new zealand hunting & wildlife | 183 - summer 2014

Editorial Working with Communities

The Gold Card Buck

Jeremys year

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Issue 182 OctOber December 2013An official publication of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Incorporated

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

cOver PhOtO My patch William (Bill) Wallace, Bush Branch, entry in the Game Animal Section, photographic competitions 2013.

FeAturesSights on imported airguns and military style firearms in new gun laws ....................3

Media Release NZDA commends Politicians .........................................................13

The Gold Card Buck by Ray Webb ......................................................................10The Big Day Caelan OHagan (Young Hunter Story) ...........................................14My First Tahr Ruby Young (Young Hunter Story) .............................................14New Zealand Mountain Safety Council Member Profile Nicole McKee ...............18Safety Tips NZMSC .............................................................................................19

Jeremys Year Roger Stokes (Young Hunter Story) ..........................................22And the Deer Came Running Chaz Forsyth .....................................................30Jaymes First Goat (Young Hunter Story) .................................................................37

Eddies Goat Hunting Weekend (Young Hunter Story) ..............................................37

reGuLArsPresidents Report Tim McCarthy .....................................................................2Editorial Working with communities - Tim McCarthy .........................................3Bugle news from around the traps .......................................................4, 32, 33, 36

Letters to the Editor ................................................................................. 4, 5, 7, 8, 9

HUNTS Report Bill OLeary The warrant cards are out ......................................6COLFO Report ........................................................................................................13

Take me hunting Kids page win a free Kilwell prize ............................................15

DOC Update Ian Cooksley National Hunting Advisor .......................................16Habitat Cattle Ridge Hut Tony Macklin .........................................................17Tip Offs Guide to composing photos when firearms comprise part of the Subject Mac McMullen ....................................................................................................20Lock, Stock & Barrel Definitely a twentieth century cartridge Chaz Forsyth ..26Shooting Calendar ..................................................................................................31

Book and DVD Reviews ..............................................................................28, 42, 43

Blast From the Past Pariax Paradise O R A........................................................34

Swazi Junior Shoot Thames Valley Branch ...........................................................37

Heritage Updates Trevor Dyke ........................................................................38Places to Hunt West Coast Hunting ......................................................................40

Poem Blazing Trail Greg Caigou ...................................................................43Points of Envy 2013 AHT Competition Winners ................................................... 44

On Target various shooting event results and calendars .................................31, 46

CONTENTS

1NZ Hunting & Wildlife 183 - Summer 2013

PRESIDENTS REPORT

Be safe be seen.

Better No Meat

than No Mate

Last issue I touched on the Game Animal Council and the encouraging message from the Minister of Conservation via the Hon Eric Roy at the national conference in Blenheim.

We are still waiting to hear when the second reading will happen in parliament.

I also encouraged all members of NZDA to up the ante with our minister of conservation the Hon Nick Smith by writing letters in regard to Aerial Assisted Trophy Hunting (AATH). This is seen by all users of the outdoors as an intrusion on their enjoyment whilst utilising public land in regard to the natural quiet that is associated with the great outdoor experience, be it on public conservation land or wilderness areas and national parks. We view this activity as damaging to New Zealands clean green image, a danger to tourists visiting our conservation lands and the fact that this practice has no morals or ethics when used in conjunction with fair chase hunting. While we have no jurisdiction about what happens on private land when we are not stakeholders on that land, we as the public of New Zealand certainly do have a say about what happens on public land. I encourage every New Zealander to put pressure on the minister of conservation to stop this heinous practice, alter legislation, make it illegal on public land and to truly keep our public image clean and green.

The NZDA has made submissions on the recent draft Conservation Management Strategies (CMSs) for Canterbury, Otago and Southland,

and earlier this year did the same for Northland, Auckland and Waikato. We understand that our written submissions were among the most detailed that DOC received. Also, during October our research officer Mike Bradstock and myself presented oral submissions at the three South Island CMS hearings. I think these were well received and know that we made some important points including a couple that had not been picked up by other submitters.

In particular, we pointed out differences between the three CMSs on matters that are general policy rather than policy specific to a place. DOCs planners will have to give these serious considerations in preparing final drafts or the Conservation Boards will not be able to approve them. We also pointed out that hunting had generally been given minimal consideration in the preparation of these plans.

As you probably already know DOC has recently suffered some big funding cuts and has responded with talk of much higher community involvement in conservation. We would have thought this was a great opportunity to involve us hunters (ideally under the management of the forthcoming Game Animal Council, and with the NZDA playing a role too) in wild animal and pest control; but this is not even mentioned in any of the CMSs. For example, in Otago where goats are a particular problem, hunters could take part in organised culling operations at negligible cost to DOC, and in all areas there is scope for more pest trapping lines to be operated in conjunction with voluntary hunter

groups. Unfortunately the planners who wrote the draft CMSs did not themselves propose these obvious ideas and it has fallen to the NZDA to take the initiative. However, we did feel that our ideas generally got a good reception from the hearings panels, which were largely made up of conservation board members.

We were also astonished that the future Game Animal Council (GAC) was not mentioned anywhere in the draft CMSs, and pointed out this obvious omission. Legislation creating the long-anticipated GAC is due to be passed within the next few months, and since the CMSs are due to remain in force until 2024, they need to relate with the GAC to provide a new more co-operative era of game animal management. All this is the potential for DOC and the community to work together for shared conservation goals and game animal management.

On the upside, the review process with draft CMSs that we submitted on earlier this year has produced a good result for the Auckland region. The first draft of the Auckland CMS made the Woodhill (South Kaipara) Fallow deer herd sound like a massive conservation threat poised to make rare plants extinct and invade the Waitakere ranges. The CMS did not recognise their recreational value or the Woodhill Fallow Trusts conservation initiatives. We felt the Auckland panel gave NZDA a good hearing and they have significantly changed the draft so it is much more acceptable. (The Woodhill herd is mostly on land in private ownership so not under DOC management, but there are the usual boundary and other issues to consider.) We just hope to see the same careful consideration and open-mindedness with the review of the latest round of CMSs

We have had a few changes in our National Office; our CEO Dianne Brown tendered her resignation to the National Executive and consequently is no longer working for the Association. While we work towards a full compliment of staff in the national office, it is still operating normally, so it is business as usual.

On behalf of the executive and myself, I would like to wish all of our members a safe and happy festive season and remember if you are hunting over the Christmas period there will be a lot of extra people walking the hills so treat everything you hear or see as another human being until you can prove 100% otherwise.

PresIDeNts rePOrt - summerTim McCar t hy - Na t iona l Presiden t, New Zea l a nd D eersta l kers Assoc ia t ion

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 183 - Summer 2013 2

EDITORIAL

WOrkING WIth cOmmuNItIesBy Tim McCar t hy, Na t iona l Presiden tThe Department of Conservation (DOC) has recently been talking a lot about a bold new era of greater community involvement in conservation. Policy documents make numerous references to increasing conservation effort by working more with communities, businesses and individuals. This is laudable stuff, but DOC needs to walk the walk as well. Above all, it needs to become a straighter shooter, deliver on its promises, and recognise that it will need to offer communities something in return.

The recent opening of the St James Conservation Area to wild animal recovery operations (WARO) is a case in point. An operational plan set in place soon after the former high country run was added to the conservation state in 2008 stated that for the meantime the area would be reserved for recreational hunting, and any heli-hunting would be subject to public notification. The operational plan provided a simple blueprint for the first few years, saying among other things that well founded justifications would need to be developed as part of any future consideration for WARO or heli-hunting activity in St James. What could be a more clear statement that nothing would change without prior study and public consultation?

Meanwhile, DOC reports from field staff clearly indicated that recreational hunters were doing an adequate job of controlling deer numbers and there was no need to even consider WARO. There were also growing expectations that St James might eventually become incorporated into the adjacent Lake Sumner Recreational Hunting Area. It looked like DOC was really doing something

that kept our interests at heart. This looked like working with communities in action.

We were therefore dismayed when out of the blue DOC issued two WARO permits for the St James last February. It was a big enough shock that this happened without any public consultation, but even worse, the department justified this by saying that its own operational plan actually had no foundation in law. This immediately raised the question why have such a plan in the first place. We had to wonder what purpose could DOC have in drawing up an operational plan that it knew had no teeth. This did not look like working with communities in action.

DOC could have handled this much better. It could have refused those permits or attached all sorts of special conditions to them. Areas easily accessible to shooters on foot could have been excluded or a starting date set for after the roar. Heli operators could have been obliged to shoot more hinds and fewer stags, or to leave stags with more than a certain number of points. But instead, DOC chose a no-compromise, open-slather option that could only make existing conflicts worse and diminish the confidence of the very communities it wants to work with.

Things were not improved when the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) tried to find out exactly what had happened and why. DOC seemed to make every effort to avoid giving straight answers before finally admitting under duress that it had omitted the public consultation process. DOC could, of course, have consulted with hunters; it knew we were interested, but it chose not to. It seemed to us that DOC was

too quick to bow to the demands of commercial interests and too slow to recognise its obligations to the wider public. Sadly, another case of not working with communities.

More than ever before, in this new era of community involvement in conservation, DOC needs to get alongside hunters and stop alienating them. There is a great deal we can do to help DOC achieve its aims. We have recently pushed some specific ideas like goat culls and more predator trapping, in our submissions on DOCs Conservation Management Strategies (CMSs). This would save DOC precious dollars for other conservation work, while also forging a closer relationship between the department and hunters. This should be a natural relationship after all, it was hunters who were originally the worlds first conservationists. In return, DOC could make a few compromises by being less secretive and more open, and strive to recognise better that hunters too are legitimate users of the outdoors. It could also come up with a whole lot of specific suggestions in its CMSs as to what we can all do together, something that is at present lacking.

With this in mind, as your President I appeal to members to remain positive and constructive and to keep reminding DOC that were eager to foster community involvement in conservation. Ultimately were all on the same side and despite our differences it is important that we work together. We all love the outdoors and nature and none of us like rats, stoats and possums.

What DOC needs to do is to be less secretive and more supportive. That would really be working with communities.

sIGhts ON ImPOrteD AIrGuNs AND mILItAry styLe FIreArms IN NeW GuN LAWsPolice are welcoming new laws that place further restrictions on imported airguns and military style firearms that come into effect from this week.

From Wednesday 11 December, anyone importing air guns that look like real pistols, restricted weapons or military style firearms will require an import permit from police. The law change also modifies the type of pistol grip that will make a semi-automatic rifle or shotgun a military style semi-automatic firearm (MSSA).

The Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic Firearms and Import Controls) Amendment Act was passed in 2012 and comes into effect on 11 December.

"Police welcomes this amendment, which will help to address the proliferation of airguns that look like real pistols, restricted weapons

or military style firearms. This includes air soft guns which many people commonly think of as toys although they are anything but.

"Police have attended many incidents where these so-called 'toys' have been used to commit violent crime, or have been used to intimidate people."

Inspector Joe Green Police Manager for Arms Control says the amendment means that a special reason will be required in order to obtain a permit to import these restricted airguns into New Zealand.

Meanwhile, from next week, some A category semi-automatic firearms will become MSSAs because of their free-standing pistol grip.

"What this means is that come 11 December,

affected individuals need to either remove the grip and replace it with a stock of the appropriate type; dispose of the weapon through an appropriately licensed person; or apply to Police for an endorsement permitting them to own a MSSA. Police are allowing firearms owners a lead in period until 13 June 2014 to act."

Joe said Police had communicated the upcoming changes with gun shop owners, gun clubs, hunting organisations and other stakeholders.

More information about the new legal requirement is available from: www.police.govt.nz/


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

Patron: Ian Wright

National President: Tim McCarthy

Immediate Past President: Alec McIver

National Vice President: Bill O'Leary

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

Chief Executive Officer:

National Treasurer: Tony Allen

Honorary Solicitor: Peter Barrett

Auditor: Signal & Associates

LIFe members: R Badland QSM, M St J, J Bamford, W J I Cowan, M Dunajtschik, A S D Evans MNZM, D Hodder, R McNaughton MNZM, W OLeary, G Smith, I D Wright NZDA recOGNIseD sPONsOrs 2012/13:Halcyon Publishing, Kilwell, Hunting & Fishing NZ, NZ Guns & Hunting, Stoney Creek (NZ) Ltd, Swazi Apparel AFFILIAteD tO: Council of Licensed Firearm Owners (COLFO), NZ Mountain Safety Council (NZMSC), Sporting Shooters of Australia Association Inc (SSAA), Shooting Sports Pacific Forum (through COLFO), International Hunter Education Association (IHEA)

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

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

New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Inc

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SERIAL NUMBER977 1171 656 006

A particular virtue in wildlife ethics is that the hunter ordinarily has no gallery to applaud or disapprove of his conduct. Whatever his acts,

they are dictated by his conscience.

Aldo Leopald

New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Inc, formed July 1937

BugLE

chArGes FOr bALLOteD huNtING ON PubLIc LANDsA pattern which has emerged over the past decade is one where recreational hunters are being charged for hunters to participate in a ballot to determine entry opportunities during times of peak hunting interest in Public Conservation Lands (PCL). Linked with this provision are indications that the charges for these ballots arise from the extra work incurred by Departmental staff in administering these measures.

Setting aside for the moment the ins and outs of charging for opportunities to hunt public lands, these measures force us to reluctantly consider the adequacy of lands available for recreational hunting in New Zealand: does the demand for some hunting areas (which led to the perceived necessity of balloting to ensure fair access opportunity) reflect deficiencies of hunting opportunity overall?

The need for balloting to determine access to hunting areas is reportedly forced upon the land administrator simply by the amount of

hunting interest shown there. This begs the next question then: if a hunter or party pays a fee for a ballot, and gets lucky enough to win a draw for the area, should it have to compete with commercial operators and operations such as WARO, or SAD, or AATH in the same area? And, if a fee is paid, should hunter success be increased over and above the hunter success (however it is defined) in open access hunting areas, where no balloting takes place?

If the Game Animal Council Bill proceeds into law, will the change in status of our wild animals, from pest, into valued introduced species lead to more opportunities for charging for access for hunting on public lands? Another question is effectively, do we have enough recreational hunting opportunity for New Zealand hunters? How should these opportunities be measured, if we are to know they are adequate?

Yours faithfully, Chaz Forsyth

hIGh vIZ I watched the 60 minutes story last night about the hunter being shot by his mate in the Paeroa ranges. It was a great story showing an unusual side to a tragedy. I must admit to shedding a tear or two during the program.

I am from that area and have hunted the same piece of forest where he was shot which made me feel a little sick to be honest. I have shot a boar within a few hundred metres of the tragedy.

At the end of the story there was a brief section on a new innovation by a Kiwi company involving bands, special scopes and alarms. My wife and I (who hunts with me) were stunned. At no point in the entire story was the wearing of high viz hunting clothing mentioned. Not even by the police inspector who is a hunter. The poor guy that got shot was even wearing green camo in the photo taken before his death.

Never in the years since we began hunting have we missed an animal due to wearing high viz clothing. My wife and our hunting companions will not hunt without it. We have no problem separating as the orange stands out like dogs balls while hunting.

The failure of hunters to wear this clothing continues to astound me. During the roar it is common to see hunting parties at the helicopter depot all dressed up in camo clothing. Even the rifles are camo for gods sake. Me, my wife and friends just laugh at them and we are all glad we are not in their party.

Is there any way the NZDA can start to promote the wearing of high viz. We are not talking reflector yellow or anything. Blaze orange works fine.

Yours, Dave Adams, Ngakuru

Editors note: The following is an excerpt from our associations guidelines:

The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Incorporated recommends and promotes safe hunting practices, including the wearing of high visibility clothing that contrasts with the environment and the game being hunted. To be effective a responsible hunter should wear sufficient high visibility clothing to ensure immediate recognition by other hunters. This is an important risk management measure designed to minimize the risk of hunters failing to quickly identify other hunters, but does not in any way detract from the primary responsibility of all hunters to positively identify their target.

We also operate HUNTS training courses in which the attendees are all given sponsored hi viz orange vests and beanies by way of sponsorship from Stoney Creek.


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PhOtOGrAPhIc exAmPLesI always enjoy reviewing the fine pictures of the hunter posed in the field with his or her trophy, and in particular those of younger people in competitions.

I, like many others learn from these fairly difficult to achieve images and they perhaps showcase our activities to many considering the sport.

After a lifetime of hunting and teaching firearm activity, I might find the pictures you all take a lot more enjoyable if you would please take the time when having your action picky taken in the field to safely display the firearm used with its action clearly open.

Cheers. Sid Duncan, Hutt Valley Branch member (by email)

Editors note: we have taken your suggestion onboard and also produced an article under Tip Offs see page 20

tO kILL Or NOt tO kILLThe pull of the wild turns our minds to the hills. Thoughts of stags bellowing across frosty bush-clad valleys, thrashing pongas, and cause steam to rise get the excitement up.

Yet there are those that argue the killing of animals for sport is morally wrong. They argue that there can be no justification to kill an animal for self gratification. There can be no justification found in hunting to fill the larder, as we can farm animals and kill them humanely in slaughter houses. Any claim that hunting is the fulfilment of a natural trait is met with a counter that there is now no need for man to act in that way. In short they say we have a duty to conserve and protect all wildlife and not to kill for sport.

You, as a reader of this article, are unlikely to agree to these sorts of ethical moral arguments. You probably think that people have become too namby-pamby, too politically correct, and have

lost sight of good old-fashioned attributes and values. Pitching yourself against the elements and wily game, taking home a bag of meat for the family, can not be morally wrong.

But whatever your view, you do have a moral duty when you kill an animal. Your duty is to kill that animal as quickly and painlessly as possible. This can be done only by taking care in your shot. You must know by learning beforehand where to place your shot in order to hit a vital spot. You must have sufficient shooting skills to ensure that you can hit the vital target. The taking of the shot must be done in a controlled way to ensure that you do hit the target.

There is an old saying aim small hit small. If you just throw a dart at a dartboard it is likely to hit anywhere. If you shoot at a deer you will likely hit anywhere. So you aim say for the base of the skull where you will hit brain or spinal

column, either causing instant death. If you can not manage that, then perhaps up the front leg into the shoulder and through into the lungs. Not quite as quick but still a fatal shot. What is the point of this article you wonder?

The point is that to observe your moral duty to execute a clean killing shot you must know precisely where and what you are aiming at. If you do this you will be looking for and recognise deers eyes, ears, kneecaps and shoulders, not a mass of brown or a blur of movement. In short, you will not kill your mate, or another hunter or tramper.

Danny Jacobson (by email) ex Waikato member (many years ago), was a Mountain Safety Council firearms instructor for many years, was a regional adviser for Land SAR in the Waikato, and has been hunting for 45 years (and still at it).


the WArrANt cArDs Are Out!The HUNTS instructor warrant cards were eventually mailed out in late October and the Range Officer cards are being processed at this moment mid November.

I would never have thought that such a small piece of plastic would have thrown up so many problems that had to be addressed. But at last all the road blocks have been overcome and the warranting system for HUNTS instructors and Range Officers is now functioning.

Thats not to say that we wont have some minor hiccups and with your patience and our perseverance we will sort out the inevitable typos etc.

The period since Conference has been very busy. This time of year and then pre roar are the two major training periods around the branches and the demand for HUNTS courses is continuing to grow.

Kapiti, Nelson, North and South Canterbury and Upper Clutha have just finished courses and North Auckland, Rotorua and Manawatu (second course this year) will have completed by the time this column goes to print.

The reports both written and informal phone calls give a picture of enthusiastic instructors and very satisfied trainees. It is always a great wonder to me that the trainees are so incredibly grateful for the

course that has been provided given that most instructors are passing on knowledge and teaching skills that is second nature to the instructor and which they enjoy delivering.

At Conference it was possible to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of Murray Burns and Malcolm Mitchell (Upper Clutha) who received their tertiary qualification as HUNTS instructors. Gerry Veugelaers (Hutt Valley) received his Diploma at a later date.

At this stage over half of our instructors have achieved the qualification developed specifically for HUNTS and all newly recruited instructors are on a pathway to achieve it. To assist in this we are moving towards using regionally based senior instructors who can act as mentors and assessors. This will spread the load of national coordination and an anticipated spin off will be greater inter branch cooperation.

rANGe mAttersRanges and range shooting are essential to hone the skills of hunters and it is pleasing to see the efforts put in by branches to provide for the needs of their members.

Bay of Plenty and South Canterbury have recently developed new ranges and in November Upper Clutha opened its new range after a long search for a suitable site

Rotorua, Taupo and Thames have undergone formal range inspections and are implementing recommended modifications. Nelson has started a planning process to meet requirements to host the World Benchrest Championships in 2017.

North Canterbury has started a practical firearms course open to members of the public who require tuition in firearm selection, usage and maintenance. GREAT MOVE!!.

Recently North Canterbury was also looking at criteria for a Marksmans standard that a competent hunter should be able to meet and also recently field shooting has been promoted in the central North island.

All this is great, as the end result should be safer and more effective shooters and hunters.

Congratulations to all instructors, range officers and range convenors and all who have contributed to these programs.

Best wishes for the holiday season.

NZDA HuNTS REPORT

huNts Bi l l O Leary, Na t iona l Coord ina tor, NZDA HUNTS

Bill OLearyNational Coordinator,

NZDA HUNTS

CHARTERS BLUFF

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

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

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

gas bottles & dive bottles.

Ruby Young


YES: These ARE a pistol grip

NO: These are NOT a pistol grip

www.police.govt.nz

It means any semi-automatic rifle or shotgun that has a pistol grip will become a Military Style Semi-automatic firearm (MSSA).

If you have a MSSA under the new legislation, you must:

Apply to Police for an endorsement specific to that MSSA if you want to keep it

Dispose of the grip and replace it with an A-Cat compliant stock

Dispose of the MSSA to an endorsed licence holder with a permit to procure.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO ARMS ACTCheck your rifle/shotgun

From 11 December 2013, the Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic

Firearms and Import Controls) Amendment Act 2012 comes into effect.

For more information go to:

OR

OR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Lake Monk ExpeditionI was interested to see in your recent edition a reprint of IWT Munros article about the 1957 Lake Monk Expedition.I was a Forest Service member of that expedition and a co-author of the DSIR Lake Monk bulletin published subsequently.I know the Forest Service officialdom didnt care much for our conclusions. However, I take issue with the footnote saying that the report pretty well ended Thane Rineys career in New Zealand; I dont think that was the case at all. Like many, he probably just saw greener pastures elsewhere.SincerelyColin Bassett (by email)

(L) Dr Walter Howard; (R) Thane Riney

Lake Monk Expedition 1957. (L) Dr Walter Howard; (R) emerging Sharon Watson.

Jim Monk's float plane on Lake Monk 1957


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

OLD versus NeW WhIch Is bestThis could be between - Honda 300 Quad and new models, old Hilux and new Hilux but its not, its between the old style Kiwi bloke and the new hunter.

I am writing this from a hospital bed with a broken neck and leg.

The old style kiwi bloke, who I must add are all legends in their own way, usually brought up in the country and can get ready for a hunt in less time than it takes to make a stiff brew of tea. You know the type.

Their gear is sparse.. and an old ute, WOF and rego optional, a rifle with baling twine for a sling, enough bullets maybe to fill the mag (of varying brands and grains). A knife that you could get a feed off from the last hunt. Canterbury shorts, thick socks with ventilation holes back and front, Redband gumboots (tread optional) and holey swanny just in case weather turns real nasty.

These guys usually have good hunting areas and are bloody good at it. Rangy types, fit, can handle themselves and enjoy a beer or 2.

The NEW hunter on the other hand normally lives and works near a city and hunting is a passion/hobby.

Getting ready for a hunt can be a job in itself. Rifles, bullets, binoculars, range finder, bi pod, walkie talkies, spare batteries, personal location beacon, and pillowcases and duvet to keep meat clean. Fresh drinking water, headlight, spotlight etc - not to forget flash ute with quad or rhino. Most of us lay somewhere between the old and the new hunter, but I must confess I am definitely in the new brigade.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE GEAR My Huntech swanny, great pockets and fits

good...............Swazi dri back pants, good belt, and fly set up and fit

Ridgeline tee/top with zip pocket

Grisport boots

Techniflex rain coat

Huntech day pack with built in meat sack

Browning A/bolt

Leica binoculars/ range finder......LED lenser H14 headlight...LED lenser XR7 spotlight Yamaha rhino and so on.

It has taken me 50 years to be able to get these toys and a lot of hard work.

So which is best.... OLD or NEW hunter.Well a week ago myself and my good mate Gary and our two thirteen year-old boys, Scott and Zane set off for a two-day adventure to a great spot in the Wairarapa, situated on private land with an AWESOME hut to use (some of us are just lucky.)

Driving into the hut we spotted a deer laying down on a clearing about one kilometre away. A further investigation with the Leicas revealed several Reds grazing and resting. I decided to leave my mate at the top and sneak down to within 300 yards or so to get a good shot. I only grabbed the basics.. rifle, knife as we had not unloaded the ute yet. It was good weather and middle of the day. No need for proper boots, warm clothes, torch, personal location beacon.

What should have taken 30 minutes max, turned into a big day/year to come. It had been wet all week and was slippery underfoot. I could have gone down the clear ridge and risked being seen or bush bash through the pig fern etc to get within range. I chose the latter. The bush was tighter than it looked and probably took me 30 minutes to get to my destination. On arrival it was still a long shot approximately 400 yards. Deer were quiet, wind was good, so I decided to cross one more gut to get closer. One slip on a greasy game trail was all it took to send me sliding down a steep wet grassy knob on my butt. I can remember getting up great speed with no scrub when you need it to grab. A 20 metre slide with a 5 metre drop off into a small side creek finished our wee hunt.

Rifle lost along the way, but Swazi pants did well. My saviour was that I put my knife and walkie talkie in my back pack. Sitting in the creek I can remember getting the walkie talkie out of pack and radioing Gary at top of hill. I NEED HELP. HAVE BROKEN LEG. Gary replied with following message will get assistance. The rest is history, Gary shot back to main farm house whose occupants called for the Westpac Chopper and rallied up staff for a search.

You would have thought it would be easy to find me, but it took approximately one hour, about the same time the chopper arrived. I was conscious throughout, but was in shock. ie: cold, shaking and didnt hear anyone yelling out.

The Westpac boys winched me up out of a tricky little spot and flew me to Wellington Hospital.

The two main things that helped me that day were :-1. My mates cool head in getting help before

he tried to find me.

2. Walkie talkie in the day pack without them it would have been a lot longer day.

What didnt help me was wrong footwear and no personal location beacon on me (no good in ute).

So, whos best old school or new bloke....NEITHER - the one that has the most fun!

I dont expect all you old kiwi hunters to rush out and get all geared up, but show this story to your families. A new personal location beacon from Hunting & Fishing for $600/$700 would be a good Christmas present if only for their peace of mind. You can disguise the modern plastic pouch with an old pair of bulls balls made into a pouch if you are too tough for plastic pouches.

Hope to be back on the hill by November.

Cheers Richard Thompson P.S. Swazi pants are no match for the Paramedic's scissors!!!!!!!!!.

stINGING NettLeIn Hunting & Wildlife, Issue 181 there was an article written about stinging nettle.

This prompted me to write about my experience on a hunting trip down the Mohaka River many years ago. After removing our gear from the helicopter we set up camp and then went for a hunt that evening, with myself taking the lead. As is normal the lead person has more eyes for the surroundings than where to put his feet, consequently I grabbed some bushes that happened to be bush nettle. Thinking nothing of it we went to bed, but next morning I awoke with tunnel vision and very unsteady on my feet,

my condition prompted my two mates, Brent Hewlett and John Bateman {both deceased} saying for me to stay around the camp and do not go near the river. This weird going on lasted most of the day but was gone next morning; they say that bush nettle can be more toxic than the ordinary nettle. It would have been a long long way to walk out if I had to.

After returning to the mad world I heard that another hunter had got stung but was able to fly out of the bush, he went to the doctor and flew back in the next day, which sounds like a very expensive exercise.

As far as John Bateman is concerned, he was a very young chap and told us on the way in that he had paid his house and business off and was going to get stuck into the bunting. As it turned out his doctor was treating him for a stomach complaint when all the time - it was cancer of the pancreas, that being his last hunt as he died 9 months later.

I'm afraid you never know.

Ian Mallasch, Life Member, Eastern Bay of Plenty Branch of NZDA


LETTER TO THE EDITOR

DOuGLAs scOre AND ALL thAt JAZZPictured are Douglas Score sheets for Caribou, which I think could be extremely interesting to younger scorers.

These two pages are part of a supplement handed out by Norman Douglas at an advanced measuring seminar many years ago. They were intended to be included in the Douglas score book.

The supplement included how to properly measure pig tusks, fallow deer, caribou and others, also alterations to the hand book.

Some time ago I was corresponding with the head Australian scorer and I mentioned I had the relevant score sheet for caribou.

His reply was along the lines that they would have to be a forgery as Norman Douglas never had anything to do with caribou.

Well here they are.

The main thing to take notice of is the measuring of the brow tines.

You will observe in Normans notes and I'll quote.

"Note As the caribou frequently have the brow tine modified to one central blade, with the other as a vestigial, then this feature (although non symmetrical) must be treated as a normal state of affairs, hence the brows (or brow) do not come under the shorter x2 for score, but rather "sum of the two". Both types are thus considered normal."

So how is that for symmetrical. I hope you find this of interest.

Peter Carter

Lake Rotoma.



Nowadays Im a bit reluctant to write hunting stories as we tend to deem them only successful if rewarded by a trophy head. As we all know just being out there doing it brings its own rewards be it some prime game meat, company of some mates, a few photographs or peace in a wonderful environment. Perhaps to get things in perspective there should be more yarns written about the great or not so great trips that dont end up with a trophy. I could sure relate a few. Although I have had some success over the years there would be far more trips away that dont produce antlers or horns than those that do but all are successful in their own way. Sometimes I wonder if the successes I have experienced are due to good attendance rather than any great hunting skills. However I have chosen to put pen to paper because one of my more recent hunts provided some interesting turns of event that may help a novice hunter improve their stalking skills. And yes, there was a bunch of bones at the end.Thirteen vehicles parked around the Otago Branch hunting lodge at Beaumont must mean one of two things. An extremely well patronised working bee or the Fallow deer roar is in full swing. Since the place is abuzz at 5.30am it must surely be the latter.

The challenge of trying to outwit one of these wily old Blue Mountain bucks that are hunted pretty nearly every day of their lives sets off a strong yearning in the hunters psyche.

It was still dark when Al and I were driving down to the Cattle Flat block situated in the lower watershed of the Rankleburn near the southern end of the Blue Mountains. The weather was dismal to say the least with heavy cloud covering the mountain and misty drizzle interspersed with light showers. We were destined for a wet arse today but the anticipation of locating a croaking Fallow buck kept the enthusiasm high. I dropped Al off and drove to the road end. A few weeks earlier we had been on this block and I was making my way down a beech clad ridge covered with scattered regenerating beech

and pepperwood. There was quite a lot of antler thrashed shrubbery in evidence and on pushing my way, not that quietly, through the regeneration I heard several deer bound off. The bush was quite open once out of the tight stuff but the deer were well gone. I did however find a large scrape that had been recently worked over and a patch of fresh piddle showed up on the dusty earth. Seemed far too early for the rut but perhaps I had just missed out on a crack at a buck through not skirting quietly around the thicket.

This ridge was to be the destination for the start of my days hunt. In the preceding weeks I had thought about how to work the ridge and decided my best chance, wind permitting, was to approach the ridge from below. Much of the Blue Mountains is close quarters hunting, particularly parts at the Beaumont end where I learnt my hunting craft. I far prefer hunting uphill as you tend to make less noise with your footsteps, your head is closer to the deck (sometimes too close when you arse up) and therefore can see under the low canopy.

Normally the morning thermal will shift the breeze up out of the gullies but today the mist was pretty stationary and if it stayed like that could work in my favour for a change. In the past I have found fog and misty drizzle tends to muffle the games senses and this often enables the hunter to get quite close to animals.

I am reluctant to wear a parka because they are bit scratchy pushing through the undergrowth and my Techniflex model looks fairly shiny when wet but there was no option today. To break the outline of a

solid block of dark shiny blue and reduce noise I had pulled a blaze vest over the top. The ground was saturated but as long as I could keep my footing would at least reduce the noise of breaking twigs. It is always a trade off in what type of footwear to have on when bush hunting. Light weight boots with a flexible sole that tends to roll over twigs without snapping them usually suffice but with conditions as they were today my heavier boots with better grip were more appropriate.

There was some buck activity in evidence near the foot of the slope but everything was so wet, age could not be accurately determined. Then there was no guarantee that this buck had not already met his end. If he was still about, and you get lucky, chances are you will only get one crack at a buck. In this environment you only have seconds before they bolt. They dont get to develop trophy antlers by being stupid and you are after all wandering around in their back yard which they are very familiar with. For all that, it is the one time of year that the bucks do sometimes let their guard down in their search for lust and break their normal silent existence with their guttural croaking. This can lead to their downfall. Certainly a change from spending much of their time tucked up in the scrub and flax during daylight hours, so for a couple of weeks of the year they are on the prowl. Even then some of the more cagey bucks will not venture too far from cover during daylight hours.

I enjoy the challenge of outwitting a deer in tight bush; you are for ever conscious of wind direction, movement, and sound while moving as quietly as possible. You dont have much

STORy

the GOLD cArD buckBy Ray Webb, O tago Branch

Inquisit ive Rankleburn Fal low doe


control on wind shifts but by keeping to game trails noise can be reduced as there is not so much rubbish to break underfoot.

If there is good fresh sign in the area my hunting method is to take a few steps and pause, check out the surroundings, check every movement. Every time you shift position another area comes into view that needs checking out. If coming over a rise there will be heaps of places that will bear checking out but just go far enough so a minimum of you can be seen and stop for that little bit longer. I always remember, many years ago, my younger brother Cliff after a particularly successful day on the hill was bailed up in the Beaumont pub being quizzed as to how he managed to shoot so many deer that day. Cliff had had a few by then and his reply was to look for horishshontal lines! Although these mostly turn out to be fallen logs they occasionally do materialise into the back of a deer. You should also practice looking through the immediate cover and beyond. If you see an animal before it sees you then you have a very good chance of a shot. This method of hunting does require quite intense concentration so if you do start to wander off the task at hand it is best just to sit for a few minutes spell.

I was trying to employ all these techniques as I struggled up through the saturated bush. If there was some fresh buck sign about I was prepared to spend all morning climbing this short distance. I eventually arrived at the large scrape that I had encountered several weeks earlier but Huey had more than piddled on it, as it was now like a small pond. Any prints were well washed out. These large scrapes in the open beech tend to be used mostly at night and those further up the ridge and adjacent to cover where a buck only needs to take a couple of steps and he is gone get used during daylight hours. Was my buck further up the ridge or had he already been taken?

So as not to make my presence any more obvious, I sneaked up along one side of the open beech ridge and on approaching the first patch of green I found the first fresh doe sign. I was slowly working my way through the young beech to a short side ridge when I heard a noise which I initially thought was a bell bird calling. It persisted, yeep, yeep, yeep, and seemed to be moving up hill. I had overheard Terry Arthur and Chappie discussing doe calls while in the Greenstone the previous week and this sure sounded very similar to Terrys rendition of a doe calling. However in all the years of hunting Fallow I have never been able to positively identify a Fallow doe calling. It does not help when you have spent your youth working in an industrial environment with no

ear protection and also thinking a bit of cotton wool stuffed in you lug holes was adequate protection on the rifle range. If you want to keep your hearing intact later in life then use the best ear protection you can afford.

If there was a doe about and squeaking then perhaps a buck would be in attendance. I snuk over to that side of the ridge and waited. CROAK! There is nothing like the sound of a deer roaring at close quarters to get the adrenaline running through a hunters veins. Just one croak and it appeared to be between me and where the doe last called. I waited, a shower passed and foggy drizzle returned. Apart from rain dripping off trees there was not another sound. Could there have been a wind shift? Had he sighted me and sneaked away? I had been hunting with my parka hood down so as to hear any sounds and my blaze cap was sodden and water was seeping down my neck. Not that pleasant standing around so crossed silently over to the side ridge, passing through a stand of tall open pepper wood. The first thing I sighted was a scrape with fresh marks all over it. Again I waited. Several minutes past, then above me, croak, croak, croak! If I wasnt keyed up before I certainly was now! I can do a reasonable Fallow grunt but the coughing spasm that usually follows is seldom appreciated. I had a Flambeau grunter slung around my neck that I had modified by removing the bellows section so as to blow directly into the reed chamber. This produced a much longer and more realistic call. One of our most knowledgeable Fallow deer authorities, Ray Lane maintains a doe call is more likely to bring a buck in but I wasnt confident I could pull it off.

I gave him three of my best buck croaks and almost immediately in his direction there was an almighty crash and shaking of shrubbery. I almost filled my trolleys! It was a sodden branch that had broken off and fell crashing onto bushes! I waited another ten minutes. It looked a bit tricky pushing through the scrub so sidled back onto the original ridge where I had seen rubbings and a couple of small scrapes on my earlier trip. Although the vegetation was pretty thick a little time spent looking usually reveals a deer trail. I passed a large beech tree with a bough growing out at right angles and the ground underneath was bone dry. My stomach was starting to make a pretty good imitation of a deer grunt so decided to check out this ridge and then head back to this spot for shelter and something to eat. I had only just passed the second scrape when I heard that dreaded call. A doe barked above me. Bugger! Well since that would have put my weights up I ventured over to a patch of

broadleaf in the next gully and received three more barks for my trouble. Having assumed I had blown it I wandered a bit despondently back down to the shelter of the beech tree.

With my limited activity and sodden cap I was starting to get cold but fortunately I had a long sleeved thermal tee shirt in my day pack so stripped off and slipped it on. A little warmer, I settled under the shelter and hooked into a sandwich. If I am stopped for a break I will normally try and find somewhere with a good view over a patch of feed bush or perhaps an open bush face across a gully with my rifle at the ready across my knees. I am always amazed how often you see nothing for a mornings hunt then sit down for a spell and a deer appears. Possibly tells something of my stalking ability but more likely the ease of seeing movement when the hunter is stationary. My outlook from under the bough was fairly limited but there was a shallow depression filled with sizeable pepper wood that was in the direction where I had last heard the roaring and I could partially see underneath them.

I was halfway through my sandwich when almost as if on queue, a buck came trotting through the dank pepper wood, possibly heading for the does that had barked. He spotted my movement and threw on the anchors. Not breaking eye contact I dropped the sandwich and slowly slid my hand around the tree to where I had propped my rifle. Lifting the rifle and closing the bolt in the same movement I could scarcely believe he hadnt bolted. Perhaps it was the cramped position I was sitting in that he couldnt quite define what I or the movement was. My good fortune quickly turned to mild panic as the scope lens was coated with water and I couldnt see a damned thing through it. No chance of digging out some toilet paper. I glanced down the side of the scope and could make him out beyond a couple of brighter branches. It was gloomy enough without the hassle of the distorted lens but then I noticed unusual white hairs around his eyes. I lowered the cross hairs a few inches and squeezed off a shot. The shock wave from the .270 dislodged a shower of water from the surrounding vegetation. When the scene cleared my buck had dropped dead on the spot. He wasnt going far so I casually finished my sandwich having prejudged him from the short distance as an average head. After the rain eased off I wandered the fifteen paces to inspect my prize. My first impression was confirmed (I thought) of a very old buck sporting a rough head that was perhaps on its way back. He had obviously not eaten much for some time as he looked quite emancipated.


Probably been too busy engaged in more urgent matters. The white hairs around his eyes, which had possibly led to his down fall, were quite uncommon. The antlers were heavy but didnt look anything special. With about forty-five years of measuring Fallow I can usually guess to within a few points the Douglas Score of a Fallow head. I certainly didnt pick this one as anything like record book contention and had him lined up with the twenty or thirty other heads I have in my garage that havent quite made the grade. If I had known it was well over 200DS instead of taking shelter from the next shower I would have been up dancing a jig!

When the shower eased off I set about removing as much meat as I could and was puzzled as to why a buck, that looked so thin, had such huge hind quarters. I was in the process of removing the front wheels when I heard something heading down the beech ridge at a fast clip and sounding for all the world like someone talking. This had me completely perplexed as Al would be a good k away from here. I was just about to call out when another buck came trotting through the same opening as the first and slid to an abrupt stop just a few metres away. I always tell novice hunters, dont even wander into the bush for a call of nature (not usually

that politely) without taking their rifle. Mine was back out of the rain propped up against the

beech tree! The buck took one look at his competition hanging up in pieces ready for boning out and a dozy old guy hacking off a front leg before spinning around and hurtling away. He appeared to have good length and spread with promising palms so the local girls would be in good hands. If he had of been a good'n, it would have been me caught with my pants half down!

Although it normally takes quite an effort to secure your game, the real graft doesnt start until you come to carry it out. I can assure you that carrying this load of meat and head out was not a lot of fun as staying upright on steep slippery ground these days is a fair challenge not made any easier when my pack strap gave way.

It wasnt until I cleaned up the skull and found it was a huge (for the Blue Mountains) 13 inches long that it eventually dawned on me that perhaps this head was much better than I had estimated. This was confirmed when I threw a tape over it.

These antlers were good enough to win the Marshall Memorial Trophy for best head off the Blue Mountains by a local branch member and the Waikato Branch Trophy (over 65 years) at the national competitions. Not a bad effort for a perceived scrubber that ended up scoring 212 DS!

406MHZ Personal Locator Beacons

Kannad, McMurdo, GME, Fastfind

Sales and Service

www.beacons.co.nz

Dear Members The Council has not met since my last report; we continue to keep in touch with each other by email. We plan to meet as a council twice a year. By doing this we will keep our cost sustainable relative to our current income. Should the council need to meet more frequently over specific issues we will ask for financial support from members, if it is required.

We met twice, informally, with the police representatives and once with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFaT) to discuss managing any future impact to New Zealand firearm owners as a result of New Zealand signing the Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations.

By now you should have seen the minutes of the inaugural Police Firearms Community Advisory Forum on the 18th June in Wellington. If not please type this link into your browser - http://www.police.govt.nz /about-us /publication /firearms-community-advisory-forum-minutes-18-june-2013

The intent of the forum is for police to invite representative groups to provide feedback on policy they are developing. It gives us the

opportunity to prevent unintended consequences or non-compliance by licence firearm owners as a result of practical issues.

As the forum is an attempt to improve police process, it is controlled by police. Once they have established policy wording, it is then forwarded to the Parliamentary Counsel Office, for PCO agreement, as draft regulation. The draft regulation is then circulated amongst relevant agencies for consultation, then submitted to Cabinet, after Cabinet approve then it goes to the Governor General for signature. Once signed it is gazetted and comes into effect 28 days later.

Through the process we will all need to be vigilant and active to ensure all licence firearm owners are heard as it may be changed at any level.

It is worth noting that some members have been lobbying members of Parliament and the council in regard to the Arms Amendment Act, at time of writing the number is over 2000. This is commendable and demonstrates to Parliament that firearm owners are active and have a voice, however it will not stop the Arms Amendment Act progressing as it has already been accepted.

Please take the time to read the minutes, one of the significant points we raised was - when regulation is passed it is unrealistic to expect firearm owners to comply immediately. We asked that they allow 6 to 9 months for components to be manufactured and delivered, to ensure that firearm owners can comply with any new regulation. While it is minuted, we hope that it was heard to ensure the firearm owners are given sufficient time to decide and act to be compliant.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, President Obama issued a list of Executive Orders. Among them, the Centers for Disease Control was given $10 million to research gun violence.

Their report has been released as well as another form Harvard Law that do not support the positions they were expected to and can be found at the following links -

http://www.gunsandammo.com/2013/08/27/cdc-gun-research-backfires-on-obama/#ixzz2dBxhObCw

http://www.smallgovtimes.com/article/harvard-study-reveals-gun-control-counterproductive/

While we have not read these reports in full and it needs to be said this are written with in a USA context the high points do make interesting reading.

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

All the best Michael Dowling, Chair, COLF

O

COLfO

NeW ZeALAND DeerstALkers AssOcIAtION cOmmeNDs POLItIcIANs.The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) National President, Tim McCarthy, has commended politicians who voted today to pass the Game Animal Council Act.

The new Act finally sees the establishment of a statutory body to manage deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs. It is the culmination of a long process to revise the status of game animals that have hitherto been widely treated as pests despite their high recreational, cultural and commercial value, he said.

The Act was welcomed by NZDA which since 1937 had advocated for a management regime in which hunters had some say. Mr McCarthy said that after many years of frustration, there was now a way forward for a coordinated approach to the management of valued game animals. With the establishment of a statutory body, recreational, commercial and conservation interests will now be able to find solutions to long-standing differences based on entrenched positions.

The NZDA also looks forward to the development of agreed national standards for hunting activities and collaboration with conservation interests, the police, Federated Farmers, land owners and the game industry to address issues of mutual interest such as trespass, poaching, biodiversity conservation and the crossover between recreational and commercial game interests.

The Game Animal Council will not deliver everything hunters had wanted but will be a step forward from where we have been for so many frustrating years.

However, Mr McCarthy said it was particularly pleasing to see a last-minute amendment to the Act providing for the establishment of new stricter regulations governing helicopter hunting.

He added that NZDA commended the successive governments and Ministers of Conservation who had overseen the process that preceded the announcement. We acknowledge the key role of Mr Peter Dunne (United Future) who

has consistently championed the new law via his confidence and supply agreement with successive governments.

The roles of successive Ministers of Conservation in arriving at this decision indicate that conservation values will not be lost sight of when developing management strategies for game animals.

NZDA strongly supports the GAC and looks forward to working with Council partners, government and other interests to promote safe and ethical hunting practices and proper management of the game animal resource.

The NZDA is New Zealands largest and longest-established organisation of recreational hunters. With a membership of more than 10,000 throughout New Zealand it represents the interests of all recreational hunters and has long advocated for hunting as an integral part of our heritage and recreation.

MEDIA RELEASE


yOuNg HuNTER

the bIG DAyBy Cae l a n OHagan, 7 years, Hut t Va l l ey Branch

On 27/12/12 I woke up at 4:57am and knowing what to do I jumped into the Terrano and found Dad waiting. We took off to pick up Rowan then, zoomed away. When we got there Dad talked about safety but at the same time Rowan saw a deer so it sounded like, OK well just talk about a few safety things so Rowan you go in the front and Ill go in the back and

Caelan you go in the BOOM! When I heard the gun I was very excited so I accidentally shouted, yes! We ran up to the deer and gutted it. Soon we took off.

T he Tr ipWe had a very steep climb so we stopped for a break. After the break we took off again (for the slips) when we got there I was very tired because it took a very long time and also a long way up so I was exhausted so Dad gave me some jelly beans. I was on lookout to look for goats and deer but I had no luck when suddenly I heard a BOOM! I was very excited but this time I remembered to stay quiet. I followed Dad and Rowan and found two goats. We gutted the goats and carried them back to the deer. I asked Dad to get the truck and bring it across the river so when he did me and Rowan put the deer and goats in the boot, hopped in and drove across the river. It was funny on the other side because we got stuck. When we got out of the soft ground we went home.

I am on the HUNTS course with dads trainee's. At 5:30am Dad got me out of bed. I think I was already awake even though I never get up that early. We drove up, down and through creeks and over gravel untill we came to our section. We left the truck on the flat and split up.

I ended up with Dad and James with his dad. We saw some tahr and talked about the best way to confront them.

At last we started to climb the hill to get to them. My hunting shoes were just a bit too big and every time I stepped up the hill they would slip off (very annoying). When we got to the side of the ridge we could see the group of tahr. They were basking on the rough rock face. Upon looking around we saw there was a nanny quite close to us just standing there. We groped around to find a good position.

At James' first shot, which echoed round the hills and valleys, a nanny rolled off a steep rock slide into a gully full of sharp scrub. I spotted my target. Lying down, I sighted on the nanny tahr and pulled the trigger. My ears were ringing and adrenaline was pumping through my body. The shot tahr was still fidgeting around but dad quickly put an end to that. Then more tahr popped up over the other side of the hill. My fingers were itching to down them but we had already got ours.

We made our way over to the tahr where dad rolled it down the hill through the thick scrub. We skinned and gutted it before pulling it in to the truck to go home.

I really enjoyed being with the other HUNTS students on this day but I was very tired by the time we got home late that night.

my FIrst tAhrBy Ruby Young



Jayden Parahi (TVDA) with his first goat taken on our club trip

Harry McAllister, 13-years-old with

his first goats that he shot with his

mission menace bow in the back blocks

of Kaeo

Olly Higgins, 14yrs, Upper Clutha Branch with her wallaby.

Hamish Sinclair with a 100 pound Otago

sow

Reuben Cook age 5 from Nelson Branch,on his first pig hunt with a 90lb sow after a big walk up the

native ridge

WINNER OF THE KILLWELL PRIZE P

ACK

DOc uPDAteNATIONAL HuNTINg ADVISOR

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

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

Why Is the ANsWer sOmetImes NO.An often asked question is can I hunt in this area?; and if not, why not?.

The Department in balancing the aspirations of a multitude of varying groups or individuals inevitably has to make a decision as to the appropriateness of a certain activity.

In assessing an activities appropriateness all activities start of (unless prohibited in statue) on a level footing and through the assessment process are deemed appropriate or not e.g. hunting is as appropriate as any other activity until assessment deems otherwise.

Generally it is the activity that is being assessed and not the person unless there is a history of misconduct etc.

Most assessments are for a particular activity at a particular site taking into account local conditions, so because an activity is not being permitted at one site doesnt mean it might not be at another.

Assessment procedure:The following elements are relevant in assessing the appropriateness of hunting at a particular site.

Safety: Here the assessment is not so much the safety of the hunter but of other people utilising the same area. Relevant to this is policy 9.3(b) of the Conservation General Policy Recreational activities that create hazards for other people should be managed to reduce the risk of harm.

Assisting the safety assessment is the Departments Visitor Risk Management, Standard Operating Procedure which provides a comprehensive approach to managing risk to visitors on all land managed by the Department of Conservation. It describes a visitor risk assessment process, provides information on when the procedure applies, what to do and how to do it.

The purpose of this procedure is to ensure a consistent approach is taken in the identification, evaluation and treatment of risk associated with new and existing visitor hazards, on all land managed by the Department. It aims to ensure a balance is struck between the need to manage risk associated with these hazards and ensuring the experience visitors are seeking from a site is preserved.

Risk is evaluated through the following: Likelihood: Identifying the probability or frequency of an event

occurring. Usually involves high use areas such as roadends, campgrounds and great walks etc where the likelihood of interaction between hunters and other groups is the highest.

Consequences: Identifying the outcome should an event occur. It is this element that is of major concern to hunting as despite an often low likelihood firearms accidents can have tragic consequences.

Ability to manage: Identifying actions that can be taken to mitigate each risk. For hunting this often involves awareness (signage,

pamphlets, specific programmes during roar) or separation with no hunting zones (e.g. 500 m of a Great Walk) and finally prohibition of hunting in a block altogether.

Legal Agreements etc: Whilst not a major element and often temporary, there are instances where legal agreements or other arrangements preclude the use or carriage of firearms.

Leased or licensed grazing areas: Most grazing leases prohibit public hunting due to stock disturbance or no game animals being present. Grazing licenses on the other hand may permit public access and in some cases hunting. When the Department assesses whether to lease or license an area any impact on recreational use is considered, including hunting.

Accesses: Occasionally an access agreement across private land can only be reached if the carriage or use of firearms is prohibited. The Department endeavours to include all recreation uses in an access agreement and in most cases this is achieved.

Research Areas: Not a common occurrence but an area may be closed on a temporary basis to enable research to be undertaken without being compromised by hunting

Whilst the majority of land administered by the Department is available to hunting, as can be seen from the above in some areas hunting is deemed inappropriate. The decision to exclude hunting from an area should be the result of a robust and transparent assessment.

So next time you ask the question can I hunt in this area and the answer is no (presumably for very good reasons), by all means seek an explanation as by asking you will help to keep hunting to the forefront of management decisions.

All the best for Christmas and the New Year,

Ian.


Habitat

sItuAteD:Map BN34 - 114882, 40 43 793" E, 175 30 202" S, Elevation: 1077m, a S70 design hut. Helipad. Norski toilet.

Hut ridge line sits in an east/west configuration.

exIstING hutCattle Ridge Hut was built in the summer of 1960-1961. A comment from Chris Main to John Rhodes of Greytown was:

"Soon after we finished Cattle Ridge Hut we were staying there in the rain and howling wind that was sending spouts of water in through a knot hole in the door; there was no question of going outside! We could not light the fire because the top section of the chimney was blown over."

On talking to Joe Hansen of DOC Wairarapa the hut on Cattle Ridge was probably build under the control of Athol Geddes.

The book Wild Animal Control Huts by Michael Kelly and the Department of Conservation does not list the hut. The book only refers to Mid Waiohine and Manungahuka Huts, when in fact there are others in the area. There are others of the S70 design still existing in the Tararuas today.

cAttLe rIDGe hut hIstOryCattle Ridge was probably named from the 1880s onwards as cattle infiltrated the Tararua Ranges. Their presence ls revealed obviously by names like Cow Creek, Cow Saddle and Cattle Ridge. The cattle were exterminated in the 1930s. (Tararua Story by Chris Maclean). Not to be confused with Cattle Ridge in the Orongorongas.

Cattle Ridge Hut was built in 1960 (according to Chronology of Tararuas - Kerr). This was at the same time as Dundas on the main range to the west.

A photo supplied by John Rhodes shows the original hut as built by Chris Main complete with open fireplace; a hut of S70 design (plans attached).

My first encounter with Roaring Stag came in the early 1970s which led to Cattle Ridge Hut. This would have been in NZFS (New Zealand Forest Service) days. The hut had a Walmakarere stove in those days and this was removed under the DOC reign.

The Wellington branch of NZDA was asked in the early days to be in a caretaker role for the hut. I recall along with Phil Whitelaw and my son Joe going in with Duncan Sutherland and

repainting Cattle Ridge Hut. That was on 16th February, 1996 and probably was the last time the hut was painted.

Cattle Ridge Hut under the late change become a community hut due to its proximity to Roaring Stag Lodge which is part of the core network of Tararua Huts.

The condition of Cattle Ridge Hut came to my notice while on the rebuild of Roaring Stag Lodge in 2005, and also later during other forays into the Tararuas. Wellington Branch members also showed concern at the condition of Cattle Ridge Hut.

A defiant Cattle Ridge Hut looks east to the distant Wairarapa plains. Defiant because it has endured for over five decades despite the northerly gales that often torment the area and batter the hut and any hapless trampers in the vicinity.

For this reason alone it is one of our treasures, a Taonga of the Tararuas.

For generations the Tararuas have been a playground for "Wellingtonians" and the greater region. The hut, located in the northern peaks sits high above the bushline surrounded by unforgiving leatherwood that provides no shelter for the hut, although the hut itself is a paradise to a wind weary tramper.

And weary they are after the climb to get there. Access, for most trampers, begins I with a pleasant three hour forest tramp from the roadend near Eketahuna to reach the wonderfully named Roaring Stag Lodge surming itself (on a good day) beside the Ruamahanga River. Roaring Stag is one of those splendid, idyllically located new huts, but yet to develop the character and charm that only comes with the years.

From the lodge its all uphill. My first visit to the hut in l99l with my eleven year old son seemed to take a long time but the 700 metre ascent from the river is just a solid two hour "grunt". And grunt it is with a gradient of l/2.57 making it one of the steepest track climbs in the Tararuas.1 But its worth it, with fabulous views down the Ruamahanga River Valley and the Blue Range hills beyond to the northern Wairarapa farm land.

Cattle Ridge, for which the hut is named, is very "doable" even for enthusiastic beginners. lt's a safe access to the real Tararua tops complete with all the magic that is offered by tramping

1 Peter Jagger Appendix Three "Tramping in the T3I3I'l1&S 2006

over snow grassed ridge tops with glorious views. Folklore has it that the ridge was named for the cattle that once grazed there; wild cattle, before the onslaught of the deer, being common invaders of the range early last century .... But you wont find any now.

One of our great legacies is the network of huts built by the New Zealand Forest Service for cullers engaged to eradicate deer as alarm increased over deer-related erosion. Cattle Ridge is one of these. A classic l960s galvanised, flat iron, top and bottom six-bunk "S70"2 hut. Originally it had an open fire that evolved into a pot belly stove. Sadly the fire and stove was removed by DOC in the l990s owing to their concern about lack of available fuel. On my last visit I noticed trampers, undeterred, had improvised a fireplace outside the door with ample fuel from dead leatherwood.

The hut serves as an excellent launch point for greater expeditions with challenging trips to the main range via Dundas hut, or for the more adventuresome, the Barmister Ridge crossing which enables a classic East-West cross to Levin. Cattle Ridge serves as an important retreat point for such trips given the propensity for unpredictable and severe weather changes in the range.

Cattle Ridge needs some TLC and recent question marks on its future have been alleviated thanks to the efforts of Tony Macklin of NZDA. A program to restore the hut with care a joint responsibility of NZDA and DOC is underway assuring this trampers' and hunters' treasure as a heritage hut for future generations.

2 NZFS classification courtesy Joe Hansen (Dept of Conservation)

cAttLe rIDGe hutBy Tony Mack l i n , We l l i ng ton Branch


member PrOFILeNico l e McKee NZ Mounta in Safe t y Counc i l

In May 2013 I returned to New Zealand from shooting the South African fullbore championships. I immediately took up my position at Mountain Safety Council (MSC) as Firearms & Hunter Safety Programme Manager.

I have been a member of the MSC since 2005 as a Volunteer Firearms Instructor for Wellington Central. I have also enjoyed the role of Firearms Coordinator for Wellington Central until my recent appointment as Programme Manager. I am a member of many firearms and shooting related organisations and hold a variety of significant positions on committees at a local and national level.

Born in Lower Hutt I spent some of my formative years in Rotorua before settling in Wellington. Of Ng Puhi descent my Marae is Maungarongo based in the little settlement of Maungatapere west of Whangarei. I am married with four children who all enjoy recreational firearm use.

I have a professional background in law having worked for East Brewster, Barristers & Solicitors in Rotorua and Coubrough & Matthews upon returning to Wellington. I then left the workforce for 8 years to nurture my young family. Steve Collings from Steves Wholesale Limited offered me employment in the munitions industry after our youngest started school. During my time with Steve I have learned a great deal, fostered my passion for all things firearms and developed a network of firearms related contacts around the country.

I hand load all of my centrefire ammunition which includes hunting and target shooting in .303 and .308 calibres. My involvement with multiple shooting sports is to local and national level and I am a keen meat hunter who enjoys providing food for the family.

In April 2013 I represented the New Zealand Ladies Rifle Team (as team captain and coach) in the tri-nations matches between South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in Bloemfontein, South Africa. We also competed as individuals in the South African Fullbore Nationals where my success saw me bring home six medals along with the three silver medals won during the Tri Nations matches. The ladies were proud to have beaten Australia in all three Tri-Nations matches. Shooting alongside some of the best fullbore shooters in the world was an experience never to be forgotten.

New Zealands firearms community is a proud, staunch and outspoken bunch. Those qualities are what endeared me to the community, the go-getters of our society. It is an honour to be the Programme Manager for volunteers with passions as robust as my own.

I am a Wellington Branch NZDA member and am looking forward to working closely with NZDA National Executive to promote safety with firearms and hunting.

Hope to see you on the range (or in a hut).

MSC


sAFety tIPs - Know your l imits ht tp://mounta insafe t y . org . nz /safe t y -t ips/T he-Outdoor-Safe t y -Code/Know-Your-Lim its . asp

Social and psychological factors can create high risk situations. Be aware of the points below:

1. Too familiar with the situation: The it cant happen to me illusion. Many incidents have been preceded by near misses in the same area. Be aware of familiarity.

2. Dropping your guard: After being familiar with a situation; risks can rise when we stop monitoring our surroundings. Keep alert.

3. Risk shift: We tend to be more brash and riskier in a group. This leads to poor decision making and can extend weaker members of a group too far past their skill levels.

4. Get home-itus: Forgetting to monitor risk once the end is in sight. Many incidents have occurred when people do dangerous things just trying to get home or back to camp. Be alert to the end.

5. Attribution theory: We tend to blame our mistakes on external things (others, gear, etc) and take the credit for good things. In an incident separate blame from responsibility and reduce further risk.

6. Risk homeostasis: Have personal locator beacon (PLB), will travel. With safety gear in hand many people take extra risks. These precautions should be a backup not a licence to roam. What would happen if they failed?

Know your limits: Challenge yourself within your physical limits and experience. Below are DOCs track ratings. Whats your level of challenge?

Short Walk: Easy walking for up to an hour on a well formed tack that is well formed with an even surface with possible steps or slopes. Suitable for people of most abilities and fitness. Stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required.

Walking track: Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day on a well formed track, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Clearly sign posted and all stream and river crossings are bridged. Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required.

Great walks/easy tramping: Track is generally well-formed, may be steep, rough or muddy, suitable for people with moderate fitness. Limited backcountry (remote areas) experience required. Track has signs, poles or markers. Major stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Light tramping/hiking boots required.

Tramping: Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking on a track that is mostly unformed with steep, rough or muddy sections. Suitable for people with good fitness. Moderate to high level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required. Tracks have markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings. Tramping/hiking boots required.

Route Tracks: Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking on an unformed and natural track, rough, muddy or very steep. Suitable for people with above average fitness with high level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required. Complete self-sufficiency is required. Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings. Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required.

According to the Chinese the relationship between risk and the individual can be described as wei-jan meaning opportunity through danger. Your responsibility is to enjoy

and maximise the opportunity while reducing and minimising the risk.


GuIDe tO cOmPOsING PhOtOs WheN FIreArms cOmPrIse PArt OF the subJectBy Mac McMu l l en , Wa irarapa Branch and approved by I nspec tor Joe Green . New Zea l and Po l i ce

The following may be used as a general guideline when composing/taking photos that are intended for display in/on public forums or printed material or digital media. The intent is

new zealand hunting & wildlife | 183 - summer 2014

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