Innehållsförteckning för Issue 98 från NZ Hunter

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE How To Dougal was showing me around the block, and in typical Taranaki fashion the weather was wet and windy. Our first hunt had us working our way through the flat country between the Okahu and Oaonui streams, keikei and supplejack grabbing and trying to trip with every step It wasn't long before Dougal's dog Jess opened up with a good bail, and as we worked our way through the myriad of swamps and tangled bush to secure my first tail, I was hooked. We were expected to spend extended periods in the bush, follow the rules, dispatch as many animals as possible, submit the tails, and hunter's diary, and get paid for it. What more could I ask for? “Professional hunting” or “hunting for a living”…

During the last few hours of the hike, the weather had really packed in; we were a couple of drowned rats by the time we made it to Ranger Biv. Upon arrival, we were underwhelmed, as it wasn't in great nick. A leaky roof had led to pools of yellow-tinted water on rubber mattress toppers stretched between rotting boards. An old poem was written on the wall suggesting that the local mouse population may have contributed to the yellow tinge. One of the beds was crammed under the other, providing just enough room to slip a bedroll underneath – there would be no rolling around in the night for the unlucky loser of paper scissors rock. The open fireplace gave the biv a nice indoor-outdoor flow, letting in enough wind…

With little or no guiding activity since late March 2020, no AATH, and limited recreational access due to Covid there was potential for some big bulls and bulls that had not seen much hunting pressure. With DOC cull numbers on females and juveniles passing 35,000 there was potential (that word again) to find more than one bull working any nannies – the trick was to find the nannies. Find the nanny groups and the bulls had to be present. WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS AND WHY SHOULD THEY BE IMPORTANT? To be brutally honest, no one really knows the numbers. No one knew how many tahr there were when the culls began and no one knows how many there are now. Counting tahr to a meaningful degree of accuracy has proven…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE How To Price Basin is one of the truly remote alpine huts in central Westland. Access on foot from any direction takes a minimum of three days by a fit experienced party. There are no tracks into the basin and all approaches involve moderately difficult alpine crossings or routes. At the end of the basin the Price River drops down a series of spectacular waterfalls and impassable gorges to the Whitcombe Valley. The surrounds are majestic and rugged and there's a true feeling of isolation to the place. An old notebook kept at the hut chronicles in less than 20 pages all the visits from 1967 to 1996. The first few entries are exclusively those of NZFS deer cullers. After they were pulled out at the start…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Testfire THE HANDHELD – ALPHA 300I The 200 was a vast improvement on the Alpha 100, but the 300 is more like an update. It has the same body, but vast improvements in technology. As with the 200, the ‘i’ designation stands for InReach. Meaning you can purchase a cheaper unit without the InReach satellite messaging functionality. I can't recommend it highly enough though. Almost all of our hunting is out of cellphone reception and we use InReach all the time, be it for messaging each other or home. The 300 series has moved to a USB-C charger, as opposed to the Micro-USB in the 200. This is a more widely available charger and is quicker. Unfortunately they still have the charger sticking out the back, not…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Testfire Swarovski's CL pockets have set the gold standard for mini binoculars for many years now Originally produced in 8x25 and 10x25, the Pockets are of the double hinge design where the barrels fold up next to each other, to provide the most compact unit when not in use. They are centre focus, with the focusing knob in the usual place. The dioptric correction is underneath the front of the hinge bridge. They have Swarovski's twist out eyecups, and are finished with the usual mix of anodised alloy and rubber armouring. Close focussing to 2.5 metres is an advantage in some of the situations these mini binos will get used for. They come in the classy Swarovski cordura pouch including a simple webbing neck strap. They are…

The NEXEN Roadian MTX features a dual ‘Beast’ or ‘Machine’ sidewall design that allows you to customise the look of your vehicle. There are nineteen sizes available for rim diameter 15” to 22”. To grab yours go to NEXEN.CO.NZ and find your local NEXEN Point Dealer. www.nexen.co.nz HIKMICRO HABROK HQ35LN THE HIKMICRO HABROK HQ35LN BINOCULARS REPRESENT A BREAKTHROUGH IN THERMAL IMAGING AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY, IDEAL FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS AND PROFESSIONALS ALIKE. The Habrok's advanced thermal imaging capabilities are highlighted by its sub-20mK NETD sensor, which ensures sharp and detailed images. Designed to mimic traditional optical binoculars, the Habrok is intuitive and accessible for users of all experience levels. It boasts 4K high-resolution day vision, fully focusable 2560x1440px color sensor, delivering vivid, fullcolor images by day and transitioning smoothly to effective…

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NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE How To A SERIES PROFILING A TAHR BALLOT BLOCK EACH ISSUE The head basin is stunning and further down the valley the travel is problematic, with a nasty lower gorge that few people bother to try and traverse on foot. This valley has seen a fair bit DOC culling as well as the ZIP operation to the south no doubt taking a few more animals. When I was last in there, a couple seasons after Eugene Sage's siege began enmasse, we certainly noticed much lower animal numbers and less distinct tahr trails to follow than we had seen in previous years. That said it's still a stunning place to hunt, with certainly enough animals to keep you interested. There's two landing sites, with the lower giving good access…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Testfire It is a small, portable spotlight producing 1500 lumens in a tightly focused beam that is rated to 1000 yards. It is compact and easily mounted to a rifle. At 7.2” (182mm) long and only 7.8oz (220g) it's very easy to carry, and the belt pouch makes it very simple. The 67mm lens requires a long clamp to mount it to a rifle, but it's worth it for the performance. It uses a rear button for on/off and a momentary half-press for a quick flash. There is a side button to adjust brightness level, this isn't recessed though so I did find myself bumping it occasionally. Fortunately you don't need to cycle through the settings every time you turn it on, it has a memory. A…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Testfire The Modulus is a frame and bag system with three different ‘sac’ options, ranging from 30l, 55l through to 75l all mounted on a frame based on the legendary X1 Bison harness. The Modulus X1 frame is exactly the same as the Bison, except is has been shaved down by about 20mm aside to better cater to the smaller pack sizes offered and it has even more padding on the straps. However, the key feature is the load shelf between the frame and the bags, and this can be used without a bag attached, making it one of the more flexible systems around. You can stow a rifle in here too, either butt down against the shelf (that wants to be a short rifle) or muzzle…

One of my brothers has a string of good mountain horses that can be ridden or packed. Our gear sorted, pack horses loaded, and horses saddled we headed out late in the afternoon One or two horses always want to assert their independence. By the following morning, the kinks are usually worked out, and things tend to go smoothly. A rather tricky trail on a steep, unstable slope beside a deep canyon deters casual users. Above the canyon, much of the trail is washed away by torrential floods. Creek crossings are numerous but not a problem in low water. A sudden heavy rain can make the return trip a different story. Swimming loaded horses across a raging ice-cold mountain steam is not something attempted by choice. Getting the horses through…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Food & Fauna I like the size and functionality and the flexibility to cook ribs standing up or brisket on a shelf, or being able to move the fire up to the top in order to sear meat. I like the flavour profile of charcoal but can add wood for a twist, and I appreciate the ease with which it keeps the heat. I also like the fact that it isn't reliant on electricity. It also allows me to sit and attend to the air flow and spritz while having a craft beer and or a bourbon – a good excuse anyway!! For work I use a Traeger Ironwood 885 as it is easy to set and forget and the consistency it brings means anyone can use…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE How To There are many aspects relevant to planning and preparing for a hunting trip. These include, but are not limited to, weather, camping, navigation, river crossings, clothing, food and equipment, and emergencies preparedness. Specific considerations for these may well differ significantly depending on whether your hunting trip is below or above the bush line where the environments and terrain are very different. Do not underestimate the importance of a dedicated pre-trip planning and preparation phase, as this is the key to having a safe and successful hunting trip. Your considerations should include the purpose of your trip, your fitness, equipment, and that your skills and experience match the environment and terrain you plan to travel. If they don't, consider tagging along with a more experienced party…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE How To After two years of development and at least a few more years in the planning, Better Hunting, the GAC's new free-to-use online hunter education and training platform is up and running. We are pretty proud of it and see it as a bit of a game changer in hunter education and training in New Zealand. Supported through funding from Jobs for Nature and including contributions from 24 other hunting and outdoor sector organisations, Better Hunting provides hunters with free online training on the fundamentals of hunting and hunter safety in New Zealand. It is designed to help both new and experienced hunters learn skills that can assist them to hunt more safely and successfully. 28 individual modules make up the programme and cover important aspects…

GWYN THURLOW – NZDA Wapiti Cervus elaphus nelsoni Male = Bull Female = Cow Young = Calf Widely regarded as the pinnacle of New Zealand hunting, the mighty wapiti (known as elk in North America) are found only in certain areas of Fiordland, where potential expansion is limited due to natural barriers. Every year hunters enter a ballot managed by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, in the dream of getting the chance to secure a bull. Initial Liberations: Wapiti were first introduced to New Zealand in the 1870s on Kawau Island, north of Auckland, and 1880s, near Dunedin. Unfortunately, these attempts resulted in the animals dying soon after release. Years later, in 1905, a total of 20 Wapiti were shipped to New Zealand from the USA. Ten were a gift from the then…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Testfire Having a large, warm, home base at the end of the day is worth a million dollars when you're wet, cold and exhausted. Being able to dry gear and sleep better makes you more effective on the hill, and the social aspect is second-to-none. No more crawling into a sleeping bag and shivering to sleep at 7pm because it's too cold to sit and talk to your mates! We've had a range of canvas offerings in recent years, but the lighter tipi style have only just made an entrance. This 6-person from Points South is a superb example. It's sold me on the style. After three years of prototyping, with input from hunters and tent experts, hundreds of nights in the field and many changes Cam…

NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Testfire I had recently replanted a block of grapevines and one morning I was greeted with a scene of carnage. Shredded plastic spray guards, splintered bamboo stakes and vines chewed right down to bare stumps. The height the bamboo had been chewed led me to think it was probably hares Looking around that evening I saw a couple of likely suspects and managed to get one with my PCP air rifle. A lack of success with spotlight and PCP led to me borrowing a thermal monocular from a friend and that was a bit of a revelation as to how easy it was to spot the various critters running around and how many there were. The number of hedgehogs, rats, mice and hares was rather surprising. Spotting…