Woodville community ready for annual possum hunt

The children who entered the annual possum hunt last year were delighted with the Hunting and Fishing beanies they received for entering.

Woodville's Possum Hunt and Gala has almost arrived with just days to sign up for what will be the seventh annual hunting event.

Event organiser Brett Mead said this year's hunt was set to be another "community driven event" for those near and far who loved to hunt possums.

"It's an event to fund agriculture projects for the Kumeroa Hopelands School, all the money goes to the kids to use for vege gardens, sports groups, worm farms and green houses."

The hunt, which would involve shooting and trapping as many possums as possible from July 7 to July 16, already had more than 60 adults and children signed up.

Mr Mead said while most of the entrants were local people, there were a few out-of-towners in the mix.

Teams of four were able to enter for $50 and individual junior hunters 13-years-old and under paid $10 each.

Mr Mead said there was more than $3000 worth of prizes up for grabs, including the major spot prize of a family getaway at Remote Adventures in Wanganui.

Judged at the Kumeroa/Hopelands School on July 16, first, second and third places would be given to both the adult team and junior individual who caught the most possums, as well as a heaviest possum award for a team and junior entrant.

Mr Mead said there would be a gala held, at the school, at the end of the possum hunt.

"They'll be sausages, hamburgers, drinks, the gumboot throw, claybird shooting and all sorts," Mr Mead said.

Sponsored by Dannevirke Hunting and Fishing, the event was set to catch hundreds of possums considered pests, Mr Mead said.

"Pending the weather, a year can land 180 odd possums in total, however one year we got 600.

"A lot of the kids will end up trapping possums and checking them in the mornings."

Mr Mead said along with the money fundraised for the school, the fur from the possums caught was also plucked and sold to boost the funds.

"If you have 600 possums that might make up 30kg of possum fur which may work out to $3000," he said.

The gala will be held from 11am to 2pm on July 16 at Kumeroa Hopelands School with possum hunt entries closing at 12pm and the prizegiving held at 1pm.

Anyone wanting more information about attending the gala or registering for the possum hunt can email Brett Mead on jackie_brett@msn.com or call Brett on 06 376 4611.