May National Board Reports

I hope you have had a chance to get out an make the most of the recent Roar and Rut seasons. From what I have seen and heard there have been some great adventures and some magnificent trophies taken. I was fortunate enough to have spent some considerable time all over the country enjoying all aspects of hunting and am feeling properly recharged.

This time of year the NZDA is in membership and Conference mode, our membership renewals are going really well as well as the conference planning, there are a couple of really top notch being raffled including a brand new Mitsubishi Triton ute with all the extras so make sure you keep an eye out and buy a ticket to support the work the NZDA do and be in with a chance to win.

I have been busy with the start of the Woodhill fallow management season; we had our committee of volunteers out putting signs up for the season starting at the beginning of June. Hundreds of signs go in the ground to mark block boundaries throughout the forest to ensure safe hunting for the hundreds of hunters we see each year come through the forest on their balloted hunting day. The animal numbers are looking fairly solid this year and some good bucks have been spotted I wish all the successful ballot applicants the best of luck.

Earlier in the month we had the Hunting and Fishing minister announce he has received the application from the game animal council for the Wapiti herd in Fiordland to become a herd of special interest (HOSI) in Fiordland be considered for a herd of special interest. I look forward to hearing the minister’s decision, which should set a precedent for our valued introduced species going forward. In time I’m hoping to see several HOSI’s across the country representing various species.

With our Conference closing in also are our National Competitions, so if you have a trophy head or great story/poem, photograph or video be sure to get your entries in, all details and criteria for entry can be found on our website here.

Photograph: Taken while hunting over the last month in the South Island.

Hi members,

I can't believe we're nearing the halfway mark of the year! Conference will be here in no time and I'm hoping to chat to many of you face to face.



My club recently ran the Wilkinson Postal shoot. We had 15 participants on the day, and they all seemed to really enjoy shooting at a non-standard target. We're now looking to introduce a 200m variant to our range calendar. I hope many of your clubs have given it a go.



Last weekend I attended the Thames Valley hosted HUNTS seminar as both a HUNTS instructor for my branch and as a HUNTS assessor. It was the second of four throughout the country. It was a really good 1.5 days; I personally took away several things to consider for our upcoming HUNTS course. I'd like to thank the TVDA crew for hosting us all,  Mike and Paddy for putting it together, and of course the amazing Miss Alex from HQ. 



The first edition of the new national shooting newsletter is nearing completion, and with any luck should be in your inboxes around the same time as this newsletter. If any of you have shooting events you have attended, and would like to put pen to paper, please do. A couple of good pics would be great too. 

That's all from me for now, so keep your powder dry, and Hot barrels everyone. 

It’s a bit of déjà vu reading my March report with a lead off about Molesworth hunting…..I write today from Hanmer as my mate (and Nelson Branch Secretary) and I clamber around the rugged Long Gully block. Presently the deer are getting the better of us, the pigs and cats less so…..

Also, I made a trip to the Blue Mountains with NZDA Otago stalwart Vern (who was one of the team building the great NZDA Lodge at Beaumont many years ago). We had an epic time there being outwitted by the crafty fallow present in this wonderful RHA. “Out-Dunn Creek” we re-named the block. However, we got one fat doe for the table.

It does highlight the importance and joys of these (and all the other) wonderful hunting areas across New Zealand we can and do enjoy. Despite my stepping down form the Board I wish to continue to support where I can and am wanted in terms of the countries very special hunting areas on public land – and that means maintaining, reasserting or enhancing access as well as good game animal management practices from DOC and other government agencies, as well as ourselves).

A real way to “show you care” about access to public land is to ensure your DOC permit is current and valid. This is the only real headcount of those intending to hunt our community estate whether it’s once a year or relentlessly like me. And it’s never been easier! The new DOC permit process is easier, quicker and the permit is for 12 months. Plus, you get a reminder 2 weeks from expiry with a simple roll-over option.  You don’t have to think hard about where…apply for all of NZ, or North or South Island….saves thinking too hard. Already many thousands of hunters have been permitted via the new system and it is very good for New Zealand hunting that everybody does. Show your support and desire for hunting the public lands by getting your new permit. And yes…it is free. Do it!

Happy and safe hunting

Our Board

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NZDA National Board, photographed at the 76th Conference and AGM in July 2024.