new zealand hunting & wildlife | 173 - winter 2011

Gen X - takes Gen Y – to spot Z

easter Fallow

the Value oF a liFe

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winter issue 173 - JulY to septeMBer 2011

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Issue 173 JuLY - september 2011An official publication of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated

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

COver phOtO ‘TWINS?’ photographed by James Pearce, South Canterbury Branch, Game Animal (Section A), 2010

FeAturesThe Value of a Life – Murray Phillips ............................................................................................. 8

Gen X – Takes Gen Y – To Spot Z – Warren Hall .....................................................................10

Taiko Range Opening – Christine McCarthy ..............................................................................12

NZ Game Animal Council – Press release ...................................................................................13

Lock, Stock and Barrel – Oiling a stock .......................................................................................16

Young Hunter Story – My First Pig Hunt – Scott Verschuuren..........................................18

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

Easter Fallow – Roger Stokes ...........................................................................................................20

Habitat – Recovering Whio/Blue Duck – Andrew Glaser .....................................................22

Thames Valley Branch Hits The Mark With World Championships ................................24

Otago Red Deer Herd Trophies (Continued) - Heads 4, 5, & 6 .........................................26

HUNTS Course With a Difference – Mike Spray ......................................................................28

Blast from the Past – Curiosity In Paradise Valley – Norm Hubbard .............................34

Obituary – Norman (Norm) Hubbard .............................................................................................35

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

Editorial – The Commissioner’s Poison – Mathew Lark ................................................... 3

HUNTS Report - Bill O’Leary – Bits and Pieces .................................................................... 6

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

DOC Update - National Hunting Advisor - Brent Beaven ...................................................16

Tip Offs – Photographing Birds In Flight The Easy Way – Jeff Banke .......................17

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

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

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

Heritage – The Nitz’s Brothers Wapiti Heads ......................................................................... 38

Places to Hunt – Whanganui Forests Hunting ........................................................................ 40

Book reviews.............................................................................................................................................42

Poetry - Stag Royal – Bill Ross ...................................................................................................... 43

Points of Envy - More in the series - 2010 AHT Competition Winners ..................... 44

On Target – National Shooting Results ...................................................................................... 45

CONTENTS

1NZ Hunting & Wildlife 173 - Winter 2011

With another roar and duck shooting opening day over, I hope our members and readers of our magazine were successful. We now have the cold months to try and get through before the spring hunting starts again. However there is still our Rusa and Sambar roar to look forward to in the July/August period and the rest of our bird shooting season.

I did see that 50 inch Wapiti bull during the bugle in Fiordland, but he managed to escape. We also let a 45 inch 10-point bull go, but managed to get some good photos of it. This shows what good management can do; it’s only a matter of time before we will see some great heads come out of the Fiordland again.

Game aNimal CouNCil

In my last meeting with the Minister of Conservation, Kate Wilkinson on the 23rd May 2011 she advised that the bill, which will enable the Game Animal Council, is before the Parliamentary Counsel Office. This office is outside the core public sector, and its job is to draft and shape bills before they go to their first reading in the House of Representatives. We

have asked Kate to consider allowing NZDA to have further input into the bill’s drafting before it reaches first reading; she will feed back to us about this idea.

The next major milestone will be the second reading stage, when it will be referred to the appropriate select committee. At this point you, as public submitters will have further opportunities to voice your view of the shape of the new council as it will be enabled in law, not necessarily as it was proposed to the minister. Kate also indicated that time might be running out to get the bill through parliament before this year’s election, but she will be doing what she can.

We offered our support and indicated the Association would do whatever it could with our resources available to help in the process.

CoNservatioN maNaGemeNt strateGy

There is a lot of Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) reviews coming up for renewal around the country and I wish to encourage branches and members to submit on these,

as it is your chance to have your say for the next ten years in your area. These can be found on the DOC website (www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/consultations/current/) or through the NZDA National Office. So have your say. The advisor to the National Executive will be preparing a template to assist with CMS submissions.

Heli-HuNtiNG

At my recent meeting with Kate Wilkinson, heli-hunting was another hot topic. I again reiterated our concern about the new short term permits for the wilderness area that will be overlapping into the second ballot period, which is extremely ridiculous. This makes the whole ballot a complete waste of time. I explained this issue to the minister and again she appeared very concerned and possibly misinformed in regard to these permits. She indicated she would be fast tracking legislation changes to stop this activity as under the current legislation it is very hard for the minister and her department to stop this activity.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

presIDeNt’s repOrta l e c m c i v e r - N a t i o n a l P r e s i d e n t N e w Z e a l a n d D e e r s t a l k e r s ’ a s s o c i a t i o n

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 173 - Winter 2011 2

The heli-hunting subcommittee, chaired by David Hodder has been active appearing before conservation boards, producing letters and papers for public consumption and in media and official information matters. The subcommittee is currently awaiting advice from a Christchurch barrister on a formal legal opinion on the challengability of the recent version 5 heli-hunting short term permits

We have undertaken to publicise the names of the heli-hunting permit holders in this edition of the NZ Hunting and Wildlife magazine. (See page 32)

aNNual CoNfereNCe

We have our annual conference coming up in Tuatapere on the 21st – 24th July 2011. This will be a great event for this small community.

I am looking forward to the next twelve months as these will be exciting and changing times for hunting in New Zealand.

GooD luCk aND safe HuNtiNG

EDITORIAL

how Jan wright’s public essay scores an F For Fail with hunters, Forests and birds

A critical assessment of Dr Jan Wright’s report on the use of 1080 published in early June.

My email in-box has been has been cruelly tried by an onslaught of puffed-up press releases

and high-flown statements, largely praising the most dangerous, poorly drafted and

inadequate report produced by any independent officer of Parliament in recent years.

The Ombudsmen, the Auditor-General and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the

environment, are supposed to ‘guard the guards’, as the Roman satirist Juvenal once put

it. They report to the entire Parliament and the public on the activities and conduct of state

bodies, either on their own motion or when prompted by requests or complaints from MPs or

citizens.

So why has the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, (a physicist with no

credentials in ecology whatsoever), so failed the esteem and regard of her office lately?

Well, by producing an inflammatory and credulous report called - Evaluating the use of 1080: Predators, poisons and silent forests.

It’s an entertaining read if nothing else, the kind of thing you can pass judgment at best

while waiting for your dog to be vaccinated. To give it more consideration would be folly and

a waste of your mental agility; trust me I did so and felt a sinking sobering feeling when I’d

finished.

This report lacks the breadth of intellect and precision of investigation, professional attention

to impartiality and above all the good sound advice which I’m so used to finding in reports by

the officers of Parliament.

I’ll start my critical deconstruction by examining the purpose Jan Wright claims as the germ

behind the report. Like many such germs, this is in the law which governs her office. She

claims that her investigation of 1080 is made pursuant to section 16 (1) (a) to (c) of the

Environment Act 1986. Fair enough! That’s the section she should use to inform her on how

to spend tax-payers’ money to look at a tricky question.

But when I reminded myself of the contents of S16, I found enormous gaps between what it

empowers her to do, and what she did in this case.

This section is called ‘Functions of the Commissioner’, and subsection 1(a) states:

(a) With the objective of maintaining and improving the quality of the environment, to review … the system of agencies and processes established by the Government to manage the allocation, use, and preservation of natural … resources, and to report the results of any such review to the House of Representatives and to such other bodies or persons as the Commissioner considers appropriate:

Jan’s report does nothing of the sort. She fails to outline clearly or accurately how 1080 is

used, or by whom. It fails to provide an easy to understand context of law and its use, which

shows how and above all why, 1080 is used by so many agencies. She also fails to make

adequate recommendations in chapter 8, which effectively guide the performance of the

agencies and systems she’s supposed to review, giving only scant regard to paltry matters

like improving DOC’s website, and having the AHB specifically mentioned in the Ombudsmen

Act. These are hardly ground-breaking suggestions and fall far short of any recommendation

that might have come from a critical comprehensive review as subsection (1) (a) above would

expect.

the COmmIssIONer’s pOIsONB y : m a t t h e w l a r k , a d v i s o r t o t h e N a t i o n a l e x e c u t i v e


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

Patron: Hong Tse

National President: Alec McIver

National vice President: Tim McCarthy

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: Chris Hurley

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

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

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

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ association inc

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SERIAL NUMBER977 1171 656 006

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

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

Aldo Leopald

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc, formed July 1937

EDITORIAL

Subsection (b) states:

(b) Where the Commissioner considers it necessary, to investigate the effectiveness of environmental planning and environmental management carried out by public authorities, and advise them on any remedial action the Commissioner considers desirable:

Well what a surprise; Jan had a golden opportunity here to investigate the slipshod ways in which

regional and district plans have allowed 1080 operations to become a norm and she could have

recommended means of correcting this ugly trend. She could have researched and commented

on the poor attention to detail in many resource consent applications made by DOC and regional

councils, on ‘dirty’ operational matters like actual known effects on non-target species, and

post-operational monitoring and clean-up of the carcasses of birds and other beasts. Why, she

could even have sought to stop the wilful trick DOC enjoys playing right now, of declining to

request that its consents for aerial bombardments be notified by councils, though it knows it can

request such notification, under the RMA.

But no, we expect too much. Section 1.3 of Jan’s report states that it doesn’t cover:

• The conduct or outcomes of specific operations, except occasionally as examplesAnd,

• The controls and regulations around the registration and use of 1080 in detail.

My question is - why does this report ‘not’ cover these things? Surely Jan isn’t living in a padded

green cell full of twittering nearly extinct birds and useless lizards nobody’s ever heard of?

Surely she knows the planning, management and tools used to dispense 1080 like sugar across

our woe begotten woods, are the main things that trouble the public, far more than the pellets

and carrots themselves which carry it. If she doesn’t, then she needs to re-read her report in the

light of social context, and to be less credulous around nerdy planners and boastful boffins who

mix the stuff, and tell her it’s all okay and the nice birdies will just spit it out.

If it is arguable that she’s fulfilled the conditions of subsection (c) of this section, I think she

might have conveniently paused for lunch, before getting down to subsection (g), which enables

her:

(g) To encourage preventive measures and remedial actions for the protection of the environment.

Here’s a little game for you. Read (g) above and then read Jan’s visionary recommendations

8.1 and 8.2. The first quashes any parliamentary collective caution over 1080 and dismisses

it as nonsensical by recommending no moratorium on its use be imposed. The second tells

environment minister Dr Nick Smith, to dash it all, and throw out the tricky web of regulation

surrounding 1080 use, and to bring a ‘simple stupid’ system in, preferably with a national

environmental standard, starring foremost in a panoply of blunt new legal instruments.

Can you see the problem here? It is that Jan has failed you and me and even the possums,

by insisting in her final chapter, that more 1080 in a simple even naked system of use and

broadcast, is the best way for the future. Can such recommendations do anything but harm to

the environment and compromise its protection that S16 (g) is trying to guard against?

If the germ of this lazy piece of work is wanting, then the seed that sprouted is also lacking some

basic characteristics which might have made this a blooming florescence, more than a toxic

triffid. Among the other things Jan decided not to deal within this or any concurrent reports are:

• Detailed analysis of community perceptions and attitudes towards the use of 1080.And further,

• Concerns held by some Maori regarding the physical, cultural and spiritual impact of using 1080.

Well, this is interesting. This officer of our Parliament, has only chosen the bits of the 1080 issue

she can read about in others’ data, extracted selectively from a long and tattered list of received

and widely contested journal articles and non-peer-reviewed pamphlets from DOC and the

Animal Health Board. The entire tiresome list of 213 end notes to this report refers to only two

publications which deal with social science and specifically, public attitudes as determined by

social science, in respect of possum control. Neither report, (both of which I’ve read), deals with

1080 at all. I further observe that no effort appears to have been made to examine Maori world

views of their own ‘taiao turoa’ or natural world, and where bombarding it with 1080 fits, if at all;


certainly our learned commissioner doesn’t cite any works she’s read on

that complex and vexing subject.

If what isn’t covered is an insult, then those views whom the earnest

commissioner sought but didn’t even have the grace to acknowledge

or discuss, is a woeful injury. Our own national president and a

distinguished life member of NZDA, Bill O’Leary, were among those who

fronted up to Jan Wright’s office, to present eloquent and well-argued

testimony to the fault our members find with 1080 and its uses.

On that noble end of objective impartiality, to which our president’s visit

should have contributed, Jan writes in her foreword:

‘In order to fully understand the concerns about 1080, my staff and I have

had lengthy discussions with a variety of people at the forefront of the

opposition to its use. We have striven to understand the nature of their

concerns and studied the written material they have produced.’

If this is so, I can only ask –

• Why is no so-called ‘anti-1080’ publication or reference cited at all

in the entire report?

• Why was no reference to such opposition considered within the

complex and unwieldy criteria used in chapters 4 and 5, to give

1080 the commissioner’s stamp of approval?

• Why are neither data from anti-1080 sources, nor even any

anecdotes included, where copious anecdotal and unpublished data

sources are cited and quoted from those who would see its use

increased?

Beyond the stunted shoot we’ve already encountered, are some

branching leaves which bear the blight of errors of fact and judgment,

which further trouble this poisoned plant.

The factual errors are devious at best and downright disingenuous at

worst.

Jan has throughout this report attempted to capture what she sees as

the sorry state of all those hapless creatures nobody ever sees anymore,

and few can even name, that come under the coverall title of ‘indigenous

biodiversity.’ Now personally I love many of these birdies, beasties and

creepy-crawlies, and unlike Jan I know many of them pretty well through

much personal experience in the field.

She goes to town on the plight of the flightless, slow-breeding denizens

of forests of yesteryear, like kiwis, kakapos and lizards, and in trumpeting

the mythology already so grown on by DOC, she even adds to it.

Check out figure 1.2 in chapter 1. A nice little picture of the hihi, or

stitchbird; heard of it? I thought not. Of this species she writes:

‘Hihi nest in tree holes, so are very vulnerable to predation by possums, rats and stoats.’

Well, the first assertion is right, they do nest in holes, but these days no

large or even self-sustaining population of hihi lives anywhere, where

rats, possums or stoats also live. Hihi became extinct on the North

Island around 1900, and live only on Little Barrier, Tiritiri and Kapiti

islands, in any numbers. None of these now harbour any four-footed

furry fellows at all. The only other places this species lives are two

fenced zoos, of doubtful conservation value, and worse, an unfenced one

in Auckland. The populations in these zoos constitute less than 2% of

the total hihi population and they in no way contribute to the long-term

conservation of this bird. I find it insulting that Jan Wright, who is meant

to ‘be’ right, fails even to acknowledge her error of fact, and twists it by

suggesting this species suffers harm that it doesn’t in reality. Not until

the end of note 20, buried in the back of this report, do we see the actual

detail of hihi distribution. Even there it is not explicit that no single bird of

this species is at any risk at all.

Jan’s additions to the mythology continue in section 2.2 where she

states:

‘At least 19 species of native forest birds, including … … kakapo, … hihi (stitchbird), tieke (saddleback) … are under attack from introduced mammals.’

Again where the writing is fluent, the nonsense it imparts is nought

but flannel. I know well, as will some of you, that no kakapo or any

significant stock of saddlebacks are under threat from any mammals. All

critical saddleback stocks since the mid sixties, have been on vermin-free

offshore islands that few can get to. Kakapo have all been domiciled on

offshore islands, which you can be prosecuted for even thinking about

entering, since a failed transfer to Little Barrier in the early eighties. In

this summation, I didn’t count DOC’s recent blunders which saw them try

to introduce saddlebacks to Ulva Island, which cannot even be declared

pest free yet. Nor have I fully explained that sensitive issue of adult

kakapo being put on Pearl Island in the late nineties, which had three rat

species on it at the time, or the kakapo adults left to be eaten by cats in

the Eastern skyline of Stewart Island. I include them here so you know

that DOC has itself left these species on occasion at risk of being eaten,

even where it knows it shouldn’t; I wonder if Dr Wright knows that?

What I’m getting at here is the credibility of this report, when it makes

basic mistakes and fluffs like this, where a bit of research on the true

state of threatened species, might lend Jan some more sympathy

amongst her wider audience.

Other problems in this paper are myriad and briefly they include:

1. A bizarre reference to 1080 operations which did not benefit

species. The example used is the orange-fronted parakeet, a

moribund birdie curio which is barely a species at all, and is virtually

extinct in the small patch of Canterbury it still survives in. What Jan

doesn’t say here, is that there are numerous populations of black

stilts, brown teal, robins, parakeets and elderly kaka and kiwi, who

will also gain no benefit at all from more 1080 drops. Perhaps DOC

only gave her one example to look at?

2. A curious assertion that secondary poisoning of rats is the only way

to kill stoats. This is a big bummer for all those stoats who still

want to eat eggs out of nests or traps, or who have the misfortune

to be trapped in trapping rings around those nests. I think Jan

will find she needs to meet some stoats and see how they work in

forests before letting this assertion add to her new mythology.

3. A complete dismissal of bio-controls and biocides, such as landcare

and others have spent over $30,000,000 on over the past decade.

This is a glib passing over of these new and potentially much safer

forms of bio-technology and it is sad to see a report of this kind fail

even to make one recommendation about their future development.

Well are you convinced now? Not even a book for the coffee or card

table I’d say. I mark it F for frustrating, F for foolish, F for fundamentally

implausible, and F for FAILED.


Bits and Pieces

I have just got back from a week’s duck hunting and this column is a bitsy one in order to meet publishing deadlines.

To be totally honest, my mind is still preoccupied with the frustrations of the worst duck opening I have had in years, and this follows on from my even more fruitless salmon season. The rest of the family including my new son-in-law shot well, but I just never seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Despite all my planning, getting my eyes seen to and investing in the latest shotshell technology, I would have been duckless if it hadn’t been for some South Canterbury hospitality. Even down there, my bad luck affected a pond that in previous years had been ‘duck city’.

Recently I fielded an inquiry relating to the ex police rifles used for HUNTS courses. It is worth reminding branches that the rifles were sourced from a stock that were to be destroyed but were then released specifically for hunter safety education. A condition was that the rifles were to be stored and used under the supervision of a warranted (HUNTS) instructor. HUNTS activities and organised range shooting would be the norm. The rifles are not available for loaning out, nor can they be modified.

It is important to keep in mind that these rifles are there for the HUNTS programme rather than for a particular branch and on occasion may be required for a course running in another branch.

Any queries or concerns relating to the rifles should be addressed to me.

Well the training year is looking very busy. My inbox indicates courses in Rakaia (possibly two), South and North Canterbury, Nelson (two courses), Wairarapa and Hutt Valley Branches. There will be others. Mike Spray has been involved with a course on Great Barrier Island and has had to bring the trainees across and down to Glen Hartstone at Waikato to get a hunting venue.

The demand for courses continues to grow. Inquiries are regularly coming through from the MSC and NZDA websites. I have several schools and community youth training groups showing an interest and having to be put on hold while we consider if we can deliver. We have even received several inquiries from Australia.

Under pinning all this HUNTS activity is instructor assessment that is essential to maintaining the quality and integrity of our national scheme. This year I plan to bring instructors in from adjacent branches to assist on courses that I can get to. Apart from the opportunity to workshop issues involving course organisation and content, there will also be assessment for instructors on the qualification pathway.

It would be a great help if branch coordinators would advise me of course dates. Instructors who have been on the pathway for some time should make early contact so we can map out what needs to happen to push things along.

My last bit follows on from my last column. In the USA, and in fact almost anywhere hunter education courses are run, there is a big emphasis on hunting ethics and hunter awareness of relevant legislation and regulations.

In North America, a hunter education course is a mandatory requirement for getting a hunting licence. In a number of states our HUNTS course is accepted as fulfilling this requirement and therefore making a HUNTS certificate a valuable document. The clincher in negotiating this recently with California and Hawaii was the ethics component in our HUNTS course. The minimum is two hours and is delivered in the lecture room when we look at NZDA hunting guidelines, respect for land owners and managers, firearm

legislation and firearm safety, fair chase and clean kill. On the hill it is delivered in following up and dispatching wounded animals and utilisation of the meat and trophy. In the hut and on the track it is delivered in respecting other users of the outdoors and in care of the environment. If a HUNTS course delivers these things it will more than meet the standards set by international hunter education programs and the expectations of our own country.

Now I am off for a week in the bush with the Nelson youth HUNTS course, and the weather report for the Buller is rain becoming wide spread. Great weather for ducks!

HUNTS REPORT

bIts AND pIeCesB 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

the availability of the ex police rifles make running bigger

training shoots much easier – no need to borrow rifles from

branch members, no rezeroing issues and a common calibre.

frances o’leary and one of her salmon. Bill got time to do salmon fishing after a break of 15 years and took frances for the first time. Bill tied up her gear, showed her how to cast and put out a chair for her to fish from and guess what!!? and guess who got a second salmon

two days later! so guess who is taking Bill fishing next season?


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I write in response to Alec McIver’s comments re my editorial, ‘Is it time?’ in the latest Wildlife. I was surprised and disappointed by his comments - surprised because this was the article the executive said they would not print, and disappointed by his defensive and negative reply. In fact, it seems as if he missed the entire point of my article. It was not to attack NZDA. Indeed I support it and like others I wish to see it being fully effective and a strong advocate. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have bothered to ask questions. Instead I’d just walk away.

In the light of current and potential threats to hunting and firearm owners, it is timely to ask key questions. One such question is whether the current needs of the hunting fraternity in NZ would be better served by an organisation whose structure and ethos matched the challenge of the age. There are over 250,000 licensed firearms owners in NZ compared to only approx 7,000 NZDA members and it would be healthy to ask what kind of representation do these people want and need as we face the future.

I’d like to be involved in a proper review, but isn’t the initiation of a review surely the responsibility of the president and executive

and not done as a knee jerk reaction? In such a review members and other key stakeholders in the hunting fraternity should be asked for their comments and submissions and I have no doubt a good number, like myself, would welcome the opportunity to participate.

Alec McIver’s response however does raise questions around NZDA’s willingness to self-scrutiny and change. There are questions too about producing a credible review document, such as the right kind of expertise needed, funding, a proper time frame and the right scope of such a review. Given that I was notified of the invitation to do this review only via the “NZ Hunting and Wildlife” magazine, and with the incredibly short time frame of a little over three months, people may ask if NZDA executive are really serious about it!

I took the time to raise some serious questions. I had hoped for a serious and considered response.

Alex Gale

Reply by J Crone, Chairperson editorial subcommittee of NZ Hunting & Wildlife

Alex Gale has expressed his surprise and disappointment over his previous letter on this subject, claiming that the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association National Executive had chosen not to print his ‘article.’ This is not the case. The decision not to run with Alex’s original letter was not made by the National Executive, but by the editorial subcommittee of NZ Hunting & Wildlife. The National Executive did not sight the original letter at all.

The reason why NZ Hunting & Wildlife did not print the letter when it was submitted in December 2010 was because the theme was remarkably similar to another letter from Alex Gale that was printed in 2006. The by line was almost identical and the latest letter didn’t add a great deal to an old debate.

As it happens NZDA has taken the issues raised seriously and has created an opportunity for wider debate on the need for change, to be held at the annual conference in July. Alex’s contribution was invited and would be welcomed.

time?

Dear Editor

I have to admit stunned horror on reading Alec Asquith’s description of animal dispatch as reported from his HUNTS course (NZH&W magazine, April to June 2011). I can only hope he misunderstood! Printing the description brings the organisation into disrepute and emphasises the need for a thorough editing job on submitted material.

Alec stated, “The technique was to stick the knife through the middle of the throat, then push outwards, severing the windpipe. Contrary to the World War II movie techniques of ear to ear.”

Severing the windpipe is useless as a technique for killing - think of it as a radical tracheotomy. A poorly shot animal that escaped with a severed windpipe might finally die of starvation (assuming the oesophagus was also severed) or wound infection many days later.

Death by throat cutting is achieved by depriving the brain of oxygen via the blood supply, by severing both of the carotid arteries. A long, swift stroke that clearly takes in the major blood vessels is the goal. The World War II movies are much closer to humane destruction than the HUNTS course; apparently. If your knife isn’t sharp enough for this technique then learn to sharpen it and don’t hunt again until you have it right. Long tough guard hairs make this difficult but not impossible.

The description of humane throat cutting for sheep, as set out in The Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle, is a good guide. I quote: “Bleeding an animal should be carried out using a sharp knife with the incision cutting both carotid arteries and jugular veins in one swift stroke. Breaking the neck or severing the spinal cord immediately after cutting the throat only produces paralysis, does

not affect the time it takes for the animal to become unconscious and adds to the potential pain and distress of the procedure.”

A similar technique is suitable for any animals small enough for most hunters to try killing by hand rather than shooting a second time. I desperately hope that HUNTS courses do not teach severing the windpipe. It is a recipe for great suffering and flies in the face of grand notions about ethical treatment of hunted animals espoused in the same edition of H&W!

Sharyn Price North Otago Branch NZDA


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir,

Since 1982 I have been working diligently

creating, enhancing and developing wetlands

for waterfowl on my two farms west of

Eketahuna entirely at my own expense. I have

five large lakes and twenty-one smaller ponds.

These are complete with all the requirements

of wetland birds such as islands, irregular

shoreline, shallow wading and dabbling bays,

resting, grazing and preening areas etc. I

have also fenced and planted in excess of

[documented] 30,000 trees in conjunction with

these wetlands. Sixteen species of waterfowl

use this habitat regularly as well as twenty-

one species of other mostly native birds. These

areas are registered under the QEll Covenant.

With one stroke of the pen the Minister of

Conservation has turned the clock back almost

one hundred years to the pest mentality that

should be put on a dusty shelf alongside the

1930’s Department of Internal Affairs deer

culling manual by declaring the Canada goose

a PEST. The Canada goose is considered world

wide as the ultimate and premium game/

table bird and enjoyed, also world wide, as

a wonderful amenity on domestic lakes both

rural and urban. This bird in particular is a

tremendous asset to this country not a PEST.

Failure in wildlife management does not follow

that wildlife then becomes a PEST. You have

caved in to a minute number of vocal farmers

and we all know it; and you have failed to

count the numbers who will recoil against

you at the next election. What view the rest

of the world will have of your decision is not

something I would like to contemplate as it

reeks of a failed and ignorant aspect of a so-

called civilized society.

I have voted National for 44 years, that has

now come to an end. I will lobby against your

government wherever and however I can

between now and November.

H I [Bud] Jones

Canada geese

The stag stood motionless, head raised, gaze

fixed ahead. A light timbered eight, he was not

of the trophy standard we had climbed so hard

to secure. However, with our trip fast coming to

an end and not a lot to show for our strenuous

efforts, it was decision time. Take the young

Red in front of us now, or sit tight and await

proceedings.

With time ticking by, the decision was inevitably

made for us as a full throated roar emitted from

a stand of bush directly above the first stag.

Turning our attention to the bush edge, a set of

white tipped antlers visualised from within the

dark forested undergrowth as a large bodied

Red stag boldly stepped from cover to face the

intruder below. Developing a sudden lack of

courage, the young animal quickly retreated a

safe distance back down the spur and into the

bush, surrendering ground only moments before

he had held with such defiance. Standing on a

slight mound, the larger stag let out a second

challenging roar, making it clear to all that

he was the master of this domain, and those

foolish enough to defy his rule would be met

with strong resistance.

Nestling behind my rifle, a hasty inspection

through the scope revealed the stag to be a

respectable head, and the decision was quickly

made to secure the beast. Taking a steady bead

on his front shoulder, the thundering report from

the rifle echoed throughout the valley below, as

the stag flinched, staggered, then collapsed,

before coming to rest against a lone totora

tree. Making our way across to the fallen beast,

it was congratulations and hand shakes all

round, as we examined the large Red, which lay

motionless at our feet.

Of solid timber and an even ten, well developed

points, with a length and spread around the

thirty-inch mark. We were extremely pleased

to finally secure our first animal for the trip. He

had been a long time coming too. It was now

late morning on day four of a six-day hunting

trip. Long time hunting mate Tony and I had

tramped deep into the Ruahine Forest Park in

search of Red stags. Our success until now had

been nothing to get excited about - what with

showery, blustery southerly weather to contend

with, and spasmodic roaring. Whilst we had

encountered the odd hind, stags had remained

elusive.

Upon completion of the customary photo

session, we were both having a bite to eat,

when a moan drifted across to our position from

somewhere opposite the spur we were sitting

on. Cupping his hands together, Tony bellowed

back in an attempt to promote some reaction

and awaited proceedings.

Our reply back was immediate, so following a

brief discussion, it was decided that

I would remain and butcher my stag, then drop

back down to the hut with the meat and antlers,

while Tony would attempt to secure himself a

set of antlers and a supply of meat. After all...

‘Two stags in the bush are worth double the

venison in the freezer!’ With good lucks and the

usual cautions of safety, my mate disappeared

from sight to stalk the distant stag.

the vALue OF A LIFeB y m u r r a y P h i l l i p s , m a n a w a t u B r a n c h

STORY


The butchering task completed and carrying a

fully laden daypack of meat, antlers and rifle, I

slowly made my way back around the forested

hillside before reaching the track, which

eventually took me back to the hut. With a good

meal under my belt I was able to admire the set

of antlers beside the hut door and relax for the

remainder of the day. As the afternoon wore

on and the crisp autumn chill began to take

hold, the tell tale signs that ‘Jack Frost’ was on

his way were evident. I was beginning to grow

impatient for my mate’s return as dusk passed

and darkness took hold of the surrounding

backcountry.

With the evening meal consumed, and still no

return of my hunting companion, I was now

beginning to become concerned for my mate’s

well being. As the minutes slowly passed to

hours, a terrible awareness that something had

gone wrong began to develop. Not to worry I

thought, Tony had good gear, was experienced

in bush survival, and had food. Whilst it was

cold, the southerly had since passed and it was

now calm and dry. No doubt he would be tucked

up under a log, probably with a set of antlers for

company, and would be back shortly after dawn

with the tale of all tales to tell...

As darkness gave way to the pale light of dawn,

I was already on my way back up the track

with a supply of food, liquid and warm clothing.

Reaching a vantage point on the track I fired

three evenly spaced rifle shots into the air

and waited, breath held, for a reply. Nothing!

Continuing up, I then began retracing my route

of the previous day, arriving back at the carcase

of yesterday’s stag. Again I fired three evenly

spaced shots into the air and waited. Never had

I been so desperate to hear the return volley

of shots from my mate so I knew he was OK.

Again silence was my only companion.

I continued searching for the remainder of the

day, returning to the hut late afternoon, both

physically and mentally exhausted. Besides

locating a few boot marks, which Tony had

made on his way down the spur yesterday

morning, I had no idea of his whereabouts.

Swinging the hut door open, I longed to find

my mate curled up asleep in his sleeping bag;

however it was not to be. The hut was silent,

cold and empty.

Knowing now that something serious had

occurred, I prepared my pack for a fast trip

out. As I made my way along the track back

to the road end to raise the alarm, my mind

wondered back to trips we had shared over

the last sixteen-years I had known Tony. Here

was a man who would spare no expense on his

chosen sport. His equipment was of the highest

quality. He had only recently purchased a

tactical scope for his latest short magnum rifle.

‘She’s a bit heavier than a conventional scope,’

he had told me, ‘but hey…what’s a few hundred

grams here and there if it means tagging a deer

at 500 metres!’

Food and refreshments were another passion

of his and he could always be relied upon to

ensure we had a few treats while in the hills.

Our latest trip was no exception, as he pulled

a one litre bottle of Jim Beam from his pack

on our first evening at the hut. ‘Could have

got a smaller bottle of the cheaper stuff,’ he

reasoned, ‘but hell, we only do these trips once

or twice a year, so what’s a bit of extra weight,

and a few extra dollars for quality huh?’

My thoughts suddenly turned to his family. HIS

FAMILY! In my desperation, I had forgotten all

about his family! How do you tell the wife of

your best mate that he is missing? How does

she tell their two young children, Shaun aged

five, and Jessica aged two, that, ‘Daddy is

missing and might not be coming home?’

As the police car pulled up the driveway and

Sarah opened the front door, she knew from my

body language the moment I climbed from the

vehicle that something was terribly wrong. With

tears streaming from my eyes, I relayed to her

the events of the last 48 hours. With Jessica

on her lap, and Shaun grasping her leg, Sarah

sat and listened, numb with shock. Her greatest

fear and worst nightmare was now a reality; the

father of her children, lover and best friend was

now missing.

The Search and Rescue coordination team

swung into action, with a search scheduled

to begin early the next morning. Over the next

two days, over thirty people were involved in

the operation. On the morning of the third day,

Tony’s body was located at the bottom of a

small bluff. It appeared he had lost his footing

while negotiating a steep section of country and

fallen. The impact had not been fatal; however

it had rendered him unable to move. He had had

the peace of mind to cover himself with warm

clothing, emergency blanket, and his medical kit

was beside him. His rifle was located at the top

of the bluff; hence he had been unable to signal

to me his location. The post mortem revealed

his death was due to internal injuries, with his

passing not more than eight to twelve hours

before his body was located. Six metres from

his body lay a light timbered set of eight-point

antlers. The same young stag we had watched

five days earlier.

I am now pleased to advise that this story is pure fiction (untrue). Whilst I do have a good hunting mate called Tony, and last roar we did secure a nice ten-point Red stag from the Ruahine Ranges, Tony is very much alive and kicking. The purpose of this article is to draw your attention to the very real dangers we face each time we enter the hills on a hunting trip. Several lives are lost each year, which may have been avoidable had the victims been carrying an emergency locator beacon. As hunters we spend large sums of money on our chosen sport, but often are not prepared to fork out a small sum of money for the hiring of a locator beacon. We sight the extra weight as a reason not to carry such a device, however many people will carry ‘treats’ into the hills with them with little regard to a few extra kilograms on their backs.

The Manawatu Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association owns two portable emergency locator beacons that are available to club members for a very modest hiring charge of $5.00 per weekend. Weighing in at a mere 180 grams, they weigh no more than a king sized cake of chocolate. When activated, they greatly improve the odds of locating an injured person as opposed to retrieving a victim; saving money in rescue coordination, many voluntary man hours of searching and, most importantly, a life. If your branch does not own a locator beacon(s) for hiring by its members, why not raise the subject at your next branch meeting?

Before heading out on your next hunting trip, ask yourself this question: What is the well being of your fellow branch members worth to you, but more importantly, what value does your family place on your life?

editor’s note:

Funds can be obtained for branches to purchase

their own portable emergency locator beacons

to hire to their members as the Manawatu NZDA

Branch does – contact the national office for

advice on applications to funding agencies,


STORY

I met young Sam and his dad Mike on a club night where I learnt that he had his name down for my organised hunting trips. On impulse I decided to ‘tuck him under my wing’ and share my experiences to give him a head start on his hunting career.

Sam is sixteen, about two-metres tall and plays rugby three times a week. What was I

thinking? Where was my brain? I’m sixty-years old, a lot shorter and definitely not a rugby

player.

The forecast for that weekend was superb as all ten guys, two per vehicle, left for different

valleys. Sam and I dropped the tiny inflatable boat in the water, and after a long and bouncy

drive we slowly puttered off across to the other side of the lake. The craft was so small and

light that the two of us could lift and conceal it in the scrub without difficulty. Packs on and off

we went walking up, up and even more up, until sick and tired of bush bashing in the dark we

called a halt on a flat spot and crashed for the night.

Next morning we cleared the bushline, dropped our packs, and made camp. Then with just the

essentials strolled on up to the top. Well at least Sam did; I just gasped all the way.

Lunch was a lazy affair and mid afternoon saw us meandering along an

undulating ridge. A movement some way off caught my eye and

from the prone position using my ‘far

GeN X – tAkes GeN Y – tO spOt Z B y W a r r e n H a l l , N o r t h C a n t e r b u r y B r a n c h

young sam at spot Z with his chamois

young sam


lookers’ I saw a young chamois staring back.

We played the waiting game and eventually

he started feeding just below the ridge. Sam

(with me a scant two paces behind) sneaked a

little closer to a suitable rocky outcrop perfect

for a (rock solid) rest. Sam’s rifle spoke,

whereupon the animal hunched up. Yup, you

guessed, somewhere aft! Later we confirmed

he would never reproduce. More lead in the

air with zero effect. With no more ammo in

his rifle I left Sam and scurried forward to

dispatch the animal, but not before I observed

the chamois had his cheeks sucked in!

We had to go down a rocky chimney to our

animal, where the honourable photos were

taken followed by lesson one - demonstrating

the messy art of removing the haggis in the

tummy cavity. I even suggested that Sam

should take over, but his reply was that it

would be silly for both of us to get smelly

hands. So much for lesson one! Bright too.

Teamwork had us hauling the carcass straight

up, and in a precarious position, my knee

popped the camera from my top pocket. I

eventually found it further down and was

surprised it still worked.

Back up top for lesson two or is it three?

Skinning and dismembering. While making

use of my small Opinel knife that I carry in

my hat band, we were impressed at how

well it kept an edge. Sam is now learning by

doing the job, removing all the meat from the

carcass and into

cotton cloth bags

then into his pack,

(that’s lesson four).

I didn’t get to sixty

without learning a

few things.

While moving down

hill, and pausing

often, the silence

in the valley was

invaded by a cruising

dark blue Hughes

500 helicopter obviously seeking chamois.

He worked the tops and then over into the

next valley. Apparently chamois are worth

of couple of grand back on the game ranch,

where lazy paying clients shoot them. No

chance a client would put in the hard yards like

we did.

That evening, satisfied with our team work

and effort, we gorged on good food and slept

deeply. Next morning I found sections of the

old track and marked the route with coloured

string.

Upon arriving back at the boat about midday,

we saw that the lake was foaming with white

caps, and decided to wait. We spent the time

wisely. Sam head skinning and helping me

make up a pram-type dodger for the bow of

our dinghy that worked well as it kept us dry!

Halfway home on at a high point on the road

Sam texted his parents to inform them the

reason for our lateness. While Sam benefited

from one-on-one lessons in a hunting context,

I was able to revisit a favourite spot of my

recently deceased hunting buddy Richard

Juras, (Big Dick) who now has a rock cairn up

on the tops where he loved to be; and so the

cycle of life continues.

Was I satisfied with our jaunt, you bet!

sam skinning his head‘We had to go down a rocky chimney to our animal’

the Diy pram-type dodger that kept us dry

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gas bottles & dive bottles.


tAIkO rANGe OpeNINGsOuth CANterburY brANChB y C h r i s t i n e m c C a r t h y , s o u t h C a n t e r b u r y B r a n c h

ARTICLE

The day started with the South Canterbury Branch president Tim McCarthy welcoming everyone along to the range. A special welcome was made to our special guests: Steve Earnshaw from the Timaru District Council; Shane Broughton representing NZ Police; Charles Forsyth, South Island member of the national executive and especially to Alan Evans both a past branch and national president.

Tim noted that he was disappointed, but not surprised, that some people that were invited failed to appear; the fact being that firearms and shooting in general gets a fair bit of bad press. However the reason for the invitation was in fact to officially open the range, so that NZDA can train and encourage everyone in the safe handling and legitimate use of firearms.

Tim then went on to briefly provide background on the setting up of the range complex. In 2006 after a decade of shooting on the old range over the hill at Claremont Bush Road, the property was sold. It was to be only a short time after the sale before the branch had to close the range despite having invested in some significant infrastructure.

However it was not only the NZDA that the sale impacted on; it also affected Target Shooting NZ and NZ Police who were left with no range to train on. The search for a new site was on. It had to tick all the boxes for a safety template that would be acceptable to the range certifying inspectors. Thanks to James Irvine, such a site, and one that was not too far from the old range, was found.

The costs of getting a range set up and running was going to be a big ask for any one club or organisation. So the idea of forming a trust made up of the different shooting disciplines was put forward to the

branch, which picked up the ball and ran with it.

While the setting up of a range looks simple in detail, the branch soon learnt that the safety template can infringe on surrounding farms as far back as four kilometres! So without the permission and support of the neighbouring farmers bordering the new site it would not have happened.

Tim then went on to thank James Jamison and his wife for kindly allowing the trust to use the land that the range is on. He then went on to thank the Evans, Minehan and Black families. Last, but not least, Graeme Talbot who leases the land the trust uses, (while continuing to work his daily farming around them) was thanked. He just happens to be an avid shooter himself.

While the branch was constructing the range it was very interesting to note that more than twenty ranges throughout New Zealand had been closed down. The enforcement of the safety template had made it financially impossible to maintain such ranges. Tim also made mention that without the financial commitment of a number of private individuals, the South Canterbury Branch, along with NZ Police underwriting the funding the new range would not have been possible. Not only had they managed to complete the complex and have the range fully certified, but also within the budget. On the commercial side, the trust has one of the most cost efficient and practical ranges for the police who use it over ninety-days a year.

Tim then went on to thank the certifiers of the range; it had been a long drawn out process involving Inspector Joe Green, NZ Police; Wally Cole, Pistol NZ and Bill O’Leary NZDA and MSC. The South Canterbury Branch were indeed indebted to the dedicated team of volunteers who put in the hard

yards, working tirelessly

weekend after weekend, putting their trade skills to work; pouring concrete, building and plumbing. A safety plan had to be written for the entire complex and Peter Brown, the branch’s Senior Range Officer set to work and came up with a very acceptable plan for the certifiers.

A great working team always has a great leader and this team was no exception. Leading from the front as always, was a very special man who had the drive and determination to see this project through. He handled everything from the legal minefields, building permits and consents, to driving the digger to form the berms. It was felt that the work James Irvine had put into making this range a reality needed special recognition, so the branch found it entirely appropriate that the range be named ‘The James Irvine Range’.

Special guest Allan Evans was then introduced to the gathering by Tim. Allan is a past president of the South Canterbury Branch; he was the National President from 1972 – 1974 and again from 1975 – 1977. Over the years Allan has worked tirelessly for the good of all people in New Zealand who enjoy the outdoors and so it was a great honour to have him officially open the range. So without further ado Allan took over and unveiled the range plaque and cut the ribbon. Allan, with the assistance of his grandson, Hamish Norton, (a current member of the branch executive), then went on to carry out the honour of firing the ‘first official shot’ down the range. Guests were then invited to take the opportunity to fire a few shots down the range.

A barbeque and non alcoholic refreshments followed and after lunch the annual triangular shoot was held, which meant a great day was had by all.

Guests trying out the benchrest facilities


1080 repOrt Is sCAremONGerINGCriticism of the role of new Game Animal Council in the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCE) Report on evaluating the use of 1080 lacks fact, balance or impartiality said Garry Ottmann, Chairman of the Game Animal Council’s Establishment Committee

The report poses questions about the possible role of the Game Animal Council such as:

‘What happens if for instance, DOC wanted to carry out an aerial 1080 operation to kill possums, stoats and rats in an area where there would be a risk of killing deer?’

And

‘Because of the risk of by-kill that 1080 poses to deer, it is not clear what would happen if an agency wishes to use 1080 to control possums, rats and stoats in areas managed by the Council.’

‘If the Commissioner’s Office really wanted answers to those questions it would have been relatively simple to come to the Establishment Committee and ASK’ said Garry Ottmann. ‘This has not happened.’

The Report of Recommendations to the Minister of Conservation on the establishment of the Game Animal Council states:

‘The Committee recognises that DOC is the manager of public conservation land and retains the overall responsibility for controlling wild animals there. Through public processes such as Conservation Management Strategies and management

plans, DOC and the public decide what areas are top conservation priorities, and DOC manages these accordingly.’

The Committee is of the view that the Council and DOC should work co-operatively together to identify, by public processes, priority areas where animals need to be actively controlled for conservation purposes. Outside of these areas, however, the Council would be mandated to manage these species for their hunting benefits. This reflects the current and projected future situation whereby DOC carries out only limited wild animal control on some land under its jurisdiction, and has indicated that even if it were better resourced; wild animal control would not be a priority in most areas.’

‘The PCE report has selectively taken phrases from our report to support its questions and conclusions but has failed to take into account the context of those phrases and the recommendations as a whole.’ said Garry Ottmann. ‘The PCE Report makes great stock of good science but fails use good science itself.’

The PCE recommendation on the status of the Game Animal Council also uses words such as; ‘has the potential to’ and ‘could’ in its preamble.

‘These are words that are used when there is no actual foundation for a statement. Basing a recommendation on innuendo and accusation is again bad science.’ said Garry Ottmann ‘The PCE has been badly let down by her office and the quality of the research and work that has gone into this section of the report. We have a number of also unanswered questions but we will take those to the Commissioner directly.’


OILING A stOCkB y t o n y a l l e n , W e l l i n g t o n B r a n c h

Personally I prefer my rifles to be of the ‘brown wood and blue steel’ variety. Plastics and stainless steel just don’t do it for me. The down side is that a wooden stock can look second hand very quickly, especially after a few days of bush bashing.

When it comes to stock maintenance my preference is oils; polyurethane never features because the finish is too easy to damage and difficult to repair. I also find an oiled stock to be good in the wet, as it is nowhere as slippery. It is my belief that timber is active long after it has been milled. The process of using oil just revitalises the timber’s pores and makes it stronger and enables easy spot repairs.

The first thing is to strip the rifle down by removing all metal work. During this stage I always take note of the scratches and dents and have a laugh about the stories behind them.

Normally I start off with a 320 grit wet and dry sandpaper then work up to 600 and 800 grit. I tape the butt pad to avoid damage and never sand any checkering. Always sand in the direction of the grain. Rub down between paper grades with white sprits to remove dust and dirt.

The next stage is repairing the scratches and dents. Using an old iron I keep in the garage, (if you don’t have an old iron, buy the wife a new iron for Christmas – she’ll love it) with a wet cloth I can remove or reduce these. Set the iron on the hottest setting and while never placing the iron directly onto the timber, place

a wet cloth over the area to be repaired and apply the iron onto the damp cloth you will find the damaged pores will swell and sweat up. You will be surprised how much damage can be repaired in this manner. Do not over heat an area; if you have a lot of damage in one area maybe leave it and come back to it a bit later. You do not want to dry the pores out to much. While the process of oiling can repair any damage if you discolour the stock.

The next stage is one I enjoy; it is when the beauty of the timber really shows. Switching to 000 steel wool, which when used correctly produces a glass like finish on a stock. A combination of rubbing with steel wool and cleaning with white sprits will bring out the grains and character of your stock. Continue until you achieve the desired finish. The white sprits will lift the wood fibres to assist with the finish. Keep rubbing and cleaning until this no longer occurs. My stock will produce deep browns and red during this stage and I have found that the more times it is rubbed the more it seems to retain greater levels of oil within the stock.

Taking a couple of checkering cutter tools, I run them over the existing checkering just to clean them up; no stock removal, just a clean. After giving the stock a final wipe down, it is on to the oiling. I like to use Birchwood Casey products, namely Tru Oil and of recent times their Stock Sheen Conditioner.

To apply the oil, either just use a finger or a clean cloth. However you will find the cloth will set like concrete when left. Just apply one coat and leave for 24 hours for the first coat to dry, then lightly rub with steel wool and wipe with white sprits before recoating. I repeat this anywhere from six to ten times, depending on the time available. Make use of the wet oil cloth after each application to rub oil to the inside of the bedding and action areas, with the objective to seal the entire stock from moisture. The final act is to

apply a coat of Stock Sheen Conditioner which is like a polishing cream and adds a very nice finish.

Any small repairs can often be repaired by using steel wool on the affected area and then recoating that one spot. Oil, unlike polyurethane, doesn’t leave a recoating mark as it soaks into the pores, not covering the surface.

Once it’s completely dry reassemble and sight in. Then on your first hunt, drop or knock the stock, damaging it again.

LOCk, STOCk & BARRELL


This section pulls together some key rules that ensure the safety of hunters, the public and the environment. The need for this code has recently been further demonstrated by an incident at Anita Bay campsite in Fiordland where a group of hunters from Levin left the campsite in a mess - trees cut down and rubbish everywhere including wine and whisky bottles.

It is not only leaving a mess that either the next hunter or the tax payer needs to clean up, but they are bringing into disrepute the reputation of all hunters. Hopefully the Fiordland team will find enough evidence to prosecute these guys.

Hunters sentenced in Connection with fatal Campground shooting

Three Hamilton men were each fined $2,500 in the Taupo District Court for hunting offences committed at the time of the fatal shooting of Rosemary Ives at a DOC campground near Turangi last October.

Brad Ward Bennet and Ashley Paul Wolland, both aged 27, and Kyle Raymond Dean, aged 18, pleaded guilty to breaching their DOC hunting permits by hunting after dark on the night Rosemary Ives was fatally shot by hunter Andrew Mears.

Mears is currently serving a two and a half year jail sentence for manslaughter.

DOC is very concerned about the safety of people using conservation land and the fines send a very clear message. If you want to hunt on public conservation land you must have a permit and the rules are very clear about where and when you can hunt. Hunting after dark is strictly prohibited.

Hunters must respect the safety of others. The vast majority of hunters using conservation land do act responsibly, but DOC will take action against anyone who breaches their permits.

Heli-hunting

At the start of April another short term permit was issued to heli-hunting applicants while the longer term permit/concession is being considered. This short term permit includes additional land to that allowed in the 2010 permit. This land is the:• St James Conservation Area• Two Thumb Range• Part of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park• Adams Wilderness Area• Westland Tai Poutini National Park• Hooker Landsborough Wilderness Area• Mt Aspiring National Park and part of

Olivine Wilderness Area These areas have time constraints associated with them to try to reduce some conflict with the popular hunting times.

Applications for the following areas were declined:• Lake Sumner RHA• Arthurs Pass National Park• Sibbald Range• Godley Valley Area of Aoraki/Mount Cook

National Park.• Fiordland National Park, including the

Wapiti Block and Glaisnock Wilderness Area

You can keep up to date with progress on the long term permits at www.doc.govt.nz/helihunting

responsible Hunting

Several events in the last year have spurred us to create a ‘responsible hunting code’ section of the website (www.doc.govt.nz/hunting).

DOC upDAteNATIONAL HUNTING ADVISOR

Brent Beaven is DoC’s national hunting advisor. this is a new role that is focussed on encouraging hunting and improving the hunting experience. Prior to this, Brent had been DoC’s biodiversity manager on stewart island for ten years.

Contact Brent on 027 2664079 or email [email protected]

this will be my last contribution to NZ Hunting and Wildlife as DoC’s National Hunting advisor. my replacement, ian Cooksley will be taking over the role from 1 July 2011.

New hunting permit system

The new on-line hunting permit system has been running for just over four months now. In that time, it has issued over 20,000 permits. To issue each of these permits manually used to take staff between 5 and 15 minutes for each permit. By having this service on-line, we have the potential to save a lot of time, as well as increasing service.

One of the issues that has arisen with the system is the difficulty in reading the Captcha (the squiggly words at the bottom of the application page). This system is worth the hassle in that it ensures that only humans can access this system. Sounds silly? Not when you consider that most spammers are using computer programmes to trawl through applications such as these. The simple squiggliness of the words makes them impossible for a computer programme to read and hence ensures your security.

This version of Captcha has been chosen as it also has a social good component. When you type the words in, you are helping to digitise old books. Lots of old books and newspapers are being digitised at the moment to make them more widely available and also to protect them against loss. Most of the words in these books can be recognised by the computer, but there are a number of words that the computer can’t make head nor tail of (due to odd spelling or strange typewriter settings). Therefore, when you type in the two words in Captcha, one of the words is the security word and the other is a scanned word from a book that the computer hasn’t been able to recognise. By typing it in, you are teaching the computer what the word is to add into the digital book. So far, millions of words have been identified in this way allowing many, many books to be digitised. Further detail can be found at: http://www.google.com/recaptcha

Sometimes, the word that has been thrown up is unrecognisable or can’t physically be replicated on modern keyboards. In this case, simply select another two words by hitting the refresh symbol (two arrows in circle).

‘anita Bay campsite in fiordland where a group of hunters from levin left the campsite in a mess - trees cut down and rubbish everywhere including wine and whisky bottles.’


TIP OFFS

phOtOGrAphING bIrDs IN FLIGht the eAsY wAYB y J e f f r e y B a n k e , D i r e c t B r a n c h

Birds in flight are far harder to shoot with a camera

than with a shotgun. Anyone doubting this should go

out and spend a few days doing both.

While anyone can get a fuzzy, out of focus or photo

that lacks any depth of field image of a bird flying, it

takes greater knowledge and skill to get images that

are sharp and detailed. Let’s just explain that last

term, as out of focus is pretty obvious. Out of focus is

the area, meaning distance from the front to back of

an area in which everything is in focus. Closer and

you get into a zone that is out of focus, further away

and the same happens. People who shoot with a

camera on ‘auto’ will never learn the importance and

effects of aperture on depth of field.

Basically, the wider the aperture, meaning the

bigger the hole through which light is passing the

shallower the depth of field, meaning the distance

front to back that is in focus is smaller. The problem

with ‘auto’ modes, is that the camera is making the

decision about what aperture or shutter speed and

ISO equivalent it is going to use, rather than the

photographer, and it is based on average shooting

conditions and requirements. So one must switch the

camera to ‘manual’ mode and make the decisions

that best suit the occasion.

First of all, to capture ducks in flight for example,

one must set the camera shutter speed at quite

high settings, in excess of 1/800th or 1/1600th of a

second.

Secondly, one must use a tripod with a very fluid

head; most serious wildlife photographers use a

Wimberley or equivalent type Gimbal head. The tripod

removes any vertical component of movement, and

the smooth head allows for rapid panning (tracking

or following the bird’s flight). One must practice this

panning movement such that one can follow them

closely. The third point is that one must switch the

camera to spot focussing,

One very good method of attaining images of birds

in flight is to start with taxidermied birds. All the

images in this report are in fact just that, very lifelike

taxidermied birds appearing to be in flight.

The advantage of starting with taxidermied birds,

is of course that one does not need to have shutter

speeds quite as high as would be needed for a bird

flying, but allows one also to practice the movements

and use of equipment prior to shooting live birds.

With a little Photoshop® skill one can create the

illusion that the birds are actually in flight, as in these

examples.

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During the holidays I went hunting again with my dad. We decided to go into a part of the bush were we had never been before but we knew that there were goats and maybe deer or pigs. I’ve been deer and goat hunting with Dad before, but never pig hunting.

We had to struggle our way through blackberry bushes which gave us heaps of scratches on our legs. After a while we came into a clearing and I saw some nice pig sign and pointed them out to Dad. Dad said that they were pretty fresh and to keep our eyes open and be quiet. After a bit more walking through the bush my dad saw a pig and I saw some more; they were 50 – 60 metres away from us.

The bush was nice and open and the pigs did not see or hear us. We were down wind from them so we got a bit closer to them. Dad shot the pig that was just looking around with its nose up in the air. There was a big boom and the pig fell down. The other pigs all ran around and took off. Dad told me to stay with the pig while he chased the other pigs.

After a while, he came back and showed me how to gut the pig. I helped Dad with the gutting and he asked me if I could help him carry out the pig. I said OK, but ended up carrying out the pig all by myself! After some time we got back to the car which I was pleased to see. We drove back to camp and hung up the pig so we could skin it and cut it up the next day.

The next day we had heaps of rain, so it was a good day to skin and cut up the pig. I got to use my knife, but it was hard work to pull and cut the skin off.

It was good fun and I look forward to the next hunt! Thanks Dad!

YOUNG HUNTER

Dad asked me if i would help him carry out the pig

mY FIrst pIG huNtB y s c o t t v e r s c h u u r e n ( 1 0 ) , t h a m e s v a l l e y B r a n c h


Dad asked me if i would help him carry out the pig

Zeke meikle, 12, North otago Branch, with his 9 point Whitetail buck taken on stewart island

Brayden Bowater, 13, Nelson, with his first wallaby that he shot using a .222 remington rifle

Josh Davis, 14, Nelson Branch, with a fallow spiker troy rehua with his goat shot on Grandad’s farm in rangiriri

fiona mclanachan, 12, and her dog Pepper in the akitio back country with her first goat

Brodie reid, 14, North otago Branch, with his first deer taken in april 2011 in the Blue mountains, otago

STORY

Jeremy using his Bushnell 8x42 binos to spot more fallow

On Good Friday 2011 my son, Jeremy and I headed down south from Taupo to hunt the Wanganui Fallow herd. We were hoping to hear some ‘croaking’ and I wanted to get some prime venison to see us through winter after my disappointing southern Red deer roar trip up the Arawhata River to Block 28. Jeremy is 11-years-old and has been attending the Taupo Branch Wednesday junior indoor target shooting sessions for the last six months, but has yet to shoot any game.

I planned to keep an eye out for a really easy deer in case Jeremy wanted to try a shot himself. I had just fitted a bipod onto my venerable 27-year-old Winchester M70 Featherweight in 7x57 and tamed the rifle with a Dan Hardy suppressor; so Jeremy is able to shoot it with reasonable confidence.

After the long drive and spending time catching up with the local farmer, we finally got to set up a comfortable camp beside the car before heading up the hill above the tent. The air beds, picnic table and LED lighting powered by the car battery would ensure that camp was great to come back to after a hunt.

We had little time left before dark, so we were

fortunate to find a lone doe bedded on a mound under a small tree and had enough cover to approach to 144 yards across the gully head (according to my rangefinder) for my shot. This distance can be a bit tricky as the bullet is at the highest point of its trajectory, flying nearly 3 inches high. I aimed low on the reclining deer and was pleased to hit her squarely in the body. Before going across to her, we used the last of the evening light to glass the big valley behind and spotted a buck thrashing some trees way over the far side and keeping company with some does.

We carried the meat back down in the dark. It felt really good to already have venison after such a short first hunt. I did think my investment in raising Jeremy over the last 11 years was starting to produce some pay back as he carried a back leg and back steak in his pack, noticeably lightening my bag!

After Jeremy had climbed into bed we heard a noisy possum climbing a tree below the tent. Jeremy leapt out of bed in his pyjamas and I loaded up the Ruger 10/22 with my favourite CCI Quik-Shok ammo. Jeremy’s off-hand shot

wasn’t a long one, but he shot it clean between the eyes; his first ever kill. The possum fell out of the tree with a thud and never moved again!

Next morning we were up early to hunt up river. At 9.30 am we finished up perched on a steep hill at the top corner of our property. This overlooks the best area on the block, with some nice sheltered grass faces, grassy river flats and dense manuka sidings for cover. We hadn’t seen any trophy bucks among the 29 deer we had sighted on our side of the rickety boundary fence. Anyway, I prefer to shoot does for venison requirements, as there are many more of them and the young bucks always seem to get picked on.

eAster FALLOwr o g e r s t o k e s , t a u p o B r a n c h

venison for the table over winter


On the neighbour’s side there was a mob of about 20 does and young deer with a nice looking buck in attendance. He had a good number of points, but I didn’t look too closely at him, as risking our access privileges by poaching was out of the question.

I picked out a prime looking ginger doe below us and took careful aim from 208 yards. Again I held a bit low as the downhill angle was near 45 degrees and the rifle is dead on at 230 yards. She jumped into cover, but didn’t emerge with her other three companions. They soon stopped and started looking around in a confused manner, which I find pretty typical after a single suppressed shot.

Jeremy and I scrambled down the face and I showed him how to find where the deer had been standing by ranging back to our shooting point. Jeremy was able to track the deer a short way, the heavy blood trail indicating it wouldn’t be a long trail. Soon we were able to take some self-timer pictures of the two of us posing with our deer. Jeremy was impressed with Dad’s good shooting.

Regular sessions at the Taupo NZDA 200 metre range helped with confidence. The battered rifle sometimes seems a bit ‘long in the tooth’ now compared to my mates’ modern synthetic stainless rifles in the latest fashion calibres, but it shoots so well that I know it’s my fault if anything ever gets away out to my self-imposed limit of about 400 yards. Hundreds of days of familiarity together on the hill do count for something.

That evening we decided to look for the buck we’d seen the first night. We eventually spotted him further along his ridge and a big hunt around the valley was on. This was exciting for Jeremy as much of the time we were in full sight of the buck, but he was

more interested in attacking trees and getting a bite to eat. We could see he didn’t have good antler palmation, but was approaching maturity. I was in two minds whether to shoot him, but Jeremy wanted his antlers for his wall and the buck would certainly ensure we had plenty of venison to take home. Before I knew it, my decision had to be made quickly as his does moved over the ridge top and the buck moved to follow. I ranged him at 238 yards across the valley; wound the Swarovski AV scope up to 9x, allowed for a bit for windage due to the steady down-valley wind drift and then took a careful shot. I saw him start a dash up for the ridge top, but quickly somersaulted backwards into the trees.

We took our photos as night fell, stripped his carcass of useable meat by headlamp and finally removed his lower jaw for aging. (Allan Jackson has now assessed him at 4 years and 4 months old, so he wouldn’t have been a really good trophy with 9-points and a distinct lack of palmation; a frequent deficiency in this herd.)

Jeremy carried his now usual back leg and we had a bit of fun navigating home through the very black night; having to cross a small gorge with 4 metre vertical sides at the bottom. Jeremy passed all the gear down to me in the streambed, and then we did the same procedure in reverse up the other side. I climbed some strategically fallen manuka poles to get myself in and out. We rested several times climbing the ridge and lay back in the darkness watching the stars of the Milky Way. We saw a surprising number of aircraft seemingly enroute to Auckland, their lights flashing brightly in the darkness. I told Jeremy

that I was sure he would remember this particular adventure for the rest of his life.

That evening Jeremy despatched three more possums from the trees beside camp and gave them to the farmer who was going to skin them.

We slept in on Easter Sunday and had a nice day prepping our meat and then settling down with a book each. Mid afternoon we headed out again, and watched a bedded buck of similar antler size, (but probably a year younger,) in almost the same place we’d shot last night’s buck. I’d given Jeremy a quality pair of Bushnell 8x42 binoculars and boy, was he getting good at spotting deer with them! He liked beating me to the deer sightings. I think it’s important to equip the kids with good gear so they get the most out of the experience. If they enjoy themselves they will be keen to come next time and eventually, maybe, keep me in venison once I’m too old for the hills!

The highlight of the evening was a really good buck we spotted just before dark. Grazing at 340 yards he was within my range but we chose to watch him and took some pictures that turned out grainy. He was good breeding stock and we were really contented with what we already had to take home. Another buck further up the river on the neighbour’s property was croaking his head off. Counting the deer on the neighbour’s and the property we were on, we saw about 70 wild Fallow for the evening, so it was a most enjoyable walk!

It rained overnight, so we had another reading session in bed on Easter Monday (ANZAC Day), before packing up and starting the windy trek up through the Paraparas. Although we hadn’t found a suitable deer standing patiently at less than 50 metres for Jeremy to shoot, he wasn’t at all disappointed. His first possum was a trip highlight! A great time together for the two of us, and the improving deer numbers in the forest had us already anticipating a return visit. Not only that, we were looking forward to a lot of prime Fallow venison meals to come.

Hunting plus the comforts of home

young Jeremy with his first possum, pyjamas and all

Jeremy and the antlers for his wall


the following article gives a brief introduction to the whio or blue duck recovery programme, identifying key threats, the plan for recovery, the priority sites, the issues and complexity of management and the tools to enable us to the recovery of this uniquely New Zealand water fowl.

The whio/blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) is only found in New Zealand and is one of just four of the world’s 165 waterfowl species that live predominantly in rivers. This is one of the reasons why they are also referred to as the torrent duck, due to the turbulent waterways where they reside. The whio/blue duck is an endangered species that is listed as ‘nationally vulnerable’ under the New Zealand Threat Classification System because they are becoming rarer and less widely spread. Whio inhabit and thrive in one of New Zealand’s harshest environments. They are recognised as an icon of our back-country waterways and serve as an indicator of river health and the completeness of these ecosystems. Many a hunter has developed an affinity to these birds due to their encounters with them during hunting trips and the close interaction they have, whistling and performing territorial behaviour. Hence the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association adopting whio as their flagship endangered species.

Whio have vanished from many areas where they were once common, and it is widely accepted that they have declined in number and distribution. Most hunters who have wandered up and down remote streams/rivers would also agree that these birds are not as common as they once were. This decline is the result of modification of waterways, loss of riparian (stream-side) vegetation, and the introduction of warm-blooded predators such as; stoats, cats and ferrets. Stoats have been identified as the main threat because of their abundance,

distribution and the impacts to whio through all their life stages (egg – adult). Two studies (one in Fiordland and another in Te Urewera) conducted using video surveillance of nests and radio tracking of females through the nesting period, provide the ‘smoking gun’ evidence to show the devastating impact of these tenacious hunters. In Te Urewera Mainland Island 42% of female whio were being lost during the breeding season and the moult and 91% of nests failed to raise chicks to fledglings where there was no management. What was also documented through these studies, and from collecting the information on all the known deaths, was that dogs, road kill, and wire strikes were also other impacts for whio at some sites. Whio also have historical natural population limiters to contend with such as; falcon, harriers, weka and eels and they are also subject to environmental conditions (especially as ducklings) such as cold and floods. Stoats however have been identified as one of the most manageable threats.

Although many New Zealand endangered species are protected on predator free offshore islands, there are no offshore islands with large enough rivers and streams to support a viable population of whio. Whio survival is dependent upon in situ (managing them where they live) management of key threats in back-country rivers and streams on the mainland. Whio have territories of between 200 metres and 1 kilometre of river and due to their frequenting the small side streams during floods, droughts and during the moult (a time when they become flightless) require a scale of management like very few species - catchment scale.

A Whio/Blue Duck Recovery Plan has recently been published

(http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/tsrp62.pdf) and identifies a strategy to secure viable whio populations. The first priority is to secure a minimum population of 400 pairs at eight ‘Security Sites’ throughout New Zealand by 2014. There are four sites in the North Island (Te Urewera Mainland Island, Whirinaki, Tongario Forest and Manganuioteao) and four in the South Island (Wangapeka/Fyfe, Oparara/Ugly, Styx/Arahura and Clinton/Arthur/Cleddau). Each of these sites has a target of 50 pairs of whio and is using current best practice animal pest management, to control introduced pests.

The second priority is to recover or re-establish populations throughout their former range (‘Recovery Sites’). This is a visionary goal but it can be achieved with the right tools and community support. There are 14 locations identified as ‘recovery sites’: Takaputahi, Tongariro River, Pohokura, Egmont/Taranaki, Te Potae o Awaroa, Gouland Downs, Flora, Pearse, Moonlight/Blackball/Roaring Meg, Mingha/Deception, Landsbourgh, Dart/Caples, Hollyford, Murchison Mountains and Iris Burn. Many of these are already in existence and were started through community initiatives and historic restoration programmes.

HABITAT

reCOverING whIO/bLue DuCkB y a n d r e w G l a s e r , W h i o r e c o v e r y P r o j e c t l e a d e r , D o C

Whio or blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos). (Photo by rob suisted)

one stoat less to worry about


There are a number of tools available to the recovery programme. A captive breeding programme which produces fledglings to be released back into managed areas; currently has 16 captive breeders who are raising young whio. These captive breeders work voluntarily for the love of the species and have bred over 200 birds in captivity (some going back into the captive population for breeding) with 112 birds released into the wild. Captive breeding provides a very effective and efficient means of ensuring the preservation of whio. There are also facilities that maximise the benefits of holding captive breeding birds through quality education displays and advocacy for whio conservation. Every release also provides opportunities to engage the public/community to help build awareness and an affinity with whio.

We also use a technique called ‘Whio Nest Egg’ or WHIONE, which involves radio tracking female birds through the nesting period, removing their eggs from the wild where they are susceptible to predation by stoats and rearing them at facilities in Te Anau, Peacock Springs and Mount Bruce. Once they have reached the fledgling stage and have been hardened off in trout hatchery races to learn how to cope in fast flowing water, the young whio are translocated or released back into managed areas thereby ensuring their survival. Often the females will second clutch so two broods may be saved. Fifty birds have been released at Wangapeka through this method and more than 100 birds nationally since 2003. We will continue to investigate translocation/re-establishment techniques; improved predator control management and look at ways that we can involve the public in this work. The Taranaki whio ‘recovery site’ is an example of what can be achieved through the use of these tools. This project tested the population re-establishment techniques. It now has more than 30 pairs present and with breeding occurring, is building towards a self-sustaining population.

All the programmes rely on trapping technology, ‘cold hard steel’, using an assortment of DOC 200 traps and Fenn traps for year round control of animal pests. Traps will be checked between 8 and 18 times per year depending on the site. Each regime varies according to the terrain; some in the big South Island country are ridge focused; in the U shaped valleys of Fiordland, signal lines are used; while the traps are spatial across the more broken terrain of Te Urewera and Whirnaki; and laid out as tramlines (three lines either side) in more accessible areas of Manganuioteao and Tongariro. The whio recovery programme will also look to use new technology as it is developed to control introduced predators, and as we gain further understanding of whio biology, threats and management requirements.

Multi-kill traps are now being tested and once these are proven, they could potentially provide significant savings and increased efficiency for the large area needing to be managed for the whio recovery programme.

Public awareness, education and community involvement are important tools that will be used to assist the recovery of whio. The Manganuioteao ‘security site’ provides an outstanding example of what can be achieved through community support, individual commitment, initiative and funding through regional council. This site demonstrates the capability of what can be achieved, reaching its 50 pair target last year, through common objectives, cooperation, and working together. Whiotastic!

To date we have seen some very encouraging results from the programmes. Fiordland rivers managed to fledge 42 juveniles this season. In 2009, the Tongariro ‘security site’ fledged a staggering 86 young birds on the back of one of their poison operations. In Te Urewera Mainland Island, 46 and 47 ducklings were fledged in subsequent years but sadly flood events decimated productivity in the three following years. This year has been no exception with the majority of rivers being severely hit by continual flood events. We just have to make hay when the sun shines because we certainly can’t control the weather.

To put it simply, it is about killing stoats, cats and ferrets at the right scale to secure and, in optimal years, recover this species. When we have years without flood events these sites can produce significant numbers of fledglings that will carry us through the bad years. The problem of the huge logistic and the financial requirements for such a task is not insurmountable if we break it into manageable blocks and build the network of management. As previously discussed the scale is like no other however it would also bring benefits to all the other stoat sensitive species; menaing kiwi, kaka, kokako other forest birds would also thrive.

Active management is needed to ensure the long-term survival of whio, but, as I discussed in the previous article, we cannot do it alone and need the support of the public of New Zealand. The NZDA provides the right skill sets that we require for the work. What we will look at during our next Whio Recovery Group meeting is how we can make NZDA involvement easier and more effective. We have already seen what can be achieved by the NZDA members and the Wapiti Foundation whose success in this year’s result of 42 fledglings is a credit to all of those involved. Well done, and thanks for the helping hand.


ARTICLE

NZDA thAmes vALLeY brANCh hIts the mArk wIth wOrLD ChAmpIONshIpsB y m a u r e e n C o l e m a n , P r e s i d e n t , t h a m e s v a l l e y B r a n c h

The hills and valleys of the very picturesque Thames Valley Deerstalkers venue in Paeroa, New Zealand have now fallen silent in the wake of the Laporte World English Sporting Championships, the first time such an event has ever been held in the Southern Hemisphere. An absolutely world class event was put on by this club which is predominately a hunting organisation but has a proud history of hosting sporting events and has one of the most spectacular sporting clay shooting ranges in Australasia. The club abounds with friendship and camaraderie so its hospitality was a delight to be able to share with participating shooters and their supporters from countries as widespread as England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Canada, New Caledonia, France, Australia and of course New Zealand.

Whilst February usually sees clear hot sunny days, the uncharacteristic and extreme humidity experienced throughout the event made the hills and valleys seem much steeper for all concerned. However it was a real credit to everyone that the event went as smoothly as it did, and the challenge of the targets for many in

such an undulating countryside was tackled with enthusiasm and enjoyment. A very welcome sight for shooters each day was the four wheel drive shuttle service that delivered the shooters to the furthest parts of the shooting ground and provided an excellent opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views and scenery along the way.

The event was split into two shooting fields which were aptly named after their sponsors, Richardson’s Real Estate from the Coromandel Region and Stager Sports of Alexandra. Due to the hills and gullies both these fields enabled an extensive variety of targets to be thrown, with many of the overseas shooters having to adjust to targets being thrown from below where they were standing. It has to be expressed here that having such fantastic terrain on which to hold these championships was due to the awesome support that we have from our neighbouring landowners who so kindly let us include their properties along with our own into the field layouts for the championships.

At the end of day one, George Digweed from England had a clear margin; but it was fantastic to see the depth of shooting talent from around


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the world and particularly in the junior ranks. This is a wonderful attribute for a sport to have and without a doubt we will be seeing a lot more of these names in years to come.

Day two commenced with the competition heating up with very close scores being posted. It soon became clear that there was going to be a tussle for the six keenly sought places in the Super Final. Proof of this was that a 25 target shoot off was required to determine the 6th spot, which was won by John Younger of Australia.

The rugged terrain for this Super Final made for some superbly flighted and technically challenging targets and was aptly reflected in the scores posted. George Digweed came out as the very deserving winner and delighted recipient of the beautiful new ITSCF Cup and new shotgun which was proudly sponsored by Blaser through their New Zealand agent, Stager Sports.

The team events were also keenly contested with England coming out the winners in each of the team events except the Super Veterans category which was won by Australia. It was great to see the emergence of the Swedish Junior team as a force to be reckoned with.

The hosting of this event has been a fantastic opportunity for the club and shooting sport in general to have shooters of such outstanding

ability and potential visiting our shores.

On a very special note, the Thames Valley Deerstalkers express their very grateful and sincere thanks to ALL those wonderful sponsors, supporters, helpers and the local communities for the fantastic help and support you so generously gave us, as we undertook the hosting of these World Championships.

George Digweed, england, came out as the very deserving winner

the winning teams – 1st, england; 2nd, australia; 3rd, ireland


FrOm the wILD hILLs OF sCOtLAND tO the ruGGeD mOuNtAINs OF A sCOttIsh COLONY

the OrIGINs OF the OtAGO reD Deer herD (heADs 4, 5 AND 6)

NO. 4. C LLOYD veINt.

sLOpes OF mOuNt ANsteAD, heADwAters OF the DArt rIver, 1945.

l e N G t H - l e f t - 4 2 ½ i n c h e s , r i g h t - 4 1 i n c h e s .

s P r e a D - 4 2 ¾ i n c h e s , s P a N - 3 3 i n c h e s .

B e a m - 6 ¼ i n c h e s . D o u G l a s s C o r e - 3 6 5 5/8 . P o i N t s - 1 7 .

NO. 6JOhN FAuLksCAmerON FLAt, mAkArOrA vALLeY, 1912.l e N G t H - l e f t - 4 4 i n c h e s , r i g h t - 4 2 5 / 8 i n c h e s .

s P r e a D - 4 9 ½ i n c h e s , s P a N - 3 8 ½ i n c h e s .

B e a m - 5 3/8 i n c h e s . D o u G l a s s C o r e - 3 4 3 ¾ . P o i N t s - 1 4 .

NO. 5.wILLIAm smeDLeY.rAINY FLAt, mAkArOrA vALLeY, 1931.l e N G t H - l e f t - 4 6 ¼ i n c h e s , r i g h t - 4 8 i n c h e s .

s P r e a D - 4 2 ¾ i n c h e s , s P a N - 3 6 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 5 9 ¾ . P o i N t s - 1 3 .

A truly magnificent specimen of Cervus elaphus scoticus, the indigenous race of Britain and Ireland and

although secured marginally on the territory of the Lake Wakatipu herd, is - without doubt a wanderer from

Otago’s Matukituki Valley next door. Carefully glassing the country about the headwaters of the Dart River,

Veint spotted three sets of antlers protruding above an area of heavy veronica scrub. Climbing up towards

where he knew the animals were located, taking great care not to be observed, he managed to work himself

to a spot within range. He was soon confronted by a group of five stags and there was little doubt as to

which one was to eventually fall to his rifle. This set of antlers, along with those secured by McLeod in the

MacFarlane, compare with any sets taken from totally wild stock anywhere in the world.

We often read about and hear the good fortune of some hunters and the taking of this stag

was no exception. It was taken in such circumstances which continually crop up in hunting

tales from time to time. Smedley was employed as a roadman on the Haast Pass Highway and

at the time was the guest of Tom Scott at the Rainy Flat Hut in which Scott permanently lived.

Smedley decided late one afternoon to go out for a shot to secure meat, as these were the

years of the Great Depression. In heavy rain, at a point of bush only about 400 yards from the

hut, Smedley walked onto the stag which was feeding and secured him with what was later

described as ‘an easy shot’.

This very wide trophy was only surpassed for spread by an early Rakaia trophy taken in the Selwyn Valley

and which was nowhere in the same class. Of course, this set of antlers is severely penalised by the rules

of the Douglas Scoring System. Faulks was, for a number of years, a grazier in the valley and this stag was

secured while he was domiciled there. The stag was located on Cameron’s Flat, a well-known spot in the main

Makarora Valley, Faulks coming face to face with his quarry while, on this occasion, out hunting. He was able

to shoot the stag without any great drama close to the fringe of the beech forest which surrounds the flat.


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huNts COurse wIth A DIFFereNCe B y r o g e r B r i g h t a n d t r a c y W a k e f o r d

i n t r o d u c t i o n b y m i k e s p r a y

MSC ARTICLE

It was my pleasure to assist Roger Bright with

getting a NZDA HUNTS course up and running

on Great Barrier Island, in the Hauraki Gulf.

Roger is the local policeman and he is also the

local Mountain Safety firearms instructor. He is

a keen bloke, who is well respected within the

island community. Roger is also a very keen

hunter though much of his hunting these days

is behind a camera lens. I was frankly delighted

to help Roger with his HUNTS course.

Roger was excited about the prospect of a

HUNTS course on the island and a great deal of

his motivation stemmed from the young island

kids who he knew would love to experience a

course on bush skills, firearms and hunting.

I was introduced to the eight, keen as,

HUNTS trainees a few weeks ago when Tracy

Wakeford, Roger and I delivered the HUNTS

range programme on a very wet Great Barrier

Island day. We had a fabulous time, despite

the muddy firing line, and I reckon the eight

trainees had an even more awesome day.

They proved to be committed to learning and

firearms safety, so I had no doubt about sharing

a hunting experience with them.

I really look forward to being invited to the

Great Barrier Island HUNTS Course in 2012.

Roger and Tracy’s story of their hunting

weekend follows, and is an enjoyable and

honest read:

This year, Great Barrier Island Mountain Safety

firearms instructor, Roger Bright decided he

needed something more in his idyllic island life.

What more does a man need than beaches,

fishing, a beautiful partner and a quiet life

might you ask? Roger’s solution was to set

up and run a HUNTS course (sounds good so

far) taking eight young people under 13-years

old for lectures and bush craft weekends, all

culminating in a trip off the Island for a hunt.

Roger contacted the local schools on the

Island and asked them to select two or three

pupils from each school to participate in this

initiative. Being the only Mountain Safety

instructor on the Island, he had to do all the

the course participants, (left to right): Back row: Joe, Peter (guide), Pawnee, marco, roger, kahu, Glen (instructor), tahi, Jeff (guide), Ben. front row: soul and olly

mike spray handing out stoney Creek sponsored blaze vests and beanies


instruction himself. This also involved the

added responsibility of looking after the group

of keen young kids. Some unique personalities

emerged and ranged from ‘I have never used

a firearm before and have no idea what to do,’

to ‘I have used firearms before but still have no

idea what to do,’ right through to ‘I have used

firearms before and I am really good - ahh the

honesty of kids!

Mike Spray, the MSC programme manager

for firearms and HUNTS, along with Tracy

Wakeford from MSC came to the Island for

a weekend to run the range shoot. The kids

got pretty competitive with shooting skills,

and rightly so with great prizes up for grabs

donated by Hunting and Fishing in Gisborne.

Mike and Roger had also placed a friendly

wager on who between them would gain top

marks in a wee shoot during the day. Roger’s

partner Kylie offered the grand prize and

after much whispering they agreed to a tie

(a cunning plan so they could both share the

prize!)

Next, was the well anticipated hunting

weekend. The group

mustered at the end

of May and was

fortunate enough

to gain appreciated

sponsorship from

Sealink Ferries, Great Barrier Airlines, Aotea

Family Support Group, Energizer NZ and Blue

Light to transport them off the Island and down

to Ngaruawahia, where local farmer Graham

kindly offered the use of his land for hunting

goats. The Friday night included a stay in the

Ngaruawahia Scout Hall, an eventful night with

a train thundering through every couple of

hours and at least one of the group was found

to be a sleep talker.

Next morning, while still pitch black it was off

to the hunting area, meeting MSC Waikato

HUNTS Instructor, Glen Hartstone and his mate

Peter on the way. On arrival at the hunting

block, the group had about a 200 metre walk

into the camp area, and when we got there

– what a view! The excitement was evident

and the boys were keen to get onto the task

of setting up camp, despite the distractions

of the constant shouts of ‘I see a goat’. The

group was briefed by Mike and were all given

a sponsored Stoney Creek fleuro vest and

beanie as part of joining the NZDA and also

one of the benefits of being a HUNTS course

trainee. They were then split into pairs with an

instructor, before they set off into their steep

and rugged hunting areas.

At the beginning of the course, Roger had

told the boys that they would need to get

fit because they would be

physically challenged on the hunt and it would

be a long day in the hills. Accordingly, when

Glen was sorting out the hunting areas, you

guessed it, Roger claimed the block furthest

from the camp to hunt with his two keen and fit

young hunters. Jeff, from Great Barrier DOC,

guided two of the smaller kids who had been

given the closest hunting area.

Jeff had his work cut out for him teaching his

pair that you don’t shoot the first thing you see.

He was able to contain their excitement and

eventually, after what would have seemed like

hours and miles later to the boys, a suitable

goat was spotted and Olly was first up. Several

shots later, (three long hours actually), coupled

with a little debate about the possibility of

a missed shot, Olly had his nice young billy

goat down on the ground. Next was Ben, and

wouldn’t you know it, every goat they saw for

quite some time after that was a nanny goat.

Not really the target species for a young fellow

trying to shoot his first trophy goat. After a lot

more time and many more miles, the group

finally came across another billy goat

and in true ‘I have used firearms

before and I am a good shot’

form, Ben drilled his trophy

with one very nicely

placed shot.

learning how to skin their goats – part of the course

The view from camp


a difficult uphill shot Now for the carry back to camp

a successful days hunting

Meanwhile, in the next block over, Kahu and

Marco were hot on the trail of a small group

of goats with their ‘guide’ Peter. After a

comparatively short period of time both the

young lads each had their first goat, with Marco

opting for a nice tasty young nanny goat and

Kahu, a billy goat with a head to hang on the

wall.

While all this hunting was being had, in another

block, Tahi and Pawnee were trying to quietly

sneak up on their goats, but with the other

shots being fired around the place the goats

kept moving on. They had to do a bit more

walking than they had planned. However,

under the watchful eye and superb guidance

of their instructor Glen, around mid afternoon,

the second goat fell and the boys had shot their

first goat each.

Due to the distance Roger’s group had to walk

to reach their block, a number of goats had

already been shot by the others. The team sat

down, surveyed their block and came up with

a cunning plan to secure the two boys their

goats in no time flat. They headed downhill for

a start, a long way downhill, and we all know

what comes next – uphill. They got half way

up the face and Soul had been nominated to

take the first shot. A loud roar from the 22-250

and the billy goat that Soul had lined up flipped

his tail and ran away. A very nicely executed

miss! The boys then learnt about tracking

and following their game until another shot

presented itself and Soul nailed a nice billy

goat with a neck shot. The rest of the goats

mobbed up and headed away at a great rate

of knots, finally coming to rest in the middle of

a large sunny face but the boys could not get

close enough for another kill. The team sat

down and had a quick well earned bite to eat

and then it started raining again; this time quite

a heavy shower. Having his suspicions about

the goats behaviour, Roger took his hunting

companions up onto the next ridge line in the

rain and sure enough, the goats had headed off

the nice open face and right towards the cover

of some gorse well within shooting range.

Joseph took a steady shot from the sitting

position across a short gully and after a quick

finishing shot claimed his trophy, a young billy

goat.

Everyone was shown how to properly gut and

prepare their animals for the carry out, along

with the various parts and organs of an animal

and signs to look for that might suggest their

animals were not fit for human consumption –

all part of the HUNTS training.

All the participants got a goat each and all

carried their prize back to camp – for some

of them their goat was as big as or bigger

than them! Mike showed them how to hang

the goats in the trees and then it was time

for dinner. That night the kids were so proud

of themselves (rightly so) and possibly the

influence of a large bag of lollies that they did

not get to sleep until late, instead of following

the lead of their instructors who were tucked

up in their sleeping bags and snoring fairly

early.

Next day, it was up a 7.00 am, breakfast and

then onto learning how to skin and process

their goat meat ready for cooking. The only

casualty (who shall remain anonymous) got

caught out when telling a trainee how to take

off the skin around the tail and consequently

got stuck by Pawnee’s pig knife through the

fingers when he put his hand in the wrong

place at the wrong time (refer photo).

The kids were determined to take their trophy

heads home – not sure how Roger explained

that one at the airport!

All in all, a great weekend! Lots of learning

done, good company and stories shared.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this

weekend a success and to Roger – good on

you! A great initiative that has given these

young people memories for the rest of their

lives and I dare say, put the hunting spirit into

several of them.


THE NEW ZEALAND DEERSTALKERS’ ASSOCIATION INCWHY JOIN ?

A Special New Year Deerby Jamie Pottinger

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

such organisations as: C Mountain Safety Council (MSC)

C International Hunting Education Assoc (IHEA)

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

C New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO)

C Department of Conservation

C Other groups involved in outdoor recreation.

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

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

CFour NZ Hunting & Wildlife magazines each year

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

CMembers’ only discount as negotiated from various retailers

CA discount on DOC annual passes.

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

CRegular newsletters

CAntler, Horn & Tusk and photographic competitions

CComradeship

COrganised hunts

CSome branches have ranges and huts available to members

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

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

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

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

CPublic access

CFirearms

CRange shooting

CTraining of prospective outdoor enthusiast

CFunding and assistance in building huts

CNew hunter training

CHut maintenance

COpposition to the use of aerial 1080

CAnimal control

CGame animal protection

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

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

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

matters.

Post to:

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc PO Box 6514

Marion Square, Wellington 6141

or Fax 04 801 7368

email: [email protected]

#NZ Hunting & Wildlife 161 - Winter 2008 16

NZDA has affiliations and associations with

Advantages of belonging to NZDA for full



















CComradeship

COrganised hunts






CPublic access

CFirearms

CRange shooting




CHut maintenance


CAnimal control



Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________


matters.

Post to:



or Fax 04 801 7368























CComradeship

COrganised hunts






CPublic access

CFirearms

CRange shooting




CHut maintenance


CAnimal control



Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________


matters.

Post to:



or Fax 04 801 7368






BUSH TELEGRAPH

heLI-huNtING OperAtOrs

Below is a list of heli-hunting operators and their concessions for which they hold permits. These permits are for heli-hunting over land additional to that approved in 2010 for the 2011 season and covers areas listed below.

(a) st James Conservation area (Spenser

Mountains and land to east of Wairau River (the St

James range)

• Amuri Helicopters Ltd • South Pacific Safaris Ltd

(b) two thumb range (northern part of the

range identified as ‘seasonally frequent’ in the draft

guidelines for aircraft access in Canterbury 2009)

• Alpine Helicopters Ltd • Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd• Glenroy Hunting Lodge Ltd • Mt Hutt Helicopter Ltd

(c) aoraki/mount Cook National Park (i) Liebig & Malte Brun Ranges • Alpine Helicopters Ltd • Aspiring Helicopters Ltd • Back Country Helicopters Ltd• Glenroy Hunting Lodge Ltd; (ii) Malte Brun Range • Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd

(d) adams Wilderness area • Alpine Helicopters Ltd • Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd• Aspiring Helicopters Ltd • Back Country Helicopters Ltd• Glenroy Hunting Lodge Ltd • Heliventures Ltd• Mt Hutt Helicopters Ltd • Mountain Helicopters Fox Glacier Ltd• NZ Mountain Hunting Ltd • Nokomai Helicopters Ltd• South Pacific Safaris (NZ) Ltd • Station Air Ltd

(e) Westland tai Poutini National Park • Alpine Helicopters Ltd • Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd • Aspiring Helicopters Ltd (only for an area of

land north of the Cook River)

• Back Country Helicopters Ltd • Glenroy Hunting Lodge Ltd

(f) Hooker landsborough Wilderness area • Alpine Helicopters Ltd • Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd• Aspiring helicopters Ltd • Back Country Helicopters Ltd• Central South Island Helicopters Ltd • Mountain Helicopters Fox Glacier Ltd• Glenroy Hunting Lodge Ltd • Heliventures NZ Ltd• New Zealand Mountain Hunting Ltd• Nokomai Helicopters Ltd• South Pacific Safaris (NZ) Ltd.

(g) mt aspiring National Park and olivine Wilderness area (i) Mt Aspiring National Park (excluding Olivine

Wilderness Area)

• Alpine Helicopters Ltd • Aspiring Helicopters Ltd• Back Country Helicopters Ltd • Glenroy Hunting Lodge Ltd• NZ Mountain Hunting Ltd • Way to Go Heliservices Ltd (ii) Olivine Wilderness Area (except lower true

right of Dart River, Mt Aspiring Topuni area, & Dart/Slip

stream special area on the mid true left of Dart River)

• Alpine Helicopters Ltd • Aspiring Helicopters Ltd • Back Country Helicopters Ltd

the following times have been stipulated within which the permits may be exercised:

(a) St James Conservation Area • Spenser Range – 26 April 2011 to 31

August 2011; • Land to east of Wairau River (St James

Range) – 1 June 2011 to 31 August 2011.

(b) Northern part of Two Thumb range • 1 May 2011 to 30 September 2011

(c) Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Liebig and Malte Brun Ranges • 1 March 2011 to 30 September 2011.

(d) Adams Wilderness Area • 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2011.

(e) Westland Tai Poutini National Park • North of Copeland River – 1 March 2011

to 30 September 2011 (excluding the roar

closure period).

• South of Copeland River – 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2011.

(f) Hooker Landsborough Wilderness Area • 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2011.

(g) Mt Aspiring National Park including the Olivine Wilderness Area (except lower true right

of Dart River, Mt Aspiring Topuni & Dart/Slip Stream

special area) • 21 April to 30 September 2011.

Members arranging hunting trips into or neighbouring these areas may wish to be selective as to who they use.

LINCOLN uNIversItY huNter surveYBy Geoff Kerr, Lincoln University

[email protected]

The Game Animal Council offers opportunities

for better game management, but that requires

information from hunters.

• The Game Animal Council provides an

exciting new opportunity to manage

hunting.

• Effective management requires clear

goals, understanding of who does what,

and how well the system is working.

• None of that information is currently

available.

• Lincoln University is undertaking research

to fill in some of the blanks.

• This research is entirely funded by Lincoln

University and is independent of any other

agency, guaranteeing its integrity.

• Aggregated results will be publicly

available.

• An internet survey will identify who goes

hunting and the species they seek, the

different reasons people hunt and the

nature of hunting trips.

• Later work, will be working with hunters

to identify hunter preferences about their

hunting experiences and how they are

managed.

• This is a chance that hunters haven’t had

previously to participate in management

of hunting. It will only work if hunters get

behind it in large numbers.

• All you need to do is visit www.lincoln.

ac.nz/hunt, take a very short survey and

sign up to be involved in the future.

• The research does not ask for names and

it does not ask where people go hunting.


BUSH TELEGRAPH

the GrAF bOYs – wILD weekeND ADveNturesBy Clyde Graf

For over three years we have been trying to get television channels to give us a go at putting an outdoors series on the screen. After being informed that a hunting show was not going to be accepted, and not accepting no as an answer; one rainy afternoon in a Starbucks coffee shop, the Wild Weekend Adventures idea was created.

TV3 ‘loved’ the concept, and agreed to a half hour slot, on Saturday afternoons. The thirty-minute episodes will alternate between the Australian outback, and the New Zealand wilderness.

Wild Weekend Adventures is a ‘how to’ and ‘get involved’ series that shows the viewer what can be done in a wild weekend. The programme introduces the public to exciting adventures that they can do themselves and will cover what is needed, what it costs, how to do it, and where to do it.

Tips on photography will also be included, and the signature shot from each episode will be included in a calendar that will be available for sale toward the end of the year.

Of course, a vital part of the show is having sponsors to help ensure it can be achieved. To date, we have Garmin supplying GPSs, and Stoney Creek supplying gear. The fact is, we have been wearing Stoney Creek gear for

many years. Stoney Creek as a sponsor fits perfectly with our gear requirements, and their stuff is good. It’s as simple as that!

Wild Weekend Adventures is planned to hit the screens, on TV3, in October.

the GrAF bOYs – CONGrAtuLAtIONs!The Graf Boys film, ‘Poisoning Paradise – Ecocide New Zealand’ has just recently been chosen out of 359 films from 50 countries to be one of only 30 films to be shown at the 10th Japan Wildlife Film Festival 2011. The festival is organised biennially and takes place every odd year in the Toyama prefecture, Japan. The first festival was held in 1993 and was started in the hope that by screening moving images of the wonders of wildlife and the coexistence of nature and people, it could help to increase understanding and awareness of the urgent need to protect and care for the natural world.

With the cooperation of Wildscreen in Bristol, UK and Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival in Wyoming, USA, it has become the largest event of its kind in Asia and Pacific Rims. The festival is attended by some 40 thousand members of the public who come from all over Japan.

The Japan Wildlife Film Festival is a four-day event, (4th – 7th August 2011), where nominated films are screened at several theatres and open to the public free of charge. The festival gives the Japanese public an

excellent opportunity to view high quality natural history films. With the film competition as its focus, it also hosts seminars by scientists and filmmakers and support active international exchanges among filmmakers and broadcasters trusting they may lead to new co-productions and distribution opportunities.

ADveNturesmArt websIte to become a ‘one stop shop’ for NZ outdoor safetyLast year the Mountain Safety Council and NZ Search and Rescue Council as a joint initiative, launched ‘The Outdoor Safety Code’. They were quickly joined by the ‘Boating Code’ and the ‘Water Safety Code’. This is part of a wider ‘Visitor Risk Management’ project which includes the development of the AdventureSmart web portal.

The website, www.adventuresmart.org.nz goal is to become New Zealand’s one stop shop for safety messages and provide visitors with the necessary information to stay safe in the outdoors.

The website is up and running with further development in the pipeline to extend the depth and breadth of information and to increase the number and quality of links. It also has an object to engage more organisations with a vested interest in outdoor safety.

The website is worth a visit as the number of links and information are good.

ObItuArY: Arthur rIChArD beNtLeY bem, 1915 – 2011By D Bruce Banwell

Arthur Richard Bentley, affectionately known in Australian deer circles as ‘AB’ was born on July 29, 1915 and passed on to the ‘Happy Hunting Grounds’ on April 22, 2011 aged 96. He was originally from Yorkshire, emigrating to Australia with his family as a child.

What a great innings for a great man, an icon of Australian deerstalking and conservation. If you happened to meet Arthur during his twilight years, you would never guess he had reached that age.

Arthur was an accomplished writer, author, poet, sculptor, conservationist and hunter. A pioneer of the Australian deer world; his authoritative book An Introduction to the Deer of Australia, a painstaking work. It has been reprinted on two occasions.

‘AB’ was a renowned orator and an accomplished conversationalist. His interest in deer and hunting influenced his move to become a foundation member of the Australian Deer Association (ADA). George MacKenzie, a past national president of the ADA kindly extracted the following account

from Arthur’s memoirs for me – ‘In 1953, Arthur was elected secretary of the Australian Crocodile Hunters’ Club and later, due to the influx of deer hunters, the club name was changed to the Australian Crocodile and Big Game Hunters’ Club (AC&BGHC) to accommodate the wider interests of its members. By 1960 the Crocodile Club was in decline and it was from this group that the idea of a deer-oriented organisation emanated.’

‘In the same year, a conservation sub-committee of the AC&BGHC was formed which was eventually named as the Victorian Conservation Committee and Arthur assumed the role of secretary. In 1963, that organisation was registered as the Victorian Deer Conservation Cooperative Limited (VDCC). In 1965, the AC&BHGC was wound up and its assets handed over to the VDCC Ltd.’

‘In September 1969, at a meeting of deer hunters at Camberwell, Victoria, the Australian Deerhunters’ Association was formed with Arthur elected as vice president. Some years later, the organisation’s name was changed to the Australian Deer Association so as to broaden the Association’s objectives so that anybody, hunter or not, with an interest in deer could join.’

Accepted throughout the Australian deer hunting fraternity in Australia as an icon in that field, as was our own John Forbes in this country. Like Forbes he was undoubtedly ‘the father of Australian deerstalking’ and deservedly so.

On the back flap of the dust jacket of the third edition of Arthur’s book, Mike Harrison, a close friend stated: ‘In his own right, AB has an artistic inclination. He appreciates fine music, is a gifted writer, sculptor and poet and an entertaining speaker. With all of these accomplishments, he is a humble man who constantly apologises for his inadequacies before delivering a consummate performance. Both the world of humans and the world of the deer are enriched by his presence.’

I was privileged to have Arthur as a friend across ‘The Ditch’ for many years and to be presented with each edition of his book with such glittering citations inscribed within. They are treasured. Assistance with information was always forthcoming and he wrote the foreword to my The Royal Stags of Windsor.

Although having had an exceptional innings, he will be sadly missed, both by me and all the deer fraternity of Australia, but where he has left behind him a tremendous legacy. AB was one of nature’s gentlemen. farewell old friend.


I had been working like a thousand slaves,

thirteen an fourteen hours a day for three months

solid, away in the sticks from home, and even

had to miss out on the Red and Fallow roar and

that hadn’t happened for quite a few years, so

you can guess how I felt about that lot.

I had just finished my job and returned home to

my little darling, a quick ‘mug up’ and out into the

den to look over and fondle my shooting gear, my

mind filling rapidly with all my shooting haunts

and what would they be like after that three-

month period without me balancing the scales

of nature.

Now for the big question, which always seems

a fixture in my mind. ‘Darling, you adorable

creature, do you think I might be able to hop

away for a couple of days? Want to try for a head

and a wild life photo. The annual dinner is only

two weeks away.’

Heel! Was I in a sweat waiting for the answer.

‘Oh, well. I suppose so. Home five minutes and

now you are off again, but before you go I want

you to fix this, fix that and fix some other flamin’

thing.’

‘Yes, beloved!’

Just imagine the thrill of a caged hunter suddenly

let loose It was like the ‘count down’ of a rocket

launching. Four, grab my pack; three, my rifle;

two, my camera; one, some grub; zero, take off

in a big rush.

Whistling and waving out to the working class,

I am heading up the Wanganui River to my

‘Paradise Valley,’ crawling with game.

After two hours driving, I have my pack on and

ambling up my first big climb, down the other

side and easier going, the sun is shining, the

birds whistling and the deer will be waiting. Truly

the great outdoors.

I made a couple of stops but arrived at the valley

in two hours. Dumping my pack where I was

to bed down, I grabbed my rifle and glasses,

heading for a possie I called the ‘lookout.’ Just to

lie once more on this very spot and gaze over this

valley was indeed a stalker’s thrill. Over there,

a few does feeding. Turning my glasses around

quietly, I counted thirty-odd Fallow, mostly

does and a few small antlered bucks. With my

favoured stalking footwear on, (rubber sneakers),

I quickly headed for a particular gully where I

felt certain there would be a buck. A careful look

but only does, no buck. Further down the ridge

I go - Yes! Over there! Put the glasses up. He

doesn’t look bad; a bit narrow in the palms but

an average head.

He hasn’t seen me, but moves quietly down the

gully towards the bush. What do I do? A bit dark

for the camera; so better try and down him.

Losing sight of him for a couple of minutes as I

moved down the ridge, I was amazed at my next

sighting to see two bucks together and didn’t

know which the first one was. They were almost

at the bush edge when I whistled. Both stopped,

so taking a bead on one of them, ‘plonk’, down

he went.

By now, light of day was fast failing, so I made

my way back to my pack and bedding down

possie.

A fair night’s sleep after clubbing two opossums,

I awoke to a lovely dawn, boiled up a brew, went

to the trouble of making toast and filled the ‘inner

man’.

Leaving all but my camera, I moved up to the

lookout. A quick look around and it was a replica

of last night. Dropping down onto a sizable

terrace, I spotted a buck and spiker feeding.

Now, this part will be believed by some - but!

On quite a few occasions now, I have noticed that

deer in a reasonably quiet area are very curious.

So, starting to put my beliefs into action, I slipped

down into the cover of fairly thick fern, wriggling

my way forward to the outer edge of the cover as

far as I dared. Just above me, a slight rise and to

my left, the deer feeding in the clearing.

Even from where I was, I could see the deer quite

clearly by peering through the gaps. Now, the

big act was to take place. Raising my camera

up and down slowly, it was soon spotted by the

deer. You could almost see the ‘worms’ working

in their heads. For what seemed a long time, the

buck finally made the decision and started off

towards me, slowly, on just the route I wanted

him to take towards the slight rise in front of me.

At this stage he disappeared behind the rise and

the tension of the waiting began.

I watched the top of that rise like a hawk, camera

ready and just waiting. There he is! Just the tips

of his antlers! Stop! I see the palms turn slowly

right and left, then in my direction again. Slowly,

I raised the camera to my eye, all of a tingle but

steady, the antlers now coming into the viewer

of the camera. Come on, you beauty! At last he

was looking straight down on top of me ‘eye to

eye’. Click! I got him. The buck turned without

CurIOsItY IN pArADIse vALLeY

BLAST FROM THE PAST

B y t h e l a t e N o r m H u b b a r d , W a n g a n u i D e e r s t a l k e r s a n d H u n t e r s C l u b ‘He was looking straight down on me’


panic, moving away out of sight, I was satisfied

and elated.

Waiting a few minutes, I sneaked a look over the

rise to see the buck heading casually for cover.

On the move again, looking for a photographer’s

model.

Does were quite numerous feeding about, but old

‘Mr Buck’ is the eye-catcher and he really is of

the ‘nobility,’ or ‘blue blood’ of the deer family. It

wasn’t long before I spotted a buck on his own in

a small clearing. I looked over this area for quite

a few minutes before deciding my stalk.

Moving from tree to tree, shrub to shrub, and

finally belly to the ground, I inched my way

forward, even taking shelter behind the odd blade

of grass. I had covered quite a bit of ground with

the buck still feeding on, but on the alert with

every mouthful.

Some forty-feet distant from the buck stood a not

so big double barrelled ‘whitey wood’, the trunks

being not much thicker than five to six inches.

This was the spot I headed for and made without

trouble.

After lying quite still and hidden for a few

minutes, I slid one eye around the base of the

tree, only to look into the eyes of the stag.

Withdrawing my eye, I tried to think of the best

move to make. He certainly knew things were not

as they should be, but was not certain why.

Peering around the other side, I again looked

into his eyes. He had moved out to try for a more

satisfying look. I had done the same, but still no

flight of panic from him.

Again, I withdrew carefully. This time, holding

my camera at the ready, I slid the works around

the tree, bringing the buck gently into the viewer.

This could not last long, so click! And another

buck falls victim to my old 35 mm.

My model this time did not waste much time

heading away. Must have forgotten something,

I mused to myself, while watching his leaping

flight.

Well, this was really something. I had had a

terrific morning and the time had slipped by fast.

Good things must come to an end, so I had better

get moving.

Packing up and heading for the truck, my

thoughts were quite full of my camera shots.

Would they come out alright? Or had I made a

‘blue’ with the works? One thing, I mused, I had

not used telephoto, so had not cheated with my

game.

The return walk did not take so long and on

topping the last climb I looked back towards my

‘Paradise Valley’ with the thoughts in my mind as

to a true friend—‘I’ll be seeing you.’

‘i slid one eye around the base of the tree’

Norm was one of the old timers who are thin

on the ground these days. He was a passionate

hunter and conservationist who hunted up and

down the country seriously in the late 40s, 50s

and 60s, but his first love was the Wanganui

River. He took numerous fine trophies from

Fiordland, West Coast and of course many Fallow

bucks from the river area near his home. He also

won an NZDA National Certificate for a Red deer

head.

On a personal note, he took me on my first Fallow

hunt up the river as a sight-unseen young lad of

24 in 1967. From there he became a great friend

and hunting companion for 44 years, despite an

age difference of 17 years.

Norm was a life member and patron of the

Wanganui Branch of NZDA which later became

the Wanganui Hunters and Stalkers Club, an

affiliate of NZDA. He was active in Search and

Rescue for 25 years due to his knowledge of the

Wanganui back country.

He advocated for a 10 kilometre non-commercial

zone around the coastline for fishing, and for

non-commercial eeling and white baiting in

rivers; an avid conservationist for the common

man.

During his many years of hunting in the bush he

came across many old Maori hangi stores and

pa sites as well as other historic buildings. He

developed a passionate interest in the history

of the Wanganui district and decided to use his

40 years as a professional builder to restore and

preserve these sites; notably, the Anderson home

at Pipiriki (now the headquarters of the Wanganui

River Reserves Board) and the Kawana Mill near

Matahiwi (using only an old photograph as a

guide). For the mill restoration he received the

Historic Places Trust Certificate. Norm also did an

enormous amount of marae restoration for Maori

on the river and was involved in saving many of

the central city historic buildings in Wanganui.

In later years Norm ran a DOC summer nature

programme for young people, and was a guide

and leader for the Wanganui Historic Places Trust

river tours.

He received numerous awards, chaired the

Wanganui Historic Places Trust, a board

member of the Wanganui River Reserve and the

Wellington National Parks Reserve boards. Norm

also received the Paul Harris Fellow, a top award

from Rotary International and in 1981 received

the MBE in recognition of his restoration work.

Norm Hubbard, a man for all seasons and

all occasions; hunter, fisherman, historian,

educator, leader, guide, photographer, speaker;

skilled builder, passionate for restoration and

preservation, bushman extraordinaire, decorated

achiever, husband, family man, and a great friend

to me and many others.

ObItuArYN o r m a n ( N o r m ) f r e d e r i c k H u b b a r d m B e , B o r n 2 7 / 4 / 1 9 2 6 W a n g a n u i - D i e d 2 0 / 0 2 / 2 0 1 1 W a n g a n u i

B y B u d J o n e s , W e l l i n g t o n B r a n c h


GrANNIe OLIve’s

reCIpesCOLD pOrrIDGeThis can be prepared late afternoon or evening of the day before.

Quarter fill an empty margarine container with raw rolled oats.

Add two teaspoons each of sugar, raisins, dates, dried apple and goji berries.

Fill the container with cold dairy or soya milk.

Cover with the lid.

In the morning at wake up, I pass a spoon and a container of this delicious mixture to the hunters who eat this breakfast before they get out of their sleeping bags.

veNIsON pOt rOAst

Fry dehydrated or fresh onions in a large heavy-bottomed stainless steel pot or camp oven.

Rub curry powder over a large chunk of venison.

Add salt and black pepper to taste (optional) .

Also optional is to place some dried thyme and sage on the bottom of the cooking vessel, sit meat on it and press down firmly.

Fill the vessel to one-third with cold water and place the lid on.

Gently simmer for several hours, turning the meat occasionally.

About one and a half hours before dinner is to be served, place root vegetables, if you have them, around the meat. Replace lid and continue simmering.

To make gravy, remove the meat and vegetables and set aside in a warm place.

Boil the liquid left in the pot until it has evaporated and the residue is brown, then add hot water, salt and pepper to taste and thicken with approximately four dessertspoons of cornflour or plain flour mixed to a thin paste with cold water.

Carve the roast and serve.

Best wishes from Granny Olive (Olive Baldwin).

THE STALkERS’ TABLE

Photo taken by max Pudney of Grannie olive, as she would like to be known.

Grannie olive in her kitchen for all weathers


N o r t H t a r a N a k i B r a N C H 2 0 1 0 s W a Z i s H o o tNorth Taranaki held its Swazi Junior Shoot on 27

February with five juniors turning up, after shooting

in the Small Game 1st Place Martin Michel, 169.8; 3rd

place Kira Michel, 101.1 and 2nd place Jordan Benton, 137.5. Front row

Bailey Ryder, 63, and Bailey Benton, 57.2. The format was 25 m, 10 shots

prone, at the rabbit target and at 50 m, 10 shots prone, at rabbit target. The

rabbit target is not an easy target to hit so full credit to all the shooters who

tried really hard. Finally thanks so much to Davey Hughes and Swazi for his

continued support of junior shooting as the Swazi products are well sort after

by these children.

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H a s t i N G s B r a N C H 2 0 1 0 s W a Z i s H o o tThe winners of the Hastings Branch Junior Swazi Shoot which we held

recently:

1st Connor Rapley (left); 2nd Lisa Simonsen (middle) and 3rd Bella

Montaperto (right)

The other person in the photo is our president who presented the prizes –

James Guilford.


For some time the Heritage Trust had thought about the possibility of being able to take custody of what has become known as the Nitz collection; one that has some historical value amongst hunters. In particular the two Wapiti heads that the Nitz brothers, Edgar and Herman had taken back in the 1930s. The Wapiti were taken from Fiordland’s Glaisnock Valley and to be more specific, Edgar’s head from the headwaters of a stream now known as Nitz Creek.

Inquiries eventually revealed where the heads were being stored, and once that had been established, it was decided that the Trust should corresponded with Peter Nitz, who resides in Wales. Some years after the original enquiry, came the reply giving the Trust permission to take custody of the heads. The timing of the receipt of this communication was a stroke of luck, as the person who had been taking care of the heads since the 1970s needed to get them out of his home as soon as possible.

The removal of the heads was not as simple as you would think. The size of the Wapiti heads was to prove to be a challenge in more ways than one. Two trailers were used with only one Wapiti head per trailer. However the first challenge of getting them from the house to the trailers brought an understanding of what the brothers would have experienced carrying the heads out through the thick Fiordland bush. Firstly the heads had to be negotiated down a staircase, then through some bush and finally up a greasy slippery bank to the trailers.

The collection was delivered to the NZDA Heritage Trust/National Office rooms for custody while arrangements were made for displaying the heads.

The National Executive indicated that they would like to see the Edgar Nitz Wapiti head displayed in the national office board room. Thus the second challenge came to the fore. This seventeen-point head is recorded as the highest Douglas Score for a Fiordland Wapiti and with a fifty-eight inch length and a fifty inch spread was going to take some placement to not get in the way of day-to-day activities.

HERITAGE

the NItZs’ brOthers wApItI heADs

Down the stairs

Could it be any narrower?

through the bush via the greasy slippery slope

Glassing the sides of the fiord (l-r: guide, Herman and edgar Nitz)

1930s fiordland campsite (l-r: guide, edgar and Herman Nitz)

the egdar Nitz head on display at National office (Ds 474¾)


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PLACES TO HUNT

FeAtures:

State Highways 3 and 4 traverse much of the area and there are numerous side roads that provide access into the backcountry and the public conservation lands. The Whanganui Forests hunting area covers land along the coast from the Turakina to the Patea River and significant lowland forest inland to Ohura, Taumarunui and Raetihi. There is over 166,000 ha of public conservation land within this region, including Whanganui National Park and the Waitotara Conservation Area.

The region provides many excellent hunting opportunities, whether your quarry be Fallow, Red deer, pigs or goats. There are also a few areas in which hunting permits can be gained for water fowl, upland birds

and rabbit shooting. The Whanganui region is characterised by its steep, extremely hilly terrain, deeply incised rivers and very extensive tracks of lowland forest. In most areas of the Whanganui Forests a separate permit is required for dogs. Permits are available online as ‘Whanganui Forests’ under the Lower North Island hunting block.

Jean D’arcy Conservation area and Powataunga scenic reserve (NZtopo50 Bk32)

Fallow deer and goats are present in moderate numbers. Pigs are present in low numbers. Kiwis are known to be present. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

kapara Conservation area and ahoroa, rotokohu and moeawatea scenic reserves (NZtopo50 BJ31 and Bk31)

Goats are present in moderate numbers and pigs in low numbers. The topography is steep to very steep. Kiwis are known to be present. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

kauarapaoa scenic reserve and mystery Block Conservation area (NZtopo50 Bk32)

Fallow, pigs and goats are present in low numbers. The area is most popular as a pig hunting block using dogs. Caution: Kauarapaoa Scenic Reserve is only approximately 300 metres wide. Hunters should be aware of the boundaries and not hunt on the adjoining private land. These blocks are steep and predominantly regenerating forest. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

whANGANuI FOrests huNtINGhttp://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/manawatu-whanganui/whanganui-area/whanganui-forests-hunting/

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kokaka and taheke (excluding Carvers Block) Conservation areas and rotokahu and retaruke scenic reserves (NZtopo50 BH33)

Red deer, Fallow, pigs and goats are all present in these reserves. Carvers Block requires a special permit. These are only issued for one week at a time, Friday to Thursday. The terrain in these areas is generally steep with numerous bluffs and gorges. Kiwi and blue ducks are present. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

matemateaonga and mangapurua tracks (NZtopo50 BH32, BJ31, BJ32 and BJ33)

High numbers of goats, low to medium numbers of Fallow, Red deer and pigs are present. Special restrictions: No hunting is permitted from 20 December to 20 February or over Easter. The topography of the park is moderate to steep with deep gorges, sheer papa bluffs and waterfalls. The following huts are in the area: Ngapurua Hut, Omaru Hut, Pouri Hut, Puketotara Hut, Tieke Kainga and the Whakahoro Bunkroom.

motutara scenic reserve (NZtopo50 BH33)

Pigs and goats are present in this reserve. Lowland forest with some open grass areas, the terrain is steep to rolling. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

moukuku scenic reserve (NZtopo50 Bk33)

Low numbers of goats in the bluff area near the southern boundary and the occasional Fallow are present. Special restrictions apply. The topography is moderate to steep. There are no DOC huts in this reserve. There are no tracks.

murumuru Conservation area (NZtopo50 BJ33)

Fallow, Red deer, pigs and goats are all present in this reserve. Special restrictions apply. The terrain is very steep where the block falls towards the Whanganui River. Kiwi are known to be present. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

Neilsons Conservation area (NZtopo50 BH33)

Red deer, pigs and goats are present in this reserve. The terrain is moderate to steep. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

Nukuhau, omahine and okahutiria Conservation area (NZtopo50 Bk31)

Fallow, goats and pigs are present in these reserves. All three blocks have steep topography with deep gorges. Kiwis are known to be present. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

okahukura scenic reserve (NZtopo50 BG33)

Goats and the occasional pig can be found within this reserve. The reserve comprises two separate sections of bush. The larger is a steep valley of tawa forest, the smaller is a steep hillside of tawa forest.

otawaki scenic reserve (NZtopo50 Bk33)

Pigs and goats can be found within this reserve. This block is situated on the true right bank of the Whanganui River. The topography is moderate to steep. Access is by boat only. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

Patukino scenic reserve and lakes road Conservation area (NZtopo50 Bk31)

Fallow, pigs and goats are all present within these reserves with moderate to steep topography. Kiwis are known to be present.

Pukeatua Conservation area (NZtopo50 BH33)

Red deer, pigs and goats are all present within this reserve. The terrain is steep to very steep. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

Puketarata scenic reserve (NZtopo50 Bk33)

Fallow, pigs and goats are present in low numbers. The topography is steep but the main spurs are easy to negotiate. Kiwis are known to be present. Hunters must ensure they stay within the block as none of the adjoining land owners permit hunting. Access is by boat only. There are no DOC huts in this reserve. Excludes Hipango Park.

rangi scenic reserve (NZtopo50 BG33).

Pigs and goats are within this reserve. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

riariaki Conservation area and Pairawahipi scenic reserve (NZtopo50 BJ33)

Red deer, pigs and goats are all present in these reserves. The area is steep and dissected with bluffs and gorges. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

rimunui Conservation area (NZtopo50 Bk31)

Fallow, pigs and goats are present in this reserve. The terrain is moderate to steep, most of the leading ridges and spurs are negotiable. Kiwis are known to be present. There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

tarere Conservation area (NZtopo50 Bk31)

Fallow, pigs and goats are all present within this reserve. Topography is moderate to steep. Kiwis are known to be present.

Whanganui National Park east includes: Whanganui National Park (east of the river), section 8 scenic reserve and adams and mangatawai Conservation areas (NZtopo50 BH32, BH33, BJ31, BJ32, Bk32 and Bk33)

High numbers of goats, low to medium numbers of Fallow, Red deer and pigs. There are special restrictions. Huts and campsites available include John Coull Hut, Tieke Kainga, Whakahoro Bunkroom and Whanganui Journey campsites.

Whanganui river trench (NZtopo50 BH32 and BJ32)

High numbers of goats, low to medium numbers of Fallow, Red deer and pigs. There are special restrictions. The topography of the park is moderate to steep with deep gorges, sheer papa bluffs and waterfalls. Access is by boat only. Huts and campsites include John Coull Hut, Tieke Kainga and the Whanganui Journey campsites.

For further information contact: DOC Whanganui area office, 74 Ingestre Street, Whanganui 4500 or Private Bag 3016, Whanganui 4540. Phone 06 349 2100, Fax: 06 348 8095, [email protected]

Please note: The above information is only a summary of the hunting areas. For special conditions, permits and access points please visit the website shown at the start of the article.

Bridge to nowhere


title: the red deer Part ii New Zealand Big Game Records Series Volume Six

author: D Bruce Banwell

Publisher: The Halcyon Press

isBN: 978-1-877566-09-7

rrP: $46.99

format: Soft cover, 240 x 165mm, 344 pages, numerous black and white photos with 16 pages in colour

reviewed by: Tony Macklin

The Red deer Part II is the South Island Red deer herds and Bruce Banwell’s opening paragraph, must be taken into context if the real value of Red deer in New Zealand with such great herds as the Otago and Rakaia are to appear in one volume. (Quote: My apologies for having to keep the text to a minimum and restrict illustrations, but available space afforded by one volume and the extensive history due to the South Island herds has unfortunately made this necessary.)

The European Red deer will always prove the number one game animal in New Zealand because of its wide spectrum of range land and its ability to survive. This is the heart and soul of New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association. Others may disagree; that chasing tahr of the Southern Alps or the deer of Fiordland is better, but we have a great leveller in the Red stag.

Part II of the Red deer series is again sectioned with section 1 being the brief history of the Red deer; a very comprehensive section, very technical but answering a lot of questions of how, why and what etc and especially, crossbreeding and hybridisation.

The well known Otago herd, one of the pure Red deer herds to arrive in New Zealand and originally released from English game parks, consisted of a mixture of two or perhaps three species. Onwards many years and the next generation of crossbreeding is being done by man or a quirk of nature allowing the release of new bloodstock into existing areas. This all gives rise to new bloodlines and better trophies in some parts of New Zealand. The latest trophies have shown this direction.

Section 2 is about the South Island deer herds, working from the top of the island down. Starting with Nelson, then Poulter, Rakaia and Otago herds, followed by the remaining herds and enclosures that occurred in the lower South Island. This section is not about the best of each herd but the release areas, history and other general information. This area was Bruce Banwell’s forte; he has already written books on the Rakaia and Otago herds.

Volume II has the extensive list of nearly 500 Red deer entries in the record book status of over 300 Douglas Score. This list is very comprehensive as far as NZDA big game trophy listings are concerned.

The Red deer Part II is a companion volume to its earlier released Part I which covers the North Island herds. In both volumes, section 1 could also be read in conjunction with each other, and all followed by the Red deer herds of New Zealand.

Again another excellent publication, and a companion copy to The Red deer Part I on any hunters’ bookshelf.

bO

Ok

title: the Game Butcher: Wild about meat

author: Darran Meates

Publisher: Huia Publishers

isBN: 978-1-86969-421-0

rrP: $45.00

format: Soft Cover, 210 x 254mm plus flaps, 171 pages, supported by colour ‘How to’ photos

reviewed by: Alec McIver

After I started to read the book The Game Butcher: Wild about Meat by Darran Meates, I found that I couldn’t put the book down.

The history of Darren from when he left school at 15 to take up a butchery apprenticeship until now is very enlightening and shows what a real Kiwi bloke he is.

The contents are excellent with its down to earth text and over 250 photographs covering all aspects from getting the animal in the field to serving it on your plate.

The chapter on knives and sharpening shows an insight to the skills that is usually only known to butchers and very experienced hunters.

The section on what Darran keeps in his cupboard would save many a host from being unprepared when cooking their prized catch.

I would recommend that all hunters, no matter what their skill level; be they trophy hunter’s or simply putting a meal on the table, should consider having a copy of this book as a reference source.

bO

Ok

title: Wild animal Control Huts

author: Michael Kelly

Publisher: Department of Conservation

isBN: 978-0-478-14189-4

rrP: $30.00 + $5.00 P&P

format: 210 x 296mm, 76 pages, soft cover, coloured and black and white photos and hut plans.

reviewed by: Trevor Dyke

Having an interest in things old I found this book an interesting read. The introductory section outlines the background to the book and why it was produced.

Expecting it to be focused on the huts and their history, it was a pleasant surprise to find ithe book punctuated with small snippets of historical information, such as the introduction of deer into New Zealand, which of course eventually led to an attempt to eradicate them and thus impacted on why huts were introduced. Also amongst these snippets are the reactions from NZDA to some of the decisions/actions that were made affecting the deer and recreational hunting.

A further piece of information is the background history of how the Department of Conservation came about, starting off as the Deer Division within the Department of Internal Affairs, before being ‘handed’ over to the New Zealand Forest Service, and then eventually the formation of the department as we know it now.

Fifteen pages contain thumbnail style coloured photos of old huts that are accompanied with a small comment about each; some have been highlighted indicating them as being of historical value. Many of the hut names I recognised from the old hunting story books that I have read over the years.

The photos are followed by a section with architectural plans of some of these early huts.

If you have an interest in NZ outdoor history then this would be of value to have. The book is available on line at DOC’s website – www.doc.govt.nz/publications/conservation/wild-animal-control-huts-a-national-heritage-identification-study/

bO

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REVIEWS


POETRY

You stand out proud and bold

On the Anatoki Range of old,

For many years you have held my gaze

From sunrise through to evening haze,

As seasons come and seasons go

You are at your best in the autumn glow.

When your tussock faces turn to gold

And autumn chills take hold

It was time to pack our gear.

For those of us, who venerate our hills and deer

We knew the roar was almost here,

Great times were had out on those hills

Without all the modern frills,

We did not have gas, GPS and all the rest

But we knew that dry turpentine burned best.

We lived on venison steak and stew

And topped it off with a good hot brew.

The golden years have long since gone

As choppers came and went

But now there is a nastier trend

To poison paradise is all the go

And all DOC and its disciples have to say

Just let the 1080 flow.

Times have changed, not always for the best

But my eyes will seek you out

High up, on Anatoki’s crest.

CIrCuLAr bushBy Karl Pratter, Golden Bay Branch

title: roarin in reds

Produced by: The Graf Boys

Camera & editing: The Graf Boys

Directed by: The Graf Boys

running time: 98 minutes

rrP: $39.95

reviewed by: Trevor Dyke

The Graf Boys have done it again, as only the Graf Boys can. Their new DVD, Roarin in Reds is the latest to join their stable. Watching it was a pleasure and other members of my family, including my young grandchildren, were fascinated by it. Definitely one for the DVD library.

The skills of the Graf Boys again come to the fore in this DVD, with some exceptional footage where stags are roared up to within three metres of the camera. I should mention that only one deer is harvested and carried out.

All the filming was done on public accessible lands such as the Urewera Mountains, Landsborough, Hollyford Valley, Routeburn Track and Westland. The areas were all accessible from a road, but did involve some walking.

The hints and advice are numerous, covering such as: different ways of roaring the stags up using roaring horns or cupped hands; holding their attention and when they take off; how to make them stop for a second look. Some hunting hints are offered as well. You will either want to take notes or you will be watching the DVD several times to take it all in.

I was impressed with their safety message that hunters roar just like Red stags, so assume that everything is human until proven otherwise. How often do you hear a story of one hunter roaring up another?

This is a DVD that will no doubt be taken off the shelf to be watched again and again; most probably just before the start of each roar to see if you can give yourself the edge to bag that trophy Red stag.

The DVD can be purchased from the Graf Boys by visiting their website www.thegrafboys.org

Dv

D


POINTS OF ENVY

wINNING heADs FrOm the 2010 COmpetItIONs

meL LArrItt trOphY – reD DeerW i n n e r : I s s a c T e K a h i k a , T u t i r a B r a n c h . D S : 3 6 9 ¼

The hunting had been very hard going due to a very strong North Westerly wind and today was no different. Id been chasing this stag for two years and I knew

his turf well.

About 8am while closing in on a wallow I knew he frequented in his rutting area I spotted 3 hinds, then another 6, and more, another 5; with such a large

harem I knew he wouldn’t be far away. Next I a saw a stag, thinking it was the animal I was after I raised my rifle, only to see it was a very big 10-pointer. I

stood without moving hugging a large rimu as these animals moved off on a diagonal away from me. Then I saw him, his tops came into view then his head,

neck and shoulder. Without hesitation I fired and the stag was down! What an awesome trophy, 16-points. While gutting him I heard a stag roar very close by,

no doubt the 10-pointer I had seen earlier. I bet he had taken the 16-pointer’s harem. Bugger!

mCGOwAN shIeLD – FALLOw DeerW i n n e r : M a r t o n P a r s o n s , N o r t h O t a g o B r a n c h . D S : 2 1 2 7/8

I followed him into the bush on Kakanui Mountains, and as he came out the other side he ran about 100 metres before my shot took him.


NAtIONAL shOOtING

ON TARGET

This year our National Shooting programme was actually held over three consecutive weekends, 26 - 27 February, 5 - 7 and 11 - 14 March at the Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex as a trial. Also for the first time the Pacific Shooting Championship format was included. These new matches comprise of the 120 shot three position 50 metre rimfire and 60 shot three position 100 metre centrefire events, which were held on 26 - 27 February.

Entries were a lot lower than anticipated and it is hoped that in the future it will increase as it is the format of the international shooting competition. Three fine trophies have been donated for these new events and special thanks go to the donors:

Colin Curreen - 50m NRA Rimfire National Championship Trophy,

Brenda Perry - 100m 3P Centrefire Trophy, and

Grant Botting - NZDA National 3P 2 Gun, (from both matches).

The trial which split the national shooting week over consecutive weekends attracted fewer entries than previous years and at the shooters’ meeting held on 5 March it was voted to return the nationals back to a shooting week format for 2012.

the following records were broken:

Name event New record old record

Colin Curreen 100m standing 91.01 (89.01)

Colin Curreen 100m aggregate 278.07 (272.03)

Colin Curreen 50 & 100m aggregate 562.07 (554.02)

Brenda Perry 100m standing 95.02 (92.03)

Brenda Perry 100m aggregate 291.10 (286.08)

Brenda Perry 100 & 200m aggregate 580.19 (574.25)

Brenda Perry Ladies 100 & 200m aggregate 580.19 (572.14)

liGHt varmit Class

100 yard aggregate

Michael Peacock Nelson 0.3088 1

Peter Haxell Auckland 0.3178 2

Trevor Everett Nelson 0.3438 3

200 yard aggregate

Tony Titheridge Nelson 0.3509 1


Graeme Smith Nelson 0.3833 3

light varmit Grand aggregate



Sue Gavin Sth Waikato 0.3870 3

Heavy varmit Class100 yard aggregate




200 yard aggregate



Allen West Bay of Plenty 0.3753 3

Heavy varmit Grand aggregate




2 Gun aggregate




rimfire eveNts

Harvey Westland Nelson 742.44 1



NAtIONAL beNChrest ChAmIONshIpsHeld at Packer’s Creek Range, Nelson, 22 - 25 April 2011


26 february 2011

50m Nra rimfire Branch Class Prone Prone Pr tot stand stand st tot kneel kneel kN tot 50m total

Colin Curreen SWAI O 193.05 193.07 386.12 175.03 179.02 354.05 189.08 191.08 380.16 1120.33

Grant Botting TPO O 195.08 195.09 390.17 155.01 154 309.01 193.08 192.05 385.13 1084.31

MarkPoots TPO O 194.09 192.09 386.18 154 160.03 314.03 184.01 183.02 367.03 1067.24

Juniors Branch

A Ralfe TPO 968.12

B Shekell TPO 785.09

Nra 100m Centrefire Branch Class Prone stand kneel 100m total

Colin Curreen SWAI O 200.10 182.00 196.06 578.16

Grant Botting TPO O 199.09 172.02 195.06 566.17

Brian Lambert (R/fire) SWAI V 197.04 127.00 183.01 507.05

25 & 26 february 2011

2 Gun trophy Branch Class r/f C/f total

Colin Curreen SWAI O 1120.33 578.16 1698.49

Grant Botting TPO O 1084.31 566.17 1650.48

6 march 2010 50m 50m

aggregate

100m 100m

aggregateGrand aggrimfire 50 & 100m Branch Class Prone stand kneel Prone stand kneel

Colin Curreen SWAI O 99 91 94 284 97.04 91.01 90.02 278.07 562.07

Brenda Perry ROT L 93 92 95 280 95.02 90.00 89.00 274.02 554.02

Grant Botting TPO O 98 82 96 276 92.02 76.00 94.03 262.05 538.05

teams Branch

G Botting, M Poots, D Krivanek TPO 1597.14

B Perry, H Heard, J Stick ROT 1549.07

C Curreen, S Gavin, B Lambert SWAI 1537.09

27 february 2011 100m 100m aggregate

200m 200m aggregate

Grand aggCentrefire 100 & 200m Branch Class Prone stand kneel Prone stand sit

Brenda Perry ROT L 99.06 95.02 97.02 291.10 99.02 92.02 98.05 289.09 580.19

Colin Curreen SWAI O 99.08 93.00 96.03 288.11 99.04 86.00 98.02 283.06 571.17

Grant Botting TPO O 99.07 82.01 98.03 279.11 99.06 85.00 91.04 275.10 554.21

teams Branch rimfire - veterans

G Botting, M Poots, D Krivanek TPO 1642.51 J Stick 503.04

B Perry, H Heard, J Stick ROT 1620.33 G Brewer 480.01

C Curreen, J Pearce, B Lambert SWAI 1605.37 B Neckelson 473.02

8 march 2010200m Prone match (60 shot) Branch 1 2 3 4 5 6 total

Mark Poots TPO 100.03 100.05 100.07 98.04 98.03 99.07 595.29

Grant Botting TPO 100.06 98.06 99.05 98.05 99.04 98.06 592.32

Colin Curreen SWAI 99.05 95.03 98.03 98.04 98.05 97.04 585.24

11 march 2011metallic silhouette (80 shot) Branch Chicken 40m Pig 60m turkey 77m ram 100m total

Brenda Perry ROT 16 19 12 16 63

Steve Smith TNKI 17 15 10 14 56

Geoff Brewer SWAI 13 18 12 12 55

12 march 201150m running Game target Branch slow r-l slow l-r total slow fast r-l fast l-r total fast Grand total

Vince Payne RUA 140 126 266 110 101 211 477

Darius Kirvanek HO 127 120 247 105 112 217 464

Steve Silcock BUSH 119 112 231 77 70 147 378

NAtIONAL shOOtING “week” 2011


13 march 2011Centrefire running Boar Branch 1 r-l 2 l-r 3 r-l 4 l-r total

Brenda Perry ROT 48 42 46 49 185

Vince Payne RUA 38 40 46 42 166 S/O -1

Grant Botting TPO 38 43 44 41 166 S/O -2

14 march 2011Centrefire ‘short f Class’ 100m Branch Cal 1 2 3 sub total 4 5 6 sub tot 100m total

Dean Maisey BOP 156 161 317

Peter Haxell 6mm 157 159 316

Allen West BOP 6mm 148 155 303

Centrefire ‘short f Class’ 200m Branch Cal 1 2 3 sub total 4 5 6 sub total 200m total Grand agg

Dean Maisey BOP 50 49 49 148 50 47 49 146 294 611

Peter Haxell AKL 6mm 48 49 44 141 49 51 50 150 291 607

Allen West BOP 6mm 47 49 49 145 47 47 50 144 289 592

50m Nra rimfire - 3P 120

50m Prone 50m stand 50m kneel

G Botting 390.17 C Curreen 354.05 G Botting 385.13

M Poots 386.18 M Poots 314.03 C Curreen 380.16

C Curreen 386.12 G Botting 309.03 M Poots 367.03

rimfire 50 & 100m

rimfire 50m 10 shot Prone rimfire 50m 10 shot stand rimfire 50m 10 shot kneel

C Curreen 99 B Perry 92 M Poots 96

G Botting 98 C Curreen 91 G Botting 96

B Lambert 97 D Krivanek 87 B Perry 95

J Stick 97

J Pearce 97

D Kirvanek 97

rimfire 100m 10 shot Prone rimfire 100m 10 shot stand rimfire 100m 10 shot kneel rimfire - Grades

C Curreen 97.04 C Curren 91.01 G Botting 94.03 B - B Seal 464.02

M Poots 97.04 B Perry 90 C Curreen 90.02 C - A Ralfe 451.01

J Stick 95.04 M Poots 80.01 M Poots 90.01

rimfire 50 & 100m rimfire teams ladies records rimfire - Juniors

B Perry 554.02 Taupo 1597.14 50m Nra rimfire B Shekell 415.01

S Gavin 511 Rotorua 1549.07 S Gavin 1027.11 T Nicholson 395.01

H Heard 492.01 South Waikato 1537.09

Centrefire 100 & 200m Centrefire 100m Prone Centrefire 100m stand Centrefire 100m kneel

B Perry 580.19 D Krivanek 100.05 B Perry 95.02 G Botting 98.03

H Heard 521.03 C Curreen 99.08 C Curreen 93.00 B Perry 97.02

G Botting 99.07 D Krivanek 89.03 C Curreen 96.03

200m Prone Centrefire 100m aggregate Centrefire 200m Prone Centrefire 200m stand

B Perry 577.20 B Perry 291.10 G Botting 99.06 B Perry 92.02

C Curreen 288.11 D Krivanek 99.05 C Curreen 86.00

silhouette D Krivanek 280.09 J Stick 99.05 G Botting 85.00

B Perry 63

H Heard 39 Centrefire 200m sit Centrefire - verterans Centrefire teams

B Perry 98.05 J Stick 519.11 Taupo 1642.51

Centrefire Grades C Curreen 98.02 B Lambert 514.08 Rotorua 1620.33

C - A Ralfe 450.02 M Poots 95.02 B Neckelson 467.03 South Waikato 1605.37


ADVERTISING INDEX

A J Products ...................................................... 23

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

Cameron Sports Ltd .................... Inside Front Cover

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

Fluid Coatings NZ ................................................17

Graeme Marshall – Do You Have A Book In You ... 48

Great Lake Tannery & Expediter ...........................11

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

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

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

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

Lincoln University Hunter Survey ..........................18

Mana Charters ....................................................11

NZ Ammunition .................................................. 39

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association ....31, 36, 48

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

Sika Show ...........................................................15

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

Tahr Show 2011 ..................................................13

Target Products Ltd ...................................... 25, 37

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

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new zealand hunting & wildlife | 173 - winter 2011

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