Hunts Course
HUNTS POSTER 2023 WEB.pdfInterested in taking up hunting?
We offer a hunter training course for beginners – to be held in September/October 2023
The Upper Clutha Branch of the NZ Deerstalkers Association, in conjunction with its national body, is giving preliminary notice of its fourteenth annual introductory course in hunting that is designed to help and encourage new and potential hunters (minimum age of 16 years) into the sport.
This course is “hands on” and is a great opportunity to gain practical skills and information from local, experienced instructors.
The course will cover the Hunter National Training Scheme (HUNTS) syllabus including topics such as:
Hunting ethics and wildlife management
Equipment and clothing
Firearms safety and training
Navigation and bush safety (plus river crossing)
Game species – biology, habitat and behaviour
Hunting techniques
What to do when things go wrong
The course involves six mid-week evening sessions, starting Sunday 17 September 2023 and includes four weekend activities – two days at the rifle range, a river crossing activity on the Hawea River, a camp familiarization and training day at Glen Dene Station and a weekend hunt, courtesy of Glen Dene, for red and fallow deer and pigs. Additional time at the range will be available by arrangement and applicants with little practical firearms experience will receive extra tuition.
Cost: $275 - there may be some additional costs for the weekend activities, such as ammunition. All participants, if not an existing member of the NZ Deerstalkers Association, must become a membership of the Upper Clutha Branch and pay a part year’s subscription prior to the commencement of the course – approximately $100, depending upon the class of membership. A deposit of $100 will be payable upon acceptance.
Venue: The classroom sessions will be held at the Wanaka Fire Station, Ballantyne Road, Wanaka. Firearms training will be held at a local Rifle Range.
Participants are expected to be available for all modules. A Firearms Licence is not a prerequisite to enrolment, but you will have to demonstrate that you have commenced the process. Our objective and priority is to recruit and train candidates who either already possess or intend to obtain a Firearms Licence and intend to actively pursue a recreational hunting interest in NZ. Candidates will be assessed accordingly, and their acceptance will be at the discretion of the organisers. You don’t need to own a firearm to participate – we prefer that you don’t rush out and buy inappropriate equipment prior to the course. We have basic equipment you can use and the decision to buy personal equipment can be left to the conclusion of the course when you will have a better appreciation of what to buy.
A draft Course Outline and Training Programme (Appendix A) has been prepared and is below. This will give you some idea of the extent of your involvement and the commitment required. Note that this is a draft Programme and may be subject to change.
If you would like to register for the course you should complete the attached application form and return it to uppercluthadeerstalkers@gmail.com or deliver to 28 Kingston Street, Albert Town by Friday 30 June. Your acceptance will be confirmed by return with details about the payment of a deposit.
Entries are available on a first come first served basis – don’t delay, we are limited to a maximum of 12 trainees. Contact Murray at the above address or phone him at 021 0235 6147 if you require further information.
Dated at Wanaka
31 May 2023
COURSE OUTLINE TRAINING PROGRAMME - ANNEX A
ANNEX A
HUNTS COURSE – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
DATE/TIME ACTIVITY/SUBJECT
Sunday 17 September Introduction and familiarisation day at a destination to be confirmed. Meet and greet the tutors and trainees, distribute training materials, sight in your rifle with a little target practise.
Commences at 1pm at the Range – venue to be confirmed but punctuality essential.
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Tuesday 20 September Ethics, Ecology and Regulations (Chapter 1) – Enrolment, course introduction, discuss code of conduct, ethics, behaviour, hunting permits, rules of fair chase and wildlife/pest management.
Venue – Wanaka Fire Station Social Room, Ballantyne Road commencing 7pm (Earlier by mutual arrangement) Note: NZDA meeting 21 September
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Tuesday 26 September When things go wrong (Chapter 8) – know your basic bush and survival skills and how to deal with the fact that you’re lost or disoriented. Threats and hazards in the outdoor environment, basic first aid responses and rescue options.
Hunting and Shooting Techniques (Chapter 6) -Deer behaviour, where to find them, stalking, bullet placement, wounded game, roaring techniques, movement, sound and colour.
Venue – Wanaka Fire Station Social Room, Ballantyne Road commencing 7pm
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Thursday 28 September Firearms Safety/Selection/Marksmanship (Chapter 5) – Regulations and safety rules, cause of accident, choosing a firearm, various types and calibres, sights, care and cleaning, carriage and storage, basic ballistics, practise and positions. Instructors will present and demonstrate some of the options available.
Venue – Wanaka Fire Station commencing 7pm
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Saturday 30 September (Weather dependent) Marksmanship/Range (Chapter 5) A morning at the range, firing rimfire and centrefire, loading and unloading, field shooting positions, zeroing and target shooting. Bring your rifle if you have one. If you need to borrow one of ours there will be a charge for ammo. In the afternoon we adjourn to the Hawea River for a river crossing exercise - theory and practical. See part Chapter 3. Please note you will be required to provide your own lunch, flask etc. You will get wet and cold and will require appropriate equipment and a pack!
Commences at the Range at 9am, River Crossing follows in afternoon.
Venue – Rifle Range and Hawea River
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Tuesday 3 October Travel and Navigation (Chapter 3)- travelling techniques, game trails, navigation, maps and compass work.
Venue – Wanaka Fire Station Social Room, Ballantyne Road commencing 7pm. Note: NZDA Committee on 5 October.
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Saturday 7 October Bushcraft, Survival and Navigation (Chapters 3 & 8) – a practical session will be held at Glen Dene Station to demonstrate camp establishment, survival techniques, knife sharpening, wild game spotting etc, practical elements of compass and GPS use. Bring your lunch.
A full day exercise at Glen Dene Station commencing 9am
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Tuesday 10 October Equipment and Food (Chapter 23) – boots, clothes, packs, knives, binoculars, sleeping bags, cookers and food. An optional knife making course is available.
Venue – Wanaka Fire Station Social Room commencing 7pm
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Wednesday 12 October Game Animal Species, Trip Planning and Risk Management (Chapter 4) – the animals we hunt, Douglas Scoring, planning a trip and minimising risk. Equipment for the weekend hunt to be finalised. A Risk Management Plan to be confirmed.
Venue – Wanaka Fire Station Social Room, Ballantyne Road commencing 7pm
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Fri, Sat & Sun 13 14 & 15 October Field Trip – a weekend hunt at Glen Dene Station, courtesy of Richard Burdon, hiking, camping and cooking under canvas and hunting. Commencing Friday evening setting up camp, two nights on the hill with a day hunt on Saturday and instruction on Sunday (Chapter 7) – Meat, Skin and Trophies – trophy preparation, head skins, meat care, field dressing, skinning, boning, carrying and preserving.
Course Review and Evaluation at the 17 Noema Terrace, Hawea. Chapter 9 – now that you’re a hunter – can you relate to this?
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