heard 501.05M Bailey 85.02

Centrefire 100m kneel (10 Shot)G Botting 98.04C Curreen 96.01B Blythen 92.02

Centrefire 200m Sit (10 Shot)C Curreen 97.07B Blythen 95.02I Williamson 94.00

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

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Gunworks Canterbury............................................... 39Hunting & Fishing NZ...........................................24, 39kilwell Sports Ltd .........................19, Inside Back CoverLeica, Lacklands Ltd .............................................7, 21Mana Charters ..........................................................12Militaria Auction ....................................................... 29Mountain Safety Council / NZ Police ....................... 5,13New Zealand Police / MSC ......................................... 9NZ Ammunition Company limited ...... Inside Front CoverNew Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association .............. 33, 48Nicholas Taylor, Barrister .......................................... 48Southland Locator Beacons ...................................... 35Stoney Creek ....................................................... 6, 33Target Products Ltd .................................................. 27Top Gear .................................................................. 32True Blu ....................................................................12Swazi Apparel ........................................37, Back Cover


Centrefire TeamsTaupo 1623.38South Waikato 1572.24Rotorua 1523.24

Rimfire 50 and 100mH Heard 454.00

Centrefire 100m TotalC Curreen 282.04G Botting 274.13I Williamson 274.06

Centrefire 200m TotalM Poots 277.08C Curreen 277.06G Botting 270.05

Centrefire Grand Agg 100 and 200m TotalC Curreen 559.1G Botting 544.18M Poots 544.11

Centrefire 100 and 200mH Heard 482.05

200m Prone (60 Shot)H Heard 575.15

Metallic Silhouette (80 Shot)B Perry 59H Heard 30M Poots 544.11

For all who value a compact rifl e scope, SWAROVSKI OPTIK now offer two different rifl e scopes which have one thing in common: a slim design with a tube diameter of only 1 inch.

The difference: The Z3 with 3x zoom concentrates on time-tested, outstanding optics, whilst the Z5 also offers a 5x zoom an innovation for a 1 inch rifl e scope thus

combining high magnifi cations with a large fi eld of view.The perfect rifl e scopes for the versatile, discerning hunter.

COMPACT CLASSZ5 AND Z3. THE 1 INCH RIFLE SCOPES FROM SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Z566% GREATER FIELD OF VIEW RANGE

66% GREATER MAGNIFICATION RANGEPercentages relate to a unit with 3x zoom

Z3CONCENTRATION ON THE ESSENTIAL

COMPACT, RUGGED, RELIABLE

THE ESTABLISHED SWAROVSKI OPTIK AV-RANGE WITH A NEW LOOK

WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COMSEE THE UNSEEN

PO BOX 40401, UPPER HUTT,Fax: 04 527 9243, Email: [email protected], www.nzammo.co.nz

CZ5Z3_NZ Amm_A4+3_EN.indd 1 09.07.2009 10:23:38 Uhr

New Low Prices – check Now at your LocaL deaLer

Everyone knows SWAZI® wet weather gear is legendary.

Now it’s just become even more so. With the exciting

release of our new AEGIS® Watershield membrane,

SWAZI® wet weather gear takes another huge leap above ALL

other waterproofs in the market and gives you access to

the very best hunting garments - in the world.

In collaboration with Bruck Mills Laboratory in Australia,

AEGIS® has been built to be more technically breathable, more

scientifically durable and mechanically much more advanced

than any other fabric we’ve ever used.

Tested in the New Zealand mountain

environment by over 50 seasoned

hunters for the past 18 months,

AEGIS® has proven itself to be

a quantum leap forward in

providing comfort and safety

to outdoorsmen. One could

say, it’s way ahead of its time.Belgian Bob testing the new AEGIS® fabric under Mt Ruapehu

Three-layered AEGIS® provides you with absolute protection from rain, snow and the wind, at the same time allowing your moisture vapour to pass through the unique Watershield membrane. This process gives you incredible protection from the elements, allowing you to operate at the highest levels of outdoor performance.

To find out more about AEGIS® WATERSHIELD, AEGIS® WINDSHIELD plus the full range of SWAZI® wet weather and thermal gear, visit our website

OR CALL US ON 0800 4 79294 AND ASK FOR OUR SWAZI® CATTLEDOG

THE NEW AEGIS® FABRIC FROM SWAZI®

IS WAY AHEAD OF ITS TIME

HOW SWAZI® AEGIS® WATERSHIELD KEEPS YOU DRY AND WARM

www.swazi.co.nzCD

5906

Rain, sleet and snow can’t pass through the AEGIS® membrane

Your body perspiration passes through the mesh lining, AEGIS® membrane and outer face fabric

Durable face fabric

Wind is deflected from the membrane

AEGIS® membrane

Trico mesh lining

Escaping Moisture vapour (perspiration)

New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife | 176 - Autumn 2012

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Transcript of New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife | 176 - Autumn 2012