NZ Hunter

New Zealand’s premier hunting and outdoor magazine . For everything hunting - adventures, tips, how-tos, and reviews of the latest products. A great read with something for everyone.

NZ Hunter

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR • Winter feels like it’s here now, with quite a few snow dumps occurring in May. The roar timing was interesting, generally late in most places with the Sika roar especially seeming more spasmodic with quite a bit of activity well on into May.

CHRONOGRAPH/LABRADAR CLARIFICATION

'TWAS THE WEEK BEFORE EXAMS • "‘TWAS THE WEEK BEFORE EXAMS, WHEN STUDENTS SHOULD STUDY. THE FORECAST WAS CLEAR, SO INSTEAD I RANG MY BUDDY. THE SATELLITE IMAGES SHOWED A GOOD DUMP OF SNOW, WITH A BIG MISSION PLANNED WHO KNEW HOW FAR WE’D GO. WE LOADED THE POOR CAMRY WITH OUR CRAMPONS AND AXE, HOPING TO STOP A GNARLY MOUNTAIN MONSTER IN HIS TRACKS."

NOTHING WRONG WITH A RAIN DAY • Aptly named, The Godley Valley in the high hinterland of South Canterbury is breath-taking in both it’s scenery and it’s bone-chilling winter cold

COLD PARADISE • Winter is an interesting time for hunting. Long nights, short days, snow, ice and all the rest, can make things a little bit unpleasant

THE ULTIMATE, ALL-ROUND NZ HUNTING CARTRIDGE IS IT THE NEW 7MM PRC? PART 2 • Last issue we discussed the parameters around choosing the ultimate NZ hunting mountain hunting cartridge in the most popular NZ hunting rifle – the Tikka T3

12 POINTS FOR PLAYING IT SAFE • Winter seems to be a time when a lot of North Island deer hunters hunker down and light the fire, pour a whiskey and watch hunting shows on YouTube. Let’s be honest, it’s cold out there and the weather is often fairly average, especially in recent times

Genetic Analysis and Archaeological Insight Combine to Reveal the Ancient Origins of the Fallow Deer • Modern populations of fallow deer possess hidden cultural histories dating back to the Roman Empire which ought to be factored into decisions around their management and conservation

BATTLE OF THE BROADHEADS • Broadheads are like beer

Ever Decreasing Circles Finding and Cultivating Your Own Spots • A private message popped up in my inbox

BACKCOUNTRY CONNECTION • In my eyes it's a key ingredient to a backcountry trip. It adds a layer of adventure, and it's a break from the 9-5; a disconnect from emails, texts and notifications. And an opportunity to strip life back and focus on the basics. It's how it's always been, but it likely won't be the way it always is

A TALE OF TWO RAMS • Once farming became more disciplined in the early 1900s, most of these sheep were mustered back into properly fenced stations. However, the wiliest of these sheep were left behind, and they formed small flocks which have sustained themselves to this day.

LIZ SCOTT FWF AND F&B • THE FIRST COLD SNAP OF WINTER HAD DESCENDED ON FIORDLAND AS I JOINED LIZ SCOTT IN HER LIVING ROOM OVERLOOKING LAKE TE ANAU. WITH HANDS CRADLING COSY- HOT CUPS OF TEA, WE GAZED OUT TOWARDS THE CLOUDED PEAKS THAT LATER CLEARED TO REVEAL A FRESH DUSTING OF SNOW

Maximising our hunting opportunities • Better Hunting is a free online training platform built by the Game Animal Council to help hunters upskill and hunt safely and successfully

A HUNT TO REMEMBER • NOT EVERYONE GETS TO SHOOT A MATURE STAG THAT THEY FEEL IS WHAT THEY’VE SPENT MANY YEARS TRYING TO ACHIEVE, BUT I FEEL I HAVE FINALLY GOT THERE. IT MIGHT NOT BE THE 40X40 INCH 12-POINT TYPICAL SCOTTISH HEAD THAT I ALWAYS DREAMED OF FINDING, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY MY BEST HEAD YET, AND I’M RAPT TO HAVE SECURED IT WITH AN AWESOME STALK WHICH MAKES THE TROPHY ALL THE MORE SPECIAL.

THE 'CHEAP' CUTS • Being a chef I’m lucky to have an abundance of neat produce to work with on a daily basis.

GAME...