A group of 10 trainee hunters got a lot out of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association HUNTS Gisborne course which culminated in a successful weekend hunt where they got to put into practice their newly learned skills.
A group of 10 trainee hunters got a lot out of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association HUNTS Gisborne course which culminated in a successful weekend hunt where they got to put into practice their newly learned skills.
A Gisborne training course provided by the Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) achieved its aim for 10 people and organisers are keen to make it an annual offering.
Over four weekends, the new hunters took part in the course, which included firearms safety and useful, tips on how to hunt biggame, bushcraft and river safety.
It culminated with a successful hunting weekend.
Course organiser and instructor Mike Spray said it provided the trainees with the knowledge and skills to become safe and proficient hunters.
“Tairawhiti has a strong hunting culture and the region is fortunate to have an abundance of game animals available for harvest.
“There are opportunities in the region to obtain permission and permits to hunt on both private and public land. This also assists landowners in managing game animal numbers on their land.”
The course was delivered by qualified NZDA Hunts instructors.
“These instructors volunteer their time and they are extremely passionate about teaching new hunters important knowledge and skills,” Spray said.
“We are also very grateful to those who provided support by assisting with the delivery of the course, and a special thanks to the local landowner who provided a hunting area with ample game for the trainees to hunt.”
The course included theory and practical activities such as knowledge of ethics and regulations, backcountry travel, bushcraft, river safety and navigation skills, firearms safety and shooting skills, hunting techniques and processing game meat.
The NZDA course included things like ethics and regulations, backcountry travel, bushcraft, river safety and navigation skills, firearms safety and shooting skills, hunting techniques and processing game meat.
“The full range of topics provided the trainees with the necessary skills to hunt safely, ethically and successfully.”
An emphasis was put on firearms and hunter safety.
“Unfortunately, firearms incidents causing injury and death do occur from time to time and it is important that all firearms users have knowledge and comply with basic rules of firearms safety,” Spray said
“Trainees are taught that the need to always be safe with firearms is paramount.”
The final weekend of the course allowed the trainees to spend two nights in the field hunting deer and wild goats, and they put into practice the skills they learned.
“It is so rewarding to see a trainee use their newly learnt skills to harvest their first game animal and then process it for the freezer and their family,” Spray said.
“It is our intention to offer this course annually. A course was held in 2023 and this year’s course proves that there is genuine interest and demand.”
To find out more about HUNTS, go to the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association website: deerstakers.org.nz
