Thread: The Deer Culler's apprentice Episode 9 - NZ Hunter Adventures 8.30pm tonight!

Ah, the old Optimus stoves - man they could put out some heat. Still got mine even though I went to gas canister long long time ago. Last used the Optimus to melt lead to cast some projectiles. They used to occasionally throw a hissy fit and turn into a flame thrower.

My very original pack was wooden framed but my mates was tubular and had the ability to be filled with white spirits for the stoves.

That old guy was still bloody fit.

It brought back a lot of memories, but I always used a frame pack and not one of those frameless back-breakers. I got rid of my bloody dangerous white spirit stove as soon as the canned gas ones came out. Anson D-ring boots with instep tricounis (for wet tree roots etc) and steel heel and toe plates (for wet rocks and ice), and a Swanni. That gear seemed pretty good in the late '60's, but the modern stuff is wonderful and only a fraction of the weight. My SMLE was fitted with a scope and was perfectly useful to 250 metres. They downplayed the performance of the .303, but it was and still is, a good cartridge. The rifle was the determining factor. The NZFS issued hollow-pointed ex-military ammo with corrosive primers. Then, as now, lack of proper rifle maintenance killed most rifles.

Yep the tricounis were the bis. Virtually wore out one set in one weeks trip up the Godley. Probably most wear due to running down shingle slides. They bloody hurt when you raked your leg with them.
The instep trices were of most use back in my home hunting areas particulalarly when hunting thru manuku that had been cut and laying on the ground - averted many a slip.

I guess the frameless kidney rotter on the show was loosely called the Pikau? Although when I started some of the old guys just used a sugar bag with a rope knotted at the bottom corners and the top drawn in as a day pack.

Those Tararua conditions were very tough and I thought the Duley's have consistently given very useful messages about a wide range of challenges encountered in wild NZ and how to manage those conditions competently throughout this series. I still have my second optimus white spirit cooker and one mountain mule pack and a couple of moth-eaten old original swanni's . Two styles of boots, one set with tricounis and hobs, the other were lace-up gumboots with horseshoe nails fitted toe and heel and holes in the instep to let the water out.. Just underdaks and swanni were the standard attire. A woolen bush singlet underneath if things were really shitty.
Well done the Duley's. I think your series was excellent.

Very enjoyable watch, & nice shooting by both of them.

Originally Posted by Woody

Those Tararua conditions were very tough and I thought the Duley's have consistently given very useful messages about a wide range of challenges encountered in wild NZ and how to manage those conditions competently throughout this series. I still have my second optimus white spirit cooker and one mountain mule pack and a couple of moth-eaten old original swanni's . Two styles of boots, one set with tricounis and hobs, the other were lace-up gumboots with horseshoe nails fitted toe and heel and holes in the instep to let the water out.. Just underdaks and swanni were the standard attire. A woolen bush singlet underneath if things were really shitty.
Well done the Duley's. I think your series was excellent.

Yes, I remember a couple of old timers with sugar bag pikaus. I never used the Mountain Mule as they were expensive, but I had a wooden framed Trapper Nelson. My old swannis are a bit tight these days! I was 12 stone back in the day and am now just over 16 stone (but getting fit again!).

Just watched it & yeah another great episode, Derek's a fit old mountain goat alright & good on him & the team for putting in the effort to preserve the old Cullers huts

Greg has put a comment on fishnhunt about the particular 303 they used, they tried 4 different 303's before they found one that grouped OK. The one they used grouped 4" at 100 yds, so they wanted to limit shots to 150 yds. So their range limitations were rifle limitations rather than cartridge.

great watch , especially good to get Derek's perspective and insight into "the good ol days". Lucky you boys got off those tops before you got blown off them.

SaturdY night it usually reruns.
Havnt seen this episode just yet, but is recorded so, quiet moment and I will flick it on

Can't wait till the waterfowling episode

what is the calibre gun set up of the duleys and silencer etc does anyone know.
Awesome viewing

.284 super pig and probably a dpt

Always a good watch. @GregD
Keep up the good work, I'd love it if you could spent a minute to talk about your rifle and caliber choices on the show.

Yeah, great series this last one Greg, and nice for the Tararuas to finally make a guest appearance - and in such good form too .

Derrick is a bit of a legend in these parts. If I run into him quite a bit when out there, just how much time does he spend in the Tararuas !