New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife - 176 - Autumn 2012

autumn issue 176 - apRil to June 2012
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Hunting Queensland Reds tHe ultimate FiRst date 1080 aeRial dRops and eFFects oF BuFFeR Zones
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CONTENTS
FeATures
Heli-hunting - Through the Eyes of a 15-year-old ............................................... 3 COLFO Report ................................................................................................... 4 We Came, We Saw, and We Conquered - Carol Orbell ........................................ 6 The Ultimate First Date - kylie Schofield ............................................................ 10
SPOTTED SIkA STAG Photographed by kees Swanink, third place Athol Hood Memorial Trophy, (Section H), 2006
Issue 176 AprIl - June 2012 COver phOTO
Hunting Queensland Reds - ken Barrow ............................................................ 14 The Archery Direct New Zealand Bowhunters Society 2012 Tournament .......... 22 Hong Tse - Obituary .......................................................................................... 26 1080 Aerial Drops and Effects of Buffer Zones - Graham Sperry ........................ 30
An official publication of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Incorporated

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Presidents Report - Tim McCarthy ................................................................. 2 HUNTS Report - Bill OLeary - And Still No Fish .............................................. 6 Letters to the Editor ....................................................................................... 8 New Zealand Wild Game - Another Aspect - D Bruce Banwell ..........................12 Young Hunter Stories - Fernridge kids Hunt ....................................................17 Young Deerstalker Profile - Regan Jefferson ....................................................18 Take me hunting kids page - win a free kilwell prize......................................19 Tip Offs - The Poor Mans Pikaul - Dale Williams ............................................ 20 Otago Red Deer Herd Trophies (Continued) - Heads 13, 14 and 15 .................. 25 Lock, Stock and Barrel - Cleaning a Firearm - Chaz Forsyth ........................... 28 Bush Telegraph - news from around the traps .................................................32 Blast from the Past - Ghost Herds of the Sky - Red Stag ................................. 34 Stalkers Table - Grannie Olives Recipes ........................................................ 36 Swazi Junior Shoots - Thames Valley and Marlborough ...................................37 Heritage - Nitz Red Head Update and Packs ................................................... 38 Places to Hunt - Mckenzie Country and Waitaki .............................................. 40 Book & DVD reviews .......................................................................................42 Poem - When You Leave Me - Mike McGee..................................................... 43 Points of Envy - 2011 AHT Competition Winners ............................................. 44 On Target - various shooting event results .......................................... 5, 16 & 46
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NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012
PRESIDENTS REPORT
presIDenTs repOrT
Tim McCar thy - National President New Zealand Deerstalkers Association
The signing of a formal agreement between Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and the Department of Conservation. Left to right: Ron Peacock, FWF; Eric Roy, MP; Barry Hanson, DOC; Roy Sloan, FWF
Tim McCarthy receiving the National Presidents badge from Alec McIver.
First I would like to introduce myself to those of you who do not know me. My name is Tim McCarthy and I have been the National Vice President for the last 18 months and a member of the heli-hunting sub committee since its inception. I have been the President of the South Canterbury Branch for the last four years, and a member of the Association for 30 years. My heart has always been in hunting as a past time. Now, as I have aged, I find myself getting very passionate about the future of hunting in New Zealand and what we are leaving behind for the future generations of hunters to come. Since I have taken over from Alec McIver I have found myself being very busy. Our two major battles are heli-hunting (now referred to as Aerial Assisted Trophy Hunting or AATH) and the formation of the Game Animal Council (GAC). These issues are definitely matters that will affect hunters now and in the future. I would like to start with heli-hunting; we had a major win in the last election with UnitedFutures supply and confidence agreement with the National-led Coalition Government. Although this is not a five-minute fix, I think we can be confident that a change in legislation will loom in the not too distant future. The Department of Conservation (DOC) is
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calling for submissions for and against AATH in the Hooker, Landsborough/Adams and Olivine Wilderness Areas. I trust all members and branches made submissions before the due date as per our recommendations. I would love to see many more vehicles sporting the NZDA anti heli-hunting bumper stickers, as sent to every one of our members around the country in November last year. If you want more stickers please contact the national office. The Game Animal Council (GAC) is on its way to becoming a reality. On Thursday the 1st March 2012 the first reading of the Bill was presented to the House with a resounding success by a majority of 97 for and 23 against. The politicians were voting for a bill that was drafted with a huge input from DOC and is significantly at variance from the recommendations made to the minister by the Establishment Committee who spent two years on consultation and deliberation. NZDA policy has always been to see hunting and animals managed by a system in which hunters had a genuine say. Currently, hunters have very little say, and where they do, there is no guarantee that what they say they have had will continue. Congratulations to the Hon Peter Dunne and all the people who have been working on the GAC for a very long time. We have still got a long way to go, as it has to go through the select committee process and then on to a second
and third hearing before it can be made into law. The first reading in parliament can be viewed on hhtp://inthehouse.co.nz/node/11653 and the Bill downloaded from: www.legislation. govt.nz/bill/government/2011/0347/latest/ versions.aspx Again, I trust members and branches took the opportunity to have their say using the guidelines provided. As your National President I was invited, along with my wife Chris, to attend the signing of a formal agreement between the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF) and the Department of Conservation handing over the wild animal management of the Wapiti area to the Foundation. Congratulations to Roy Sloan and all the members of the FWF on this ground breaking achievement. The model the Wapiti Foundation used to achieve this agreement leaves us with food for thought as to how we could manage our deer, tahr, chamois and pigs in the future. It is with great sadness that my first report brings notification of the passing of our National NZDA Patron, Hong Tse. (See Hongs obituary on page 26.) By the time this goes to print the ROAR will be upon us. Remember, SAFETY FIRST. Identify your target
EDITORIAL
COInCIDenCe? COnspIrACy?
Conference 2012 the Association will celebrate 75-years of existence. Over this time the Association has been involved in advocacy of some form or another, whether it has been for or against issues that impact on our recreational hunting sport. There are three recent important issues that come to mind; one dates back to 2005 and the other two are current. They are the Arms Amendment Bill No3 (AAB), the Game Animal Council Bill (GAC), and the Aerial Assisted Trophy Hunting concessions (AATH), (formerly known as heli-hunting), which covers concessions for the Hooker/Landsborough, Adams and Olivine Wilderness Areas. All three of these have some influence on recreational hunting, either by impacting on the sports equipment that we use, our hunting areas or the ability to be able to manage the animals we hunt. Bills that go through parliament have set protocols and procedures. Government departments have similar obligations to follow. These obligations are set in concrete and we cannot change that, and nor should we attempt to. However these protocols and procedures also have an impact on our members. How? Once bills, in particular, have been accepted and passed to a select committee, this committee in turn calls for written submissions. Government departments go through a similar procedure - they refer to this as consultation. Submissions received and analysed, the select committee or department allows those who have indicated they wish to do so, an opportunity to speak to those written words. So what is this impact? It is all in the timing! The AAB No3 select committee announced that they were going around New Zealand in April to hear oral submissions, as their protocols allow; The Department of Conservation called for submissions on the AATH concessions to be lodged in April, again as required; The Local Government and Environment Committee Select Committee called for submissions on the GAC Bill with an April close off, again as per the rules.
All looks good and above board. But is it? Why choose the month of April for the above issues to be addressed. April! The main hunting month of the year!! The roar!!! Why is this? I suspect that the month chosen is most probably linked to the time as the bill reaches the select committee and possible reportback dates are set; it is possibly the same for government departments. I would like to think that some common sense flexibility could have been applied to their consultation process. It is quite plain that the seat-polishers involved in setting the dates are not aware of what goes on in the real world - the hunting world!! Some prior consultation would be helpful so that our members and fellow hunters are not inconvenienced in such a manner on such important issues as these, particularly when their focus is elsewhere, ie the roar and hunting. However there is another train of thought that could be considered. That is have the dates been chosen on purpose? Of course if this were so, and it could be, that perhaps the bureaucrats wish to limit the number of submissions received. Rather odd, dont you think? Especially as it has happened on more that one occasion. Conspiracy? Coincidence? I leave it for you to decide.
helI-hunTInG ThrOuGh The eyes OF A 15-yeAr-OlD

By Michaela Black (15), South Canterbury Branch
Heli-hunting is destroying the natural quietness of the New Zealand backcountry. Who would want to pay to hunt, tramp or climb in the outdoors when a heli-hunt could ruin your experience at any time? Recreational users have no idea when or where a heli-hunt will occur. We do not wish to be anywhere near an untrained shooter firing from a low flying helicopter at a high speed. Our mountains in New Zealand are a place to explore. They are places that many respect. Our backcountry is becoming a place where profit is overriding decency and this is because of unethical and unsporting heli-hunting. The only benefit that heli-hunting has to anyone in New Zealand is that it will bring more money into our country. Heli-hunting has no conservation benefits whatsoever. The definition that the Department of Conservation has given heli-hunting is - this activity involves the conveyance of a client in search of a trophy animal. The helicopter positions the client on the ground and the
client shoots the trophy from the ground or the client can shoot the trophy from the helicopter, the helicopter then takes the client, guide and trophy home. What this really means is searching for a trophy animal from the helicopter, chasing it until it is exhausted and gives up and then shoot the animal either from the ground or directly from the helicopter. It is cruel that a helicopter can chase an animal until it is exhausted, just so they can kill it; there is no fairness in that. Once the animal is exhausted it just gives up. Having heli-hunting as a legal activity means that it can take place in our national parks, conservation managed lands, wilderness areas and general public areas that are deemed public land. This then brings up a safety issue to other outdoor users. A helicopter pilot carrying a heli-hunter has no idea where hunters, trampers or climbers are. It would be so easy to shoot at an animal during a helihunt while someone else is using the same
public area. It is not fair that heli-hunters can ruin a foot hunters hunt at anytime by disrupting it. They are also affecting the quality of the animals available to foot hunters by taking out the bigger animals, all because it is so easy for them to do so. To make our backcountry safe, quiet and enjoyable for all users, heli-hunting needs to be made illegal.
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COLfO
COlFO
Michael Dowling, Chairperson
Dear Members A few months ago I considered the statistics for New Zealand of deaths and injury relative to the hours of loaded firearm use that occurred in 2008. I estimated there are 1.9 million hours of safe firearms use every year in New Zealand. In statistical terms there was one accidental death every 8.9 million hours of loaded firearm use, per 100,000 of population.
New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Inc, formed July 1937 Co-founders: Dr G B Orbell MBE, Arthur Hamilton Patron: National President: Tim McCarthy Immediate Past President: Alec McIver National Vice President: North Island Members of the National Executive: Steve Corlett, Sandi Curreen South Island Members of the National Executive: Chaz Forsyth, Snow Hewetson Chief Executive Officer: Dianne Brown National Treasurer: John Crone Advisor to the National Executive: Matthew Lark Honorary Solicitor: Peter Barrett Auditor: Signal & Associates
lIFe MeMBers:
This time I look at New Zealands statistics in comparing international death rates. This is not easy; different countries measure in differing ways and call the measure different names; there is a move in recent times to move to a standard measure however there is no long term consistency. Accidental death is simple to search, however in a number of cases with firearms the shooter is found to be culpable, so the death becomes manslaughter and may result in a conviction, therefore not accidental. In 2008 New Zealand recorded 1,918 deaths as a result of injury. The majority of these were as a result of motor vehicle accidents, suicide or deliberate self harm, falls, assault or drowning. I have looked at activities that are accidental rather than intentional. I have prepared two simple tables below comparing data from 2008. The sources are - The National Injury Prevention Research Unit at Otago University NZ; Australian Bureau of Statistics for 2008; Canadian Statistics from the CANSIM site for 2008 and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA, whose latest data was 2007 in the same areas. While I considered United kingdom the data is separated between England, Wales and Northern Ireland with unique issues, so no combined view is available. No. of Deaths Unintentional Deaths Falls Motor vehicle Poisoning Drowning Unintentional firearm Firearm related Total Deaths per 100,000 of population Unintentional Deaths Falls Motor vehicle Poisoning Drowning Unintentional firearm Firearm related Total in NZ 1,305 473 365 105 57 4 7 in NZ 30.6 11.1 8.6 2.5 1.3 0.09 0.16 in Australia 5,410 1,412 1,519 784 169 10 32 in Australia 25.5 6.7 7.2 3.7 0.8 0.05 0.15 in Canada 10,234 3,098 2,628 1,441 275 20 217 in Canada 30.7 9.3 7.9 4.3 0.8 0.1 0.7 In USA 123,706 22,631 42,031 29,846 3,443 613 31,724 in USA 41.0 7.5 13.9 9.9 1.1 0.2 10.4
R Badland QSM, M St J, J Bamford, D Bruce Banwell, W J I Cowan, M Dunajtschik, A S D Evans MNZM, D Hodder, R McNaughton MNZM, W OLeary, G Smith, I D Wright
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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
What does it all mean? As a snapshot in time it says two things to me Firstly - in New Zealand firearms are largely in responsible hands. The number of firearm related accidental deaths is small compared to other causes of death such as falls, motor vehicles and drowning. Given the high number of deaths by falling, I am surprised a licensing system has not been suggested for ladders. In comparison to Australia, in 2008, we have similar levels of firearm related deaths as a percentage of population, but we had more unintentional or accidental deaths and less intentional deaths. Secondly - trying to control accidents through legislation is expensive and ineffective. In my opinion New Zealands excellent firearms safety record has been achieved and can be improved through three areas: Education such as is offered by the Mountain Safety Council, teaching responsible and safe
New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Inc INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SERIAL NUMBER 977 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
practice with firearms. If these courses were offered in schools it would reduce the number of airgun accidents, as defensive driving courses have reduced youth motor vehicle accidents; Safe areas for firearms to be used up to now ranges have been a part of most communities. Look at your local map you will find a road called Range Road near most towns. Every district should plan for ranges to provide a safe training and shooting area for their population; and Reward compliant behaviour fit and proper person test allows individuals to be assessed for the appropriateness to access firearms as they demonstrate their interest and responsible behaviour. Rewarding the right behaviour rather than banning access is preferable. Banning can create a decision cross road for young people to head down a criminal path if it is their only opportunity to pursue an interest.
COrreCTIOn: CenTrAl reGIOnAl ChAMpIOnshIps 2011

By Malcolm Perry, Rotorua and South Waikato Branches
Editors note: Although the results were correct, the written report for the championships in issue 175 was incorrect and should have been the following; The championships were hosted by the Rotorua Branch on their Tarawera Range over 15 - 16 October 2011. The conditions for the weekend were not too bad but the number of entries was dismal, although I must commend one member from Taupo who came out to the range to give his apologies for not being able to participate. We also had a junior from Taupo who only shot the rimfire match which was held on the Saturday, and gave a very credible performance.
There were only six shooters in the rimfire match, two of whom did not shoot Sunday, but luckily two others turned up to take their place. This is the last time we will be issuing medals for the Waikato and Central Regional competition while attendances are so low; every winner, top three and grade will get certificates. Although the low entries were disappointing, the two days went well with the shooters doing their bit to help. Once again a big thank you to Sandi Curreen for looking after the marking and scoring for us; I did not shoot but acted as the range officer for the weekend.
nZDA TArAnAKI BrAnCh 50Th AnnIversAry sTrATFOrD

Saturday 23 June 2012 Past members who wish to attend please contact: PO Box 92, Stratford or Telephone Nigel 06 765 6314
The point of this baseline is to measure the public safety of responsible firearm owners against their own actions, accidental death and injury, and not against the actions of criminals.
HUNTS REPORT
AnD sTIll nO FIsh!

Bill OLeary, National Coordinator, HUNTS
Bill OLeary National Coordinator, HUNTS
The holiday season has been and gone and for me based in Nelson it was a non event. The weather was atrocious and resulted in major floods and property damage that mercifully left my home and extended family unaffected. Many Nelsonians and holiday visitors were not so lucky. The weather affected the fishing with inshore waters muddy for some weeks and my plans for sea fish meals almost totally stuffed. Thank fully (???) HUNTS has kept me occupied. Nathan Dawson (Southland) has just finished his first course with a successful hunt. Pete Oldham (Rakaia) is in the middle of his and had run the navigation phase when I saw his group this week. Glen Hartstone and Gavin Bennett (Waikato) were due to start at the end of February and Gordon Mckenzie (Nelson) will have his first enrolments for a youth course. In South Canterbury I know that there is enough demand to run several courses a year, which is what Pete Henderson in Southern Lakes has delivered in recent years.
In addition we have inquiries from branches looking to start HUNTS and we are reaching an interesting point when NZDAs capacity to service the increasing number of courses and instructors will be severely stretched. Last week I was in Wanaka to deliver a range officer course and oversee a public river safety course hosted by the Upper Clutha Branch of NZDA. This served as a training opportunity for that branchs HUNTS instructors and an opportunity to involve Southern Lakes Branch as well. This is a model for training that is cost effective and that we will repeat in the central North Island later in the year. On the national scene, we are engaged in redefining our relationship with Mountain Safety Council (MSC) and Ross Meder the chair of MSC has met with National Executive and myself on separate occasions. The anticipated outcome of these and future meetings would be a new memorandum of understanding that spells out how our organisations would collaborate in promoting hunter safety through education.
At the same time NZDA has participated in discussions on the formation of a registration board for outdoor instructors. These discussions have involved Skill Active, MSC, NZOIA (NZ Outdoor Instructors Association), Rafting Association etc. If a national registration board emerges, it is important that NZDA represents the interests of HUNTS instructors and our qualification. Also we are waiting to see how the Game Animal Council legislation develops because there is provision for a GAC to become the standard setting and registration body for hunting related activities such as guiding and hunter education. Well enough of the hard stuff. I need to try and catch up with my wife who has already caught a salmon this season, following on from last year when I was relegated to the office of bag carrier and tier on of hooks.
We CAMe, We sAW, AnD We COnquereD!!!

By Carol Orbell, 14th February 2012, Upper Clutha Branch
Wet and now really feeling the cold we were moved in single file back to the swirling water, the commandants orders ringing in my ears. Dive face down, turn, and in a spread eagle fashion plead Take me now to the two waiting guards. One, we called the praying mantis, the other, 007. Their strong arms grabbed my pack, and flipped me over face down in the water and held me there. My arthritic hands, now very cold, refused to undo the pack clip, I had to keep trying, trying, trying, my reserves of oxygen diminishing by the second but I had to keep trying, if I was ever going to escape my pack and swim to freedom. At the last moment the clip gave, just as I was being dragged over gasping for air, but I was free, at last free and
6
elated to have passed the final hurdle.. It had all started earlier in the day at the Albert Town Tavern. I looked around at the motley crew assembled and was surprised to see most were 45+ with the exception of two young teenagers Logan and Natasha from Te Anau. I guessed I was the oldest female, being in my 60s but I knew one of the other blokes was in his 70s so I couldnt use age as an excuse to back out. An assortment of guards stood around looking important and one President Neil introduced the commandant, Bill OLeary who had a very impressive past history of teaching all kinds of self preservation techniques. Any
Take me now Please.
water training Id had was either while still at school 50-odd years ago, or while on school camp with my own children in the 80s, and how things had changed. It was interesting to learn of the work going on behind the
HUNTS REPORT
scenes and the time that had been put in by a variety of outdoor groups, to assess the best possible methods of self help or mutual support. We were to cross the river with the aid of sticks, in pairs and in groups. We were to learn how to turn safely with the sticks and as a group, the centipede method. We also learnt how to recognize river hazards and ways to protect ourselves. By now, I was studying the motley crew very closely. I needed brawn, brains and possibly youth to help short dumpy me to survive what we were obviously about to endure. After a quick lunch the guards reassembled us outside, tramping packs on, and we attempted to perform all wed learnt in the class room, before actually breaking the ice on the edge of the river. One exercise was to cross the imaginary river in teams of four, blind folded, the leader instructing us as to avoiding any hazards we encountered. The guards became the hazards, one definitely felt like a familiar hand, possibly representing an eel, although my brawny neighbour seemed to find the hazard somewhat more disconcerting. At this point I must say I chose my men very well, they all had brawn, brains and one even had youth well and truly on his side. Malcolm, the incredible hulk, was a great shield to keep the force of water off me, Mark, the 6 million dollar man, a natural leader and Logan full of youthful exuberance, made up our team. Im not sure how they, in turn, would describe me in their team. Ill look forward with trepidation to their articles should they write one. Next it was off to the Hawea River and now there was no escape. More lectures, how was I going to remember The first group takes the plunge anything by this stage!! The guards took up positions. Alan, down stream Actually the whole motley crew survived. What with a bag rope to rescue us, if a great feeling of achievement. Thank you, required. Murray (alias the praying mantis) and thank you thank you Bill, from us all. You were 007, Pete Henderson, from Southern Lakes, such a good tutor. Instructions were clear with in wet suits, also ready for the rescue. Dan a bit of humour to keep us going. I may have on the bank opposite keeping an eye on river been physically or intellectually challenged at levels, taking photos and there to help, and times following them, but we gave it our all. Neil, with his camera and a basket, ready to Thank you to the deerstalkers, our guardians, relieve us of our valuables (those that survived who organised the event and helped us survive did get them back!). And finally, Tim, dear Tim, the experience. Id also like to acknowledge with his kind encouraging smile, there with Wendy at the Albert Town Tavern for the use of us, as we broke through the ice to follow the the room and coffee. commandants orders. And were we having a good time? Believe me the answer was always There really wasnt any ice in the river, this Yes Sir. all happened in February but, as the saying And so at last we had all reached that final hurdle I did it, I survived, and I loved it!! goes, never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The excellent letter by Bud Jones of SHOT about the reclassification of Canada geese, (Issue 173), from game bird to pest by minister kate Wilkinson, is a strong warning that the pest syndrome is still alive and well. The recreational deer hunting public should see the parallel to deer, chamois, tahr and other big game. Bud Jones said the Canada geese decision was an archaic step back in time. Yes, the deer management parallel goes back to the 1930 Deer Menace Conference. Tony Orman in his book About Deer and Deerstalking said, in a kangaroo court the gathering laid down a life sentence of extermination on wild deer - it was called The Deer Menace Conference, surely an admission the decision had been made before debate and discussion. Minister kate Wilkinson by her decision on Canada geese has shown the 1930 prejudice is still there. There was no calling for public submissions, no public debate. She obediently obeyed Federated Farmers NZ and that was that. So whats this mean to Joe Deerstalker? I say get off your butts and start fighting for your sport and rights. Think political. What did you do last election? There were three parties, UnitedFuture, NZ First and Conservative, with good outdoor policies. Perhaps you were one of the apathetic one million who did not vote at all? Or did you vote but not with your party vote for one of the three above? Apathy is hunting and fishings biggest threat. It allows governments like weve now got and Ministers like kate Wilkinson to do what they like at the bidding of course, of plotting public servants and lobby groups like Federated Farmers and Forest and Bird. For heavens sake, wake up by 2014 - the next election. Lloyd Hanson, Blenheim
The letter of Alain Jorion (issue 175) and its call for unification of outdoor people rightfully identified the need. But Im not at all convinced that the solution lies in a statutory government recognised organisation that is thus very powerful. A good example of a statutory government recognised organisation is Fish and Game. However like many I discuss such matters with, I am not convinced it is a very powerful organisation and a strong advocate. Perhaps the reason lies in the very statutory base, ie the fact that it is written into law. When I have asked senior Fish and Game people why the organisation is not opposing some threat to a river or public fishing and hunting, the response I have had is that the organisation, by the Act, is responsible to the Minister of Conservation. I personally believe Fish and Games first and foremost responsibility is to the fishing and shooting public, ie trout and duck shooting licence holders. But because it is tied to a statute (law passed by Parliament), it seems Fish and Game feels responsible more to the Minister. In other words being a statutory body means it is gagged, hog-tied, hamstrung or whatever other form of crippling - perhaps a lame duck? The Recreational Hunting Advisory Committee set up by government about 30 years ago was similar. It was hog-tied and advisory only. Government still did what it wanted and allowed rampant heli-hunting by commercial interests. Dont be naive to think if any public fishing or hunting was to come under a bill to be put before Parliament to become law, that bureaucrats who draft the proposed law, would want a free thinking, independent vigorous sportsmans body. To the contrary, the bureaucrats will ensure it is a weakened lame duck. In other words, I fully support Alains excellent call for unity and a very powerful organisation(s) - but not the statutory body. But you could have strong advocacy if there is a sufficiently strong will by the 800,000 voting outdoor public. But I have to admit the will currently is not strong judging by the last election. The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations (CORANZ) publicly identified three good options for an individuals party vote. The vast majority took no notice or couldnt care less about tomorrow and their children and grandchildrens hunting, shooting and fishing. Its known as political inertia. Tony Orman, Marlborough
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Editor, I was most disappointed with the interview on National Radio, 6 December 2011 simply because Joe Doakes the everyday New Zealander could not care less about who receives justified treatment in hunting. In fact, in the eyes of many it is a blood sport, the only positive note being that hunting encourages healthy, outdoor sport. The most positive approach in my opinion is animal welfare and we should be supporting that ticket at all times in order to obtain the sympathy and support of the general public. Prouting's claim that a wild animal could not care which rifle the bullet came, from the sportsman's rifle or that of the heli-hunting client, is a weak argument. A valid point if he had been honest about the use of shotguns, both to shift animals or kill them. Shotguns are not designed to kill mammals, they are intended for birds. The fact they are used to shunt animals out of cover and also to kill them is in my opinion, the lobby we should be pushing. Animal welfare and cruelty. There is ample evidence in a Canterbury journal styled Latitude, the summer edition of 2010, wherein appears an article on a woman hunter supported by an illustration showing Prouting's machine and her with a bull tahr and posed over it holding a shotgun. I have contacted Hon Peter Dunne and Hon kate Wilkinson on several occasions regarding the subject and emphasised the fact that animal welfare is my prime concern. kate told me that introduced mammals were not covered by the Animal Welfare Act and I made it clear to her that they should be. I have also taken that matter up with Dunne and I think NZDA should push for an amendment in that act to include them. As I said to kate Wilkinson, they have nervous systems and sustain pain just the same as domestic and indigenous animals. So why should they be omitted? The philosophy of ethical sportsmen is to conduct as clean a kill as possible and avoid wounding or slow death, certainly not deliberate attempts to slow animals down for some overfat Yank to blast them into eternity. For goodness sake get on the best bandwagon to suit our ends and I believe that harassing animals and blasting them out of cover with shotguns and even shooting them with shotguns should be our target for change. That is how to get public opinion on our side, not trying to battle for hunting rights, a personal lobby lacking general appeal. Regards, Bruce (Surname supplied but withheld on request)
STORY
The ulTIMATe FIrsT DATe

By Kylie Schofield, Wairoa & Districts Branch I have always enjoyed bush walking and camping with my family as a child, so when I was introduced to Glenn, I was delighted to finally find a man who loved the outdoors as much as me. At the time I met Glenn we were living on opposite sides of the North Island, so we spent our time getting to know each other via the telephone. I was in Waitomo and Glenn lived on his family sheep and beef farm inland from Wairoa, on SH38 going towards Lake Waikaremoana. As time progressed Glenn and I decided to meet for the first time and he invited me to go fishing and hunting with him in the Te Urewera National Park. This is where my story begins .. Like most typical girl scout girls, I wanted to be prepared for all possibilities, so I packed something that would help me in any situation that might come along while in the bush. When it came time to load the pack into my car, I soon realised that lifting it into the boot was a mission, let alone carrying it on my back. So, having removed the vodka, orange juice, spare pair of boots and exchanged the litre of sunscreen for a sachet, I headed off on my five-hour road trip to Wairoa. We set out from Glenns farm and headed inland to the DOC headquarters at Aniwaniwa. Here we set out on foot to Lake Waikareiti, about an hours walk up a gentle incline. I had luckily been preparing for this hike by training with a stack of books in my backpack to build up my shoulder and back muscles. Still, I was most grateful for the convenient seats along the track to rest my shoulders. I was so impressed with Glenn, carrying his rifle and with rods and net sticking out the side of his pack. I was so excited to be going bush with a real hunter for the first time in my life. When we reached Lake Waikareiti, I was blown away by the stunning view. Greatly relieved to drop my pack, we unlocked our dingy and hauled our packs onboard. Glenns first comment was, What have you got in this pack, girl?!!! I sheepishly grinned and explained about the bottle of wine I couldnt part with and the few extra junk food items stashed here and there. After detangling the lines on the rods and a few choice words later, we were ready to go. We set out into the lake and I remember so clearly the feeling of being cut off from reality and the world I knew was disappearing with each stroke of the oars. I hadnt realised just how far into the wilderness we were really going and all with a man I had only met in person the day before. I didnt have long to contemplate our remoteness though, as due to the sunny day, I soon started drifting off in a doze. The next moment I got such a fright that I nearly fell over the back of the dinghy. The fly reel line was whizzing out at great speed and Glenn was yelling, You got one babe, you got one, while I was squealing, Ahh, what do I do now? Start winding, wind babe, wind! Glenn was fabulous and clearly instructed me on how to land a trout. With much grinning and clapping, I had landed my first ever trout. After that, I didnt feel so isolated or did I have the time to either. Nearly every ten minutes we
The proceeds of two days trout fishing with each day producing the allowed limit
were reeling in a trout. Some we kept and others we threw back. What a buzz, my adrenaline was pumping and I felt like I would have made a great representative on the ITM fishing show. That afternoon we made camp in a little clearing by the lake edge. We set up camp and to my delight we found an old frying pan left behind by someone else who must have also known about the clearing. We didnt have a complete tent, just an old army tent fly and ground mats to sleep on. That evening I proudly fried my first ever trout in the white wine I had stashed in my pack. I knew that bottle of wine was worth the effort of hauling it up there! Never had I experienced anything as romantic as sitting next to a fine looking man in the middle of the bush with a stunning lake view, sucking fresh trout off the bone that I had reeled in myself. We headed back out in our dinghy and caught the last of our eight trout limit. That evening we bush bashed for about ten minutes to a clearing that Glenn knew about, which was also a good hunting spot. On
Kylie and her first trout fishing experience
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Glenn posing with his weekend trophy
5.30am and we were up and back out there in the dinghy trout fishing. Sunrise and sunset was the best time for trout fishing Glenn reckoned and this proved to be so true. More trout and almost constant whizzing of the reel kept us going for three hours. Never did billy boiled spaghetti in the tin can taste so good when you have just reeled in numerous trout and rowed around a lake for three hours at sunrise. I still hadnt comprehended that the real work was still to come.
without flinching, I couldnt stop telling anyone who would listen about my time going bush with Glenn. I proudly took home a heap of meat and trout to Mum and Dad and we had our first ever taste of venison stew. Glenn kindly boiled the head and let me keep the antlers too. They now take pride of place outside my parents front door. Glenn and I have now been together two and a half years and on the 11th of February 2012, I proudly married my hero hunter and fisherman. We have had many great trips hunting and fishing at Lake Waikareiti and have many great photos in our album. I have now honed in my girl scout be prepared ways down to carry as little as possible, yet still cover all eventualities. This way I can carry much more venison and trout back down with me. The wine stays in the fridge now and we have a celebration drink when we get home again with all our catches. The day Glenn decided to take me bush on our first date was the day he won my heart forever. He took me to a piece of heaven and who couldnt fall in love in such a place as that!
arrival we hunkered down to await a deer. I had never seen a deer in the wild before, let alone hunt one, so I was totally on edge with anticipation. However, after about an hour of studying the distant tree line, the long day started to catch up with me and my eyelids started drooping to the point of dozing off. However, what seemed like only a few minutes later, I heard the click click of Glenns rifle and my eyes shot open. Sure enough, there was a stag across the other side of the clearing. Nothing had prepared me for the boom of Glenns gun, and I felt I was being blown backwards by the sound. By the time I had my senses back in my head and my eyes had cleared from the gun flash, Glenn was half way across the clearing at full gallop. I followed as fast as I could. A 6-pointer stag on our first date! Glenn was ecstatic and his excitement was infectious and I was hopping around in delight. Reality hit when it came time to gut it, but I was determined to prove to this handsome hunter that I could hack it. So, when he handed me the paunch and intestines to dispose of away from the public eye, still warm and almost pumping, I sucked it up, ran like the clappers, trying hard not to squeal out loud, disposed of them in the bush as instructed. I think Glenn was quite impressed that a girl like me who was raised in a city, didnt back down and could hack the grossness of it all. I still had no idea that the hard work had just begun. We intended to come back the next day and butcher it. That night, about 1.30am, I awoke with a hell of a fright to the most awful squealing coming from the other side of the tent fly. Glenn casually muttered that it was just two opossums having a fight. What!! I grabbed the nearest stick and threw it out the tent entrance. That helped to move them on a bit but they kept squabbling for at least another half an hour. I kept a stick next to my hand for the rest of the night prepared to do battle with the angry opossums if they came back again. So much for sleep!
We made our way back to the clearing to butcher our stag. I was fascinated watching Glenn skin and dismantle the carcass. My job was to bag the meat and an hour later, we had 40 kilograms of venison in plastic bags plus the head and antlers. This is when I finally realised just what was involved in getting this 40 kilogram pile of meat back to the car. Just getting it back to the campsite had me huffing and puffing. I could barely lift my pack onto the boat. On our way back to the Lake Waikareiti day shelter we caught our eight trout limit again. Once back on land we divided up our second days catch and stuffed them into our packs as well. This was when the real slog begun. I could hardly stand up straight with my pack on and we carried our stag head between us, one hand on each antler. No matter the pain, we proudly staggered back down the track showing off the head. Pride helped me stand a little straighter whenever we passed people coming up the track. I felt like telling everyone we passed - this is my hot date and look what we got! Although it took me nearly a week before I could roll my shoulders
The happy couple on their wedding day
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ARTICLE
neW ZeAlAnD WIlD GAMe AnOTher AspeCT

By D Bruce Banwell
Editors note: This is the first of a series of articles written by D Bruce Banwell for what will be a new regular feature in future issues of New Zealand Hunting and Wildlife. The articles will be varied and based in and around Bruces vast knowledge and experience of New Zealands wild game animals. Predation is a natural process in most of the countries from where our big game species originated, but have their descendants now living in the New Zealand hills and mountains retained that survival instinct despite never having encountered the process here other than the effects of man? A very interesting question indeed! All of our established, traditional herds of introduced big game animals have only one predator man! Back in their countries of origin they had to cope with a much wider range of predation and exercise a system of survival which they inherited, of course, as an instinct. Sambar, Rusa, Sika, Wapiti, Whitetailed deer, Alpine chamois and Himalayan tahr had all been exposed to predation, while Red deer and Fallow deer had only been exempted from the list because of the demise of the Grey wolf in Britain during the mid-eighteenth century when it is claimed the last animal had been destroyed in Scotland. We have a seal-pointed Burmese cat. He is a young fellow, but returns home with rabbits and exotic birds particularly while we are occupying our crib at the mouth of the Rakaia River and there salmon fishing. Yet he was born in a pedigree cattery without access to the outside. His mother was born there and she too had never been outside in the open. That hunting instinct had been latent until the opportunity presented itself. It had been stored away in his instincts until it was required. I suspect his pedigree background suggests that the female line had been enclosed for generations, but the hunting instinct had been preserved regardless. However, he is the predator, but should the predated be any different? I believe if it was put to the test, the instinct of survival would return just the same way as his hunting instincts had been stored away until opportunity arose despite a number of generations of denial. It would be interesting to know what instincts would return if our wild animals were returned to their original habitats.
A set of antlers from a Carpathian stag, Poland
While Sika, Rusa, Sambar, White-tailed deer, Wapiti, chamois and tahr are still predated in their native countries, in the case of the Red deer the situation is a little different. Our wild Red deer belonging to the original, traditional herds came from Britain where over recent centuries man has dealt with predators in no uncertain terms, as already pointed out the last Grey wolf claimed to have been destroyed about 1746. On the European continent such a task would be greater with larger landmass and more cover. Nevertheless, man has had a mania about wolves for centuries, connecting Scenic Trips Fishing Hunting Diving Tramping them with evil and 47ft Morgan Hull charter vessel, 650hp V8 Fiat witchcraft and this engine, cruises at 12-13 knots. wonderful animal having to pay the Bob Hawkless: ex commercial fisherman for 25 years consequences. Despite plus 20 years hunting experience on Stewart Island. the fact there is no Hire equipment: 12ft Stabi Crafts, 12ft dinghys, evidence whatsoever outboard motors, camping equipment, of wolves ever harming gas bottles & dive bottles.
human beings, they have been guilty of preying on domestic stock which does not enhance their reputation with man. From Spain eastwards, with the exception of a couple of western European countries, the Grey wolf still exists and Red deer constitute part of their prey especially the young, aged and disabled. This process is very evident in the likes of Poland where the writer and others had first-hand experience with this species.
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A wolf in Poland approaches a dead stag in the winter snow
estimated wolf population increased from a small number to a present level of around eight hundred. However, the traditional rules of the wolf pack whereby the only breeding pair constitutes the alpha male and female, in Yellowstone it was soon discovered the beta pair were joining in the breeding due to the low level of the original population. The laws of nature can, evidently, be cast aside under special circumstances. During the early 1990s I was invited to the North-East Forestry University at Harbin, situated in the area we once knew as Manchuria with the view to me lecturing the staff on the taxonomy of the Asian forms of Wapiti and Red deer. While there I was treated to a tour of the very northern region of China as far as the Amur River which forms the border between China and Siberia. After climbing high on a forested ridge I encountered a small group of Sika and while recording their reactions with the video camera they continuously barked and stamped the front hooves, but it appeared they were more interested in a patch of thick cover about 20 to 30 feet away from where I was positioned. This behaviour continued for some time until I heard one of my Chinese companions, a lecturer from the university, bleating behind me; Mr Bluce, tiger, tiger! The hairs on the back of my neck arose to an erectile position. I had noticed that scrub to my right moving and suddenly realised why those Sika were more interested in it than in my presence.
While visiting the Polish Carpathians during 1991 in the company of the late Jack Mckenzie and ken Humphrey following attending a white Red deer seminar in what was then Czechoslovakia, the three of us toured around a large area of eastern Europe including this part of Poland. We saw some magnificent specimens of antler from Carpathian stags. We had been invited to take part in a wolf/ Red deer relationship study but, unfortunately, time did not permit. However, we were kept awake at night by the persistent howling of the wolves, in particular in the village of Cisna near the Ukrainian border. On several occasions while visiting ranger stations, we were shown some magnificent sets of antlers from local stags which, it was claimed, had been found after the stag had been the victim of a pack of wolves. The body size of these Carpathian stags and the fact their antlers indicated they had been in the prime of life caused me to wonder how such
a group of small animals could possibly deal with a large, strong, healthy stag when it was indicated the wolves took calves, sick, aged and smaller specimens. We were aware of the fact that taking one of these stags was expensive and probably beyond the income earned by these people. This caused us to inquire how the stags died and the answer was repeatedly wolves. I can still see the look on Jacks face as we headed towards our rental vehicle and looking at me stated: I think those wolves smoke cigarettes! While on the subject of wolves, the reintroduction to Yellowstone National Park has evidently proved successful several packs from Canada being released there with the view to controlling the Wapiti population and dispensing with the need for the rangers to resort to shooting. Natural predation was preferred. From all accounts the Wapiti population has reduced considerably and the
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STORY
hunTInG queenslAnD reDs

By Ken Barrow, Brisbane, Queensland For many years now I have been fortunate to have access to prime Red deer country in the Brisbane Valley where our party of three have had many enjoyable and successful hunts. We dont always take an animal, either as a trophy or for meat, but as we say, every hunting trip is an enjoyable experience with good mates sharing their hunting passion together. This year we were all excited about the 2011 roar as the rain in the preceding year had revitalised the feed and hopefully the antler growth of the resident stags. The Brisbane Valley holds a large number of Red deer but antler growth has never reached the standard of other herds in many parts of Australia and New Zealand. A 12-pointer with an antler length of more than 30-inches would normally be considered a good trophy from this region. We had an early season scouting trip at the beginning of March when Steve managed to secure a small 13-pointer and we heard some roaring. Our next week long trip was planned for early April as I had previously decided that this might be the peak of the roar. April 6th duly arrived and we set up camp at our usual spot in an old disused shed in the bottom of a valley away from all other signs of roads and people. By the time I arrived Jim had been for an early morning hunt and had heard stags roaring but had not sighted them due to the wind and a time restraint, as he had agreed to help the farmer that morning. The next couple of days were spent looking over the property and trying not to disturb the deer too much. There are usually only one or two good stags and we were trying to locate the areas where they would be holding the majority of the hinds. Roaring was spasmodic and it was hard to get in a decent stalk. Nevertheless, a few small stags were seen but nothing worth taking. On the third morning, Steve and I decided to hunt together on one side of the property while Jim hunted the other side. We left camp at 5.30 am, just on daylight, and headed up a long winding creek to the head of a major gully system. We had heard only the odd roar during the night (possibly due to the deep sleeping and snoring) and even on the walk up the gully we heard nothing. Though once we started the climb up a lead ridge to the main ridge on the back of the property, we heard a roar ahead of us, closely followed by an answering challenge. I had heard and seen a small stag in the same area earlier in the week, so after glassing the opposite gully face without seeing anything we decided to keep stalking up the ridge. This would keep us above the stags and hopefully let us stalk into the rising morning breeze when we located a decent stag. We reached the top of the main ridgeline and were sitting and glassing when all of a sudden there was loud roaring from across the gully and deer running as a stag stole a hind from a rival. Steve caught a brief glimpse of one stag through the binoculars and thought it was a big stag but carrying only 8-points. A typical 4X4 for this area and not what we were after. The roaring continued from over the hill for a good ten minutes until it all went quiet again and we decided we should move around the ridge, get the wind right and look into the gully system where the deer had gone. On the way we passed a spiker with two hinds and a small stag on his own. Once we reached the ridge where the deer had disappeared we began sidling along below the ridgeline so that we could look over with the wind in our faces. As we quietly moved along a hind suddenly appeared in front of us. Steve was behind me and we both stopped, hoping for a stag to follow. Almost immediately he stepped over the brow of the hill, just 40 metres in front of us. We both looked; then looked at each other and whispered, He looks a bit small. Then he turned slightly and I could see 6-points on one antler with good length. Shoot him Steve. I said, as he was now in a better position to shoot and the stag was moving off. The stag ran until I could no longer see him, then, bang! Steve wasnt sure of a hit as the stag was almost out of view when he was able to take the shot. knowing what a good marksman he is, I was fairly confident we would find him. Sure enough, as we reached the position he had been in when Steve fired, we could see an antler lying in the long grass between the blackboys. We were both thrilled to find a good trophy for this area - good length of antler and eleven-points. Steves best head so far. We sat down for a drink and to savour the hunt and the trophy. A stag roared in the gully below and sounded to be heading our way. We quickly grabbed our rifles again,
The young stag trying to work out what happened to his 12-point mate
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Typical Brisbane Valley hunting country

Ken and his 12-pointer Red along with his Tikka .308
Ken Barrows first stag of the hunt, a 10-pointer
Steve and his 11-point Red stag
and then suddenly we saw him on the opposite side of the gully. We moved quickly to head him off as it was starting to rain quite heavily and visibility was deteriorating. While we moved he also moved into a heavy patch of scrub and that was the last we saw of him, even though I gave a couple of roars to try and get him to respond. Deer can disappear so quickly and although we probably could have followed him up we already had one nice stag and plenty more hunting days ahead of us. Photos were taken of the trophy and the long carry out to the hut saw us back by midday for a well-earned light stubbie to quell the thirst and celebrate the morning hunt. Next day saw us all hunting across the road. Jim headed to the back corner of the property while Steve and I decided to take a gully each in the middle of the property and hunt back to camp. We moved off together and it wasnt long before we heard our first roar of the morning from deep in the gully below us. After listening for a while Steve moved off in the direction of the stag whilst I waited at the top of the gully. Soon the roaring intensified and the stag seemed to be heading my way. Finding a good high rock in the long grass I sat down and waited. Soon I could see hinds moving towards me, at least six, then I saw the darker body of a large stag. With the binoculars focused in his direction I could see he was an old stag with good thick beams and quite long brow, bez and trez tines. He was moving around a lot and Steve told me later that he was chasing a spiker backwards and forwards in the gully, trying to keep him away from the hinds. Slowly the hinds moved closer to me and were now about 80 metres below me and starting to look like they would settle. The stag joined them and now the 10X binoculars revealed a solid 10-pointer. I hadnt shot a stag for five years, so I decided I would try and take him if a good clean shot presented. Suddenly the stag lay down and all I could see was his head and neck and I wasnt going to risk a shot. Ill have to wait until he stands. I thought to myself and a few minutes later he did just that to follow a hind into some cover. As he moved side on to me the crosshairs on the Tikka .308 suddenly seemed to align themselves on his shoulder and the trigger was squeezed. He lunged forward, galloped about 10 metres and collapsed dead. Later
we retrieved the 165gn projectile from just under the skin on the opposite shoulder. Steve arrived and we celebrated the second nice stag in two days. The stags antlers were heavy with good even tines, marred only by a broken tip on one of the top tines. His teeth showed definite signs of wear and we estimated him to be at least 7-years-old. This would probably be as good a head as he would grow given the abundant food available during the year. We didnt take any more stags during the rest of the week although Steve saw another he would have liked but wasnt able to score on. Seven weeks later, after the roar was over, we were back for two days of hunting. Steve and Jim arrived on Friday afternoon and set up camp prior to a quick evening hunt when they saw some hinds but no stags. I had decided to spend one extra night in a warm bed at home and left Brisbane at 3.30 am for the two-hour trip to the property, arriving just past daybreak. Jim and Steve duly arrived at the gate shortly after and we headed off to the back of the property. Leaving the 4WD at the top of a ridge we parted company to each hunt our way back to the main camp. I hadnt gone far when I saw a hind about 20 metres in front of me. She hadnt seen me and the wind was in my favour so I let her move off. Then, as I moved forward a fawn jumped up in front of me and I waited for it to move off as
well. Once they were out of sight I was able to continue around the side of the hill. Suddenly I could see antlers across the gully! There were two stags and although they were some 200 metres away in light scrub, I could see that one of them was probably a trophy for me, with white pointed tines glistening in the rising sun. Without wasting any time I sidled around the face of the hill opposite them and was able to take a good rest over a log directly opposite my trophy stag at about 150 metres. Once again the crosshairs were centred on his shoulder and a squeeze of the trigger saw him run a few metres before collapsing in a small gully. The smaller stag couldnt work out what had happened and stood around for ages, even to the point where I was able to take some photos of him standing just above where my stag had fallen. This time, I had scored a nice even 12-pointer and I took my time admiring the trophy and taking photos before heading on to camp. As always, the Red deer hunting season had been a very enjoyable experience with good mates. At the age of 62 I am as keen as ever to keep hunting the Queensland Red deer and cant wait until the roar of 2012. As they say, All times wasted wots not spent huntin.
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ON TARGET
On TArGeT
2012 nATIOnAl shOOTInG WeeK
By Malcolm Perry, Rotorua and South Waikato Branches National Shooting Week was hosted by South Waikato Branch at the Tokoroa Sports Shooting Complex, over 3rd to 9th March 2012. Saturday 3rd, saw the rimfire 3 position 60 shot take place. Fifteen entries, which included two juniors from the Taupo Branch. Prior to the day I was unsure what to expect as the weather forecast was for a weather bomb!! A rimfire match in those sorts of conditions? As it turned out the weather was rather windy but fine, and we were lucky not to be in southern Taranaki. I had intended to shoot but as our regular range officer was unwell I took over that role. After the shoot, as is customary, we held our shooters meeting; the main topic of concern was the lack of entries in both of the moving target events, only one at the time. There needs to be at least three entries and myself to run the events, and as there were no additional entries from the floor it was decided to cancel the two events. The sole entry was advised by email that evening and he replied to say that he had another person in his branch keen to come and knew of another person from another branch who was interested. This is the whole point of prior entries so we know we have enough people, targets, etc. However all is not lost, as we will endeavour to hold the event in June over a weekend, which solves another apparent problem; people getting time off work mid-week. This will still be regarded as the national event. Sunday 4th was the centrefire 4 position 60 shot event. Fourteen entries including one of the juniors from the previous day. John Stick had entered both these events but discovered he was unable to shoot, so he kindly offered to range officer for this match allowing me to shoot, thank you John. Monday 5th was the 60 shot 200 metre prone, This match is shot straight off in one hour and fortyfive minutes; the conditions were very good wind wise, which meant that mirage was likely to be a problem and it was to some degree. There was some expectation that given the conditions, this might be the day the record for this match could be NRA Two Gun Event Winner: Mike Bailey broken. After about one hour and thirty minutes, Mark Poots from Taupo Branch had finished, and had only dropped one point; the record broken by one 50 & 100 metre Rimfire Junior: point, now stands Jamie Ralfe at 599.43. Very well done Mark. I think the next point is going to be very hard, and will take a while to get. Tuesday 6th and the 80 shot metalic silhouette match. Conditions were fairly quiet, with nine entries. The rifle silhouette group based at the complex have got an electronic range officer so we ran a single detail which meant we were finished shortly after lunch time. Wednesday 7th, Short F Class, 100 and 200 metre, 60 shots. Conditions for this match were good; a light wind that proved to be reasonably consistent, with the occasional switch to keep shooters on their toes. We started out with six entries but one pulled out after the first 15 shot match as his rifle did not handle the heat buildup with the successive shots. Dean Maisey (Bay of Plenty Branch) was defending his win from the previous two years, and managed to do so by just two points. Apart from having to defer two matches for the present, it was a very good week with lots of very close scoring by the shooters. It was good to have two juniors competing, though there should be several more if our sport is to be looking healthy for the future. It was noted that there were some of the top shooters missing in some of the competitions. Many thanks to Sandi Curreen who does an excellent job, scoring targets, compiling entries and collating scores; John Stick for staying to range officer for us when he could just as easily gone home; and last but not least of all, the shooters who pitched in as and when required to change targets shift target frames, and set out wind flags. Every one did their bit to ensure a great week. THANk YOU. FOr resulTs pleAse see pAGe 47
Short F Class Junior: Grant Piper
Short F Class: Silver: Allen West, Gold: Dean Maisey, Bronze: Hamish Orr
NZDA 200 metre Prone: Silver: Colin Curreen, Gold (new record): Mark Poots, Bronze: Grant Botting
Silhouette: Silver: Brenda Perry, Gold: Steve Smith, Bronze: Bryn Blythen
50 metre NRA Rimfire: Silver: Mike Bailey, Gold: Rod Hill, Bronze: Grant Botting
NRA 100 metre Centrefire: Silver: Mike Bailey, Gold: Colin Curreen, Bronze: Mark Poots
50 & 100 metre Rimfire: Silver: Bryn Blythen, Gold: Mike Bailey, Bronze: Rod Hill 16
100 & 200 metre Centrefire: Silver: Grant Botting, Gold: Colin Curreen, Bronze: Mark Poots
YOUNG HUNTER
TAKe A KID hunTInG

FernrIDGe KIDs hunT
By various contributors.
The weekend of 4 6 November 2011 saw Fernridge School in Masterton for the second year play host to the Take a Kid Hunting competition as a fund raising activity for a playground. Overall it was a weekend enjoyed by all ages, from preschoolers through to young adults, families and grandparents The stories below indicate the enjoyment had by all. Recognition must be paid to the fifty-odd sponsors that contributed to the weekend resulting in a good range of prizes for distribution; without the support of sponsors events like this would not happen. The school principal, Paul Adamson teamed up with Mark and his son John Jerling for the Small Critter event. Hunting out at Rangimau, and at over 30, it was also his very first hunt! It took over an hour to see anything, as the grass was quite long and helped to make finding the small critters difficult.
Lucas Davies, Big Game event (5-15 years), boar, 30.4 kg.
Coming from Opaki School, Lucas went out hunting with his dad and got this boar, which was the first pig to be brought in for the competition. I was really thrilled.
Cundy, 11-years-old, Big Game event (5-15 years), Red deer, 54.5 kg.
Toby
Hunting out Tinui, only one hour in, when we saw five deer before taking this one - my very first deer. I have had hunted rabbits, hares and pigs before, but I will always remember my first deer. Sure will. I have saved the cartridge as a souvenir.
Jayden and Natasha Lehmstedt, Big
Game event (5-15 years), Jayden, 11-years-old, Red deer, 69.5 kg. Natasha, 9-years-old, Fallow deer, 28.4 kg.
Got up at 4.30 am and hunted all day before finally seeing this Fallow in the last area we looked at. We were so tired but really excited that we had shot something. Sunday morning we got up and went to look for a Red. We went to our secret hunting spot and Dad found one and shot it, then carried it out, it was fun. Had an awesome weekend, we had no luck this year with pigs, cant wait until the next hunt.
James (6-years-old) and Abbey Crawley (8-years-old) Little Critter event.
We went out spotlighting with Dad at Bankview where we got some hares. Really enjoyed it and got to bed late at 11.00 pm.
The participants gathered for the prize giving
The playground that the

fundraising was for
17
YOUNG DEERSTALkER PROfILE

Red stag, DS 165, earning 6th place in his Otago Branch competition
reGAn JeFFersOn,
OTAGO BrAnCh
Regan, now aged 11, began big game hunting at 6-years-old and has won the Otago NZDA Spiky Cup (Best Junior) for three years running. He started his hunting with a single shot .223 then moved on to a single shot suppressed .243. So he quickly learned to make sure of that first shot. He now uses his fathers Remington Mod 7 .243 and has shot numerous big game with it, including bull tahr, Red stag, Fallow, chamois, pigs and goats. Labour Weekend 2011 saw him progress to Dads Remington 700 7MM Rem Mag fitted with a muzle break and pulled off a clean one shot kill on a bull tahr at 320 yards. No mean feat for a 10-year-old. Regan did extremely well in the 2010 - 11 season scoring six entries for the Otago Branch antler, horn and tusk competition. The entries with their score and place in the overall competition: Animal Red stag Fallow buck Bull tahr Chamios Goat Wild sheep Score DS 165 DS 171 DS 37 DS 20 DS 69 DS 70 Placing 6th 7th 4th 3rd 1st 2nd
A very happy Regan with his national competition double award winning tahr - 2nd place, E Veronese Cup - Best horned species taken by a Junior member and 3rd place Poverty Bay Branch Trophy for Best Game Animal taken by a Junior member.
Fallow buck, DS 171, 7th place, Otago Branch competition
He again won the Granger Spikey cup (fourth year running) and The kevin Weir Cup for the best game animal picture (with a nice picture of a Fallow buck). Two of the heads went to the national competitions; his tahr and his sheep. His tahr earned him two awards. 2nd place, E Veronese Cup - Best horned species taken by a Junior member and 3rd place Poverty Bay Branch Trophy for Best Game Animal taken by a Junior member. Dare I say it, but he is piling up the trophies for next year already. keep an eye on the competitions this year. Take a kid hunting, its great fun!
Regans goat, 1st place, Otago Branch competition
Chamois trophies
Regans wild sheep that earned him 2nd place in the Otago Branch competition
The photo that won him the Otago Branch Granger Spikey Cup for the fourth year running.
18
shot with his dads Sako .223, at 240 yards with a bit of help from his dad and Wayne Cassidy on the 10 January 2012.
Joshua Keen, South Canterbury Branch, 11-years-old with his first tahr,
Sean Davies, Nelson Branch, 14-years-old, with his first pig, which
he shot between the eyes.
Melissa Christall, Hutt Valley Branch, 10-years-old with a goat she shot (her third) on a recent trip to Napier. The rifle used was a .223. She is a very keen hunter.
Baxter Kemp, with a Fallow spiker shot at

110 metres.
TIP OffS
The pOOr MAns pIKAu

By Dale Williams I still clearly remember my first serious deer hunt. I was on the foot slopes of Wherearoa, one of the high points on the Hauhangaroa Range, west of Lake Taupo. As I ducked under a wind-fall kamahi, my light canvas daypack rubbed against the underside of the trees trunk, producing a faint whistle. I had never heard a Red deer bark before, so I nearly filled my pants, when a big old hind let rip from less than 10 metres away. After I unfolded myself from the windfall and got my heart rate down a little, my hunting mate on that day, John Innes, suggested I remove my daypack then put it back on underneath my woollen Swannie. I finished the rest of that unsuccessful hunt looking like Quasimodo. I didnt hear the bells but I did hear a little voice in my head saying never wear noisy gear while hunting. Back in the 80s it was still possible to buy spuds in a hessian sack, so, on my next hunting trip I ditched the canvas daypack in favour of a traditional gunny-sack pikau. To convert a small potato sack (sugar bag) into a pika; simply drop a small rock into each corner of the bag, tie a 1.5 metre length of rope to the bottom corners of the bag (the rock stops the rope from slipping off). Thats it. Simple aye!
Fill it with a bit of food, your rain coat and survival kit
I usually aim to have a finished bag that measures approximately 400 mm wide by 650 mm long
are short of time, many companies including Huntech, Stoney Creek and Swazi make fleece covered pikau daypacks and even bum bags that turn into daypacks. They are robust, silent and specifically designed for hunters. If you are a tight-wad like me, heres how you can make a poor mans pikau. You can pick up a metre of fleece for $6.00 - $12.00. It comes in a variety of colours including camo. The rolls of cloth are generally 1.7 metres wide, (the cloth is folded double on the roll), so purchasing a 1.5 metre length of polar fleece will give you enough material to make four bags. You may be wondering why not purchase just enough material to make one bag. Most of the cheap polar fleece materials stretch in one direction. If you are going to sew the bag together with a normal sewing machine using a straight stitch; then the seams on the bag are going to be a lot stronger if you have the fabric so that it stretches across the width of the bag rather than along its length. So you need to purchase 1.5 metres to get a strip of material long enough to make your bag. Besides once you get the hang of it you can always make pikaus for your mates with the left-over material. I usually aim to have a finished bag that measures approximately 400 mm wide by 650 mm long. When cutting the material youll need to allow extra for the seams and hems. You can vary the size of the bag to suit yourself, for instance, Ive made a couple of small ones for kids. To give the pikau further strength and some water resistance you will also need some material to line the bag. The Huntech pikau comes with a light canvas bag. It remains rolled up inside the fleece bag until youve got your deer. Then you remove the straps off the fleece bag and attach them to the canvas bag which is larger and stronger. My preference is to keep the contents of my pikau reasonably dry while Im hunting, so I make the two bags similar in size and they act like a double
On my next trip out, with my gunny-sack pikau, I was lucky that I didnt attempt to carry anything more than my lunch and a raincoat, because the piece of rope I used was a tad thin and it left some angry marks on my shoulders, which stuck around for a day or two. I continued to hunt with a gunny-sack pikau for a number of years but I was very quick to swap the rope for a piece of broad nylon webbing which made it a whole lot more comfortable to carry. Because hessian is similar in colour to a deer, I attempted to brighten it up a little with some dazzle spray paint but that was pretty hopeless really as it rubbed off in no time. The next incentive to upgrade my pikau came shortly after I attempted to carry a pair of hind quarters in it. The bag was bulging and the straps were pretty damn tight as I wriggled them onto my shoulders. I had only taken about three steps towards home when the bum blew out of the gunny-sack and its entire contents dropped on the ground. If I wasnt so miserable with my money, (my brothers say that Im so tight that when I fart only dogs can hear it), I would have rocked off down to the local sports store and bought a Huntech pikau. But no, I had a cunning plan. keeping true to my character, I dragged my old Swannie out of the dogs kennel and fired it into the washing machine. Then I chopped the arms and collar off and sowed the remaining material into a new sack for my pikau. My Swantech pikau gave good service for a number of years until I replaced the bag with one made from polar fleece. Now if you are scared of using a sewing machine, have plenty of dosh or
20
TIP OffS
Fold the ends back about 30 mm and sew them flat. Two pieces of cord are threaded through the bottom fold and tied in a loop 140 mm long
lining; the polar fleece outer for silence and the inner for strength and water resistance. You could purchase some light canvas or similar material, but a friend of mine figured out that old thermal curtains are just the berries. They get their thermal qualities from a rubberised coating on one side. This also makes the material reasonably waterproof. Once you have sown the material into a bag the next step is to make the straps. Old car seatbelts are perfect for this. Ask the mechanics down at your local garage to keep some aside for you. Once you explain what you are going to do with them, (ie not putting them back into a car), they are usually happy to give you them to you for free. I cut the webbing into a 1400 mm length, and then I melt the fibres on the cut end with a cigarette lighter. This stops the material from fraying. I then fold the ends back about 30 mm and sew them flat. These loops will form the attachment points to the bottom of the pack. Finally I fold the webbing at its mid-point and sew the triangular folded section flat. In the past I used a leather stitching awl but found this frustratingly slow. The manufacturer of my awl clearly had a sense of humour as they called it the speedy stitching awl. I have since found that you can stitch through
seatbelt webbing on a normal sewing machine provided you take your time and dont force it. Lastly I melt a 3 mm hole through the centre of the triangular folded section with a heated nail or piece of No.8 wire. Braided nylon cord is then threaded through this hole to make the tie string for the top of the pack. Two pieces of cord are threaded through the bottom folds and tied in a loop about 140 mm long. To attach the straps to the pack, I drop half a wine cork or a plastic bottle cap into each corner of the pack (its lighter than the traditional rock and a damn good excuse to knock off a bottle of plonk). Flick a half hitch in the cord at the end of the webbing belt and pop this over the bulge formed by the cork. Repeat the process to attach the other end of the webbing to the opposite corner of the bag and youre done. There you have it, your poor mans pikau. Easy to make and cheap. Just throw it in the washing machine when it gets all bloody and when the bush lawyer finally rips the bag apart you can just whip up another one. Now all you need to do, is fill it with; a bit food, your rain coat and survival kit. Grab your knife belt, ammo and rifle, and then head for the hills! Happy hunting!
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21
ARTICLE
The ArChery DIreCT neW ZeAlAnD BOWhunTers sOCIeTy 2012 TOurnAMenT.

By Kevin Low, Thames Valley Branch
The camaraderie of being part of the event (2011)
Queens Birthday Weekend 2010 saw the New Zealand Bowhunters Society hold its 52nd annual tournament at the Thames Valley Deerstalkers Associations property in the hills just north of Paeroa at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula. The venue is a great location overlooking the beautiful Hauraki Plains and Firth of Thames with facilities capable of handling a large number of people in tranquil bush clad and grassland surroundings. 2012 will once more see the cooperation of the New Zealand Bowhunters Society, Archery Direct and the Thames Valley Deerstalkers Branch, when it again holds this annual event at this fantastic location. This very proud award winning club, with its dedicated membership and picturesque grounds has a wonderful history of catering for top level events such as the recently hosted 2011 World Sporting Clay Target Championships, and numerous other regional, island, national and Oceania events over many years. The Archery Direct NZ Bowhunters Society Annual Tournament is a unique event, which encompasses far more than just an archery field shoot. It is the culmination of a year
of hunting achievements and rewards, where hunters come together to celebrate the successes of that year. There are presentations to those that have achieved at the highest level for the eighteen categories of historical hunting trophies competed for every year. The Ingerson Shield for the best overall deer antlers, The Secombe Shield for the best pig tusks and The Mountain Trophy for the best tahr or chamois horns to name just three. As many as possible of these trophy antlers, tusks and horns will be on display at the venue, for those attending to view. Not forgetting, that with every trophy taken, there is a wonderful story to match. All entries that qualify for the NZ Bowhunters Society record book inclusion must be present and every year our record books for game continue to grow with quality additions; an example of this is our new number one Rusa stag, which will be displayed for everyone to appreciate at this years gathering. Further to the eighteen hunting and nineteen field archery competition trophies, there are three photographic competitions, categories for
tanned game skins and the deer roaring competition. All will be judged at the weekends event. This outstanding weekend justifiably sees the culmination of a years bowhunting successes right across the board, with many bowhunters of all ages and experience, getting together to enjoy the highlights, camaraderie and competitions. But over and above this wonderful selection of trophies are the two most sought after trophies, the Bowhunter of the Year and Junior Bowhunter of the Year. Complimenting the many annual trophies there will also be lucky draw prizes where all entrants have a chance of winning; all you need to do is be there to possibly take away a prize and to help make this weekend an outstanding success. One note worthy prize this year will be a free seat on a helicopter.
Stu, (whose arrow has jest been released) watched by Melissa and Izzac
Scoring a 3D target (2011)
22
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A moving target
The lucky winner will accompany two NZ Bowhunters Society members on an Urewera hunting trip. This prize is for any brand new member (renewals not included) joining the Bowhunters Society prior to the tournament. This is certainly a weekend not to be missed for anyone interested in bowhunting or field archery of any kind and this year, everyone and anyone can participate as entries have been opened up for non members to be able to be part of this exciting weekend of festivities and competitions. All you need to do is complete and post in the entry form with your entry fees and make plans to be in Paeroa over the weekend of 2 4th June 2012. For full details regarding entry forms, venue map, rules and conditions of entry, prizes, accommodation etc, go on line and visit www.nzbowhunters.co.nz and click on the Tournament Information link. (Some files such as entry forms, will not be live until later in 2012 but this will be noted on the website). Prior to the weekend several field courses are set up in a simulated hunting style and entrants shoot on both Saturday and Sunday.
One mean target you have to take the shot as it presents itself
In addition to twenty static targets laid out through a mix of native bush, exotic trees and open country there are four specialty targets on each course where speed shooting, or shooting at moving targets, add some excitement and extra dimension to the day. Shooters are placed into a squad prior to the tournament and it is a great way to mix and meet new people. The trophies for the tournament shoot cover both modern compound weapons and the more traditional longbow and recurve equipment. Junior and cub divisions are also catered for, as are the compound users with both sighted and unsighted equipment. There is most definitely something for everyone at the tournament, no matter your skill level, age, gender or whether you are a hunter, target archer, photographer, spectator or whatever aspects in archery are of interest to you this weekend will provide highlights aplenty, so make sure you book it into your calendar and we will see you there. Although the tournament is competitive, it is worth noting that for many of the attendees this gathering and shoot is just as much a social affair without the pressures of wanting to win as the main aim. Plenty of laughs with friends, both new found and of long standing will ring out around the grounds and this sets a wonderful ambience and atmosphere for the entire weekend. In addition to the daytime events, Sunday night is the much
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A young competitor using a compound bow (2011)
A competitor using a longbow (2011)
Competing in a field event (2011)
looked forward to dinner and social time with this years theme or fancy dress, for those who are keen or brave enough is P punks, princesses, priests, police or whatever. The options are endless, so you can be shy, brave, brazen or just arrive in your normal getup and enjoy a great meal and a fantastic nights entertainment with well known and much
acclaimed Mark Taipari, a professional singer and musician who has more than 27 years experience in the music industry. As outlined earlier in this article, for the first time, this, the 54th tournament, is open for non members to participate, so we look forward to having you all join us for what will surely be a wonderful weekend to remember.
Details for the NZ Bowhunters Society (including full tournament information) and the Thames Valley Deerstalkers are available at the following website addresses: www.nzbowhunters.co.nz or www.tvda.co.nz
24
FrOM The WIlD hIlls OF sCOTlAnD TO The ruGGeD MOunTAIns OF A sCOTTIsh COlOny pArT 5 OF 6
heADs 1 3 (Issue 172), 4 6 (Issue 173, 7 - 9 eDITOrs nOTe: prevIOus Issue D hAve FeATu reD FeATu re In The nexT Issue. (Issue 174) AnD 10 12 (Issue 175). heADs 16 18 WIll
13, 14 AnD 15) The OrIGIns OF The OTAGO reD Deer herD (heADs
nO. 13 l erlTOn WIlsOn. FIsh rIver, 1929.
LENGTH - left 40 inches, right 39 inches. SPRE A D 41 inches , SPA N 3 5 inches . - 12 . B E A M 5 in che s . D O U G L A S S C O R E 317 . P O I N T S
Black Mount Forest and which This very pretty trophy of very traditional Scottish form, typical of Scotlands famous in the valley of the Fish was part origin of the Invermark Red deer brought to Otago, was taken by Erlton Wilson were nearing the crest of a River, an upper tributary of the Makarora River. Wilson and his companion, C Harvey, The wind was in their favour. Just as Wilson was high ridge when a stag was seen descending a slope to their right. of Wilsons rifle. setting off to stalk him, the stag changed direction and almost walked up to the muzzle
nO. 14. ChArles TeMpleTOn. hunTer vAlley, lAKe hAWeA, 1927.

LENGTH - left 46 inches, right 43 inches. S P R E A D 3 7 i n c h e s , S PA N 3 1 i n c h e s . 14 . BEAM 5 inches. DOUGLAS SCORE 338. POINTS -
At the conclusion of a prolonged snow storm in the Hunter Valley at the head of Lake Hawea, after the sun had ultimately broken through, Templeton and his companion, James Gillespie, discovered this stag after pinpointing his location by his roaring. However, just as the pair of stalkers had clearly identified the animals whereabouts and began to move in to stalk him, a rather violent snow storm erupted once again. Fortunately for Templeton, he ran headlong into the stag while negotiating a small burn and shot him at a range of about fifty yards.
nO. 15. WIllIAM DeWAr. huxley sTre AM, luKe OhAu, 1924.
LENGTH - left 43 inches, right 42 inches. SPRE AD 45 inches, SPAN 35 inches. - 12 . BEAM 4 inches. DOUGLAS SCORE 320. POINTS
taken from the Lake Probably only second to A P Camerons trophy from the Dobson Valley as far as trophies fine, wide, sweeping set of Ohau area is concerned and within the Waitaki Acclimatisation Societys district, this of the Hopkins River at the head of Lake Ohau. The typical Otago configuration was taken in the major tributary busy stalking another animal. stag evidently rose up out of a patch of alpine scrub behind the stalker while he was manner usually referred to as Evidently, Dewar was required to swing around very rapidly and get a shot away in a Lake Ohau area on a regular a snap shot. Dewar was a member of a party of Otago sportsmen who hunted the areas such as the tributaries of the Matukituki Valley. basis, as well as expeditions from time to time into other
NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012 25
OBITUARY
hOnG Tse
By Ian Wright, National Life Member
18/11/1923 4/3/2012
It was with regret that the National Executive received notice that our National Patron, Hong Tse had passed away on 4 March 2012. Hong is survived by one daughter and three stepchildren. The Associations condolences go out to the Tse family. Ian Wright, a National Life Member of New Zealand Deerstalkers Association recalls his fond memories of his long time association with Hong and his family I first met Hong at a meeting of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association in 1953. It was, for me, a life changing moment. He had similar interests, was knowledgeable and articulate. His influence will stay with me for the rest of my life. Hong was born in China in 1923 and came to New Zealand with his parents and elder brother Gordon in 1925. He said that at the time he was a reasonably valuable commodity because his father had been required to pay 100 pounds poll tax on arrival when he came on an earlier trip and then had to pay another 300 pounds for the rest of the family. You could buy a car for 100 pounds in those days and Hong always nurtured the hope that when apologies became politically fashionable he would get his 100 pounds back with interest. His family emigrated to work in the fungus business. Chew Chong, the dairy industry pioneer, had a flourishing off-season business exporting to China a dried edible fungus collected from the bush in the king Country and Taranaki. The family settled in Te kuiti, where Hongs uncle owned a general store; it was an area where most people hunted rabbits and Hong gained an early interest in firearms. There was a Winchester .22 traded for groceries at the store. It was put out back in the store room and was like a dream come true for Hong. It was a large and heavy toy for a 7-year-old, but he recalled the immense excitement of secretly raising it to his shoulder. The family moved to Wellington in the depression year of 1930 and Hong became a city boy living in the Chinese community of Te
26
Aro. Despite the times, the family prospered due to a mixture of hard work, luck and leadership from Hongs mother. In an interview for New Zealand Hunting & Wildlife ten years ago Hong said, My mother was a really strong woman, she held the family together, and like many Chinese families, she controlled the money. He also said that his father had an involvement with pakapoo games, (a very illegal form of lotto but run by private banks), which provided school uniforms and other essentials. When the law caught up with them, shopkeepers involved in pakapoo were given the option of having their fines paid by the banks or serve a term of imprisonment, (usually 14 days), and be paid while they were there. Hong said it was good money in those days and that his father went to jail once and was paid 10 pounds a week for sitting there. With the money he got, they bought their first shop. The family was close knit with eleven children and Hongs friends were welcomed into the circle and became part of the extended family. Hong said that this gave each group an insight into the other. He felt that experience was a two way thing. Hongs passion for the outdoors was rekindled at technical college and at university when friends invited him to go tramping and hunting. He joined the Tararua Tramping Club and grew to love the hills, but found his real calling when he saw a notice in 1950 about the forming of a Wellington Branch of the Deerstalkers. He joined as a foundation member and became Branch President in 1960, the National President in 1977 and the National Patron (a position once held by Governors General), in 2000.
Hong had a justifiable pride in his heritage, but he knew who he was as he became a naturalized New Zealand citizen in February 1955. Peter Plim always recalls an incident in Queenstown when we were coming back from the hills. Hong was approached by a lady who had dined too well and asked if he was Chinese. He said, no I am a New Zealander. In his younger days as Hongs love of hunting grew, so did the family business. The more the family prospered, the harder they worked. Twelve to fourteen hour days were expected. He had to struggle to get away but he made as many trips to the Wairarapa as he found possible to private properties and he admitted to a cunning plan for a period during the war and the following two decades. These were times of shortages and he always took ample supplies of fruit, like bananas, to the ladies at the farm house. He was always assured of another invitation. His hunting took him from Hawkes Bay to Fiordland and he shot his biggest trophy, a seventeen-pointer, in the Rees Valley headwater. He and Reg Bowater tossed for the shot and Hong won. In 1963 he married Joan and gained an instant family of Denise, Neil and Ross. Tracey followed and his life was full. Part of the family business changed and he worked for the Toyota group for nine years but returned to the manufacturing side of the family company. He was a meticulous administrator and applied
In 1978 the Exhibition of Hunting was held. It was huge and it was a success. In more recent years he persuaded the Association to formalize their growing library and A proud moment for Hong Tse (Wellington) as he receives his trophy collecting into National Life membership badge from National President, John the NZDA Heritage Henderson at NZDAs 34th Annual Conference. Trust, recording the heritage of the all those skills to the shooting world. He was Association and its members. In 2000 he one of a very small group that formed the New became the initial chairman and continued to Zealand Shooting Federation (the Olympic serve on the trust until his death. shooting body) and managed the shooting Throughout his involvement in hunting and section of the New Zealand team to the Munich target shooting he became known as an Olympics. He became the chairman of the administrator with strong interests in target Federation in 1980 through to 1983. shooting. His main interest however always When Hong was elected to the National remained in hunting and it is in that activity Executive of the Deerstalkers Association that I and others will always think of him first. in 1972 he brought an idea with him for the He was a tower of strength in bad places, Association to hold a national exhibition of a calming influence on more impulsive hunting trophies. It would be necessary to hire companions, a great camp cook and an the Winter Show Building, which was then the inveterate experimenter with gear, previously biggest exhibition hall available. The proposal untried recipes and rifles. was huge and the then president told him that Reflecting to Andy Taylor about his lifetime it was his idea and his job. interest in firearms, the outdoors and hunting,
he said, all my firearms have sentimental value especially the .318 Westley Richards, a classic hunting rifle made in England. I love the companionship of hunting with others, like my friend Ian Wright although I did have to question his loyalty once. I went down in a river and thrust my rifle out to him. Ian grabbed it and I swear he tried to kick me off the end of it. Im sure he was only interested in saving that rifle. Well, we both survived that and other adventures and Peter and I have both used that rifle successfully over the years. Hong was a distinguished member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, the New Zealand Shooting Federation, the Wellington Pistol Club, the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association and of the National Association. He also served with distinction on the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council where he represented the NZDA from 1980 to 1985 and the Shooting Federation 1992 to 1996. He was a leader in the creation of lawful pistol shooting in New Zealand. He was a gold medalist as a family man and his heritage will linger as long as there are shooting organizations in New Zealand.
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27
LOCk, STOCk & BARRELL
CleAnInG A FIreArM
By Chaz Forsy th, Otago Branch Briefly You can push as well as pull with a cleaning rod, you can only pull with a pull-through cord. In More Detail For action types without a removable breech bolt, like most civilian sporting semi-auto designs, lever and pump actions, the rod may only be used via the muzzle end. Bolt actions usually have a readily removable bolt, which promotes cleaning from the breech end. Cleaning from the muzzle end, whether with a pull-through or cleaning rod, imposes a slight risk of damage to the muzzle, at the crown, by means of cord wear, or by friction from rubbing the rod against the crown. This is resolved adequately by: (a) By taking care with a pull-through cord (watching as you pull it through so it does not touch the sides at the muzzle), or (b) By using a conical muzzle protector to ensure the rod does not stroke the side of the muzzle as it is pushed in and out of the barrel. Some argue that fixing a damaged muzzle is a lot easier than repairing a damaged breech, (a slight amputation fixes the damaged crown, but cutting a new chamber and setting the barrel back is a far bigger job), then go on to argue for cleaning from the muzzle. Although this is unavoidable for some action types, generally, and with care, cleaning from the breech is widely considered to be better because it pushes the fouling out of the muzzle, while clearing detritus and fouling which accumulates in the action area is harder, and more likely to be neglected. Cord wear may result in a groove being formed where the cord has physically worn the crown (the extreme end of the barrel; the last piece of barrel which the bullet touches as it goes out). Rod wear at the muzzle is more subtle, being harder to see, but is just as damaging to accuracy. Advantages of the cord pull-through - it folds away easily into a small space like a pocket. Disadvantages are as outlined above, and cords sometimes break off while a tight patch is still in the bore. This too can be a nuisance as you may not be able to remove it if in the field on a hunting trip. Cleaning rod advantages are as outlined above. However, I have not yet mentioned a possible further disadvantage of cleaning rods when used from the breech end - rod wear. This can affect rifling at the rear of the barrel, and a rod - guide (not the same as a muzzle protector) is recommended. This does two things: being a tube through which the rod closely fits, it guides the rod centrally through the throat, and (maybe more important) prevents solvent and other rubbish from dropping into the action bedding area. The best cleaning rods are one-piece ones. Less-than-best are cleaning rods which dismantle into shorter lengths (their packaging is easier) but being less-than-perfectly-straight, are not quite as well regarded by barrel-cleaning purists like target shooters. It is quite easy to bend a cleaning rod, especially one for a smaller calibre. Once bent, they are difficult to straighten. Purists tend to replace bent cleaning rods with new ones. They sometimes sell off the straightened (but still slightly 3. 2. bent) ones at gun shows and auctions... I always carry a pull-through (might usefully double as a tourniquet), but almost always use a rod when cleaning a firearm, and wiping preservative out of the bore before taking it hunting or to a range. Oh yes, there is sometimes a huge debate about whether cleaning rods coated in plastic, or aluminium rods, or plain steel rods are better. 1. Plastic coated cleaning rods eventually get their plastic coating dissolved (attacked) by bore solvents. They are more colourful than the plain metal rods. It is alleged that the plastic forms a matrix into which abrasive particles (mainly from primer residues) may embed themselves, because what is in effect an abrasive rod is formed. This is to the detriment of barrels through which they are then used. Aluminium cleaning rods are also thought to have a soft surface into which small abrasive particles (primer residues in particular) might embed themselves, again forming that abrasive rod mentioned above. Plain steel cleaning rods are thought by some to be the best, because the harder steel surface does not provide an opportunity for such embedding to take place. Jointed cleaning rods (also known as takedown) have a similar propensity for attracting a holding area for abrasive particles which might damage the bore. They may be more easily bent by accident too. Physically wiping the rod down after each and every pass through a rifle barrel will effectively (in my view) eliminate the threats posed by observations 1 to 4 above. Opinions differ on the arguments raised at over these five final points too. Ive found that one-piece rods need no assembly, making them more convenient to retrieve from their rack, but for hunting party equipment, would not hesitate to take a take-down rod with me into the hills. By myself, the pull-through suffices. Another thought is that skinny rods will fit into larger calibre barrels, but fatter cleaning rods definitely wont fit into smaller calibre barrels. The take-down M-16 style five piece rod is an
4.
5.
6.
7.
Three-piece cleaning rod. It may be possible to see that this rod has been bent and straightened at some time.
Three different cleaning rods. Top: three-piece aluminium rod with a built in muzzle protector; Middle: one-piece rod; Bottom: One-piece thin rod for .177 air guns.
The take-down M-16 style five-piece rod is an excellent device for the hunting party to have with it.
28
excellent device for the hunting party to have with it, but the rise of .20 and .17 calibres may require something smaller. 8. When cleaning from the breech end, avoid pulling patches back through the barrel once theyve left the muzzle. Likewise for bore brushes. Both of these can wear the crown, again to the detriment of precision or even accuracy. Some very caring people unscrew the jag, brush or loop before withdrawing the rod from the barrel. Thats a good technique, because it ensures you dont deposit used solvent and whatever it has accumulated back along the bore and into the breech mechanism.
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I am a strong believer too, in putting an oily patch through a barrel if Ive fired a shot that day, remembering to wipe it out the next morning before going hunting. This is after seeing a beloved hunting rifle gradually lose its accuracy from 2 inch groups at 100 metres to around 4.5 inches, prematurely in my view, developing lots of very fine, shallow pits all the way down it after I failed to oil it each evening after use. It took about 10 years, but thats what happened. The rifle never got wet, but maybe just a little bit of atmospheric moisture did the job on it. Lesson learned here!
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29
HABITAT
By Graham A Sperry
1080 AerIAl DrOps AnD eFFeCTs OF BuFFer ZOnes

Editors note: The following was sent to us by Graham Sperry and is reproduced here in the interests of hunters and their views on the use of 1080 poison and its impact on their sport. NZDA is happy to support those producing well-structured arguments against the use of 1080. Introduction Several dead deer were located up to 6 km from the centre of a treatment area of kaimanawa Forest Park in early December 2011, several months after a 1080 poison drop carried out by the Animal Health Board (AHB) in late June 2011. Some of these deer were in the catchment environs in running water of a stream from which park users drew their water. The deer and owl were located during a casual survey of the margins by a trapper looking for possum sign. Area of a circle. Pi x r2 A = 22/7 x radius squared If A (area of treatment) = 18,000 hectares then r = A / 22/7/r 18,000ha/ 3.142 = r2 18,000ha = 180,000,000 sq metres / 3.142 = 57,288,351 metres = r2 r = 7,569m (7.57 km radius or 15 km diameter) Now add 2km buffer zone Viz: Diameter = 2 x 7.57 km plus 4km = 19 km (19,000 metres) r = 9,500 m r2 = 90,250,000 m A + 2km buffer = 3.142 x 90,250,000 = 283,565,500 sq metres /10,000 sq m per ha = 28,356 hectares
NB: Grid squares are 1000 yards. Red border was drop boundary. Nos 2-8 are dead Sika deer. 6 5 4 1Rurur urur 2
Aerial 1080 treated end of June 2011. Cereal + deer repellent.
Assuming on average the deer, numbers 3,4,5,6,7 numbers 3,4,5,6,7 Assuming on average probability that probability that the deer,and 8, migrated from an approximate centreline running from an approximate middle of therunning north/ and 8, migrated north/south through the centreline poisoned area then all could potentially have gotten outside the NZFSA 2 km buffer and this is vindicated by the positions of south and 8 in particular. deer 7 through the middle of the poisoned area then all could
Note also that these deer, except for photo 2, were located early December 2011, some five vindicated by applied. Some have deteriorated in particular. months after the poison wasthe positions of deer 7 and 8 as one would expect over a 5month winter period, but others are in a more intact condition indicating the likelihood of cereal baits Notedropping out of thedeer, except for aphoto 2, were drop for aearly or both also that these forest canopy for period after the located month more (also proved by observations in recentmonths after theoperations; personal December 2011, some five West Coast aerial poison was applied. comments M and L Molloy) and that cereal baits remain viable for considerable periods after Some have they have been applied. deteriorated as one would expect over a 5-month
potentially have gotten outside the NZFSA 2 km buffer and this is
winter period, but others are in a more intact condition indicating Also note that no large omnivores like wild pigs live in this area. The largest carnivores/ the likelihood mustelids. Now, if the danger zone is increased to a buffer of 6 km instead of 2 km, omnivores are cats, rats andof cereal baits both dropping out of the forest canopy for a period after the drop for a month or more (also the area A increases from the treatment area of 18,000 ha to: Since the cereal baits were also treated with deer repellent, the deaths of these deer indicate proved by observations in recent West Coast aerial operations; that the repellent is not effective and further, that early trials aimed at establishing possible Viz: (7,569 + 6,000) = 13,569 = r percentages of deer which succumbM and L Molloy) and that cereal baits remain personal comments to deer repellent treated baits are probably an underestimate of actual fatalities because these surveys did not take into account the r2 = 184,117,761 metres viable area actually affected outside the they have been applied. massive increase infor considerable periods after borders of the poison application. In R x 3.142 = 578,498,005 sq m = A + 6km buffer = 57,849 hectares Also note that no large omnivores like wild pigs live in this area. Increase of affected area compared to treatment area is 320 percent MINIMUM The largest carnivores/omnivores are cats, rats and mustelids. Note: This is a least impact scenario. When a treatment area is long and narrow with a long perimeter compared to internal area, the affected buffer becomes much larger relative to the actual treatment area. This means the potential health and safety risks are also increased by 320% +. While a 6 km buffer has been used in this calculation, the true buffer, if measured from the periphery of the treatment area would potentially be more like 8 km. The present New Zealand Food and Safety Authority (NZFSA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) recommended buffer zone for deer at risk of being poisoned is 2 km, which is obviously inadequate in view of the evidence now presented. Since the cereal baits were also treated with deer repellent, the deaths of these deer indicate that the repellent is not effective and further, that early trials aimed at establishing possible percentages of deer which succumb to deer repellent treated baits are probably an underestimate of actual fatalities because these surveys did not take into account the massive increase in area actually affected outside the borders of the poison application. In this case the area would have increased by an estimated 200+ percent if the farmland to the east is discounted.
30
The ruru (morepork) was found two weeks after the late June 2011 poison application.
Right: Please compare the degree of breakdown of this carcass which probably died very shortly after the drop and been decomposing for 5 months, to the other photos and it will become apparent that many of these deer have succumbed several months AFTER the poison drop and a long way outside the drop boundary.
Deer number 8. Note the deterioration of this carcass. Photographed 3/12/2011.
Deer number 5 taken 2/12/2011. This yearling hind has died in a stream and unlikely to have been decomposing for 5 months.
Deer number 7 photographed 3/12/2011. This stag is exhibiting a summer coat (no longer grey) and still with hard antler and is almost within a flowing creek. Estimated time of death is September/October, 3 to 4 months after the poison drop and was found several kilometres away from the drop boundary.
Deer number 6 taken 2/12/2011. This young stag is also recently dead and certainly not been rotting for 5 months.
Some of these deer and of course, other carcasses, such as possum and rat would also be in or close to waterways from which recreational users draw drinking water. Conclusions: Deer repellent is not effective. (It is ineffective after a day in the rain.) Cereal baits can kill deer for a long period; long after the date of application as will carrot based baits. The safe buffer zone is not two kilometres as approved by NZFSA, but likely to be over 6 kilometres. The area in which deer are likely to be found poisoned by aerial 1080 is likely to be several hundred percent larger than the described drop zone. Viz; 18,000 hectares treated with aerial poison is likely to affect 58,000 hectares or more. The pollution of waterways by carcasses and poison, however diluted, extends massively; in this case into both the Waikato and the Mohaka catchments. The safe time period when all carcasses are decomposed after a 1080 poison drop is likely to exceed 6 months and is more likely to be nine months after the poison application. Animals may enter and then leave the poison zone up to several months after the poison drop date and still succumb to immediate lethal dose or slow death by sub-lethal or lethal dose. This actually indicates 2-300% more deer are probably killed even with the use of deer repellent, than previously assessed, because areas outside drop zones were not surveyed and not rechecked after 6 months. Whats next? Right is a map of the proposed AHB 1080 drop over the kaimanawa RHA commencing mid-May 2012. In addition to the DOC area of 16,290 ha shown the boundary also includes additional area of Maori land covering the upper/mid Tauranga Taupo catchment area. Based on the information discussed in this report, the affected area is likely to be
Deer number 4 taken 9/12/2011. This hind has suffered terribly while dying as can be seen by the skin scraped from its back legs during its death throes. Note also the areas around these deer where the vegetation has been thrashed away. A fully formed fawn can be seen hanging from its belly which indicates it probably died September or October, some 3 to 4 months after the poison drop and several kilometres outside the drop boundary.
Deer number 2 taken 2 weeks after the poison drop, in the same area as the dead ruru (morepork). Note position and body attitude of this animal and the similarity to the body position including neck and mouth as compared to the other dead deer located. Note also the scars on the belly where the deer typically kick their own gut during the agony of death from 1080 poison.
triple the size shown on the DOC map. It is my belief that ground based trapping and cyanide baits could be used through this area with no negative effects on deer or the environment and at equal or less cost than the aerial poisoning operation. One of the other major areas the AHB plan for this winter is over 55,000 ha in the southern Urewera/ Whirinaki.
Acknowledgements: Trapper S Anderson; Dave Mingins; NZ Wildlands Biodiversity Management Society Inc, (C/o Environmentally Safe Pest Control, PO Box 1700, Taupo); www.1080science.co.nz and www.1080. org.nz
Comments from NZDAs poison and toxin spokesperson Harvie Morrow follow: In my opinion Graham has produced evidence of what has heretofore, been speculation. Grahams deductions make sense to me and follow my own convictions.
There has been some limited evidence around the persistence of carcasses of possums; some 55,000 ha purported to be as much as 10-months-old. What Graham is saying is that with the current practice of Closest farms are several Km waterproofing the baits with a waxy type compound away. during manufacture, those baits caught in the canopy stay as poisonous as the day they were manufactured. When these finally drop, we are potentially getting a The areas of farmland supposedly being protected by these two massive poison drops are second wave of poisoning. This may be contributing to kilometres away and miniscule in comparison to the areas to be poisoned. We estimate the The areas of farmland AHB will be using approximately $900,000 of taxpayer funds to finance the Kaimanawa drop the longevity of carcasses.
and over $2,000,000 for the Urewera drop. The question arises as to whether the economics of the small amounts of farmland remotely associated with these drops can justify such expenditure and threats to the wildlife, game animals and environment.
supposedly being protected Grahams other concern about the process of applying by these two massive poison repellent is upheld by me. It is not waterproof, and drops are kilometres away will, by admission of the manufacturer, wash off in and miniscule in comparison Acknowledgements: Trapper S Anderson; Dave Mingins; NZ Wildlands Biodiversity Management Society Inc, (C/o rainy conditions. This process clearly is being used to Environmentally Safe Pest Control, PO to the areas www.1080science.co.nz and www. Box 1700, Taupo); to be poisoned. 1080.org.nz gain approval from the hunting fraternity for 1080 to We estimate the AHB will be used. I personally abhor the entire process, it raises Comments from NZDA poison and toxin spokesperson Harvie Morrow follow: be using approximately In my opinion Graham has produced evidence of what has heretofore, been speculation. false hopes and does not prevent the application of $900,000 of convictions. Grahams deductions make sense to me and follow my own taxpayer funds this broad spectrum poison. There has been some limited evidence to finance the kaimanawapossums; around the persistence of carcasses of some purported to be as much as 10-months-old. What Graham is saying is that with the Another area of concern is just how far from the drop and type compound during manufacture, current practice of waterproofing the baits with a waxy over $2,000,000 those baits caught in the canopy stay as poisonous as the day they were manufactured. for the a second wave of poisoning. This may bepoisoned area these animals have travelled. It When these finally drop, we are potentially getting Urewera drop.
contributing to the longevity of carcasses. Graham's other concern about the process of applying repellent is upheld by me. It is not waterproof, and will, by admission of the manufacturer, wash off in rainy conditions. This process clearly is being used to gain approval from the hunting fraternity for 1080 to be used. I personally abhor the entire process, it raises false hopes and does not prevent the application of this broad spectrum poison.
The question arises as to whether the economics of the small amounts of farmland remotely associated with these drops can justify such expenditure and threats to the wildlife, game animals and environment.
definitely raises food safety concerns as highlighted by Graham.
We need to oppose ALL such applications of 1080. The proposed use over Recreational Hunting Areas (RHA), only raises our level of opposition. These areas were set aside for recreational harvesters to use for recreation. The AHB is hiding behind the Biosecurity Act to force this on us. I believe NZDA has successfully made a case to prevent the poisoning of a RHA in the past.
31
BUSH TELEGRAPH
Media release Thursday 23 February 2012
IMpOrTATIOn OF IlleGAl DOGTrACKInG DevICes TO Be prOhIBITeD

The importation of illegal dog-tracking devices became prohibited from 1 March 2012 under changes to the existing regulations. The government is clamping down on the illegal dog-tracking devices as they can dangerously interfere with radio transmission services used by people working in rural or remote areas, such as search and rescue crew. The devices are most often used by hunters to track their dogs in the bush. The change to the regulation will mean that the New Zealand Customs Service may seize illegal devices at the border, says Chris Brennan, Compliance Manager for the Radio Spectrum Group at the Ministry of Economic Development. While possession and use of the illegal dog-tracking devices is already punishable by fines of up to $30,000 or prosecution and conviction, importers and hunters are continuing to take the risk. Under the new change to the regulation, people importing these illegal devices into the country may have them seized and potentially face prosecution, he says. Not all dog-tracking devices are illegal, but we want to make sure that people are using ones that dont dangerously interfere with those parts of the radio spectrum that are licensed to others. Anyone looking to import radiotransmitting equipment should first check whether it is acceptable in New Zealand and authorised for a radio licence. The dog-tracking devices to be avoided are sold under the Garmin and SportDOG TEk brands, however, all devices should be checked before purchase. Devices should not operate on the 151.820 MHz, 151.880 MHz, 151.940 MHz, 154.570 MHz and 154.600 MHz frequencies. The new rule prohibiting importation is now included in the Radiocommunications Regulations (Prohibited Equipment Dog Tracking Devices) Notice 2012 and came into force on 1 March 2012. The Ministry of Economic Development will be working closely with the New Zealand Customs Service to ensure that illegal radiotransmitting devices are not imported into the country. For more information, go to the Radio Spectrum website, www.rsm.govt.nz, or call the free helpline 0508 RSM INFO (0508 776 463).
purple lOOsesTrIFe - A GArDen esCApee On The run

This summer sparks a call for help to identify purple loosestrife. In a combined effort with Environment Canterbury and Christchurch City Council, DOC is asking local landowners for sightings of Lythrum salicaria, commonly known as purple loosestrife. Once popular for planting alongside residential ponds and streams, purple loosestrife has jumped the garden fence to invade precious wetland habitats, river margins and has even been found marching into farmland. With a growth of up to two metres, it has potential to override natives and pasture alike. Biodiversity ranger Craig Alexander has seen this first hand. Purple loosestrife can be a real issue for farmers, invading pasture and waterways and clogging drains. Once established, youre looking at several years of active control to deal with the problem. Sadly its not just a matter of digging it out. Purple loosestrife is easy to identify - just look out for the bright purple-magenta flower heads that are on show from December to February. By winter, all the foliage dies off to re-emerge in the summer so it is important to nip it in the bud while it is visible. If you suspect you have seen purple loosestrife on public or private land, contact Craig Alexander on + 64 3 341 9110 or email calexander@doc.govt.nz
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32
BUSH TELEGRAPH
DOWnlOAD The AlpIne CrOssInG ApplICATIOn

Check out the free interpretive application for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Its just like taking a ranger with you in your pocket!
Anyone who has done the Tongariro Alpine Crossing can relate to marvelling at the sheer beauty and scale of the landscape and wondering why the Red Crater is red, the Emerald Lakes are just so, and whether or not the hot ground under your feet is likely to erupt from under you. So we have developed an application you can download for free and take with you, to help tell the unique stories of the awesome landscape of the Alpine Crossing. Called the Pocket Ranger, the application provides stories, photos and video, maps, and safety messages for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, as well as providing information about the local area including accommodation, activities, transport, guiding and dining. Developed by DOC and Project Tongariro you can download on: www.tongariro.org.nz/pocketranger.
AerIAl AssIsTeD TrOphy hunTInG COnCessIOns

Below is a list of helicopter operators who applied for aerial assisted trophy hunting concessions. The concessions are for a two-year period. The concession holders legal name has been used where possible and their trading name where known is shown in brackets alongside. Alpine Deer Group Ltd (Alpine Helicopters) Mount Hutt Helicopters Ltd New Zealand Mountain Hunting Ltd Station Air ltd Amuri Helicopters Limited (Hanmer Helicopters) Back Country Helicopters Ltd Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd Central South Island Helicopters Ltd Mountain Helicopters Fox Glacier Ltd Aspiring Helicopters Ltd Nokomai Helicopters Heliventures NZ Ltd Way To Go Heliservices Ltd Mt Cook Trophy Hunting Ltd Glenroy Station Ltd South Pacific Safaris (NZ) Ltd Editors note: Hunters may wish to use their discretion as to who to use when seeking aerial access into hunting areas within the concession regions.
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The neW ZeAlAnD DeersTAlKers AssOCIATIOns AnnuAl COnFerenCe 13 15 July 2012 Will be celebrating 75 years of the Association and 25 years of the HUNTS programme Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Solway Park, Masterton
An evenT nOT TO Be MIsseD
33
BLAST fROM THE PAST
GhOsT herDs OF The sKy

By Red Stag T h i s s t o r y w a s f i r s t p r i n t e d i n Th e R o a r, Volume 6, November 1959
Mt Livingston towers above the junction of the Grey (centre) and Godley Glaciers (right)
So you would like a trophy tahr? Let me take you on a typical trophy hunting trip. The scene - A farmhouse kitchen at 7.00 pm. The children in the process of going to bed. The lady of the house - How did you get on with the ploughing today? The tired farmer - Not so badly - another couple of days should see it finished. Telephone rings - Hullo - HULLO! Are you there? Oh. Gore calling Shut those kids up would you! Yes - Hullo. That you Jack? Nice to hear your voice. Youre coming up? - No! - Not work that cant wait. Too right! - See you tomorrow night Ill get all the stores. That was Jack. Hes coming up tomorrow night - bringing Alan with him. They want to have a lick at the tahr. Well go up the Godley on Thursday and be back Tuesday night. So starts another adventure after tahr. Thursday morning sees us stacking packs and rifles in the truck. You chaps got plenty of ammunition? Sure - weve each got thirty rounds in our packs. Better put in fifty at least - tahr shooting sure runs away with your ammo. Weve never taken more than thirty rounds on a trip in our lives. However, if you say so. Sixty miles by truck, sixteen miles by foot, and Jack for one, twenty rounds of ammunition lighter; we roll into our sleeping bags in our pup tent. What did you say the name of this creek was? said Alan. Mckinnon Creek. I found an old bivvy here many years ago. In it was a perished oilskin and a few tins and part of an Oamaru newspaper dated 1916. I believe it could have been one of the survey - or kennedys bivvy. What are the plans for tomorrow? said Alan, yawning. If the weather is fine well go up Separation Stream, its about 4 miles further up. There are usually some good bulls on the bluffs in there, I replied. Heck! Ive never fired so many shots without hitting anything as Ive done today - those chamois certainly can tramp. Im not used to this long-range shooting - never shot a trophy at over 40-yards in my life. Do we have to do much climbing? asked Jack with some concern.
34
If the day is fine well get out on the tops at about 7,000 feet. Its best to get above them. Mind you, you can have a lot of fun shooting from the creek bed, but its dynamite on the ammunition. If Ive got to scale these hills tomorrow Id better get some sleep. Pass me a barley sugar before you blow out the candle - thanks. See you in the morning, said Jack, pulling his sleeping bag up around him. Daylight! - Am I glad to see the sun on those peaks! What are they called? Conrad, Anthill, Ackland, Livingstone, Fletcher and Wolseley. Theyre all about 800 feet. Thats the Classen Glacier you can see between Ackland and Livingstone. The other two glaciers are the Grey and the Maude. You cant see the Godley Glacier from here, its hidden behind Bloody Point. So thats Bloody Point - Ive heard of it. Yes. Well named at that. Coming up the Godley you see it first thing in the so-and-so morning, walking towards it all the so-and-so day, and by night its no so-and-so nearer. Thats how it got its name - at least, so I understand. A couple of hours later, after having threaded our way through an area of large broken rocks we forded the Separation Stream and rounded the corner. There is youre first bull. No - away up there at about 6,000 feet, on those pink- coloured rock bluffs. Go on, nothing could stand on there! said Jack incredulously. Hes not only standing, see, hes moving along - right across the face. Do you see him now? Theres a nanny following him. Sure! I see him now - was looking far too low before. Do you see him, Alan? What a mane hes got. Here, take a look through my glasses. My word these glasses bring him up, Jack looks to have a good set of horns too. Youd wonder how they could stick on a face like that. What are we going to do? One of you might as well try from here. Its only 900 yards, and there is a good rock over there to rest on. You have a shot at him Alan; only set your sights at 300 as you are shooting at a very steep angle up hill. Its no use climbing up that ridge as we wouldnt be able to see him from the top. BANG! See that puff of dust on the rock. You are just a
fraction high. Hes off! Get stuck into him! BANG! BANG! Thats hit him - you could hear it from here. Look at him tumble. THUMP! Rather him than me. THUMP! Whats that? Didnt you see? The nanny was running after him and ran right out into space. She must have fallen 1,200 feet; Ive never seen anything as spectacular. I wish Id got it on the movie. Well I suppose that has frightened the rest of them out of the valley. I must get a skin off one to take home. No Jack! They dont frighten that easily. Not during May and June anyway. Well brew up a billy of tea and Ill tell you a bit about them. At this time of the year you will find them scattered through the bluffs every few hundred yards. They are usually in small family groups of a bull and one or two nannies and kids. Most of the years the bulls are in big mobs in high basins and the nannies and kids are on the lower country from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. In November the nannies and kids come right down into the scrub. Mostly, the bulls stay very high, though you sometimes strike the odd bull crossing a riverbed when they are on the prowl in May. Bulls love to stand on top of a bluff and let their mane blow out in the wind theyre mighty proud of that mane. Getting a trophy bull looks like a lot of hard work. You could climb up there and shoot one only to have him smash his horns to pieces when he falls. What do you think, Jack? Yes! Me, Im all for getting one on the flat. I suppose that if you came in here in July when there is more snow about theyd be down in the valley. No doubt that would be the time to get one weve come a month too early. No boys. Youre wrong there. They prefer to hole up under rocks and weather out the storm. Let it come a fine day and youll see them on the windswept rocks at the top, although there is feet of snow in the valley. Have a close look at the hide on one and you will see that their mane is 9 or 10 inches long and the hair over most of their body about 3 inches. Part the hair and you will find a thick layer of wool about an inch long close to
the skin. The skin of a good-sized bull will weigh all of 60 pounds green and will dry out between 20 and 30 pounds. They are usually very fat and really I think that they can live on their own fat for a period such as during heavy snow, either that or theyre just too lazy to climb down into the valley. How is the tea coming along Alan? You know, Alan and I never bother to boil up when stalking. Takes too long we reckon - theres all too few hours in the period after dawn and before dusk for us. Theres no doubt that you are typical Southlanders. Dawn and dusk shooting is the caper down there alright. Up here, the old tahr doesnt like to stir himself until the sun has warmed the rocks and he lies out in it all day. You get very little shooting on a dull day although youll hear them whistling at you from above in the mist. The more time you scan the rocks on a fine day the more you will see, thats where a boil up comes in handy. You can look around and spot a few. You know, the more I think of it, the more Im convinced that theyre just downright lazy. I said that they like the sun, so they do, but theres always just enough contrary ones to make the shady faces interesting. No matter how steep or ice covered they are. There is a high shady bluff just round the corner past that shingle slide - a favourite spot for a bull. Ten minutes wander up the creek brought us in sight of a magnificent shady bluff, magnificent that is from the point of view of a tahr. On a small bench some 2,000 feet above us grazed a solitary bull. We sat down and got out the binoculars. Have a good look at him boys. A lone bull like that is often a good one. There, hes got his head up now. Did you get a glimpse of his horns? No! The glasses were fogged up, and now hes got his head down in the celmisia daisy. There it is now - looks pretty good all of 12 inches Id say. Here, have a look! Yes! Hes a trophy alright. I think we could work our way up through the bluff; wed be out of sight
under the lip of the bench. As is usually the case the easy route through the bluff turned out to be pretty sticky, and it was soon apparent that we would have to climb it as it was impossible to retrace our steps. After an exciting forty minutes we paused for breath just under the lip of the bench. It was Jacks shot so we pushed him up until he could grasp the daisy plants above and pull himself up. We reckoned that he should be within 60 yards of the bull, but it was not in sight so we handed up our rifles and scrambled up after him. Although we searched the half acre of that flat bench very thoroughly, including several rock caves, we could not find any trace of the bull. A strenuous two hours of climbing, firstly up a rock chimney then upwards over 3,000 feet of snow covered slab rocks brought us finally to the top of the ridge. It was with no little relief that we were able to relax in the sun on the ridge. Below, an almost sheer face dropped away into the Fitzgerald Stream, a mere silver thread some 5,000 feet below, while in the head of the stream Mount DArchiac reared its 9,000 feet of glaciated rock, scarcely a mile away. The climb had truly been worthwhile, tahr or no tahr. Twenty minutes easy walk along the ridge brought us to the top of a leading shingle slide, and in short time we were back in the Separation. A few more minutes and we were back at our packs beneath the bluff. To heck with this, next time I come up here Im bringing my 7mm Mauser and telescopic sight, said Jack. Ill be able to nail them down before I do any climbing. Look! Of all the cheek. Theres that old bull back on the bench and looking down at us. Lets try and shake him up from here. Two puffs of snow rose from near the feet of the bull and he galloped off up hill and in behind a large rock. From behind the rock handfuls of snow and grass were being thrown out. Take a look at that with the glasses. Its something you dont often see.
Jacks bull which carried horns a shade over 14 inches. From nose to tail it was 6 foot 6 inches and 42 inches at the shoulder
Weighing about 60 pounds each, green tahr skins are a load in themselves. In May and June they are beautifully coloured and make worthwhile trophies
Cont on page 37
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35
THE STALkERS TABLE
GrAnnIe OlIves
reCIpes
WIlD pOrK rOAsT
Ingredients: Piece of wild pork Curry powder Black pepper Chopped onions Rub the meat over with curry powder and black pepper then leave on a bed of fresh sage and thyme over night in a baking dish, hunting pot or a camp oven. In the morning lift the meat out and put in chopped onions and garlic. Add a little more sage and thyme or what ever herbs you desire. Replace the meat and add a dash of salt and about 25 - 30mm or so of water. (Optional is to rub sauce over the top the meat). Do not add fat or oils. Pop the lid on and place into the oven, or sling the hunting pot or camp oven over the fire and slowly cook for 3 4 hours or so. The roast will cook in its natural juices and any fat it contains. The water will evaporate, so check now and then and add a little more until cooking is done. When cooked, lift the meat out and make a gravy. Chopped garlic Sage / thyme or what ever herbs you desire Water
Photo taken by Max Pudney of Grannie Olive, as she would like to be known.
T Or A G e s F Or s he rB u ple. If y o D r y InG ge is sim r
pOunDeD venIsOn
Ingredients: Pounded venison pieces Butter or oil or bacon fat Salt Black pepper Bacon Small pieces of sausage
fo s t o ra friends e r b s fo r s k y o ur Dr ying h ga r d e n a r n y in y ou havent a t h er in h em toge a n d tie t s o m e. ka or h es, ro w m a n u tle b ra n c f ro m n a r k o ff lit Pic e nd them iry p la ce. un ts. Su sp o o l d ry a sm all am o ced in a c ring t his es p la a ro m a d u h b ra n ch f a lo vely silver birc Very its o h e b e n ef p er bags. will get t b r o wn p a o Yo u , p la ce in t h e n d ri ed stage. W ting trip s. n h un r ta king o h a n d y fo
Presuming you do not have a mincer, pound pieces of venison, (except the back steaks), with the back of an axe, hammer or a rock. Heat up a frying pan, put in some butter, oil or bacon fat and add the pounded meat and cook quickly. Add salt and black pepper if you wish, turn over, and then move to one side of the pan. Next add some bacon, small pieces of sausage, and also cook quickly. Move the pounded venison back into the pan. Serve. Mop up any pan residue with a bread roll. Great breakfast before heading into the dawn for the days hunt.
36
SWAZI JUNIOR SHOOTS

GhOsT herDs OF The sKy
Cont from page 35

Great Scott! Hes trying to shove that rock down on top of us; lucky for us he picked such a big one. It wont shift but hes trying for all hes worth. With the sun getting low we headed back for camp. Shortly after crossing the Separation Stream Alan picked up a cast Red deer antler. Deer come away up here, do they? I thought wed have been well past deer country. Yes! Theres always a few, particularly over on the Classen face, but theyre easily shot out in this type of country. Well shoot one over there on Monday, so that we can take out a bit of venison - its a pity to shoot more of them than you need. As we neared the mouth of Mckinnon Creek a solitary animal could be seen coming towards us from the direction of Rankins Stream on Godley Peaks. Lend me your glasses Jack. Thanks! You boys are in luck; its a big bull tahr crossing the riverbed. If you follow that gut down you should intercept him Jack. Alan and I will wait here. For the next fifteen minutes we had a grandstand view of a tahr being stalked. Finally the old bull heaved himself over a shingle bank only 40 yards away from Jack. We saw the bull stop, stagger and fall, and then faintly heard the sound of the shot. As we approached we could see Jack spanning the horns with his hand. He looked up with an earsplitting grin. What do you know? Must be all of 14-inches, and to shoot him in the river bed of all places. How lucky can you be? Congratulations, you would shoot many tahr before you would shoot a better. Hes got a darned good hide too. Why dont you take it for a mat, seeing it is so handy to camp? It will weigh all of 60 pounds and youll never get one handier. Well be able to get another head-skin over on the Classen for sure. Ill whack the hide off him then while you and Alan go on to camp. Wont be long, said Jack. You wont get the hide off that animal in a hurry. Well cut off some meat and Alan can cook it for tea while I give you a hand with the skinning. Do you mean to say that you can eat them? Next to Wapiti meat, the meat is the best I know. Very fine in the grain and not strong in flavour like venison. Well take the inside back-strips, they cook in a few minutes. The liver and kidneys would come in handy for breakfast too. It took 35 minutes for us to get the skin off that bull, it was three-quarters of an inch thick on the shoulders. All knife work, no pulling or punching. Another 20 minutes saw us in sight of the camp where Alan was busy at the fire. That night we slept warmly as we spread the tahr skin on the floor of the tent. With the skin beneath us and a trophy set of horns on a rock outside we all agreed it had been a very successful day. Saturday we visited the head of Mckinnon Creek, Sunday it snowed, and Monday we visited the faces above the Classen Glacier. Tuesday morning saw us packing out with a load including two bull tahr skins, a tahr head and two legs of venison. We had shot 25 tahr, 9 chamois and a deer. It is most important to shoot as many nannies and kids as possible when you get the chance. We had accounted for 27 of them, so were well pleased. Alan and Jack left this morning. Ambassadors of goodwill for South Canterbury, and high in their praise of our winter weather and shooting. They will no doubt be back in their thigh gumboots tomorrow morning, swimming their sheep on and off their chow mollier. Well chaps, must away and finish off that ploughing!
THAMES VALLEy BRANCH SWAZI SHOOT

The branch junior Swazi shoot held last October was a 10 shot event using .22RF rifles at a 100 metre target on our 50 metre range. This had real appeal and made it a great day. The event was combined with the branchs rimfire and centrefire championship shoot with several of the juniors joining in afterwards. L - R: Logan Clark, Lee Juett, Brent McNeil, Harry Clapp, Dayna Balsom, Daniel Lesley, kahn Caddy.
MARLBOROUGH BRANCH SWAZI SHOOT

Last September on a fine and calm day we held our junior Swazi shoot. The match was shot with .22RF rifles consisting of 5 shots at a deer target at 75 metres and 5 shots at metallic silhouettes (25, 50, and 75 metres). The competitors all had a great time and shot very well. Congratulations to the winners who were the lucky recipients of Swazi garments. L R: Thomas Myles, Maddi Loughnan-White, Alex Steans.
37
HERITAGE
nITZ reD heAD upDATe

You will recall that when we featured the Nitz brothers Red deer heads there was a 12-pointer that had started to deteriorate. The antlers were sent away to well known taxidermists, G D ORourke & Sons Ltd who very kindly remounted the head using a donated headskin donated by Ian Irvine, South Canterbury Branch. The before and after photos say it all!
Before
pACKs
We are now starting to build up a small collection of packs from the earliest frameless pack, (an original pikau that has had five new sacks and three sets of ropes or straps), through to the newer ergonomic style frameless packs. The condition of the packs varies from good+ down to deteriorating. On average though, and considering their age, most are fair to average+.
After
The next packs were the Mountain Mule, they were very popular and used for a number of years and consequently underwent a number of changes. The first were an all wood frame, and then we have a wood with aluminium cross bars. This was followed by a steel tube frame which also doubled as a stove fuel carrier. The last Mountain Mule we have is an all aluminium frame.
Mountain Mule frame types, from left to right: wood; wood with aluminium; steel; all aluminium
The steel fuel carrying frame
The last two packs we have fall into the ergonomic era that has now become the norm for packs. The yellow one is an example of an ergonomic aluminium frame that was Besides the pikau, the oldest would be the triangular cane framed pack. Building these would have required some The triangular packs skill, to be able to shape the cane and then bind it together with whipping. The cane frame was replaced with a steel frame.
shaped to fit your back. The second one (red and black) is an example of an early frameless ergonomic pack. The condition of both these packs is below average.
38
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39
PLACES TO HUNT
MACKenZIe COunTry & WAITAKI hunTInG

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/hunting/where-to-hunt/canterbury/mackenzie-countryand-waitaki-hunting/ The area Twizel Te Manahuna Area Office administers the Mackenzie Country and Waitaki area, managing over 220,000 hectares of public conservation land which includes Ahuriri and Ruataniwha Conservation Parks as well as the Godley, Oteake, kirkliston and St Marys Range. The terrain ranges from steep rock and scree slopes, glaciers, braided rivers, beech forest and open tussock country. species The Mackenzie Country and Waitaki hunting blocks are well known for their tahr hunting potential, especially places such as Dobson, Godley and Macaulay Valleys and Ben Ohau Range. Chamois can be found in low numbers spread across most conservation areas. Wallaby are located in the southern end of the Two Thumb Range and Hunter Hills. Meanwhile pigs are resident in the Waitaki Valley on Hunter Hills and St Marys Range. Red deer are also found here. Special permits for small game animals, such as rabbits and hares, are not issued. restricted hunting areas The kirkliston hunting block contains wallaby, chamois and Red deer but two catchments within this area are closed to hunting. This is due to forestry contractors working within the block at various times of the year. Hunters are advised to check for current pesticide operations that may be in progress where they intend to hunt. Summaries are published every four months by each conservancy. Where to hunt There are numerous hunting blocks in the Mackenzie Country and Waitaki area. Details about each block are listed below. There are a total of 17 blocks.
Safety
Follow the Outdoor Safety Code: 1. Plan your trip 2. Tell someone 3. Be aware of the weather 4. Know your limits 5. Take sufficient supplies
AhurIrI hunTInG BlOCK

General information This block is part of the Ahuriri Conservation Park. A detailed Ahuriri Conservation Park brochure is available from Twizel Te Manahuna Area office. A significant amount of beech forest covers the Ahuriri Valley margins, while the tops are exposed rock and scree. Animals present are Red deer, tahr and chamois. Access - is via Birchwood Road, off State Highway 8 between Omarama and the Lindis Pass. The road is suitable for all vehicles to Birchwood Homestead; from there 4WD is recommended to reach the car park area at the road end. There are two marked easements for accessing the public land west of Ben Avon Station. One easement is via a waterfall track and the other is via Birch Creek. There are also two marked easements through Ben Avon farmland to access the Ahuriri River and the public land on the true left of the Ahuriri River. Hunting is not permitted on the access easements crossing private land. Map information - Topo50 BZ14. Dogs - are not permitted on Ben Avon Station or on the marked public easements through Ben Avon Station. Dogs are allowed in the Ahuriri Conservation Park but are required to
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40
be under control. They should be kept on a lead at all times while in riverbed areas and wetlands between the months of August and the end of February, to avoid disturbing nesting birdlife. Hut information - Ahuriri Base Hut - (GR: E1328602, N5092290), standard hut with 6 bunks, mattresses and heating; Top Dingle Hut (GR: E1325318, N5091234), standard hut with 6 bunks, mattresses and heating; Shamrock Hut (GR: E1330418, N5099540), basic hut, with 2 bunks, mattresses and heating; Hagens Hut - (GR: E1331317, N5105444), standard hut with 4 bunks, mattresses and heating; Top Hut (GR: E1333150, N5109168), basic hut with 2 bunks, mattresses and heating.
the valley where it borders with Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Red deer, tahr and chamois are found here. Access - Public access is via Glen Lyon Road to Glen Lyon Station. Permission is required from Glen Lyon Station to continue beyond the homestead. 4WD vehicles are required to access beyond Glen Lyon Homestead. Landholders - ken and Jane Wigley, Glen Lyon Station. Map information - Topo50 BY15. Dogs - Permission is required from Glen Lyon Station to access the Dobson Valley with dogs. Dogs should be kept on a lead at all times in riverbed areas and wetlands between the months of August and the end of February, because of nesting birdlife. Hut information - Station Hut - Glen Lyon Station - private hut; Grough Hut (GR: E1354921, N5131061), basic 2 bunk and mattresses; kennedy, Memorial Hut, (GR: E1356121, N5136964), standard hut with 6 bunks, heating and mattresses; Waterfall Hut, (GR: E1357921, N5142166), basic hut with 4 bunks, heating and mattresses and Reardon Biv, (GR: E1358621, N5145768), basic hut with 2 bunks and mattresses.
Ben OhAu hunTInG BlOCK

General information The Ben Ohau Conservation Area consists of open tussock country, within the Ruataniwha Conservation Park. A brochure on Ruataniwha Conservation Park is available from Twizel Te Manahuna Area office. Tahr and chamois are found in this block. Access - is signposted from the Aoraki/Mt Cook highway (State Highway 80) on the true right of Boundary Stream. Another access easement follows the true right of Big Rock Stream from the Aoraki/Mt Cook highway (State Highway 80). A walking, mountain biking and horse riding easement goes through private farmland to access the Gladstone and Twizel River catchments of the Ben Ohau Range. Access is from the Aoraki/Mount Cook Highway (State Highway 80) where there is a designated car park area. To drive to Baikie Hut, 4WD access permission and a key must be obtained from Pukaki Downs Station. This track may be closed at times eg, during periods of high fire danger. A fee or bond may be payable to the owners of Pukaki Downs Station. In order to protect the fragile environment above Baikie Hut, vehicles are to be left at the hut. The southern end of the Ben Ohau Range is accessed via two walking easements through private farmland. There is a walking easement for Fraser Stream and another walking easement to Darts Bush area and Flanagan Pass. Landholders - For permission for 4WD access to Baikie Hut contact Pukaki Downs Station. Map information - Topo50 BY15, BZ15. Dogs - are not permitted on the marked walking easements without landholder permission. However, they may be taken on the public conservation land marked on the true right of Boundary Stream. Hut information - Baikie Hut, (GR: E1365071, N5111929), basic hut with 4 bunks, mattresses and heating.
GAMACK hunTInG BlOCK

General information The Gamack Range extends south from the Liebig Range bordering Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. The Gamack Range sits between the Jollie and Cass Rivers. Animal species are tahr and chamois. This block has unfenced boundaries. Do not enter the Tekapo Military Training Area, a defence area, without permission. Live firing can occur at any time. Do not touch or pick up anything as it may be an unexploded ordinance. Access - Permission is required from Mt Cook Station and Braemar Station for walking or driving access via Jollie Stream to the Gamack Range. For access via the Forks Stream and Fraser Stream, permission is required from both Braemar Station and Glenmore Station. On occasions, the New Zealand Defence Force may, at its discretion and with consultation with adjacent property managers, allow access over defence land to gain entry to Fork Stream. Such parties will be escorted through the defence area by the warrant officer in charge from Tekapo Military Training Area, or his representative. Landholders - Mt Cook Station Braemar Station - Hamish and Julia Mckenzie, 03 680 6844 Tekapo Military Training Area, Tekapo-Twizel Road, Lake Tekapo, 03 680 6891 Map information - Topo50 BY16, BX16. Dogs - are only allowed on this block with permission from landholders, and must be under control. Dogs must be on a lead at all times in riverbed areas and wetlands between the months of August and the end of February, because of nesting birdlife. Hut information - Green Point Hut - Braemar Station, private hut.
DOBsOn hunTInG BlOCK

General information The majority of this hunting area consists of beech forest located within the Ruataniwha Conservation Park. A brochure on the recreational, cultural and natural values of Ruataniwha Conservation Park is available from Twizel Te Manahuna Area office. The tops are exposed rock and scree with the terrain becoming more challenging at the northern end of
41
REVIEWS
BOOK
BOOK
Title: Does the Trigger Pull the Finger? The Uses, Abuses and Rational Reform of Firearms Law in the United Kingdom Author: Richard Law and Peter Brookesmith Publisher: The Spitfire Press, Pembrokeshire, Wales ISBN: 1906174996 RRP: $31.99 Format: Soft cover, 176 pages, black & white illustrations, 220mm x 150mm Available from: www.fishpond.co.nz Reviewed by: Chaz Forsyth This book is a rattling good read, being at times amusing, instructive and entertaining. The authors delve into numerous case studies which result from the complicated firearm controls to be found in the United kingdom. The authors criticise the efforts made towards controlling the minority of firearms in the Uk which are legitimately held, noting that something like ten times that number exist outside the systems operated by the police. These controls provide for a form of firearm registration, although the authors take issue with this expression, as they do for firearm licensing; they prefer to consider the process as being firearm certification. Their exploration of how British firearm controls are worked by the British politicians (through their Home Office), the judiciary, the police, policy and the courts, are mind-boggling in how the different groups act at times beyond the law, at times in a manner which makes it impossible for the citizen-taxpayer to comply. One example will suffice: a firearm might be approved for a given owner, for use at a designated range. However, if while transporting it from his/her home to the place of use, and if the vehicle is broken into and the firearm stolen, the owner faces charges of having left the firearm insecure the fact of the theft justifies the charge, which is indefensible. Neat. This and other measures, often derived from policy bring the law into disrepute. The authors hold the view that it is all part of a significant job creation scheme, aided and abetted by the absence of a national registration system, but 50 or more county constabularies. Unfortunately, the authors then proceed to suggest many revisions to address the anomalies they identify. Their revisions include the continued listing of firearms by a central authority, the continued need for limiting the amount of ammunition able to be held, even purchased at one time, by licence holders, and of course other measures which have never been observed by the criminal element. The obstacles put in the way of potential club members towards recruitment, membership, even existence, boggle the mind, when compared to what we in New Zealand enjoy. However, it is also a warning for law-abiding New Zealand arms owners to remain united in the face of attempts to introduce ineffective restrictions to violence and the threat of violence which, by their passing into law, affect only the law-abiding, and not those who, by definition, are beyond the law. The book is seriously disadvantaged by lacking an index and a list of references (although there are a few footnotes). 42
Title: Life on Wheels Author: Graeme Sinclair Publisher: Halcyon Press ISBN: 978-1-87756-613-4 RRP: $39.99 Format: 220 pages, 240mm x 170mm, colour and black and white photographs Available from: Booksellers or Halcyon Press at www.halcyonpublishing.co.nz/ Reviewed by: Tony Orman Graeme Sinclair producer, writer and compere of the TV3 show Gone Fishing is also a keen hunting enthusiast. Indeed he hunted extensively in places like Fiordland with the late Ray Tinsley who wrote some great books on Wapiti and moose. However in his forties Graeme was afflicted with multiple sclerosis (MS) and has since been largely confined to the wheel chair. But back then he grabbed control of the situation, took a deep breath and plunged on with life as normal, but on wheels. In many ways this disease (MS) was a wakeup call, a chance to really count my blessings and appreciate what I have. I thought I was appreciative before MS came along but in many ways I was treading water, writes Graeme Sinclair. Attitude in life is almost everything. A positive one will lift you into the stratosphere and a negative one will sink you but the great thing is YOU get to choose. This book is largely autobiographical from Graemes childhood and upbringing in a turbulent family situation to the mental and physical challenges of dealing with the onset of MS about 14 years ago. Its a candid, no holds barred, all-out-in-theopen book that is an absorbing read on not only his battle, but marriage, divorce and remarriage, to family, to kids and of course fishing. And then theres hunting in Fiordland which Graeme recalls after a visit there. The only grating chapter for me was one extolling current Prime Minister John key. But you may agree with Graemes views. It just that on that subject, I dont. Put that aside and the book is absorbing, at times inspirational and a very fine read. Dont miss reading it!
Title: Healthy Bastards Produced and presented by: Dr Dave Baldwin Director: Joe Boon Running time: 120 minutes RRP: $30.00 Available from: www.flyingdoctor.co.nz/buydvd Classification: M Reviewed by: Trevor Dyke To quote from the back cover, this movie was developed from Dr Daves best selling book Healthy Bastards which, like this movie, combines non PC humour with serious messages. The DVD starts off with a bit of bull but the messages being delivered in Dr Dave Baldwins humorous way are no bull. The opening section of the movie introduces you to the various vital organs within our bodies describing what they do and what can go wrong. This is done in Dr Daves humorous way but delivering an underlying health message to all the unhealthy bastards. Dr Dave uses experts to discuss the serious issues to discuss the effects of what happens when a heart attack strikes, what the consequences can be and what needs to be done to recover. However he also uses ordinary people when talking about being a healthy bastard. If you have ever wanted to know how an examination of the prostate is carried out, Dr Dave shows you thanks to a willing patient. Once the main message has been delivered Dr Dave sets out to find New Zealands most healthy bastard. To do this he takes you on a journey through New Zealand based along his Flying Doctor Services route. On this journey he asks some of his clients if they are or know who would be New Zealands healthiest bastard, and the scenery seen when flying from airstrip to airstrip would be amongst some of the finest to be seen. This becomes more so when the journey reaches areas in the southern South Island. The further south he goes the answers start to build a picture that some will be able to work out who it will be. On the whole I found the DVD interesting, informative and it made me more aware of what to watch for or check for if any changes should become apparent. Not only that, but do not hesitate to see your doctor if you notice something and also maintain a regular check up cycle. My only criticism would be the journey to find New Zealands healthiest bastard. I felt that it went on a bit too long and could have been shortened and still delivered the same message just as effectively.
DvD
POETRY
When yOu leAve Me

(A hunTers pleA)
By Mike McGee
BOOK
This poem has been has been reproduced from Mike McGees book, For Those Who Understand, as a dedication to Hong Tse
Title: Hodgdons 2012 Annual Manual Author: Davey Hughes Publisher: Hodgdon Powder Company ISBN: 10-1616082380 RRP: NZ$20.00 (approxiamately) Format: Soft cover, 170 pages, 215mm x 280mm Available from: Review copy was obtained from www.hodgdon. com however major shooting outlets should have it in stock. Reviewed by: Chaz Forsyth The idea of an annually appearing reloading guide may sound odd when we think of the near decade-long period between those by other reloading tool and component manufacturers. Splendid lead articles written by the likes of Bryce Towsley, Layne Simpson and Charles Petty describe products which have appeared on the American market during the year since the Annual Manual for 2011 appeared. Layne Simpson, who visited New Zealand for a hunt about four years ago, describes the green bullets (leadfree) like those pioneered by Barnes and their competitors such as Hornady, Woodleigh and Winchester. In a world that is increasingly being threatened by anti firearm related hysteria, the avoidance of the dreaded lead is thought by some to be a good thing. That these bullets, although as pricey as any other controlled expansion offering, are already recognised as being effective on game animals, even within New Zealand, merely shows how well New Zealanders keep up with overseas trends. The development of a type of propellant, by Hodgdon, known as CFE 223 which contains an ingredient which reduces copper fouling. This propellant was first created for the .204 Ruger, which has never had a reputation for fouling barrels with factory ammunition (now we know why), and is now available for handloading. CFE is an abbreviation for copper fouling eraser. Mention too is made of black powder and its more modern substitutes. Although perhaps not likely to interest many NZDA members, black powder has been around for a lot longer than New Zealand has been known to Europeans and so captures the attention of those with an eye for history. The book then explores briefly the techniques of metallic ammunition reloading, noting the range of propellants available and some of their characteristics. Covering all of the powders currently manufactured, the loading data is very comprehensive, being presented in tabular form. It features well over 5,000 loads with the latest information on 30 Hodgdon, 19 IMR and 10 Winchester brand powders. Rifle chamberings run from the .17 Ackley Hornet through to the .50 BMG. Handgun data starts with the .22 Remington Jet, extending to the .500 S&W Magnum. Throughout, it might be expected that Hodgdon propellants might dominate, but the reality is a wide range of suitable propellants are cited as appropriate, for loadings in approximately 118 rifle cartridge combinations (this is a weasel way of saying data for chamberings like .45-70 are offered in rifles of three action strengths). All in all, a pretty good $20.00 worth in my view.
When you leave me, can you leave me, where the big trees bend and sigh. Where theres birdsong in the morning, and a river running by. Ill find a big rock overhand, enough to keep my dry. With a gap or two, amongst the trees, so I can see the sky. When you leave me, can you leave me with a breeze upon my cheek. Where the crystal clear bush water, murmurs gently in the creek. Ill hope the place you leave me, will have leaves to make my bed. And if Im in luck therell be, a mossy bank to lay my head. When you leave me, can you leave me, with a billy-can or two. And a heap of dry red totara chips, so I can make a brew. Ill live in hope a robin, might just visit now and then. With just maybe a verse or two, still flowing from my pen.
When you leave me, can you leave me, with my rifle by my side. Just in case a pig or deer, should pass by, close to where I hide. Ill keep a pile of dry manuka, handy if I can. And I hope therell be the smell of bacon, frying in the pan. When you leave me, can you leave me, where Ill hear a morepork call. Where maybe therell be a trout of two, below a waterfall. I hope that when you leave me, my mind is crystal clear. So I can see picture faces, of the ones that I hold dear. Any my mind will bring me visions, of wonders I have seen. Distant memories stirring lightly, of the places I have been. Then Ill settle down and make the most, of everything Ive got. And you can rest contented, Ill be happy with my lot.
43
POINTS Of ENVY
WInnInG he ADs nATIOnAl AnTler,

hOrn AnD TusK COMpeTITIOns 2011
KeI Th sev erI nsO n TrO phy Bes T FIO rDl AnD Typ e Dee r
Burn. T im F l o we r, Wa ik a t o B r a n c h , 2 6 6 D S , t a ke n a t S t in a
The animal was bugling on a ridge and I managed to sneak in and shoot it.
COO K TrO phy - Bes T TAh r AnD WIn ner OF GOl D MeD Al .79 ), taken in the Poreroa Gorge.
anch, 46, (DS equivalent 353 Matthew Black ( junior member), South Canterbury Br
I came around the side of the hill into a gully, spotted the bull 200 metres away and
shot it with my second shot while it was on the move.
44
puT Aru ru BrA nCh TrO phy Bes T unD rAW n pIG Tus Ks AnD WIn ner OF A BrO nZe MeD Al
a k a i a R i ve r. Glenn Ralston, Ashburton Branch, 23, taken at the R
I had already taken four good pigs for the morning, and was on the way to a bail, when
I shot this one sneaking out. I was wrapped with the jaw.
DIl lOn shI elD Bes T DrAWn pIG Tus. Ks River

t 303.67), taken at the Rakaia Glenn Ralston, Ashburton branch, 29, (DS equivalen
a steep face. I snuck in close through I finally took this boar after the dogs and I losing it twice before. The dogs bailed it on with a head shot. He weighed in at 153 lbs.
thick scrub and took him
45
ON TARGET
On TArGeT
nOrTh IslAnD ChAMpIOnshIps (sCOpeD rIFle) 2011
By Malcolm Perry, Rotorua and South Waikato Branches The South Waikato Branch hosted the championships on November 26th and 27th 2011 at the Tokoroa Sporting Shooters Range Complex. Entries were again disappointing, but we did have two juniors take part in the rimfire event. This year we did not have top ten awards as we have done during the last two years. We did not even have ten entries and there were only just ten for the main awards. This matter will be discussed at the shooters meeting at the nationals to try and reach a proposal that will suit the fewer entries we are experiencing recently. Apart from that, the weekend went well and as is often the case, we had more wind for rimfire than centrefire. It was good to see our competitor from Whangarei and the junior entry from Taupo making us very aware of their presence. Sunday saw the 100 metre four position centrefire match. In spite of the low turnout the weekend was very enjoyable. The fellowship amongst the shooters was great and in spite of the low numbers the competition at times was very close. A big thank you to Sandi Curreen who, even though Colin was unable to attend, came along and did a great job marking targets and posting final scores in very quick time. Score 1498.10 1441.03 1506.03
Grand aggregate winners Bronze: Mike Bailey, Gold: Bryn Blythen, Silver: Brenda Perry.
Rimfire winners 3rd: Mike Bailey, 1st: Brenda Perry, 2nd: Bryn Blythen.
Teams trophy winners Rotorua, (Brenda Perry, Malcolm Perry and Rod Hill)
Rimfire - A Team Brenda Perry, Rod Hill, Malcolm Perry Ian Williamson, John Pearce, Brian Lambert Mike Bailey, Mark Poots, Adian Ralfe Rimfire 50 metre Prone M Poots I Williamson M Bailey R Hill kneeling M Bailey B Blythen B Perry Rimfire 100 metre Prone B Blythen B Perry B Lambert kneeling B Blythen A Ralfe B Perry M Poots Rimfire Aggregate B Perry B Blythen M Bailey
Branch Rotorua South Waikato Taupo
Centrefire winners 2nd: Mark Poots, 1st: Bryn Blythen, 3rd: Ian Williamson.
Centrefire - A Team Brian Lambert, Ian Williamson, John Pearce Rod Hill, Malcolm Perry, Brenda Perry Mike Bailey, Mark Poots, Adian Ralfe Centrefire 100 metres Prone B Perry I Williamson B Blythen kneeling B Perry B Blythen J Stick Centrefire Total B Blythen M Poots I Williamson Grand Aggregate Rimfire and Centrefire B Blythen B Perry M Bailey A Grade - Grand Aggregate B Blythen B Perry M Bailey Branch South Waikato Rotorua Taupo Score 1045.20 1041.23 1506.03
99 98 98 98 94 94 92
Standing R Hill B Perry M Poots Total R Hill B Perry M Bailey M Poots Standing B Perry B Blythen M Bailey Total B Perry B Blythen M Bailey
85 83 82
273 272 270 270
100.04 99.03 98.07 97.03 93.02 93.00
Standing B Perry B Blythen I Williamson Sitting B Lambert J Pearce J Stick
85.00 80.00 79.00 97.02 96.02 95.03 Score 365.12 359.09 358.04 Score 892.18 885.15 875.02 Score 892.18 885.15 875.05
98.06 95.04 92.02 86.00 86.00 85.01 85.01
84.00 77.00 77.00 264.05 261.06 251.00 Score 536.05 527.06 521.00
B Grade (Rimfire only) Adian Ralfe D Grade (Rimfire only) Jamie Ralfe Juniors (Rimfire Only) Adian Ralfe Jamie Ralfe J Stick M Perry B Lambert A - Team Trophy Rotorua Team South Waikato Team Rimfire 1498.10 1441.03 Centrefire 1041.23 1045.20
Score 471 Score 225 Score 471 225 804.07 794.08 783.10 Total 2539.33 2486.23
North Island Sooting Trophy - Grand Aggregate B Blythen B Perry M Bailey North Island Rimfire Shooting Trophy - Grand Aggregate B Perry B Blythen M Bailey North Island Centrefire Shooting Trophy - Grand Aggregate B Blythen M Poots I Williamson North Island Ladies Trophy B Perry
Score 892.18 885.15 875.02 Score 536.05 527.06 521.00 Score 365.12 359.09 358.04 Score 885.15
2012 nOrTh IslAnD BenChresT ChAMIOnshIp

Hosted by the South Waikato Branch on 28th and 29th January 2012 at the Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex. LV Grand Aggregate 1 Graeme Smith 2 Peter Haxell 3 Alan West 0.3343 0.3467 0.3799 HV Grand Aggregate 1 Graeme Smith 2 Mark Layland 3 Tony Titheridge 0.3778 0.4034 0.4078 2 Gun Aggregate 1 Graeme Smith 2 Peter Haxell 3 Tony Titheridge 0.3561 0.3805 0.4351
2012 nATIOnAl ChAMpIOnshIps

NRA Rimfire 50m Prone G Botting 381.12 R Hill 380.17 M Bailey 375.09 NRA 100m Centrefire Prone G Botting 200.08 M Poots 200.04 C Curreen 199.08 Rimfire 50m Prone (10 Shot) M Bailey 99 G Botting 99 B Lambert 99 Rimfire 100m Prone (10 Shot) B Blythen 95.03 M Bailey 95.02 H Heard 91.00 NRA Rimfire 50m Stand M Bailey 339.03 R Hill 331.04 G Botting 318.00 NRA 100m Centrefire Stand C Curreen 184.02 M Bailey 180.01 R Hill 173.01 Rimfire 50m Stand (10 Shot) M Bailey 85 R Hill 81 B Blythen 80 Rimfire 100m Stand (10 Shot) M Bailey 84.00 B Blythen 79.00 A Ralfe 77.01 NRA Rimfire 50m kneel R Hill 372.06 G Botting 367.09 M Bailey 360.06 NRA 100m Centrefire kneel C Curreen 198.06 G Botting 197.03 M Bailey 196.04 Rimfire 50m kneel (10 Shot) R Hill 94 B Blythen 92 M Poots 90 J Pearce 90 Rimfire 100m kneel (10 Shot) B Blythen 92.01 M Bailey 86.00 G Botting 84.00 M Poots 84.00 NRA Rimfire 50m Total R Hill 1083.34 M Bailey 1974.18 G Botting 1066.21 NRA 100m Centrefire Total C Curreen 581.16 M Bailey 574.12 M Poots 560.04 Rimfire 50m Total (10 Shot) M Bailey 271 R Hill 271 B Blythen 269 Rimfire 100m Total (10 Shot) B Blythen 266.04 M Bailey 265.02 G Botting 245.01
2 Gun Event NRA Rimfire & Centrefire
200m Prone (60 Shot) M Poots 599.43 C Curreen 595.29 G Botting 588.24 Rimfire Grand Agg 50 and 100m M Bailey 536.02 B Blythen 535.04 R Hill 513.00 Rimfire Grade Medal Placings B - A Ralfe 479.01 C - H Orr 425.01 D - P Chubb 399.01 Short F Class 100m A West D Maisey H Orr 314 312 280
Centrefire 200m Prone (10 Shot) M Poots 100.05 G Botting 98.02 M Bailey 98.01 Centrefire Grade Medal Placings B - A Ralfe C - H Orr D - P Chubb
Short F Class 100 & 200 Grand Agg
D Maisey A West H Orr
612 610 555
Centrefire 100m Stand (10 Shot) I Williamson 87.01 C Curreen 87.00 M Bailey 85.02 Centrefire 200m Stand (10 Shot) M Poots 86.01 C Curreen 86.00 J Pearce 83.00 Centrefire Veterans M Perry B Neckelson B Lambert H Heard M Bailey 507.08 505.09 473.06 501.05 85.02
Metallic Silhouette (80 Shot) S Smith 61 B Perry 59 B Blythen 55 Rimfire Veterans B Lambert B Neckelson Rimfire Teams Taupo - A Team South Waikato Taupo - B Team Short F Class 200m D Maisey A West H Orr 458.00 436.00 1547.04 1418.02 1297.01 300 296 275
Ladies Records NRA 100m Centrefire
Centrefire 100m kneel (10 Shot) G Botting 98.04 C Curreen 96.01 B Blythen 92.02 Centrefire 200m Sit (10 Shot) C Curreen 97.07 B Blythen 95.02 I Williamson 94.00
M Bailey R Hill G Botting
1648.30 1623.49 1623.32
Centrefire 100m Prone (10 Shot) G Botting 100.08 B Blythen 99.04 C Curreen 99.03
Centrefire Teams Taupo South Waikato Rotorua Rimfire 50 and 100m H Heard Centrefire 100m Total C Curreen G Botting I Williamson Centrefire 200m Total M Poots C Curreen G Botting
1623.38 1572.24 1523.24 454.00 282.04 274.13 274.06 277.08 277.06 270.05
Centrefire Grand Agg 100 and 200m Total C Curreen 559.1 G Botting 544.18 M Poots 544.11 Centrefire 100 and 200m H Heard 482.05 200m Prone (60 Shot) H Heard 575.15 Metallic Silhouette B Perry H Heard M Poots (80 Shot) 59 30 544.11
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48
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NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The ulTIMATe FIrsT DATe

Kylie and her first trout fishing experience

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

Glenn posing with his weekend trophy

The happy couple on their wedding day

Designed by hunters for hunting

Available from all leading local sports and outdoor stores

neW ZeAlAnD WIlD GAMe AnOTher AspeCT

A set of antlers from a Carpathian stag, Poland

Hunt Stewart Island

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

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

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

hunTInG queenslAnD reDs

Typical Brisbane Valley hunting country

Ken Barrows first stag of the hunt, a 10-pointer

Steve and his 11-point Red stag

Water Transfer Printing Specialists

Complete Camouflage and gun detailing

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

Short F Class Junior: Grant Piper

TAKe A KID hunTInG

Jayden and Natasha Lehmstedt, Big

The participants gathered for the prize giving

The playground that the

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

YOUNG DEERSTALkER PROfILE

Fallow buck, DS 171, 7th place, Otago Branch competition

Regans goat, 1st place, Otago Branch competition

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

Baxter Kemp, with a Fallow spiker shot at

The pOOr MAns pIKAu

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

Measures more than just distance.

For further information, please visit www.leica-sportoptics.com

NZ Hunting & Wildlife 176 - Autumn 2012

The ArChery DIreCT neW ZeAlAnD BOWhunTers sOCIeTy 2012 TOurnAMenT.

Scoring a 3D target (2011)