December 2011 PRESIDENTS RAMBLE

Gidday

With only a couple of more weeks until Christmas, the pressure is on to get the presents sorted and get some venison for the xmas barbeque, well that’s a good excuse for a hunting trip.

I have just returned from a few days in the Kiamanawas, just me and the dog and although it rained non stop for most of the trip it was still great to be out there doing it. I didn’t encounter one other hunter so they must have been doing the presents!

A big thanks to Gary and the team from Hunting & Fishing who put on an excellent night for us last month where we had a preview of some new products and an informative presentation of the construction of Stanfields Whare and the hunting opportunities in the Kiamanawas in the 1960s, interesting to see the good quality reds that were around at that time.

On behalf of the committee I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and look forward to catching up with you in the New Year.

Please note there will be no Newsletter in January.

Get out there and do it and be safe.

Cheers
Pete

November 2011 PRESIDENTS RAMBLE

Gidday

Well we have got the Cup tucked away for 4 years and now we can concentrate on a bit of hunting! The last 10 minutes of the game was a bit like stalking in on a roaring stag,

November 2010 PRESIDENTS RAMBLE

With the tragic shooting accident that occurred at labour weekend it is timely that we all reflect on our responsibilities as firearms owners and hunters with regard to observing the basic firearms safety rules and also particularly with regard to the circumstances around the accidental shooting, the ethics that we as hunters observe when out hunting. The issue of spotlighting off public roads in public areas and close to public facilities is a behaviour that I would expect NZDA members to condone and not participate in. Unfortunately because NZDA has such a "public" presence the members of the NZDA are tarred with the actions of a number of totally irresponsible "hunters".

As we move into the spring period where hunting activities increase let us all think about this tragic accident and the devastating personal consequenses and focus on our responsibilities as firearms owners and ethical hunters. So follow the rules and enjoy the outdoors.

October's social night had us all gathered at the Hunting & Fishing store in Te Rapa, where Gary, Shane and Richard gave us a run down on whats needed to successfully hunt geese and also bring us up with the latest fishing techniques using soft baits and slow jigs. Plenty of bargains available and with Xmass coming up a couple of "prezzies" such as a new fishing rod/reel for the wife certainly goes down a treat.

WAIKATO DEERSTALKER
December 2011

Coming Events
January
10 Indoor .22 Shoot
24 Indoor .22 Shoot
30 HUNTS course begins
February
11th Douglas Score seminar
12th Killer Run

Monthly Publication of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (Waikato Branch) Inc.

WAIKATO DEERSTALKER is published by: NZ Deerstalkers Assn.(Waikato Branch) Inc. PO Box 4065 Hamilton. Posted or emailed to members every month (except January). Opinions expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by the Branch, its Executive Committee or the National Association. Deadline for submissions - 20th of the month.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR 2010-2011
Patron: Du Bull
President: Pete Evans 07 856 4611
Secretary Vacant
Treasurer: John Wills 07 824 6782
nzda@willsauto.co.nz

Committee
Hunts Coordinator Keith Matthews 824 1705 Trophy Custodian Mark Sarjeant 849 7626
Hunts Instructor Glen Hartstone 824 7318 Range Information Du Bull 847 6209 New Member Host Pete Evans 856 4611 Membership Secretary John Wills 824 6782

October 2010 Presidents Report.

Over the last couple of months we have had two very good social nights, with Dion Patterson giving us an excellent presentation on his many trips to Fiordland providing us with some spectacular footage of the country down that way and also advising on various aspects on what and what not to take. All I can say about Fiordland is "Big Country - Big Challenge and Be Prepared". The ballot applications close 15th October so get in quick if your keen. The other social night we had Shaun and Bob over from Basecamp and they gave us a run down on how they produce their salami's, sausages, patties and other small goods. They also gave an extremely helpful butchery lesson on a set of hind quarters and I certainly learnt a few tips on how to do it properly without "butchering" the meat and learning about the various cuts.

Last weekend a number of us headed down to Taupo for the Sika Show to do our regular stint at measuring the heads. This year there was plenty of measurer's, so we all managed to get to see the show itself and pick up the odd bargain or two. Entries were down this year with the top sika head scoring 198 and the top red was the big one entered earlier at the NZDA Nationals scoring over 450. To me the best red head was a very even 14 red from Gisborne way scoring 390, certainly a top trophy and much better looking than the high scoring one.

2010 National Competition results
Waikato Branch.

Congratulations to the following Waikato members who achieved placings in the NZDA national competition.

Trevor Dobbs 3rd ‘Mel Larritt Trophy’ for Red Deer D.S. 329
Dion Patterson 1st ‘Cliff Marshall Memorial Trophy’ for Sika Deer D.S 160 3/8
Rusty Bird 1st ‘Dillon Shield’ for Drawn pig tusks D.S. 26 ¾
Blake Clinch 2nd ‘Poverty Bay Branch Trophy’ for best game animal by a junior D.S. 313.85
1st ‘Veronese Cup’ for best horned species by a junior D.S 313.85
Mark Sarjeant ‘Norman Douglas Memorial Trophy’ for promotion of the Douglas Score system.
Debbie Hartstone 1st ‘W H Robinson trophy’ for insect photography
James Alford 3rd ‘Gore & Districts branch trophy’ for human interest photography.

The Waikato Branch also scored 2nd place in the AHT (Antler, Horn, Tusk) completion with a total
score of 918.2, we were just beaten to the top spot by North Otago who scored 921.