Thread: Hunts courses

Membership for TVDA cost me $80 this year ,Hunts course starts next Monday 1Sept; $150
I'm on the old guy list but am doing the course ,maybe a place left if your keen .
Just a phone call or contact TVDA via their web site

HUNTS PROGRAMME 2014

Monday 1st September 1900 – 2130 Peter/F&G/Bowhunters
Introduction, Ethics and Ecology – Clubrooms
By the end of this evening the participants will:
- be welcomed to the course and introduced
- set individual objectives
- receive an overview of the HUNTS programme and schedule
- receive their course material and discuss contents
- be able to identify stakeholders in New Zealand outdoors and recognize their interests – DOC, Landowners, IWI, Forest owners MSC, SAR and other recreational users
- obtain knowledge of ethics in relation to other stakeholders, the environment and harvestable wildlife
- learn an awareness of the principles of conservation and management of wildlife
Participation by F& G Representative and Bowhunter
Photography-
- learn good practices in photographing trophy animal and general wildlife photography

Monday 15th September 1900 – 2130 Maarten
Navigation Theory
By the end of the evening the participants will have basic facts on:
- navigation in the outdoors in good visibility using a map and compass
- navigation in the outdoors in poor visibility and difficult terrain
- day trips into wilderness areas using off track tramping skills


Saturday 20th September 0800 – 1600
Firearms & Marksmanship - Clubrooms Maarten/Maureen/Peter/Evan
By the end of this day the participants will:
- complete NZMSC firearms safety course and view the “Arms and the License”
Video
- explained statistics on firearms and hunting incidents
- take home “On Target” video/DVD to view prior to hunting weekend
- be able to choose a firearm for a specific purpose
- understand and apply the principles of bullet trajectory
- sight in a rifle for hunting
- understand factors effecting rifle accuracy
- demonstrate a variety of field shooting techniques – position, sighting, breath control, trigger squeeze
- apply target identification and demonstrate bullet placement
- maintain a firearm in the field and at home
- Knife sharpening
- Reloading

Monday 22nd September 1900 – 2130 Peter/Mike/Evan/Maarten
Equipment and Food/Trip Planning – Clubrooms
By the end of this evening the participants will:
- know what clothing to take for the outdoors
- know what food to pack and the volume
- know what equipment is needed to survive in the bush
- know what gear is needed for safety and survival
- complete a trip plan for bush craft weekend
- discuss where to find information on hunting places
-awareness of DoC website for permits and information
- bring a pack with what you need for weekend trip

Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th – October 0800 – 1600 Maarten/Peter/Mike/Evan
Bush craft Weekend - Maratoto Valley
By the end of the bush craft weekend the participants will:
- know what outdoor clothing to wear
- use outdoor equipment
- prepare and cook food while on a hunting trip
- apply camp craft (tenting, fires, and hygiene)
- know how to deal with emergencies, loss of route, ill or injured persons, missing person, overdue party, fatality and SAR
- know the protocols about moving around helicopters/fix wing planes
- basic outdoor first aid
- mountain radios etc.
- butchering video
-Field dress an animal

Saturday 11Th October

Theory River Crossings – Clubrooms MSC – Maarten
- How to cross a river and understand river dynamics and hazards
- Forecasting and interpreting weather
Participate in a MSC River Crossing Training Session
Monday 13th October 1900 – 2130
Big Game Species/ Hunting Techniques
Clubrooms- Peter/ Club Members Panel
By the end of this evening the participants will:
- have learnt about at least two species of deer – their physical characteristics,
habitat and range, seasonal variations, availability
- see a representative head measured using the Douglas Score
- be able to identify footprints, droppings and other sign for representative game and other species
- know about basic hunting techniques for a specified game animal – Stalking, use of wind and air currents, positive identification, tracking wounded animals, use of senses (smell, sound etc)
- know the best areas to look for deer
- know how to positively identify your target
- listen to basic roaring techniques
- understand bullet placement to achieve clean dispatch



Monday 20 October 1900 – 2130
Trophy & Meat – Clubrooms-Peter/Mark
By the end of this evening the participants will:
- have seen a demonstration on field dressing
- have learnt appropriate meat recovery techniques in specified situations
- have gained knowledge of meat cuts and cooking methods
- told how to care for a trophy head and skin in the field
- Final arrangements


Saturday 25th October Monday 27th October – Club Members
Hunting Weekend – - 1 Adult Hunter/Participant
By the end of the hunting weekend the participants will:
- complete an overnight camping/hunting trip
-have tramped into camping site and helicopter out
- Select a camp site – proximity to a hunting area, wind direction, water and shelter, drainage
- Establish a fly camp – tent/fly erection, cooking, fire risk, toileting, environment care code
- apply hunting techniques by animal behaviour, season, time of day and weather conditions
- follow a set of fresh tracks
- demonstrate basic stalking techniques
- demonstrate correct (hilar kill zone) shot placement
- kill a big game animal
- be able to track and finish off a wounded animal
- remove and identify all offal and dispose of appropriately
- autopsy an animal for disease and estimate the age
- prepare a whole animal for packing out
- photograph animal/trophy
- remove the cape and head of an animal
- skin a whole animal
- sharpen a hunting knife
- butcher a big game animal and prepare meat for the freezer
- Hunt from a fly camp – navigation, use of binoculars, wind direction

Time to be arranged
Debriefing –Peter/Maarten
-A time for all to consider and reflect what they have learnt on the course and share their thoughts and feelings with the instructors and each other.
-Complete evaluation forms

October Club Night 29th 1930 – 2100
Course Celebration and presentation of certificate at Club Night
By the end of this evening the participants will:
- Share stories and photographs
- receive course certificates

***** These dates and times are subject to alteration if circumstances require
i.e. weather conditions, unavailability of instructors or unforeseen circumstances.

Wow, I haven't looked in to doing a course yet but I might have too when time permits. That sounds impressive.