Thread: Noob...

1: unknown as i havent hunted the north island in many years
2: 308 will drop anything in nz. plenty of different ammo to choose from too. i've shot many an animal with it but now use 7mmRM. theres many cartridges that will do the job but 308 is a good starter
3: join a club, at least go to a range a few times and get used to the gun you have bought. but joining a club is a good start

.1. There is a book called spot x. I've never read it not sure if good or not. For general hunting knowledge try to get a copy of lentle and Sexton's red deer in nz. For bushcraft go to nz mountain safety council website and buy the bushcraft manual.
2. Many calibers are good. 308 or 7mm08 . In south island arguably 270 and 30.06 more ideal. Use plenty of gun when you first start. Get something you can easily buy ammo for over the counter.
3. NZDA run a hunter training course HUNTS . Or look for tramping club bushcraft courses and go to a rifle range , ask questions, people will usually give helpful advice.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

.1. There is a book called spot x. I've never read it not sure if good or not. For general hunting knowledge try to get a copy of lentle and Sexton's red deer in nz. For bushcraft go to nz mountain safety council website and buy the bushcraft manual.
2. Many calibers are good. 308 or 7mm08 . In south island arguably 270 and 30.06 more ideal. Use plenty of gun when you first start. Get something you can easily buy ammo for over the counter.
3. NZDA run a hunter training course HUNTS . Or look for tramping club bushcraft courses and go to a rifle range , ask questions, people will usually give helpful advice.

And there are your answers right there. Oh and welcome aboard.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

.1. There is a book called spot x. I've never read it not sure if good or not. For general hunting knowledge try to get a copy of lentle and Sexton's red deer in nz. For bushcraft go to nz mountain safety council website and buy the bushcraft manual.
2. Many calibers are good. 308 or 7mm08 . In south island arguably 270 and 30.06 more ideal. Use plenty of gun when you first start. Get something you can easily buy ammo for over the counter.
3. NZDA run a hunter training course HUNTS . Or look for tramping club bushcraft courses and go to a rifle range , ask questions, people will usually give helpful advice.

Just completed HUNTS course. Was more useful than I could have ever imagined, esp. for someone who has not hunted NZ bush. Real eye-opener. As is NZ bush. Thanks for the recommendation - not the kind of thing I'd normally do. Thanks to Pete, Mike, Steve for running the course.

Got Spot-x book. Read it before bed, sometimes can't sleep due to imaginings of new places to hunt.

Lentle and Sexton's book on the bed side table for when I'm not checking out Spot-x.

License applied for, safe installed, vetting done, seems to be taking forever to arrive.

First solo / self planned trip coming up, depending on when license arrives.

Two current options in mind:
1. Back to Kaimanawas (where we went with HUNTS) but this time to camp somewhere around Te Iringa and hunt Hinemaiaia or Mangatoatoa streams or even over the watershed to the east - river to the north of Tiki tiki. Else Tiki tiki.

2. Check out the Raukumaras. Maybe up Motu river, else speak to the heli guys and see what they'd recommend.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm 10 steps ahead of where I'd be otherwise. Now just got to get the first beast.

Dave.


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