Hunter National Training Scheme 

The Hunter National Training Scheme (HUNTS) course is delivered by The Southern Lakes New Zealand Deerstalkers Association instructors and is designed to introduce new hunters to the skills needed to hunt below the snowline.

Experienced hunters may find value in some sections of the course. A Firearms licence is not necessary. This is ideal for anyone wishing to learn about hunting.

Course Contents:

• Essential bush skills
• River safety
• Firearm safety in a hunting context
• Practical shooting and hunting ballistics
• Hunting techniques
• Species knowledge
• Game utilization (skinning, butchering, etc)

Participants must have a reasonable level of physical fitness and access to personal tramping equipment.

Cost per person $450.00 (Incl GST) includes membership if not already a member

Includes:-

• HUNTS Manual
• Ammunition
• Hunting trip travel & accommodation (food not included)

WEEKEND 1:

Saturday & Sunday (all day)

Start time generally 8am

One full day in the classroom plus one full day doing butchery demonstration

Course outline and objectives:

• Fill in applications etc
• Module 1 - Ethics, Ecology & Regulations
• Module 4 - Game animal species in NZ
• Module 7 - Meat, skins & trophies
• Module 6 - Hunting techniques
• Module 5 - Firearms selection, safety & marksmanship

WEEKEND 2:

Saturday & Sunday (all day)

Start time generally 8am

One full day in the classroom plus one full day on the shooting range

Course outline and objectives:

• Module 2 - Equipment & food
• Module 3 - Travel & navigation
• Module 8 - When things go wrong

WEEKEND 3:

Friday

Meet at the pre arranged accommodation 7pm (about 1 hour from Queenstown)

Meet with all your gear—we will let you know what you will need to bring.

Saturday

Hunt all day ,some bushcraft/ navigation.

Sunday

River safety/ River crossing exercise, You WILL get wet!

Travel Home.

Graduation:

You will be invited along to the club meeting on successful completion of your course and presented with a certificate