Thread: Advice for a complete beginner in a new region

I have been reading a lot over the past year in regards to hunting & hiking. I don’t know anyone who hunts and I have moved to the Hawkes Bay where I don’t know many people at all.
I am not too sure on the steps for me to get going or the order they should be in.

I understand that I need:
• Fire arms licence
• Gun Safe
• Firearm
• Tramping/hiking supplies
• A place to go
• Learn how to hunt

So I have a few questions,

Do I need the safe before applying for a licence?

How would you recommend I learn? I don’t want to head out and go solo I want to learn how to hunt! And I wish to do so in a respectable and safe manor. The only thing I have found is a few guided hunting trips, while they would be good I don’t really have the spare cash to spend $500 for 1 day of hunting every time I want to go out.

Any advice is much appreciated, I try to look at the FAQ but the link seams to be broken at the moment.

ipv, welcome.

Keep browsing the site, and follow the conversations. Try following @Been Upto 's progress. He's ahead of you, but has asked questions that should be helpful for you to read.

You'll need to have a gunsafe installed where you live before the arms officer will process your application for a firearms license. He /she will need to inspect it as part of your interview for a license.

If you're starting from scratch, I suggest that becoming a safe shooting companion and a competent shot is a good place to start. Most everybody here will have started hunting by shooting rabbits, hares, and possums.

So: You'll need a place to shoot targets, and after that, a place to shoot rabbits etc.

Start with a .22 and several thousand rounds of hollow point ammo.

Welcome to the forum.
All good advice above but I will add you dont need to have a license to get outdoors and you will learn a lot simply by going for a few walks and keeping your eyes ears and nose open and simply becoming aware of your surroundings/the weather/the wind/the sun.
Living in the bay of hawks I would suggest a compass and a pair of binos would/should be your first purchase after your safe, at least then you can be out hunting with your binos while waiting for your FAL which could take many months.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Welcome to the forum.
All good advice above but I will add you dont need to have a license to get outdoors and you will learn a lot simply by going for a few walks and keeping your eyes ears and nose open and simply becoming aware of your surroundings/the weather/the wind/the sun.
Living in the bay of hawks I would suggest a compass and a pair of binos would/should be your first purchase after your safe, at least then you can be out hunting with your binos while waiting for your FAL which could take many months.

Good point.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

ipv, welcome.

Keep browsing the site, and follow the conversations. Try following @Been Upto 's progress. He's ahead of you, but has asked questions that should be helpful for you to read.

You'll need to have a gunsafe installed where you live before the arms officer will process your application for a firearms license. He /she will need to inspect it as part of your interview for a license.

If you're starting from scratch, I suggest that becoming a safe shooting companion and a competent shot is a good place to start. Most everybody here will have started hunting by shooting rabbits, hares, and possums.

So: You'll need a place to shoot targets, and after that, a place to shoot rabbits etc.

Start with a .22 and several thousand rounds of hollow point ammo.

Thank you, Great Advice. Can I ask, what is a safe shooting companion?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Welcome to the forum.
All good advice above but I will add you dont need to have a license to get outdoors and you will learn a lot simply by going for a few walks and keeping your eyes ears and nose open and simply becoming aware of your surroundings/the weather/the wind/the sun.
Living in the bay of hawks I would suggest a compass and a pair of binos would/should be your first purchase after your safe, at least then you can be out hunting with your binos while waiting for your FAL which could take many months.

Indeed, this is what I was planning to do. Any tips as to good locations in the bay that are not to far from Hastings/Napier? I am planning for a day trip in a couple of weeks.

Originally Posted by ipv

Indeed, this is what I was planning to do. Any tips as to good locations in the bay that are not to far from Hastings/Napier? I am planning for a day trip in a couple of weeks.

Kaweka forest park but locals may have better suggestions.

Originally Posted by ipv

Thank you, Great Advice. Can I ask, what is a safe shooting companion?

There are other things,like:

checking whether your shooting partner has his earmuffs on if you're about to use something noisy like a shotgun, nearby.

Being aware of where your partner is if out in the field, and anticipating what he /she might do, ie stop, move forward, and whether that puts him in front of your firearm, or you in front of his.

These are the things that are part safety/commonsense/courtesy/consideration for others.

While you're working on your firearms licences and later on marksmanship, joining a tramping club is a good way to learn some Bush craft and visit a few places, know where the road ends are and see what the country is like.

Many nzda branches run a course once a year covering very basic Bush craft,trip organisation stalking, shooting and meat management.

Going for a walk, no one will tell you their favourite hunting spot of course but it's not my backyard and I'd suggest a day walk up from makahu saddle to kaweka j and back down another spur if you feel fit or else look up stanfields hut where you can walk in up the riverbed and back out along a high sidle track. Both fairly long walks. For a shorter walk very easy track go up to sunrise hut and back.

Originally Posted by ipv

How would you recommend I learn? I don’t want to head out and go solo I want to learn how to hunt!

I wouldn’t rule out teaching yourself. I did this by reading books and forums and hitting the hills, I think it’s the most rewarding way to do it by far. I still enjoy solo hunting the most, maybe due to this.

Also, the whole guided meat hunt thing is in my opinion the next step above going to the supermarket. It’s a stretch to call it hunting though, assuming this is what you’re referring to.

There are several threads here about recommended books. Start with then mountain safety council bushcraft manual 40 available to buy online:
BUSHM - Bushcraft Manual - Outdoor Skills for the NZ Bush (40) - NZ Mountain Safety
For deer knowledge look for Lentle and Saxton's Red Ddeer in NZ. Older classics are Gary Joll's Big game hunting in NZ and Matt and Bruce Grant's The sharp shooter. Most shooting skills books and online info is focused on specific target shooting disciplines so not everything will apply for NZ hunting. The NZDA HUNTS manual is a great start but unfortunately out of print at the moment.

There are many reputable hunting guides up your way and I would recommend you do a bit of research and consider hiring one for a long weekend. You'll learn more than you can imagine, not just how and where to hunt, but things like gear lists and ethics as well.

Above all, be safe and enjoy yourself.

it may have been mentioned but ask your local NZDA if they are running the hunts course.
my mate in Tauranga did one some years back and learned heaps.
Don't look down on doing a guided free range hunt once or twice, you will learn heaps.
zq

Hi IPV,welcome.If you are keen to meet up as I live in Napoer then I am happy to help you with all your questions.We can even go for a short hunt so you can get the feel for it and see what else you need to start the lovely sport of hunting.

Hey Mate sorry about not replying I didn't see this somehow. Very kind of you to offer that and I will defiantly take you up on the offer.