Hunter National Training Scheme 

DATES CONFIRMED - weekends of 16 & 17th Sept, 30th Sept & 1st Oct and 6th - 8th Oct 

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:

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

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

Cost per person $450.00 (Incl GST),

Includes:-

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

Weekend 1 (16th and 17th Sept 2023):

Saturday, all day, start time 8:30am

Location - Queenstown TBC

Welcome, housekeeping and introductions.  All you need to bring is pen/pencil and paper for taking notes, and your lunch.  We will supply the tea, coffee, biscuits and course manuals.  Course modules covered:

• Ethics, Ecology & Regulations
• Game Animal Species in New Zealand
• Meat, Skins & Trophies
• Hunting Techniques
• Firearms Selection, Safety & Marksmanship

Sunday, start time 8:30am and done early afternoon

Location - local hobby farm, details to be distributed on the Saturday

Hands-on butchery session and knife sharpening

Weekend 2 (30th Sept & 1st OCt 2023):

Saturday, all day, start time 8:30am

Location - Queenstown TBC

Another full classroom day.  Course modules covered:

• Equipment & Food
• Travel & Navigation
• When Things Go Wrong (Emergency management)

Sunday, most of the day, start time 8:30am

Location - local rifle range, details to be distributed on the Saturday

• Full day using a range of different firearms
• Firearms safety
• Sighting in
• Shooting positions and techniques
• Firearms maintenance/cleaning

Weekend 3 (6th, 7th & 8th Oct 2023):

Friday

Meet at the pre arranged accommodation 7pm (about 2 hours from Queenstown).  Arrive 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