Trap Checking and Maintenance and RHA Ballot Hunting- Steele Creek & Mid Greenstone Hut
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This is another great chance for new or inexperienced members to come along and learn with experienced club members. The primary focus of this trip is to do several trap monitoring rounds including 5-minute bird call counts.
There is little to no maintenance required for the hut so we will be able to do hunts for a large portion of the trip. it is also the start of the school holidays so bring the kids for some outdoor education.
This is a great chance to get to know fellow club members over a whisky/beer/wine or juice round the table at night.
These trips are always a popular and fun event .
The club has the Steele Creek RHA Ballot as part of our management agreement with DOC so there is ample opportunity for hunting as well when the work is done. There are some limitations on the number of rifles per day and we would coordinate that when we have final numbers so get in early.
No firearms licence?
You are more than welcome to come along too - these are perfect opportunities to learn more in a safe and professional environment in a relaxed learning setting.
Work planned
We plan to achieve the following during this working bee
- Checking/baiting the traps along the greenstone bush edge and Steele Creek valley
- Service the AI Traps with fresh bait.
- Trap - (Leg hold) for possums - so skins and fur are available if you would like to make some money.
- Eat, drink and be merry..
- Splitting firewood if required
- minor track clearing up and downstream of the hut to clear some minor windfall.
It is pretty casual, and we aim to make it social and it's a great place to de-stress by being in the backcountry :-).
Hunting opportunities
The club has the Steele Creek RHA Ballot over this time so if you are keen, we try our best to share these out among everyone helping out. So everyone gets a hunt in if they want one.
See here for hunting info
(We will sort the hunting permits on your behalf, but we do need your Firearms Licence and contact details in the registration)
Getting there
Ideally walking in is preferred however we can arrange to fly in and out.
The Mid Greenstone hut would be our main base however the Steele creek hut is also available on a first in first served basis as well and a team can head up there for a few days if they wish.
The club subsidises the helicopter so it's $200 per adult each way and $50 per child (under 15) each way and $30 for gear one way if you want to walk and have your pack and gear flown in.
We will co-ordinate flights for set days and times with full choppers coordinated there is a minimum of 4 pax per flight. This will be refined closer to the time if we do not have enough pax per flight then sorry we will be walking. Flight days and time will be confirmed based on numbers so you may need to have some flexibility on times and maybe days to make this work. Failing that you have legs and can walk....
Walking requires you to park at the Greenstone DOC carpark.
Flying is from the Glenorchy airfield on the other side of the lake. Carpooling is encouraged especially if you want to walk one way and fly another. As above, they leave from very different locations, that you cannot walk to/from.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP
You must be a paid up current member of the NZDA to get this pricing prior to attending the event as it includes your insurance cover which is required for these trips.
New members/guests are welcome however they will need to join up as member of the club to get this pricing, or an affiliate if an NZDA member of another branch. If not then the cost of Heli flights at full non discounted rate and a daily hut accommodation fee will apply and they will need to arrange their own general liability insurances prior to attending the event.
Helicopter timings
Suggestions of helicopters heading in/out:- NOTE these are not confirmed yet and will be based on those attending and what works best. CLEARLY DETAIL your intentions/availability in the registration form so we can see what can be arranged and works best for everyone. So far based on current registrations the following flights are scheduled,
- late Saturday afternoon the 20th Sept.
- late Thursday the 25th
- Late Sunday the 28th
- PLEASE be clear on your registration if other days are more suitable or you are flexible as we can rearrange the flights to suit if needed.
- and remember you can walk in anytime.
What time does the heli fly?
as above the rough time frame is provided - Once we get closer to the time and have confirmed numbers we will email the times of the helicopters and further details. Again let us know if you are restricted on certain dates with work hours in your registration comments
What do I bring?
Your hunting gear, boots, hut shoe/slippers, gun and transporting firearms security bits, food for you, clothes, towel, toiletries, sleeping bag/under sheet, working gloves, tools (will be advised closer to the time). A willingness to have fun, get involved and enjoy being in the bush with like-minded people.
If someone wants to come in and be camp cook who sorts the dinners/ lunches/breakfasts for the team or you are fine with a communal meal structure we can coordinate that as well co-ordinate a communal food menu as the kitchen is small. Let Dave know if you are keen
So book your annual leave with work and register to secure your place on what will be another very fun and rewarding trip. it would be cheaper to bring the kids in for a few days rather than daycare!!!
There will be a teams meeting briefing session on the 16th Sept at 7pm to finalise transport and flight day details etc.
Full details and reminders about the online meeting will be emailed nearer the event
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