Nelson Echo - May 2016 · We!‘boosted!off’!(daughter’sterminology)up!themain!gully!fora!recce.!Itwas Saturdayandthus!not!permittedtohunt,!so!we!went!without!rifles

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Newsletter of Nelson Branch NZDA May 2016 Website: www.nzdanelson.co.nz

President’s Piece Warren filling in again, but with the Annual General meeting later this month, we will soon have a new President reporting to you in June. The Annual General meeting is next Tuesday 24th of May, usual venue, Fish and Game rooms, Champion Road Richmond 7.30pm. This is your chance to have your say, and hopefully contribute to the running of the club. I know everyone is busier these days, but without involvement of more members, we are held back from achieving more and better outcomes for club members. While we are still working on the Range access, the Saturday and Sunday mornings gate openings at 9.00 and 10.30am are working reasonably well, and are being well patronized. A special thanks must go to those members who are giving up their weekends to work on the gate roster. On the hunting front, there were a lot of reports of member’s success this roar, and while I have not heard of any absolute monsters taken locally, there have certainly been some nice ones by Nelson standards, and several quite unique heads with non-‐typical tines. Remember the June meeting is our head measuring night and that we have a trophy for any head taken by a junior member as well as a photography cup. So it’s not too late to get out with your youngsters, to get that photo, goat or whatever to compete on the night. On that note I now have the entry forms for the National competitions in July, so if you need one let me know and I will forward them to you. Regards Warren Check Facebook for Club Updates Website: www.nzdanelson.co.nz


The recurve gathers in some more goat curry after a satisfying stalk into seven metres. (Though I did loose my arrow as it passed straight through and just kept going!) -‐ Greig Caigou.

NEXT CLUB MEETING WHEN: Next Tues; 24 May at 7.30pm

WHERE: Fish and Game rooms – Champion Rd

WHAT: AGM and a good chance to catch up with all hunting done over the roar and start of the game bird season.

NEXT MEETING JUNE 28: Head measuring & photo competition


Well it’s not named Block 69 because there are 69 deer there! For the last several years my mate Vern, daughter Ros, and I have done the “roar thing” in Southland (long but great drive, cool hunting but short period blocks). I decided this year it was time to try again in South Westland. I did this as a novice several years ago and spent six days in the Jerry River block under tarpaulins watching it rain (either pretty hard or very hard and noting that pretty hard seems like drizzle after a couple of days of very hard!) Being put off tents I went in the ballot for blocks with huts, mostly north of the Haast river where checking with mates and chopper guys its seems there is some good hunting as well as some valleys to avoid as pretty poor. I was awarded Block 69 Upper Moeraki which is the top end of the Moeraki River between the Paringa and the Haast. It's surrounded by tops and looks not too steep on a map if looked at casually. A bit of sleuthing about came up with varying comments on the block with some negative, some positive – what the heck, we’re off! Vern was indisposed by Stewart Island plans so just my daughter and I prepped to go. Dodging approximately 359 idiot drivers on Coast highway we arrived at Lake

Moeraki and James Scott, the Karangarua Cab, whisked us up there. We passed over the other blocks and could see deer trails across the swamps in all directions. Unloading a swag of gear we set up house (including, wisely -‐ some coal, dry kindling and a crossword book) Middle Hut

M e m b e r S t o r y


We ‘boosted off’ (daughter’s terminology) up the main gully for a recce. It was Saturday and thus not permitted to hunt, so we went without rifles….”bloody tramping” so described. The 1 & 1 /2 hour trip up to the head of the Moeraki passed a huge old rock bivvy with much sign of previous use and brought two revelations….. we were feeling very unfit and there was more broadleaf about than I had seen anywhere…neither of which were good omens. But heaps of birdlife with flocks of riflemen and tomtits everywhere were some compensation. The valley sides were steeper in real life! The head basin had a huge lovely flat, crystal waters in all directions and not a whisper of deer sign. I finally found a very small wallow with some recent sign but not a dropping of any sort or age anywhere. Some 2-‐3 day old tracks lead off downriver from the wallow. No roars. On return the hut book made for sombre reading, the previous party of four had spent three days in the block, seen neither sign nor deer and left early in disgust and never to return (well if crudely described in the book!) A big day’s rain was forecast two days out so Sunday was recce with rifles this time! The creeks and river bounding each side of the hut meant heavy rain kept you at home and we are both relatively inexperienced in river crossing and knew our limitations. Sunday morning and off up the north leading Pegmatite….rapidly looking like our best (or only) hope… just having a quick look before planning a flycamp up there later in the week. Heavy bush, no sign and leadening skies suggested we give that away early and we re-‐crossed the river and videoed a camera-‐friendly Whio, and had a much needed brew. We then decided to cut a transect straight across the valley to the big southern boundary bluff thinking if any deer were drifting up and down we would cut their trail. Anything for a footprint! In the mire of punga, bogs and crown ferns 5 feet high (nearly), no fresh sign, complete silence, no adrenaline in our veins and I was getting some apprehensive looks from Ros up on point. A sudden thump behind me and about 8 feet off and closing was a stag on the trot. Our eyes met and we both grunted in surprise. His fate depended on his next decision, which was to overtake us on the inside and was wrong. Heart in mouth, I knew Ros had about 1.3 seconds to come to grips with the situation. In 0.74 seconds she banged him hard in the shoulder as he shot past about 6 feet away, followed by a brief mopping up. We imagined it was the only sudden sound heard in the gully for a long time.


We looked at each other and asked “What the hell just happened there!?” It took us a fair bit of wandering slightly off our GPS direction and about three hours to get back to the hut, just in time before the rain hit. With meat hauled back and boots drying, we were still wondering how the whole thing unfolded-‐ and still are -‐ the loneliness must have taken a toll on that bored young stud.

Ros with the ‘Instant’ stag The next days were spent managing the meat (warm NW and heavy rain the issue), trying to get our radio transmitting and doing a Virgo hut clean. Cabin fever set in rather early with an hour spent building a toaster from an old baked-‐bean can and arranging firewood stacks fit for an art museum.

We had an early start with another look in the head valley on a beautiful frosty morning and the place shrieked deer, except for the total lack of them -‐ we trudged home seeing no sign and no feeling in our frosted wet socks.


Eventually, we decided that to save the meat we had and given lack of sign, we would depart early, so we hailed ‘the cab’ on the now working mountain radio (“Try fresh batteries” says Ros wisely!!) Better late than never. We enjoyed the whole experience and we learned that being fit is important, anything can happen anytime, 3.5 seconds can make a day and a trip, and time in the bush is great, regardless of what game you encounter or don't. Oh yeah... and technology can sometimes be as reliable as a 14 pointer climbing out of your long-‐drop.

Radio shack . . . things are finally working!

Thanks to Richard Wells for the story

(Ed. Love that last image . . . I’ve never thought of combining the daily mountain radio call with the call of nature!)

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Huts and Tracks – Good to see the NZDA get a mention in the latest FMC Bulletin Eighteen months in and the Outdoor Recreation Consortium is really hitting its straps with numerous projects coming to fruition. Recent favourites include: CUTC's Avoca Hut project, NZDA -‐ Malvern's Esk River catchment hut portfolio, the University of Otago's Kay Creek Hut project and Roger Woods's Minchin Biv project. All sorts of people and groups doing great work for the future of our backcountry huts. We thank you all on behalf of the next generation. There was also some news on a hut within our Top of the South region that members might want to stride into some day. “On a similar note, the Soper Shelter was officially opened recently. Built by the Golden Bay Alpine and Tramping Club the shelter is a tent camp that replaces the removed Smokey Drip Hut near Lake Stanley. Soper Shelter recognises the contribution of Frank and Berna Soper to the local outdoor community. Frank built Lonely Lake, Trident and Boulder Lake Huts in the 1970's, and they were both influential in campaigning for first North-‐West Nelson Forest Park and then Kahurangi National Park. Frank's speech and Ray Salisbury's video capture the spirit of the day. The FMC Mountain and Forest Trust was very pleased to be able to provide substantial support to this project. There is talk of calling the Waingaro-‐Anatoki loop the Historic Kill Devil Pack Track to promote the great history in this place, including the historic Riordans and Waingaro Forks Hut. It sounds like a great idea. Getting to know a place while sharing the bunks of the pioneers is a powerful experience.”


Battle No 1 To all NZDA Members in the South Island (and North Island Members who hunt in the South Island) Hello All We need YOUR help – to do your bit for public access for current and future generations of recreational hunters in New Zealand. The Tenure Review process (of Crown Pastoral Leases):

• should offer a unique and positive opportunity to maintain or enhance (preferably free) certain and enduring practical public recreational access

• instead, is creating a disappointing legacy of poor public access outcomes (in some cases).

In some cases: • provision for effective, practical public access (including vehicle access and the right to carry a firearm) is worse after Tenure Reviews are complete, than before

• these poor public access provisions (or lack thereof) become legally enshrined.

How can YOU help? -‐ do YOU have specific, first-‐hand knowledge of poor public access outcomes, as a result of Tenure Review. We need YOU to provide this information -‐ so we can catalogue every such example. Don’t worry if you think somebody else may already know about your example – we’d sooner receive information about examples twice, rather than miss one.

B a t t l e s


How can you provide this information? -‐ just send an email to the CRAG Joint Regional Coordinators, [email protected] and [email protected] – and give us brief details of your example. Please include: 1. your contact details – name, email address, telephone number(s) and NZDA Branch (or other organisation) you belong to;

2. name of the Crown Pastoral Lease involved (eg Birchwood Station);

3. pre-‐existing public access (what public access was available BEFORE Tenure Review -‐ ideal or otherwise);

4. public access opportunity (what the desirable public access outcome w/could have been -‐ which just could be maintenance of status quo, or a suggestion for enhancement thereof);

5. actual public access outcome, AFTER Tenure Review. Please provide specific details of public accessways for your example. Ideally, a map would be much appreciated. GPS coordinates would also be useful. Anything to enable us to narrow down and identify the specific location where public access could or should have been provided. If for any reason you don’t provide details – please submit your example anyway – or get somebody else to do it. We’ll come back to you, for more details. The following link should allow you to review the latest LINZ update of Tenure Review status -‐ to jog your memory of affected properties: http://www.linz.govt.nz/system/files_force/media/doc/cp-‐tr-‐status-‐report-‐201603.csv?download=1&download=1 Although we are particularly interested in public recreational hunting access (including vehicle access and the right to carry a firearm) – we also want to hear about other more general public access outcomes (good or bad) after Tenure Review also. Who’s asking -‐ who are "we"? -‐ recently, Bill O'Leary and the National Executive have commissioned a trial of a new initiative within NZDA, to better address public and recreational hunting access issues. This pilot is called the Canterbury Regional Access Group (CRAG) -‐ and has


representatives from North Canterbury, Malvern, Rakaia, Ashburton and South Canterbury Branches. We hope you will hear more about this initiative, in the future. A key issue for recreational hunters -‐ is poor public access (for recreational hunting) after Tenure Review. Tenure Review is a South Island High Country issue (there are no Crown Pastoral Leases in the North Island). Using examples provided -‐ we hope to have an article printed in the media about how Tenure Review is resulting in poor public access outcomes. Please pass this request on to as many NZDA Members – or indeed members of the public and hunters generally -‐ as possible. If you have an example -‐ but don't want to put it in writing -‐ then please explain your example to somebody else, and ask them to forward it on -‐ so it gets captured. PLEASE HELP – AND DO YOUR BIT FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF RECREATIONAL HUNTERS IN NEW ZEALAND. Thank you. Kind Regards, Stewart Hydes ph 03 329 6292 / 021 403 927 (after hours) David Hodder ph 03 339 7038 / 027 616 1290 Joint Coordinators -‐ Canterbury Regional Access Group

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Battle No 2 Battle for our Birds 2016

The recent announcement (7 May) by Minister Maggie Barry that funding had been allocated to combat an anticipated “plague of rats” has serious implications for hunters. Following on from 2014 when the beech mast was believed to be a one in fifteen year event, this announcement is unwelcome.

GAC and NZDA have been kept informed of the growing evidence of beech mast and rodent number increases and the Minister’s announcement was not a surprise though the size of the operational area is staggering.

The proposed operations costing over $20 million will cover 800,000 hectares targeting Fiordland, Otago, South Westland, Kahurangi, the lower North Island, Taranaki and Tongariro.

The operation will involve aerial 1080 (backed by trapping and ground control programmes) and will threaten game animal through by-‐kill and hunting activities for some months after the 1080 drops.

Where to from here?

• We deal with the situation as it is and leave the “what ifs” until a later date. • GAC and NZDA expect to have updated maps available very soon to provide to

branches and branches should study these carefully to determine the extent to which they are affected in local areas.

• Branches can expect to be contacted by local DOC wanting to consult and this should be taken as an opportunity to look at boundaries and to confirm that the operation is targeting rats and mice and therefore will use small baits and lower sowing rates. Any use of big baits will increase the game animal by kill

• NZDA and GAC will be insisting on mitigation for the largest area possible and will be faced with the difficult task of prioritising areas when we have a better idea of what money will be available for mitigation and how far it will stretch.

• Local branches will be asked to “make a case” for mitigation and forward the supporting information to Natex. Bluntly, criteria such as “isolated, boutique, potential HOSI, only hunt able population in the region” are what spring immediately to mind. Further details will be provided as guidance to branches.

Best regards

Bill

National President New Zealand Deerstalker’s Association


NELSON BRANCH NZDA NELSON: Minutes Nelson branch NZDA Tuesday 3rd May 2016, W. Plums home 7.30pm.

Apologies: G Smith, G Ching Present: Warren Plum, Don Harris, Kevin Wilson, Immo Neumann, Bill O'Leary ,Greg Couper, John Noakes, Richard West LAST Minutes. Moved acceptance. passed. W Plum / Bill O'Leary Inward Mail: National Office minutes and news letters,.Tasman Pest control around poison operations in Mid Motueka valley and Murchison South. Outward Mail: Just financial items to accountant Crowe Howarth Financial: Reimbursed G Smith $116.00 dump fees relating to cleaning out Range club house. Paid direct debit $311.76 to Contact for Lodge power. Deposited GST refund $127.36. John Crone had indicated he was close to finishing audit of last years financials. Secretary will follow up with Accountants re provision of this years financials to present at AGM.. Discussed at length the National Office building fund, and agreed Nelson Branch would support. A formal motion was put by Greg Couper that Nelson Branch Donate $5000.00 to the Association, this was seconded by W Plum, and passed unanimously. Other payments moved and accepted. W Plum / John Noakes Range: Don reported on progress towards 2017 Bench rest comp. One load of rubbish had been moved from Club house, and now working on the bottom shed ..Soil still to be moved on Range but hopeful this will occur in a couple of months, contact had been made with earthworks operator. Question asked if we had any back up plan if Suburban club was not available for function? Range Roster. Warren to send out seeking volunteers, Sundays still need to be covered. NOTE Range will be closed over Queens Birthday weekend for Bench rest National ZUPPA shoot 4-5-6 June. Range licence and access issues. Warren to contact Morgan to facilitate another meeting and to attempt to get some movement on these issues. Health & Safety. Noted a shooter had slipped on grass at range and damaged his face. This was covered by ACC and was not something the club could have prevented. No further issues. Range Calendar. No update on whether one is being put together. Red Deer Lodge: Contact had been made by Margaret Anderson of Rural Women St Arnaud branch offering to replace couches and curtains and cushions in the hall with second hand items at no cost, which we gladly accepted.


Membership: NEW Members, Welcome along to Mark Kaveney and son Connor, Caitland Reid, Graham Mahuika, Doug Mcleod ,and current Hunt course members Toby Ben ,Carina Jackson, Trinity Jackson, Hamish Knowles, George Lang, Andrew Payne, Andrew Southwick and Tim Wright. Approved acceptance. W Plum/ D Harris. Club Nights: Disappointing turn out to April club night on Wallaby hunting, with only 4 persons attending. Excellent talk and information, so will advertise again and run again later in the year. Program for following months as follows, May 24th AGM, June 28th Head measuring and Photo comps. July 26th a presentation by Richard on Snares and sub Antartic islands. Club Hunts: Need to follow up and see if a hunt can be arranged. Training: Currently 16 people going through the program. General Business: Completed nomination form for Bill O’Leary to stand as NZDA National President again this year. Re conference: to discuss at next meeting who might go as delegates, at this stage, Richard Wells, and Greg Couper have indicated interest. 15 -17 July at Waipuna Hotel Conference centre, Mt Wellington Auckland. Discussed remits and notices of motion etc, Nelson branch has nothing they wish to put forward this year. Nelson Annual General meeting. May 24th At this stage none of the existing committee members have advised they are not going to stand again, again plea made to involve further members, and asked that anyone who had indicated an interest to a committee member be approached. Meeting closed 9.15pm. Next meeting Tuesday 7th of June, venue to be confirmed but probable at Bill O’Learys Monaco.

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Nelson Branch Committee and Co-‐coordinators ~ Contacts ~

President: Morgan Rogers <[email protected]>> Secretary: Warren Plum ph. 547 9143 <[email protected]> Range: Graeme Ching <[email protected] Club Meetings: Committee Newsletter: Any items for publication please forward to Greig Caigou Ph. (027) 434 7567 or email 2motivate@gmail. com Membership: Graeme Smith ph. 544 7138 <[email protected]> Hunting: John Noakes ph. 0274464413 [email protected] New Members: Warren Plum ph. 547 9143 <[email protected]>

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I was intrigued by the back of this guys T-‐shirt . . . so I looked up the meaning of ‘Interdiction’. FYI This is a military term for the special application of scoped rifles (SASR) against both hard and soft military targets (though this hunter was looking for bull Tahr and Chamois!)

Information on costs and bookings of the Red Deer Lodge at Lake Rotoiti Contact the Calders: [email protected] Use the website at www.starnaudholidaycottages.co.nz saying you’re a member.

Documents

Nelson Echo - May 2016 · We!‘boosted!off’!(daughter’sterminology)up!themain!gully!fora!recce.!Itwas Saturdayandthus!not!permittedtohunt,!so!we!went!without!rifles