NZ Hunter

We sure are getting some pretty mixed up weather at the moment! Antler growth and animal condition appears slow this spring everywhere we've been despite the warmer conditions - go figure! This editorial is one of bouquets and brickbats. First up, the Sika Show this year was a huge success and that must be a massive relief for Mike and John the new organisers after two cancelled years due to Covid. The venue was excellent, despite my reservations about having to drive two hours further north past Taupo… having most of the exhibitors inside undercover made it far more pleasant than the tents of the old Taupo Sika Shows, where it turned into a quagmire if it rained, and a sauna when the sun came out! Yes, a lot of the…

Visit www.nzhunter.co.nz for this issue's “Spot the Logo” Competition. Two prizes of $100 H&F vouchers to be won You are looking for HI GREG I see the new 7mm PRC is out now. What do you think of it? CHEERS, BRAD HI BRAD Well we haven't had the chance to play with one yet, but here are the basic specs. It has the same .532” base diameter as the 6.5 and 300 PRC, but is 2.230” long as opposed to 2.030” 6.5 and 2.580” of the 300. The water capacity is listed as 78gns verses 82gns for the 7mm Rem Mag. The closest cartridge in capacity to the 7mm PRC is the very similar although slightly longer and fatter 2.350” × .545” base diameter 7mm Blaser. If you load them all to the same pressure,…

We were successful in my first choice and secured the Wild Natives block for the second period. After a few months spent planning, asking questions and studying maps we were finally in Te Anau ready for our adventure to begin. After briefing we spent the evening chatting over a couple of beers to a folk with varying amounts of experience in Wapiti country, and were eager to get amongst it. The early morning flight from Te Anau Downs was spectacular - flying over such rugged and huge country really is breath taking, and indescribable. We bid farewell to Snow and went about Setting up our base camp, accompanied by the inevitable relentless, sandflies that we had been warned about. The stags were roaring quite well up the valley, so no time was…

That evening was a real highlight after what had been an amazing first half of the ten days - a hot meal of backsteaks on the tent stove and a few cold beers in the warmth of the tent in Stark contrast to the previous few nights. The following morning we decided we'd push out to the head of the Sound and maybe even try to catch a fish. Leaving camp midmorning we just cruised along with our cameras taking our time, roaring in a beautiful young bull near the river not far from the Sound. He was a magnificent young fella and came in nice and close for photos and video before cruising off. A short while later we arrived where the salt water was meeting the fresh. A clear…

What's your idea of a big adventure? The type of trip that makes you wonder if what you're feeling is excitement or nerves? A mission that has you asking a few questions that will only be answered once you're out there? At 7pm on Thursday night my fiancée dropped me at Klondyke Corner in Arthur's Pass. Thankfully the rain we'd been driving through seemed to clear the second she turned the engine off. Carrington Hut was the aim for the night, and four to five hours up the Waimakariri riverbed would see me there for the night. Thank goodness for the perks of a good headtorch - my ledlenser has never let me down. I needed to get to Carrington because I had a big day planned for Friday - up and through…

The plan for this year was relatively simple. Four of us would rendezvous on the West Coast, fly in, and follow some famous footsteps out over a week. This trip was a great success but the calibre of stags we were seeking eluded us. I ended up back home with two days of leave up my sleeve, so I changed out gear and was back up the hill to spot closer to home. I did the usual walk, climb, and burn gravy thing and found myself on a knob watching some promising tussock and bushline below me. With a couple of hours remaining before dark I threw on a puffer and settled in behind the binoculars. This was one of those times that reminds me why I love the roar. Within…