The Mountain Safety Council is urging all hunters heading out for this year’s roar to think twice before pulling the trigger. ‘No meat is better than no mate’ is the mantra that all hunters should know and remember says Firearms & Hunter Safety Programme Manager Nicole McKee. With increased hunting activity expected, especially on public … [Read more...]
WARO Review
18 August 2014 Lower North Island Hunter Liaison Group Summary of Issues – WARO Review The Lower North Island Hunter Liaison Group (LNIHLG) comprises representatives of 11 NZDA branches and four other non NZDA hunting groups located in the Lower North Island. These groups collectively represent over 2000 members. Additionally there … [Read more...]
Aranui Fallow Meat Hunt Trip Report By Brenton Hodgson
We reached the top of the track and Andrew said “there’s a deer just over there near those horses. Do you see it?” I looked below the horses and saw a shadow. On second look, I saw the outline of a deer. It wasn’t particularly dark, but the animal was in shadow and had dark fur. A fallow deer, Dama dama. Target species. “Do you want to take it?” … [Read more...]
Branch Hunt – Rewa Bush Reserve, 28-30 August 2015
The chance to see a new bit of public land that is normally inaccessible was too much to resist - even after three weeks away at sea and only one night at home! So it was that I met up with seven other keen Branch members and Joe Hansen from DoC at McDonalds carpark in Masterton on the last Friday in August. After a lengthy period of negotiation, … [Read more...]
Napier Visit 8th Aug 2015 by Aidan Bichan
A few months ago I was rung by Murray Shearer of the Napier DA - would we be willing to host some of their members for a weekend? They had seen Graham Sinclair's Gone Fishing on TV and were keen to see the Parkvale Hall and hear some of the stories behind the heads. After a few calls the idea had turned into a shooting competition, lunch at the … [Read more...]
Hunters’ Open Night – Friday 7th August
New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association Inc. Waiararapa Branch Invite you to their 2015 Hunters' Open Night on Friday 7th August! The Open Night starts at 6pm with demonstrations in taxidermy, douglas scouring and butchery. They'll be BBQ food, drinks, and trade displays. Whether you hunt for a trophy or the plate - bring some cash, come along for a … [Read more...]
Stewart Island Revisited
On the afternoon of Sunday the 15th March Wairarapa Branch members Sharon and Steve Playle, Steve Martel, Chris Johnstone and Taranaki Branch members Alan and Mel Candy and including a non-member Neil Johnstone all headed across Foveaux Strait on our annual pilgrimage to Stewart Island for 10 days of R & R with the emphasis on hunting and … [Read more...]
WARO (wild animal recovery operations – helicopter culling of deer on public DoC land)
As you may be aware the new WARO concessions (effective 1st July 2015) were arrived at after DOC deliberately excluded recreational hunters from the decision making process and resulted in a number of significant detrimental changes for us including removal of the 5 month summer exclusion in the Ruahines (year round WARO can now occur), the removal … [Read more...]
Wanaka Conference 26th-28th June
Martin and I attended conference in Wanaka 26-28 June Theme for the conference was ‘Backing the Future’ Mr Cox deputy Mayor of Wanaka opened the conference and offered a very warm welcome, Mr Cox commended the NZDA for their promotional hunting methods and firearms safety. Don Hammond Chairman of GAC (Game animal Council) released the GAC’s 5 … [Read more...]
The Case for Managed Hunting by Howard Egan
This newsletter is obviously not read by a vast number of people. But at least they have the same general interests as myself. Although mine have become more singular as my life has quickly passed. My passion as you know, is Fallow deer. And the seed that was sown decades ago, mixing with European immigrant hunters, absorbing their ethic and … [Read more...]
