IT training rod and rifle new zealand TruePDF march april 2019

ROD&RIFLE

2019 ROAR TECHNIQUES: RED - SIKA - FALLOW

JACK'S
18-POINT
MONSTER

WHICH
BULLET?

OUR WRITERS'
FAVOURITE
ISSUE 2 VOL 40
MAR / APR 2019
$9.90 (incl. GST)

RED

HEAD & NECK SHOT
PLACEMENT
HOW MUCH IS YOUR
VENISON WORTH?
PACKRAFT HUNTING

THE WILD TWINS: FIELD TO PLATE
WE TEST THE LATEST GEAR:

| Tika T1x | Beretta A400 Xtreme + | Sig Sauer BDX |
| Athlon Ares 10x42 Binoculars |
| Vortex Viper Gen 2, 4-15 X 44 | Bakewell Burner Base Camper |

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performance are
non-negotiable
Valdres GTX

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Dakota GTX

North and South Island boot,
exceptionally comfortable and low
weight. Suited to stalking and high
country. Vibram Elasto rubber soft
compound sole with outstanding
grip. Full rubber rand.

Nevada Legend GTX
Classic ankle boot suited for
all terrains, on and off trail, all
seasons, excellent support and
comfort. Vibram Elasto rubber soft
compound sole with outstanding
grip. Full rubber rand.

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Feature

How to

How to

NEW SERIES

21

HOW TO
PACKRAFT
HUNT

40

GENETICS,
MANAGEMENT
& LUCK

32

By Jack Gauld

By Martin Robertson

By Dave Benfell, Howard
Egan & Josh Cairns

By Dave Benfell

Tips for roaring in sika,
fallow and reds from our
experienced team

Why would you want to
consider CNS shots on
deer? Find out here ...

SHOT PLACEMENT

18-POINT
MONSTER
RED

12

"How much do genetics,
luck and management
affect your hunting
experience?"

"When floating down a
river, your approach is
often unnoticed due to
river noise ..."

ROARING
TECHNIQUES

THIS MONTH'S COVER:

FEATURES
Genetics, Management & Luck by Jack Gauld

12

How to Packraft Hunt by Martin Robertson

21

Roaring Techniques
By Dave Benfell, Howard Egan & Josh Cairns

32

Hunting Sika Stags in the Roar by Tommy Montaperto

44

How Much is Your Venison Worth? by Tracy Anderson

48

Trophy Chamois by Cody Becker

51

Best Bullets by John Herbert & other writers. (Refer above right)

57

One Hell of a Hind by Amber Shine, (The Wild Twins)

68

The Beauty of Reloading by Jared Hearsey

74

TESTFIRES & REVIEWS

4

ROD&RIFLE

2019 ROAR TECHNIQUES: RED - SIKA - FALLOW

JACK'S
18-POINT
MONSTER

WHICH
BULLET?

OUR WRITERS'
FAVOURITE
ISSUE 2 VOL 40
MAR / APR 2019
$9.90 (incl. GST)

RED

HEAD & NECK SHOT
PLACEMENT
HOW MUCH IS YOUR
VENISON WORTH?
PACKRAFT HUNTING

THE WILD TWINS: FIELD TO PLATE
WE TEST THE LATEST GEAR:

Sig Sauer BDX by Jeremy Hanaray

84

The IngeniousTikka T1x by Craig O’Neill

88

Vortex Viper Gen 2, 4-15 X 44 by Dave Benfell

92

Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus by Gary Girven

97

Bakewell Burner Base Camper by Kevin Power

102

Athlon Ares 10x42 Binoculars by Henry Wills

104

NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

PART 1:
HEAD AND
NECK SHOTS

| Tika T1x | Beretta A400 Xtreme + | Sig Sauer BDX |
| Athlon Ares 10x42 Binoculars |

| Vortex Viper Gen 2, 4-15 X 44 | Bakewell Burner Base Camper |

Jack Gould and his monster
18-point red stag.
Genetics Management & Luck
Page 12


Feature

FISH

FISH

74

72

By Jared Hearsey

By Jack Gauld

In this article Jared runs
through the process
he takes to customise a
load for a specific rifle.

"If you’re not getting out
for a trout fish in March
and April, you’re missing

a whole heap of fun."

By John Herbert, Dave
Benfell, Henry Wills,
Jeremy Hanaray, Anto
Hall & Jean-Paul Klaus

57

BEST
BULLETS

"Here at NZ Rod&Rifle,
we’re always happy to
share our knowledge;
to this end here are
some of our staff’s
favourite bullets ..."

THE BEAUTY
OF
RELOADING

FISHING GUIDE
FOR MARCH/
APRIL

Regulars
06

News

08

Books: Home from the Homer
Reviewed by Kevin J Whitelaw

10

SERIES: Scoping Out New Hunting Areas
North Canterbury Discovery by Willis Macbeth

26

NEW SERIES: Shot Placement
Head and Neck by Dave Benfell

40

SERIES: Hunting Legends by Kevin J. Whitelaw
The Remarkable Lady Stalker: Ethne Herrick - Part 2

62

SERIES: NZ Rod&Rifle Regional Fishing Guide
March / April by Jack Gauld

78

COMPETITION: Buck Knives Competition

106

NEW GEAR!

108

COMPETITION: Entry form for Swarovski scope

112

SUBSCRIBE OR SHOP & Get Delivered to Your Door!

113

CONTENTS
Vol 40 No 2 2019

Ed’s Letter


EDITOR’S DESK

THE CHALLENGE AHEAD ...

SUBSCRIBE PG 113 OR:
www.rodandrifle.co.nz
(07) 544 2267

PO Box 8187, Cherrywood,

Tauranga, New Zealand 3145
www.facebook.com/rodandrifle
www.rodandrifle.co.nz

PUBLISHER
Real Creative Media Limited

EDITOR
Dave Benfell


EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Kevin Power
P: 07 544 2267 M:027 229 9968


THIS MONTH’S
CONTRIBUTORS

IT’S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING YEAR

saying that any of these organisations aren’t

FOR HUNTER/FIREARMS INTERESTS IN

doing great work on our behalf – I just believe

NZ with the changing political attitudes

unity is the way forward long-term.

combined with a large array of organisations
advocating for us. We, as a group of

situations isn’t planning for next year or

stakeholders, have reached a position where

the year after, it’s planning for 20 years and

there’re many organisations looking after

beyond. How do we structure an organisation

our interests. Advocating for firearms owners

that will serve future generations, so they

and outdoor enthusiasts are the Game

have access to the same lifestyle we enjoy

Animal Council (GAC), the Fiordland Wapiti

today? I believe it’s time to build a united

Foundation (FWF), the Sika Foundation (SF),

organisation built on common interests that

the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners

pools our resources and allows a streamlining

(COLFO), the New Zealand Deer Stalkers

of funding. No easy task, I admit, but one I

Association (NZDA) and the newly created

consider worthy of discussion.

Tahr Foundation (TF) to name but a few. We

There are several articles that stand out

also have several very large establishments

for me in this issue including the ‘How Much

nationally whose purpose is to promote and

is Your Venison Worth?’ piece which is an

organise competitive shooting. Occasionally,

intriguing glimpse at how much your game

a grouping will spring up – like the Lower

animal would cost if you were to purchase the

North Island Red Deer Fund – in response to a

venison at retail prices. It’s a conversation I’ve

particular threat.

often had when forking out for a helicopter

Although there’s a lot of cross-pollination

or after paying for a tank of gas on the way

in terms of personalities within these

into a hunt … whether the venison brought

organisations, the challenge seems to be

back offsets the cost. Considering that your

communication across the board and finding

venison is the equivalent to organic, free-

out where we’re best served by a united front.

range meat, it provides another fascinating

Is it time that we should consider combining

aspect to hunting and gathering your own

several of these organisations for ease of

food.

administration and to streamline our efforts
so we can move forward with a more unified
message from our community? Would it not
be relevant for members of the Sika, Wapiti
and Tahr foundations to hold a seat on the
GAC or have at least have some form of
official involvement? I’m not for a second

6

As I see it, the challenge in a lot of these

NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

Hot Barrels &
Tight Lines

Dave Benfell
EDITOR/HUNTER

John Herbert, Dave Benfell
Kevin J Whitelaw, Jack

Gauld, Willis Macbeth, Gary
Girven, Jeremy Hanaray, Kevin
Power, Martin Robertson,
Howard Egan, Josh Cairns,
Tommy Montaperto, Tracy
Anderson, Cody Becker,
Anto Hall, Jean-Paul Klaus,
Henry Wills, Amber Shine,
Jared Hearsey, Craig O'Neill
.

DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Clare Power
Real Creative Media Ltd

PROOFING
Joy Hillman

ADVERTISING
Kevin Power
Real Creative Media Ltd
(027) 22 999 68

DISTRIBUTION
Gordon & Gotch
P: (09) 379 3100
ISSN 0111-1353
Published by Real Creative
Media Limited.
We welcome features on hunting

and fishing. Please go to
www.rodandrifle.co.nz/guidlines
for article guidelines and
information.
The act of sending images and
copy or related material shall
constitute an express warranty by
the contributor that the material is
original, exclusive to NZ Rod&Rifle
Magazine and in no way an
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It gives permission to Real Creative
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deem appropriate, including but
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and in future publications by Real
Creative Media Ltd.
Opinions expressed in contributions
need not conform to NZ Rod&Rifle’s
editorial policy as we wish to
provide a vehicle for discussion of
different points of view on all things
hunting and fishing.



NEWS

WAR AGAINST CATFISH

– NEWS FROM THE
FRONTLINE
THE WAR AGAINST CATFISH HAS
NOW REACHED LAKE ROTORUA
after the Bay of Plenty Regional
Council caught six catfish during
pest surveillance work. Until then,
Lake Rotoiti held the only known
population of catfish in the Bay of
Plenty.
THE PEST FISH WERE CAUGHT near
Mokoia Island and in the Ōhau Channel
connecting Lake Rotoiti to Lake Rotorua as part of the Regional Council’s
comprehensive surveillance programme.
Working with Te Arawa Lakes Trust, they
have been battling catfish as part of
the biggest biosecurity programme in
the region since their discovery in Lake
Rotoiti in 2016. A significant amount of
the Council’s biosecurity budget has
been spent on control, surveillance
and research, and now the focus is on
fast-tracking options to prevent the pest
from spreading further.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity team leader Shane Grayling said
he’s devastated by the discovery, but
his team won’t be giving up on trying to
control the pest fish because they’re such
a massive threat.
“They’re very aggressive predators;

they eat a variety of prey and are
considered the single biggest threat to
koura and could potentially impact on
our trout fishery through competition
and predation. There are also currently
concerns they could impact on water
quality, particularly in Lake Rotorua due
to its shallow nature”, said Mr Grayling.
Catfish are not native to New Zealand. They’re carnivorous nocturnal
bottom feeders who prey on trout and
native fish, and they also lower water
quality by churning up mud. They’re
thought to be serial spawners and are
capable of producing more than 6000
eggs yearly. Catfish can survive up to
48 hours out of the water, which means
they can be transported over land by
stowing away on boats and trailers or
hiding amongst weeds stuck to motors
and recreational gear.
It’s not known yet how the catfish got
into Lake Rotorua, and while it’s likely

8

NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

Facts
Remember to remove all weeds.
Not only are some a pest but juvenile

catfish also could be hiding in them.
they got there through moving up the
through the Ōhau Channel, humans may
have given them a helping hand.
“They’re known to hitchhike on boat
trailers, so as people move between lakes,
there’s the potential they’re carrying
unwanted organisms with them. This
means every single lake user needs to
be vigilant and check and clean all boats,
trailers and equipment before moving
between water bodies”, said Mr Grayling.
And if lake users aren’t vigilant, the
catfish could spread further – a shocking
prospect for our lakes and the species
that call them home. For this reason, an
army of volunteers has united in the fight
this summer, working on the frontline in
an operation to educate the public about
the problem pest fish.
More than 130 volunteers have
signed up to the Te Arawa Catfish Killas
programme, a community initiative to
stop the spread of the fish. In a concentrated effort, the crusade has seen locals
trapping fish and spreading the message
amongst boaties and lake users in a
series of community presentations. From
boat ramp to boat ramp throughout the
region, the word about the catfish war is
out. Lake users have been urged to take

extra care and wipe down vessels before
and after use in order to combat the
spread of catfish.
Education is essential when it comes
to preventing further irreparable damage
to the lake.

BROWN BULLHEAD CATFISH
• Introduced to New Zealand in
1877
• Throughout the Waikato River
system
• Typically grow 23cm to 30cm in
length
• Can lay thousands of eggs
WHAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE
TO STOP THE SPREAD?
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council
has netted 53,478 catfish in
Lake Rotoiti since March 2016.
They’re also funding research
by NIWA and the University of
Waikato to find new surveillance
methods and eradication tools to
stop the spread of the pest.
• The Bay of Plenty Regional
Council and Te Arawa Lakes
Trust are also working with
community groups and locals to
raise awareness.

Correction
WE DINNAE KIN HOW LUCKY WE ARE
in the last issue, we mentioned that gaining your firearms license was part of the
NZDA HUNTS course. Upon discussion
with Jim Peffers, National Co-ordinator
NZDA HUNTS programme, we found
this is not the case. In order to manage
expectations, Jim advises that the basic
HUNTS course syllabus does not include
firearms licencing, and having a firearms
licence is not a pre-requisite of doing the
course. However, some NZDA branches do
include the firearms licence course as an
add-on to their branch HUNTS course.



BOOK REVIEW

Home from the Homer
by Anya Forest
Published by Anya Forest
365 pages RRP $34.99
WHILE THE SETTING FOR THIS BOOK
IS FIORDLAND AND ITS INCREDIBLE
WILDERNESS, this isn’t a hunting book;
it does, however, touch on moose and
wapiti hunting as well as acknowledge
our “prince” of hunting guides Jim

Muir and his long-term client, Mr Eddy
Herrick. No, Home from the Homer is
a fiction story for younger readers, but
adults may discover it to be a lighter
and fascinating read as well.
This Fiordland story is a time-shifting
adventure; it’s quite unlike anything
else folk may have read and there’s
loads of history, nature and outdoor
escapades contained within its pages.
The fictional characters entwined in the
story are the Williams family: Mr and Mrs Williams and their twins, Zoe and Seth, along with
their conservation-trained dog Chester. The

10 NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

Reviewed by
Kevin J. Whitelaw

family become locked into the vast remoteness of the region’s grip; the Homer Tunnel
disappears, and the saga becomes more
sinister after the twins become separated –
initially from their parents and then from each
other. Eventually, they discover they’ve been
captured in a forgotten time zone of the past –
an era without telephones or motor vehicles.
After splitting up, each twin is faced with
the task of travelling to Milford Sound on foot
through the wild, unknown terrain in an effort
to reunite with their parents; their journeys are

mysterious and full of jeopardy.
With the transcendence of time, the reader is
continually being introduced to a variety of geographical locations and pioneering characters
who were synonymous with early Fiordland.
As the story progresses, it becomes
obvious that Zoe and Seth form mythical
friendships with a number of individuals, all
of whom have been meticulously researched
by the author. These include legends such as
Murray Gunn, Donald Sutherland and Richard Henry who are all accurately portrayed
and cleverly incorporated into the story,
while a confrontation with Fiordland’s indigenous “Lost Tribe” and the Haast’s eagle make
Zoe’s intrepid journey perhaps a fraction
scary for a young 12-year-old reader.
For the hunting-minded reader, there are
accounts of the successful partnership of
Jim Muir and Eddy Herrick as they hunted for moose, with the expedition to the
Seaforth Valley in Dusky Sound being very
well described and cleverly slotted into the
kaleidoscope of fiction.
As the twins perilously trek the bushlands,
each seeking the safety of Milford Sound,
snippets of Fiordland history are included
which makes this tale far more realistic; readers
will find that the frequently altered time zone
– a constant occurrence throughout the story
– simply accentuates the author’s skill as she
blends myth and reality. The book is further
enhanced by illustrations, maps and excellent
photographs of the personalities and locations

described therein.
Zoe and Seth, after being tormented by a
variety of hassles, finally overcome the upside-down duration of time and reach Milford
Sound where they re-join the present and their
parents. The reunification of the family concludes what I found to be a refreshingly light,
clever and very different read.


BIG GAME PLAN

GETTING OUT FOR THE ROAR? If you’re
anything like most of us, you’re already
arguing with your mates about where’s
the best place to try, what to take and
where to set up camp. This is precisely
the right thing to do, and it can be a lot
of fun to include anyone who’ll be going.
It’ll also help everyone enjoy the trip
more as you can all discuss different
ideas about what to do and where to go.
Importantly, this is when you can start
the conversation about goals, who’s
going with whom and how you’ll all keep
in contact once you’re out there. Here’s a
few ideas to get you started:
1.

2.

3.

Whom are you going with? Is this their
first hunt or are they experienced? Might
they want to share rifles? What’s the walk
in like? Keep your companions in mind;
you may have to pick an easier entry
plan. Conversely, if you’re all keen, go for
the gusto on an epic walk in away from
everyone else. On the day, talk to your
partners about where you’re going and
what time you’ll link up or move.
Think about your firearms. When
was the last time you had them out
for a shoot? Don’t kid yourself; re-zero
your rifle every year. Take your mates
along and add an extra box or two of
the ammunition that your rifle likes. Spot
for each other. Write down the drops for
each range and tape them onto your
scope or stock. Consider bringing a
single rifle and sharing the load, and the
shooting, with your spotter.
What if someone wants to do
something else or changes their
mind? It’s important to stick with

the plans you made with your party;
otherwise, how will they know where to
find you if something goes wrong? If you
prefer to allow changes, bring walkietalkies or arrange more frequent meeting

times. In any case, do not enter someone
else’s hunting area if you’ve agreed for
them to use it.
4. Hi contrast clothing is an essential
item. Make sure it contrasts with your
environment – choose your favourite
blaze colour; it’s a key bit of equipment
during the Roar when there are a much
higher number of hunters out there.
Binoculars are also essential gear; you
shouldn’t identify game using only your
rifle scope – this could easily break a
primary firearms safety rule.
5. What type of communications
gear are you using? We recommend
a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for
hunting trips – one for every group at a
minimum.
MISIDENTIFIED KEY STATISTICS
Page 43 - 45. (A Hunter’s Tale, MSC 2017)

• 80% … are from the same hunting party
• 92% … the victim is less than 75m from
shooter
• It happens to experienced hunters as well
as inexperienced hunters.

“Are you sure of your target? Why are you
sure? Have you seen the whole animal?
How many points does it have, what sex

and how fat is it? Is it really what you’re
after? Is it a person?”
“Last year there were two misidentified
shootings, one resulting in a fatality. Both
were shot at less than 75m and one of them
was from the same party as the shooter.”

Last year there were
two misidentified
shootings, one
resulting in a fatality.
Both were shot at
less than 75m and
one of them was
from the same party
as the shooter

WWW.RODANDRIFLE.CO.NZ

11


Genetics,
Management
& Luck
How much do genetics, luck and management affect your
hunting experience?


BY JACK GAULD

On a recent trip with good
friends Nick and Shaun into the
upper South Island mountains, I
started to realise just how much
these three factors play a part in
our hunting experiences.
Without all three – genetics, luck
and management – coming
together, hunters targeting a wild
trophy red stag will have very
limited opportunities.
You can have management and
luck but not get a wild genetic
trophy, and even with just
genetics and luck, the chances
of finding a trophy stag are low;
genetics and management are
good on paper, but without luck,
what’s the likelihood? >>


HUNTING

ABOVE: ALL SMILES
FROM THE AUTHOR
RIGHT TOP: ALTHOUGH
IT’S GOT FARM BLOOD
IN ITS VEINS, it’s worth
admiring how perfectly even

this cracker head is.
FAR RIGHT: IN THIS BIG
OPEN COUNTRY, it’s vital to
let your eyes do the walking!

Our hearts sank
as we watched
over 50 deer –
many big stags
and a handful of
nice chamois –
leave our valley.
We listened and
watched the
chopper for a while,
then finally worked
out it was spraying
the wilding pines.
14

SETTLING IN
I think most people start their hunts full
of beans and hope aplenty; we were no
exception. Once we’d navigated our way
out of Nelson and reached the start of the
4wd track into the heart of the Marlborough
mountains, things were looking up. We got
to the car park mid-morning, chucked the
packs on and started our walk in; we didn’t
even make it around the first bend in the

valley before spotting a group of hinds
feeding away high up on a face. No time for
hinds – we continued on, hoping to reach
a suitable campsite before the afternoon
rolled around. When we grabbed a quick
drink and a wee sit-down at the first big side
gully we came to, out popped the binos,
and straight away more deer were spotted
– this time a group of young stags … seven,
to be exact. This is when we started talking
about management and, for example, that
if helicopters were allowed to hunt this
particular area, deer would be as rare as
hen’s teeth – mainly due to the lack of bush.
We decided that because we knew there
were better genetics to chase, carrying on up
the valley would be our best bet. After finding
a nice flat spot by the creek, we set up camp,
blew up the airbeds and had a bite to eat;
while talking, we spotted several more groups
of deer, so we spent some time looking and

NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

watching to see what they were up to.
At about 5pm, the animals all started to
make their way down towards the valley floor
to feed on the nicer grass; we didn’t make it
more than 500m from camp that night and
we’d already spotted a really healthy number.

Once it got dark, we wandered back to camp
and cooked a feed; we started talking about
the future of hunting in NZ and how we felt
that management was going to be key.
COMPANY
The next morning, we climbed the hill in front
of camp and started glassing, having several
close encounters with some silly yearlings on
the way up. We’d just sat down at about 9am
on the very top when we heard, ‘whoopwhoop-whoop’ coming straight up our valley
towards us; a bloody helicopter had turned
up out of the blue and proceeded to fly the
whole mountainside we were watching. Then,
on top of that, it started chasing and looking
at the deer and chamois before slowly going
back down lower to the valley floor and out
of sight; our hearts sank we watched over 50
deer – many big stags and a handful of nice
chamois – leave our valley. We listened and
watched the chopper for a while, then finally
worked out it was spraying the wilding pines;
it grid-searched the whole valley from 9am


till 4pm, spraying the pines. Just our luck, we
thought; we had a permit to hunt this block,
so why would they choose this time to do the
spraying, knowing we were here? We couldn’t
figure it out, but at the end of the day, it was
just the luck of the draw.

In my opinion, trophy deer, like the ones
featured in this story, could be a lot more
achievable if the resource was managed
correctly. The red deer is an awesome
creature and a valuable resource to a large
percentage of our current population.
As Kiwis, we’ve grown up with this introduced ▶

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15


HUNTING

wild animal becoming the pinnacle of the
industry, and I hope in my lifetime, between
the hunting community, the NZ Deerstalkers

Association (NZDA), the Game Animal Council
(GAC) and DOC as well as others, there
can be a re-think on Wild Animal Recovery
Operations (WARO) activities and some
cohesive cooperation on enhancement and
management of our trophy bloodlines.
Back to the story …. With our hopes
shattered, we limped our way back down the
mountain, arriving back at camp to lick our
wounds and wonder if they’d be returning
the next day to finish the spraying. Long
story short … they did; after two more days of
relentless aerial attack and not many animals
spotted, we were getting impatient. However,
luckily, it was now the weekend, and if there’s
one thing DOC do well, it’s not work on the
weekend!
On the day the helicopter first turned up, we’d
watched it chase a group of what looked like
big, old stags out over a lowish pass in the next
valley; we were hopeful they might return to
the good grass over the next few days, so we
set a plan to hit the ridgeline the next morning.
BIG STAGS
We woke up to an overcast day and a little
bit of rain, but nothing was going to stop
us – except maybe another chopper? We

16 NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

headed up a steep ridge checking out
all the little guts as we went; we spotted
a group of hinds sunning themselves
amongst some rocks, then noticed a group
of stags just above them. Being the first
decent antlered things we’d seen in a few
days, we made a beeline for them to get a
better look … two big 11-pointers and an old,
heavy 10; not really what we were after, but
we decided to get within range just in case.
As we were making our way along the
ridge, we spotted another group of four
stags feeding about a kilometre away on
a face with a long side ridge with a steep,
rocky bluff at the end. A closer look through
the Vortex spotting scope showed that two
of these beasts were big … really big! “Change
of plan”, I said. “We’re going after them!”
It took us about 30 minutes to work our
way round the top ridge to get to the start
of the ridge where the stags were last seen.
It was still another 800m to get to the face
they were feeding on, but just as we started
making our way down the blind side, we
saw them kick up their heels and trot
around to the rocky bluff at the end, then
out of sight ... we quickly adjusted our plans
thinking they’d maybe smelt or seen us;
Nick and I took off straight down the ridge
and Shaun stayed behind to keep an eye on

things.

ABOVE: NICK’S OLD
13-POINT STAG; heavy
timber with palmated tops!
BELOW: THE BOYS sitting
down having a rest on
the hill


A TRUE WILD GENETIC TROPHY
When we got to roughly 100m from the rocky
edge, we slowed down and started creeping
along; the wind was good – we just had to hope
they were still there. As we crested the edge of
the ridge, we looked below hoping to see them;
we almost decided they must’ve left when out of
the corner of my eye, I spotted an antler sticking
up from behind a rock only 20m away. Nick had
just stood up and was starting to walk straight
towards the stag to have a look off the other side
of the ridge, not knowing it was there. I quickly
grabbed his attention and whispered, “They’re
right there! Behind that big boulder!”
We couldn’t get a clear shot from where we
were – we had to get closer; quietly scrambling
around the rocks to get into position, I looked
back at Nick. “Are you ready?” I asked.
With a thumbs up from Nick, I poked my
nose around the rock, saw the first stag

bedded up right there and shot him through
the head at roughly 7m.
Then Nick jumped up beside me as the other
three deer stood up to see what the bloody
hell was going on; the biggest of the three ran
straight behind a big boulder about 15m away
and stood there. Nick couldn’t get a shot until the
stag came out from behind the rock, and when
he did so, it was at full gallop. Boom! Thud …
Boom! Thud. Two shots – two hits; but the animal
went over the edge and out of sight.
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The biggest of the three ran straight behind
a big boulder about 15m away and stood
there. Nick couldn’t get a shot until the stag
came out from behind the rock, and when he
did so, it was at full gallop.
nearby. However, this was only a young stag –
probably only 4 or 5 years old – and it couldn’t
have been an original escapee; instead, the
result of premium genetics entering the herd.
My best guess was that it was the son of one
that had escaped. What were the odds? We’d
just shot a giant, wild 13-pointer and a semiwild 18-point Christmas tree.
Over the moon with our trophies, we took
some photos then cut the heads off, grabbed
the back streaks and started our long walk
back to camp. It seemed a bit of a waste

leaving the legs behind, but old, stinky stag
meat isn’t the best companion, and we had
a very long walk to get back to the truck –
otherwise we’d have packed them out.
we took off running to see if Nick’s stag had
gone down. As we made it to the edge, we
couldn’t see it running off anywhere, so
presumed it was dead somewhere below us;
sure enough, 30m down the face where we’d
first seen them was a dead deer! We went
down to investigate Nick’s animal first … wow,
what a stag! An old 13-pointer with superheavy timber – a true wild genetic trophy! We
couldn't believe our luck.
CHRISTMAS TREE
Hoping that what I’d just shot was as good as
Nick’s, we went back to have a look. “Jesus”,
was the first word out of my mouth, followed
by, “It’s a bloody Christmas tree!”
Eighteen even points ... the genetics could
only be explained by the escape of a bunch
of stags about 8 years ago from a station

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Camp was abuzz that night. We ate fresh
back steaks with Back Country cuisine and
had a really good yarn about how this area is
benefiting from the lack of access and limited

permits; if it was open all year round and
without a permit system, it’d be the same as
everywhere else in NZ. These new genetics
have already had a positive impact on the
area, and in the future – if managed – it’ll be
even better … it’ll be the best place to hunt
wild stags in the world. Something as simple
as not taking part in spraying operations at
the same time hunters have permits would
be a great start. I think what was most clear
to us that evening while sitting around
chatting and admiring our trophies was just
how much old Lady Luck plays her part
when hunting trophy stags.

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18

NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE





HUNTING

LEFT:
THE NGARURORO FLOWS
THROUGH PRIME SIKA
country with trout to boot.
(Photo: Chris Coutts)
RIGHT:
BLUE SELF-BAILING,
two sprayskirt styles and
a warehouse inflatable for
towing gear.

TYPES OF PACKRAFTS
Bucket boats are open and allow water to enter the boat where it’ll remain trapped. They’re
easy to enter and exit, and large-capacity
or two-man options are available. In heavier
water, the tendency to fill up means regular

stops to empty them.
Self-bailing bucket boats have holes in the
base to let water out when the boat is swamped;
they’ll have an inflated mat on the floor and an
inflated seat to keep you up out of the water.
These boats will always have water in the base.
Spraydeck boats have a sprayskirt that attaches to a spraydeck; this system keeps out
water, but some skirts may have a tendency
to be swamped in large volume rapids. These
boats keep you drier and warmer; whitewater
designs may allow you to run rivers of greater
difficulty. When rivers are low or there are
abundant river hazards to scout, getting in
and out of a spraydeck is a nuisance.
The boats pack down very small, and when
you arrive at your destination, you use an
inflation bag to inflate them. Weights range
from 2-5kg, but other gear needs to be carried: helmet, personal flotation device (PFD)
and 4-part paddle.
BRANDS
Alpacka Raft – these are one of the original
packrafts made in the US; most others are
copies. Available from Arno at Packrafting NZ.
Koaro – a range of packrafts made in Karamea. Available from Sam at Koaro Packrafts.
Frontier Packrafts – made in China but designed for NZ conditions. Available from Hugh
Canard at Blue Duck Paddling.
CARGO STORAGE
Traditionally, packrafts came with tie-downs
on the front of the boat to allow packs to be
stored up front; having weight up front can

be an advantage when paddling. In white

22 NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

water however, large overnight packs can be
a nuisance and even a safety hazard; it can be
easier to portage with a pack tied on the front
as you can simply slip the pack on your back
with raft attached – it’s also easy to detach.
A more recent innovation is the cargo fly: this
is a waterproof zip in the tube of the packraft
which allows a considerable amount of gear
to be stowed inside the raft in dry bags. This
keeps the exterior of the boat “clean” (i.e., free
of hazards). Whilst the boat has to be deflated
to retrieve gear, the dry bags actually fill a lot of
void making daily inflation less of a hassle; however, a heavy boat can be awkward to portage.
A Warehouse inflatable is a reasonable way
of towing excess gear if the river is Grade 2 or
less and isn’t too bony.
RIFLE STORAGE
Rifles can be stored inside the cargo fly in a
dry bag wrapped in soft clothing and sleeping
bags to prevent knocks. Stoney Creek make a
rifle dry bag in bright orange; it’s best used with
a soft, padded rifle case. For easy access, it’s
possible to stow a rifle across the bow of your
boat but this places it at risk should the boat hit
a rock or capsize – in a dry bag, a rifle will still
sink. Assume you will lose your rifle overboard

at some point! The orange colour of the Stoney
Creek bag would assist in finding it; however, a
sensible precaution might be to attach a piece
of foam or small balloon on a length of twine
to provide a floating marker should the rifle
be dropped. Remember, twine can work like
a cheese cutter if you end up tangled in it, so
low-strength twine is best. A pair of swimming
goggles is also a good idea for retrieving lost
items (I’ve seen two Go-Pros lost overboard).
RIFLES FOR PACKRAFTING
Short bush-pig type rifles are ideal for stowing
on a boat on gentle rivers; with a short overall
length, they’re easy to attach to the deck and


can be readily accessed to take a snap shot
– .308 calibre rifles lend themselves well to
being shortened as they can achieve reasonable velocities with fast-burning powder
and lower-weight projectiles. A moderator
will increase the overall length of the rifle but
will reduce recoil; if you know your point of
impact without the moderator, this allows you
to take quick shots from the boat or the bank.
Once camped, you can reattach the moderator for a more pleasant shooting experience
and do your dawn and dusk land-based stalk.
Any rifle length can be accommodated
inside a cargo fly; the cargo fly dry bags are attached, but gear will move, and it’s important
to protect your rifle from impact against rocks.
On a long trip in good deer country, a

bush-pig rifle stowed on top of one raft for
snap shots and a long-range rifle nursed
inside the cargo fly of another raft could be
shared by a party. Stainless steel is going to
fare better than a blued rifle.
STOWING YOUR GAME
It’s much easier to bone an animal out on the
spot and carry it in ham bags or pillowcases.
If you’re quite light, then a packraft might
cope with a gutted animal on the bow; but if
you’re tipping the scales yourself, you’ll want
to avoid loading unnecessary weight. There
are some great videos online showing how
to bone out an animal and save yourself a
bad back. With the cargo fly you can place
bags of meat inside the boat, but you’ll need
to consider the balance of the boat – it’s best
to push weight forward (i.e., load meat into
the dry bags first); tied on the bow in a day
pack is best for weight balance.
RIVER HAZARDS
There’s an element of risk in packrafting
that can be reduced by taking some simple
precautions.

Three Golden Rules for Deer
1.

Dawn and dusk on river flats in spring are the most productive, so stop paddling an hour before sunset and set up camp
to allow a land-based stalk in the golden hour; river flats in

popular areas may only see deer arrive in the last minutes of
daylight.

2.

Don’t scent up the flats you plan to hunt. When paddling, you
can’t really adjust for the wind; you can improve your odds
by camping up a side stream to avoid winding up the valley.
A down valley katabatic wind means it’s time for hunting up
a side stream. When the tops warm and air flow reverses up
valley, it’s a good time to hit the river.

3.

River noise works in your favour as you float down and surprise animals, but it can work against you in the roar. Some
of my favourite roar spots are elevated as I feel you do better
roaring down onto river terraces. I’ve had stags roaring up
at me all through the night and then encountered hunters
camped on the riverbank who tell me nothing’s roaring –
they’ve heard nothing but the roar of the river all night. As
that old book says: “Hunter Climb High”.

Sieves – these form where the current drags
you through a log or rock strainer. Logs have
killed paddlers on Grade 1 water, so inspect
all rapids. Boat scouting can be done from
the river if you’re confident to catch every
eddy; shore scouting becomes necessary as
hazards and current increase – get out and
walk the riverbank.

Foot entrapment – don’t stand up in strong
currents – it’s too easy to trap a foot. Float feet
first and conserve energy to dodge hazards.
Swim aggressively at the first opportunity to
make a safe exit.
Hypothermia – if you lose your raft and all
your gear and you’ve gone under-dressed,
you’re at risk. In your PFD, keep an emergency blanket and cigarette lighter (seal it in a
length of bike tube folded over each end and
then heat shrink-wrapped). Always have a dry ▶

LEFT:
RIFLE IN PADDED DRY
BAG for quick retrieval;
extra tie-down rings were
added to the bag and boat.
RIGHT:
A BACKPACK FULL OF
COOLED MEAT ready to
float out.

23


HUNTING

Three Things to Learn
1.

Paddle within your limits: packrafts are inherently stable and

you’ll be tempted to paddle more difficult rivers than you’re
capable of doing; you won’t realise you’ve no margin of safety
until you’re in trouble.

2.

Practice falling out, holding on to your raft and paddle, and
re-entering your raft (wet re-entry) quickly. Practice until it’s
second nature.

3.

Take a Packrafting 101 course and join PRANZ (the Packrafting
Association of New Zealand). Take some safety and skills
courses and learn to paddle with experienced paddlers before
pushing out and planning your own trips.

RIGHT: THE NGARURORO
(Photo: Chris Coutts)

set of camp clothes – resist the urge to use
them to start the day dry.
MINIMUM SAFETY GEAR
A wetsuit is suitable for two to three seasons
of the year depending on the climate in the
area you’re visiting. In winter, or in areas of
snow melt, a dry suit can be advisable; in
summer it’s possible to paddle in shorts and
polypropylene. A good lifejacket and a helmet
(both designed specifically for packrafting) are

essential. A pair of decent shoes will protect
your feet; wetsuit booties are borderline as
even the soled variety offer limited protection
when walking across – and between – cobbles.
If you get tangled up, you’ll need a decent
knife to cut yourself loose. Your PLB and a
small emergency kit (critical first-aid items,
space blanket and emergency fire starter)
need to be with you if you’re separated from
your boat – get a PFD with lots of pockets.
Always carry a means of communication
and navigation. Know where the PLB is; it’s no
use if it’s floating off downriver on your raft
without you, so keep it on your person. Carry
a repair kit and know how to use it; Tyvek
tape works wonders. Have a clean boat with
no loose gear or entrapment hazards – one
exception is paddle leashes and surfboard
ankle leashes which are worth having for lake
crossings in windy conditions.
Travel in a safe group; three is a minimum
safe-group size, but you must all stay in sight
when paddling. Use agreed hand and paddle
signals because river noise drowns out shouting. Assess risk and if needed set up “safety”:
one person runs a rapid, one person waits
downstream to retrieve gear, and one waits
at the hazard with a throw rope (that they’re

24 NZ ROD&RIFLE MAGAZINE

trained to use). Consider removing a deckstowed rifle and walking it to below any rapid
where there’s a high chance of capsize.
RIVER ETIQUETTE
If a river is run commercially, (particularly overnight), give the local river runners a courtesy
call. Respect private land as not all rivers have
a Queen’s Chain for camping.
Avoid paddling areas with whio (blue duck)
during the fledgling season, September to December; the young whio cannot fly and may
be pushed down river as you pass through.
GOING LOW WEIGHT
Packrafts may be less then 3kg, but typically
your full set of gear can amount to 10kg or
more; this additional weight can be a challenge and you’re likely to be looking for new
ways to reduce weight. Small tent flies are
common; in summer, simple hammocks may
be viable – some rafters even claim to have
slept in dry wetsuits on one-night, walk-in,
float-out trips to save on weight.
The bad news is, the walk in is going to be
more of a grunt; the good news is, the float
out – if well-planned – can be a doddle.
A lot of packrafters use cuben fibre
tarps and low-weight, waterproof packs
such as the Porter by Hyperlite Mountain
Gear. These packs are probably not robust
enough for hunters who’ll be overloading
with meat and carrying heavy loads when
not packrafting. If you’re looking at a new
pack, then it’s a good idea to take your
packraft in to test whether the pack can be

compressed and inserted into the cargo fly;
most packs will fit, but there are some that
won’t.


CLASSIC NEW ZEALAND RIVERS
The website www.packraftingtrips.nz has descriptions of the suitability of a number of rivers for packrafting. Rivers change all the time
and new log hazards are impossible to predict
and won’t necessarily be in trip descriptions;
ask the local kayak club for advice – don’t just
jump in a river with fingers crossed.
It’s very easy to float beyond your ability in a
packraft as they’re naturally stable. Paddle a dozen easy Grade 1 and 2 rivers before contemplating any with Grade 3 rapids; Grade 3 plus rivers
are for experienced and trained packrafters
only. Taking some lessons may seem unnecessary but there are a range of paddle strokes
and techniques that become essential to avoid
hazards in higher grades of white water.
THREE CLASSIC NZ PACKRAFT HUNTS
These are selected because they offer long
trips and great hunting. They all pass through
some private land, so check and be sure you
know where you can hunt and camp.
The Ngaruroro – this one can be as long as
you like: park and walk from Kuripapango
then float out for a day; walk to Rocks Ahead
and float for days; walk two days; (or fly in) to

the headwaters and take a leisurely week with
rod and rifle staying in a new hut every night.
Catch some trout and knock over a sika. This

river needs high flows, so what better time
than after a late spring flood.
The Motu – an epic paddle through great hunting grounds; this would make a mean roar trip. A
mate reports getting the fright of his life on this
river – a stowed rifle appeared in the packraft behind him and despatched one of a mob of pigs
he’d glided past without noticing. The first thing
he knew was an enormous unexpected bang
and then a warm sensation in his wetsuit.
The Clarence – a magic trip for late March
with the last salmon running, temperatures
still reasonable and maybe a stag or two roaring as the crisp autumn evenings arrive. Flows
can be low in summer. Negotiate access from
all manner of directions and maybe collect
a chamois on the walk in. Again, trip options
exist from days to weeks. Legendary packrafter Dulkara Martig did an epic weekend trip
with Peter Doonan, climbing Tapuae-o-Uenuku from the Awatere then descending to the
Clarence and packrafting out.

PROVEN

Rivers change
all the time and
new log hazards
are impossible to
predict and won’t
necessarily be in
trip descriptions;
ask the local kayak
club for advice –
don’t just jump in

a river with fingers
crossed.

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25