Issue 48 - Aug/Sep 2015

The middle of winter is the time of year when a lot will be tucked up round a warm fire, but if you pick your weather, there are still lots of hunting opportunities to be had. 

Chasing tahr and chamois in the snow on clear frosty days is always a delight – so long as you have the right gear! You’ve only got about a month left at the most for a Red stag with antlers on, but there’s still plenty of time for most North Island only species. Sika are the first to drop their antlers at the end of September, and its still prime rutting time for Sambar and Rusa for a quite few weeks yet. 

Of course if you are after meat, a hind/female is a far better proposition than a stag/male of any species this time of year, as generally they will be in far better condition.

This issue we have...

• Landsborough bull tahr by bow
  
• Two 12 pointers from the East Coast
  
• Our expedition trip gear list
  
• Simon’s Dark River Wapiti expedition
  
• Jonny takes Georgi the Jafa hunting
  
• Matt starts a photographic series on NZ’s native birds
  
• Rob’s 14 pointer
  
• The Back Ridge Butcher builds a hunter’s home away from home
  
• Deer Dogs must read training roundup
  
• Spotting scopes 101 – why you need one, how to use one and what to buy
  
• Waikaia stag with a hernia
  
• New Zealand hunting books
  
• Know your bush – hebes
  
• Run & Gun for ducks
  
• Poaching – hunter’s OCD
  
• Herds of special interest – the GAC calls for recommendations
  
• A tribute to Hamish – Doing it with Dad 
  

Test Fires:

• Swarovski X5 Long Range scope
  
• Bullseye Target Camera
  

Spot the Logo Competition Winners

The Spot the Logo winners for Issue 47 are Roger Wilson and Tony Stewart. The logos were in the Hardy Engineering ad on page 15 and the Toast Master ad on page 35.

Just a heads up, the NZ Hunter Live Duck and Goose calling competition will be at the Sika Show this year, as the Tahr Show is having a year off. See the What’s New in this issue, or visit www.nzhunter.co.nz or www.sika-show.co.nz for more information. 

Don’t forget the Sika Show on September 26/27, see you all there!

Greg

Greg Duley, Editor, NZ HUNTER magazine