N E W S L E T T E R O F H A S T I N G S B R A N C H O F T H E N Z D A I N C . O C T O B E R 2 0 1 2 | I S S U E 1 0

PRESIDENTS REPORT

Gidday all, Well that was a bit of a speedy month. Is it just me or is it the older you get the faster time goes? I suppose having my 40th birthday in the middle of it just made me feel old! Hunting certainly went on the back burner though. The boss has told me with three growing girls our house is now too small and we need to get a bigger one so there has not been a free minute to pursue other sports that don’t involve either a paintbrush or power tool!I did finally get my 243 back though. Rob Underwood has done a great job bedding the stock and I will soon get into putting the finishing touches in with load development and the like. Come hell or high water I will be putting my name down for the fly in trip coming up this December to the Ruahines.

From the Committee table we continue to press on with the analysis of the data obtained from the Sika tracking collar jointly purchased by the club last year. The Hastings Branch has secured funding from National to study the data but we are still waiting to procure the required software to do so. We need to become either a Charity or a NPO to get the discount rate ($9,500.00 discount!) so we will be pushing hard to get this sorted. Cont. pg. 2

Coming Events are the Taruarau shoot will be the 4th of November. Hopefully those of you who regularly attend will not be waiting for the newsletter as I guess it will get to you after the event! Neil MacLean is running another junior shoot at his place on Shandley Rd the next Sunday (11th Nov) too. Our next club hunt will be on Tataraakina over the 23rd – 25th of November so those of you keen may want to get in touch with Malcolm Ingpen. Also see Mal to put your name forward for the fly in trip into the Ruahines and lastly the E Richards will be shot at Ben Lomond Station in early December.

We plan to have a early start in December too for the club night as we will do a pre-Christmas BBQ with guest speaker Rob Beard from wild game salamis. Maybe we can twist his arm for some of his latest fare, Chorizo sausages.

Anyway that’s enough from me. Looking forward to seeing you next club night.

Hot barrels, James

EVENTS CALENDAR NOVEMBER 2012

Club Night Wednesday 7th November. Dan Herries from DOC on the Sika tracking

Taruarau shoot 4th of November

Junior ShootNeil MacLean is running another junior shoot at his place on Shandley Rd 11th of November

Committee meeting Wednesday 26th November at 8pm

Tataraakina Club Trip 23rd - 25th November. 6 Blocks and approx. $100pp. Contact Malcolm 06 8787795 / 0276227125

UP COMING EVENTS

Fly-in trip Ruahines 6,7,8,9th of Dec. Huts booked Ikawatea Forks, Rockslide Bivvy, Ruahine Corner, Kylie Bivvy Contact Malcolm 06 8787795 / 0276227125

South Island Tahr tripNow looking at spring. Contact James 06 8765334 / 0272965523

DISCLAIMER As the contents of this newsletter have come from various sources, the opinions or ideas expreessed are not necessarily endorsed by our executive or by nationals, nor may they conform to branch or national policy.

Don’t miss the December club night Christmas BBQ...

THE DEERSTALKER

COMMITTEE OFFICERS

Patron ..................... Max Motley

President ................ James Guildford 876 5334

Vice President ........ Malcolm Ingpen 878 7795

Treasurer ................ Neil Maclean 8743 018

Secretary ................ Angus Richards 876 2742

Newsletter Editor ... Tom Allan - ‘Band’ 833 6671

HALL CONTACTS

Hall Bookings ......... Guy Te Kahika 879 9598

Groundsman .......... Grant Richards 878 4467

Trophy Custodian .. Graeme Withey 878 6161

Hall Caterer ............ Brian Salisbury 02121350027

HASTINGS DEERSTALKERS BRANCH CLUBROOMS1534 Maraekakaho Road, Bridge Pa, PO Box 2155, Stortford Lodge, Hastings Phone 06 879 9396

EMAIL: hastings_nzda@xtra.co.nz

VISIT: nzdahastings.org.nz

Gizzy goldBy Nick Kirk

Being winter we had a bit of cabin fever so we missioned it up to Gizzy with no expectations...... my mate Luke and I left Friday morning for a long weekend - loaded the motorbike on along with my GWP pup named ‘Spy’ which I was keen to give a run.

On the Friday arvo we made camp and had a good look around the block which was mostly pines. We were hunting together and working out how to use my recently purchased GPS when a nice fat hind appears out of a scrubby gut. Luke offered the shot to me but I had just unloaded - Luke quickly dispatched the hind with his .308 behind the shoulder and we had a nice meat animal on the board. Spy did a great job tracking right to it - her first deer!

On the Saturday we hunted ‘hard out’ all day on the motorbike ‘haha’ and never saw anything so back to camp cooked a good dinner and settled in for a few beers.

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THE DEERSTALKER October 2012 | Issue 10 // Page 4

HAMILLS STORY COMPETITION WIN A CHOPPER RIDE - WRITE A YARN!

‘The fishing and hunting specialists’106 Nelson St South, Hastings. 06 878 7177 www.hamillsonline.co.nz

Come Sunday we were going to bail home as it was a bit of a miserable day but I was still hoping to shoot something so we went for a walk along a stream bed, we split up and were stalking about 50 meters apart. Only 10 minutes from camp Spy started winding - shortly after I glanced up to my right and we could both see a good looking stag. I couldn’t get Luke’s attention to say I had a clear shot, so I just let rip with the 7mm08 giving everyone a hell of a fright!

The others recovered and we walked over together to see what I had shot - we put Spy on the case again and she led us straight to the stag... Awesome a nice massive bodied 13pt Red!! We cut it up and I carried the back legs and Luke had the head and backsteaks.

What an epic mid-winter trip!!

TATARAAKINA CLUB HUNT REPORT Malcolm Ingpen

Everyone met up at my place on Friday lunchtime all packed and ready to go on the annual Tataraakina club hunt. From my house we drove to the Waipunga bridge on Tataraakina Rd only to find it locked. Bugger!

The only way across was to ford the river in our vehicles, which was a bit hairy at times but we all made it through and on to our blocks.

We split up into 5 groups with Tabletops, Maungawhio, Short Rd, Bakers Hut and Raroa Hut. We put down a quick brew on arrival then were off with a few keen guys raring to get into an evening hunt. Overall the wind was pretty strong but most guys were able to at least see a deer. Ben Humphrey was able come back with a yearling from the Short Rd block and a junior had a moment to remember by shooting his first deer over on Bakers. Well done!

Saturday arrived with even more wind but the boys still got out keen as ever to battle the conditions. Mother nature won this round though as only a few shots were fired, with none connecting. That night the rain came down, and up went the river making for a hasty retreat on Sunday morning.

It was still a good weekend had by all though, it was just a pity the weather did not play nice but you can’t just order that can you!

SIKA TRACKING PROJECT Our stag’s data unfortunately was corrupt but we have been supplied with another set from DOC to use. We still also plan to gather a much larger data set by sharing with both DOC and other collar purchasers.

I have had a few queries as to exactly what the Sika Tracking collar data is (and is not) going to be used for. I must admit we did not define any clear objectives as to exactly what outcomes our club wanted to take from the purchase of the tracking collar and some of the stories I here are a bit silly.

Ultimately we as a club want to learn more about Sika and their day-to-day lives for the purpose of being able to hunt them more effectively. DOC will expect similar objectives from the data but will be DOC outcome focussed, not recreational hunter focussed. This is why we cannot just piggyback DOC and need to do this ourselves. Its probably best I leave it for Dan Herries from DOC to explain as he will be coming to talk this coming club night to give us a heads up on how DOC will be using the data and where we will need to take the initiative. James

BOUNDARY FENCEGrant Richards has made some excellent progress with the rear boundary fence and I was hoping those of you who can, will be able to pitch up ½ an hour early to the next club night. We need to roll up all the unused wire and a handful of waratahs before they get lost in the new grass. James

WIN AN ISUZU D-MAX

Hidden somewhere in the New Zealand bush are two all new Isuzu D-Max utes – one in the North Island and one in the South. Now Davey Hughes is going to help you find them. Look out for clues and if you’re the first one to the hiding spot, the all new Isuzu D-Max is yours. But to join the hunt you’ve got to sign up first. Watch Davey: Bone up on your hunting skills with one of the best in the business – Davey Hughes. Check in every week for a new video to help you track down the all new Isuzu D-Max. Win weekly prizes: Answer the question from Davey at the end of each video to be in to win cool prizes. Week 1 prize: Win A $2,500 PGG Wrightson Voucher

Check out: http://hunt.isuzuutes.co.nz

NZDA

EDITORS CORNERSome of you must be getting out and about... please flick in a pic or 3, and send in a yarn when you have a good outing - it would be much appreciated! Good luck to those who have applied for ballot’s - next year I’ll make sure NZDA give us a heads up so I can get it in the newsletter before they close!

Please email any pics you get to me, tom@band.net.nz - any shots not used in the newsletter will be uploaded to the website gallery.

Get amongst it! Feedback is always welcome - Cheers Tom

NOTICE BOARD & WEBSITE BLOGWWW.NZDAHASTINGS.ORG.NZ

2013 BALLOT BLOCKS

WAPITI BALLOT: Closed 14 October 2012. HAAST ROAR BLOCK BALLOT: Closed on 2 November 2012. LEITHEN & WAIKAIA ROAR BALLOT: Closed on 31 October GREENSTONE/CAPLES RECREATIONAL HUNTING AREA (RHA): There is one ballot draw for April/May each year (the ROAR) and one for June to September. Ballot applications are accepted in November and February for the respective ballot periods. Ballots are allocated with up to four hunters per block for a maximum of five days. For further information contact: DOC Wakatipu phone 03 442 7933 wakatipuareaoffice@doc.govt.nz HOOKER-LANDSBOROUGH AND ADAMS TAHR BALLOT: Information packs for the 2013 ballot will not be available for issue until after 1 December 2012. Hunters are asked not to request information packs until after that date.

NZDA SHOOTING CALENDAR OCTOBER 2012

Pacific Regional Shooting Championships Training Match 13 and 14 October 2012, Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex, Newell Road, Tokoroa. Saturday - 120 Shot R/F 3P @ 50m. Sunday - 60 Shot C/F 4P @ 100m. Contact: Colin & Sandi Curreen: 07 886 4090 or Malcolm Perry - Ph/Fax: 07 348 4473 Central Regional Champs Rotorua Range, 20 and 21 October 2012 Mead Road, Rotorua. Saturday - 60 Shot R/F 3P @ 50 & 100m. Sunday - 60 Shot C/F 4P @ 100 & 200m

Contact: Malcolm Perry - Ph/Fax: 07 348 4473 OR Malcolm Perry - Ph/Fax: 07 348 4473 POISONING OPERATIONS

RUAPEHU DISTRICT, RAETIHI BUFFER using bait stations commencing on or about October and to be concluded about January 2013. For further information contact Kevin Nattersby 0274 535 114

LEGAL BUT NOT LOGICAL Brought to you by Stichbury Automotive A young Law student, having failed his Law exam, goes up to his crusty old professor, who is renowned for his razor-sharp legal mind.

Student: “Sir, do you really understand everything about this subject?”

Professor: “Actually, I probably do. Otherwise I wouldn’t be a professor, would I?”

Student: “OK. So I’d like to ask you a question. If you can give me the correct answer, I will accept my marks as it is. If you can’t give me the correct answer, however, you’ll have to give me an “A”

Professor: “Hmmmm, alright. So what is the question?”

Student: “What is legal but not logical, logical but not legal, and neither logical nor legal? “

The professor wracks his famous brain, but just can’t crack the answer. Finally he gives up and changes the student’s failing mark into an “A” as agreed, and the student goes away, very pleased.

The professor continues to wrack his brain over the question all afternoon, but still cannot get the answer. So finally he calls in a group of his brightest students and tells them he has a really, really tough question to answer: “What is legal but not logical, logical but not legal, and neither logical nor legal? “

To the professor’s surprise (and embarrassment), all the students immediately raise their hands.

“All right” says the professor and asks his favorite student to answer “It’s quite easy, sir” says the student “You see, you are 75 years old and married to a 30 year old woman, which is legal, but not logical. Your wife has a 17 year old lover, which is logical, but not legal. And your wife’s lover failed his exam but you’ve just given him an “A”, which is neither legal, nor logical.

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THE DEERSTALKER Issue 10 // Page 3 // Page 2THE DEERSTALKER October 2012

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DOC UPDATES

Wild Animal Recovery Operator Sentenced - 24 September 2012:

A Central Otago helicopter company and hunter were sentenced in the Queenstown District Court today on charges relating to illegal hunting in Hawea Conservation Park. P G Limited (based in Luggate) was fined $4,600 for illegal landing of a helicopter and hunting in breach of its wild animal recovery concession on 5 December 2010. The company was ordered to pay costs of $1,500 towards the prosecution. Company employee and Wanaka resident, Carlin Angus Gordon, was fined $2,100 for illegal hunting of deer in the same incident and also ordered to pay costs of $1,500. For mre visit www.nzdahastings.org.nz