Updates from the Southern Lakes Branch 

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May 2023 Newsletter 

MAY 25

Next Meeting

Agenda for the next club night

6.30pm Pot Luck Dinner

7.45pm AGM (voting in new committee)

8.00pm Meeting starts (Shortened tonight)

8.45pm Beer and food refills

9.00pm Meeting attendance prizes drawn 

9.15pm Judging & Results of Antler, Tusk & Horn Competition

9.30pm Drinks and Social Catch up

10.30pm End of meeting

CLUB MEETING VENUE
Arrowtown Bowling Club, 6 Hertford Street,
(Next to Arrowtown Firestation) 

Pot Luck Dinner next meeting

It's cold & dark and so what better to do than bring a dish (doesn't have to be game animal based) and catch up on hunting stories!

The May meeting is our pot luck meal and AGM. This is a great social event to catch up with members you may not have seen for a while.

Bring a dish, your partner or family member for a 6.45pm (ish)  dinner before the AGM and prize draws.

Every time you attend a meeting, your name goes in the hat for a prize*:- 

• $1000 worth of Hunting and Fishing vouchers up for grabs
• Hunting Items giveaway 
• Club Shirt and Hat 

The only rules are that you must be a paid up member and be at the AGM to collect your prize. We have special draws for juniors but due to the lateness of the meeting, they do not have to be there anymore, (we changed that a few years ago) only their family member (parent etc).

Please label your plate if you want it back.

* Very sadly the ballots we used to offer have dried up (some due to change of station managers and some due to mis-use of the land by NZDA members - not necessarily our branch)
Anyway as we promised something we have swapped ballots for prizes this year and will see what we can sort for next year

Reading on your phone?
If you are reading the newsletter on your phone, be sure to look out for the "View Entire Message" link at the end so you don't miss out on the info.

Alternatively read it online

Antler, Horn and Tusk Competition

The annual club competition for antler, horn and tusks is at the next meeting on the 25th May. 

This is where we judge trophies against the Douglas Score shot by members over the last 12 months, and any suitable for the national competition are entered in that too.

How to enter

There are no formal entry forms for the local competition night - you just turn up with a clean trophy (no maggots please!) however we try to get these scored in advance so less to do on the night.

Horns don't take to much time to score but fallow and a large set of red antlers do.

You can drop them off at 24 Herries Lane in Lake Hayes Estate with a sheet of paper containing your name, when and where you shot it, (rough area) and your phone number. We are holding a Douglas Score evening at Herries lane on Monday night if you want to bring yours over.

If you won a trophy or cup last year, could you please arrange to return it so that Alex can get it engraved.

In past years, we have often had no entrants in many categories as everyone thinks theirs is not going to be worth bringing in or score high enough, but it's a great chance to bring in your antlers, horns, tusks etc however big or small and a great chance to recount your story and show them off.

You never know you could win the trophy by default being the only entrant, especially in the goat, tusks and junior categories.

Winners from last year are shown on the website under photos

Categories for trophies, (remembering you have to be "in it to win it")

• Red Deer
• Tahr
• Chamois
• Fallow
• Goat
• White Tail deer
• Wapati 
• Pig Tusks
• Best Head overall
• Junior Trophy
• Ladies Trophy

National Competition
If you want to enter your head into the NZDA national competitions, you will need to download the official National NZDA form on the website and get a member of the committee to sign it for you.

Permit Reminder

You need to apply for an open hunting permit EVERY 4 months.

You used to be able to just renew your last one but due to data protection worries the Department of Conservation are erring on the side of caution and not storing your data at the moment - hence you have to reapply each time.

Christopher Luxon - Next Friday in Alexandra

The Central Otago Branch have received an invitation to met with the Leader of the Opposition in person on Friday 26th of May at 11:30 A.M. in the Alexandra Memorial Hall,  Skird Street Alexandra

If anyone is keen to be a representative from our club please head on over

The Central Otago branch have asked that you don't wear camo clothing and leave your angry face at the door.. they want to make a good impression "as fair and reasonable people that want to enjoy our sport without being treated like criminals"

Firearms register

This is a copy of an email from the police that you should have received

As of 24 June 2023, New Zealand will have a new Firearms Registry. The Arms Amendment Regulations were published on Thursday 11 May and provide the details on how the Registry will work.

If you're a firearms licence holder, you’re required to provide information about your arms items from 24 June 2023.

The Registry will help us make New Zealand safer by making it harder for firearms to fall into the hands of criminals, gangs, and terrorists.

It will also give licence holders more confidence when buying or selling firearms as the Registry will let you know if you're dealing with a current licence holder and if the firearm has been reported stolen.

You must tell us about any arms items in your possession within 5 years.

There will be no charge for registering your arms items.

You have until 24 June 2028 to register your arms items. However, there are activating circumstances where you will need to provide information to the Registry within a shorter time frame. When one of these circumstances happen, we’ll let you know what you need to do. However, it’s up to you to keep your information up to date.

Go to www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/registry for more information.

Examples of circumstances where you will need to provide information to the Registry within a shorter time frame

• Applying for a licence or endorsement

• Notifying us of a change of circumstance, such as a change of address

• Selling, hiring, purchasing or receiving an arms item

• Importing, exporting or manufacturing an arms item

• Theft, loss or destruction of an arms item

• You are subject to any compliance or enforcement action under the Arms Act.

What needs to be registered

• non-prohibited firearms (including Specially Dangerous Airguns)

• prohibited firearms

• pistols

• restricted weapons.

Details needed to register your arms items

• Type (rifle, shotgun, etc)

• Make

• Model

• Action

• Calibre/gauge

• Identifying marking (serial number)

Register online from 24 June 2023

You can quickly and easily register an arms item on our website at any time from 24 June. Just go to www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz and click on MyFirearms. Otherwise, our Registry and Services team will be available by phone to help during business hours.

For more information on Te Tari Pūreke | Firearms Safety Authority and any legislative or regulation changes that may affect you, go to www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz

Ngā mihi

The Deerstalkers Code of Ethics - A good reminder

A member of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated will be expected to;

1. Approach recreational hunting from the highest possible level of ethics, having due regard to the welfare of the animals hunted, and prevention of cruelty to the same

2. Not hunt or carry a firearm on property without the proper approval of the owner, occupier of controlling authority and shall strictly observe any conditions imposed upon him

3. Be a responsible firearms owner and abide by current Firearms Laws

4. Avoid unnecessary or deliberate damage to the environment, respect property, and other users of the outdoors

5. Advocate sensible conservation practices at all times and promote New Zealand’s biodiversity ‘in situ’ 

6. Practice the Field Guidelines when out hunting

7. Be exemplary members of NZDA by promoting and abiding by its Rules, Field Guidelines and this Code of Ethics.

Club Trip to Te Anau show

Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd July 2023

At the last meeting we discussed organising a club trip to Te Anau to visit this show. The Southland Branch have a house in Te Anau which we are investigating renting with share rides and maybe a shoot at the Fiordland Firearms Club Range

Save the date - More info coming soon 

The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF) and Te Anau are opening up for a weekend to beat the winter blues.

Guest speakers, seminars, hunting comp, good food and beer! It’s all there.

The Trade Fair will feature a wide variety of exhibitors showcasing the latest gear and equipment, including hunting rifles, bows, and accessories, as well as outdoor clothing and footwear. Visitors will have the opportunity to talk to experts in the field, learn about new products, and compare different brands.

For those interested in hunting, there will be demonstrations and seminars on a range of topics, including conservation, survival skills, animal tracking, and ethical hunting practices.

Experienced hunters will share their knowledge and answer questions from attendees, making the Trade Fair an invaluable learning experience for those looking to improve their hunting skills.

"So, whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just looking to learn more about the great outdoors, the Winter Wapiti Weekend is the perfect event for you. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with like-minded people, learn from the experts, and experience the best of what Fiordland has to offer."

Recent Greenstone Working Bee

The annual April trip to the Mid Greenstone hut saw some of our members visit the area for the first time. This is a great asset for the club and even if not hunting, there is some great fishing during November to May and it's a great location to take the family for a hike.

Thanks to everyone that helped out last week - we got some more stoat traps checked, chopped firewood, cleaned windows, and of course got some hunting in.

We do have a 'members only' wardens quarters (double bed and single bunk) so if anyone is keen to get away for a few days, hike in, spend a few days up there and check the hut/ keep an eye on things, do let us know. 

Next trip
We have already flown in a replacement double gazed window to fit to the Greenstone and need to paint the Caples Hut so we are looking to do that in September

So save the dates 20th - 30th Sept 2023 as this is when we will plan another trip in to do traps and maintenance and of course more hunting opportunities available.

Upper Caples Hut

Hunting and Wildlife Magazine

You can order your
printed copy of NZDA
Hunting & Wildlife Magazine
and have it delivered to your
home address

www.nzda.shop

$12.95 per issue + postage

Back issues of the magazine are also available for purchase.

Don't forget to send in your hunting images & stories. Vouchers received for articles published

RESULTS OF THE CLUB PHOTO COMPETITION

Section A - Trophy Animals (dead)

1st - Katie Dugan

2nd - Katie Dugan

3rd - David Veitch

Section B2 - Game Animals (live)

1st - David Veitch

2nd - Sarah Veitch

3rd - Kerrin Bernnard

Section B - Other Wildlife 

1st - Kerrin Bernnard

2nd - Pete Henderson

3rd - Kerrin Bernnard

Section C - Scenic

1st - Katie Dugan

2nd - Kerrin Bernnard

3rd - David Veitch

Section D - Flora

1st - Kerrin Bernnard

2nd -  Katie Dugan

3rd - Kerrin Bernnard

Section E - Human Interest

1st - Pete Henderson

2nd - Katie Dugan

3rd - Katie Dugan

If you won a trophy or cup last year, could you please arrange to return it so that Alex can get it engraved.

The GAC released the NZ Red Stag Ageing Guide - a free downloadable guide to assist hunters better age red stags in the field and ultimately help manage New Zealand’s red deer herds. The guide provides information to help judge red stag maturity based on some key characteristics and comparisons.

Reference Guide - NZDA Branches and Members on Arms Amendment Regulations 2021.

Storage and Transport Manual for NZDA Branches and Members.

General Enquiries

   info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz

  021 942 328

PO Box 1648, Queenstown, 9348

Club Bank Account

ASB: 12-3405-0071329-00

Branch Committee and Contacts

Stoats Traps
   Simon Brackstone     021 949 669
   Liz Mathieson  021

Advocacy (Hunter Access)
  Dave Rider      021 969 350

Trophy Custodian
   Alex Ritchie       021 0248 7086

Douglas Scorers
   Katie Dugan
   Shaun Moloney
   Wayne Patterson
   Phil Ballam
   Callum King
   Aaron Shaw

Extra Committee Members
   Nick Haprov      021 176 5938
   Andy Pedley       021 606 545
   Stephen Dobinson   027 553 3991

Social Media - join us..........

Alternatively connect with other members in the private facebook chat group