Thread: Wallaby hunting and PLB use

Hi guys. Im looking for somewhere to regularly get down to the Waimate area for some Wallaby hunting. Day time hunting, mid to long range, open country, walking, 4x4 and could bring the Kubota RTV also for bigger country. I have family in the village at Waimate or could camp etc so plenty of options there.
Would like to make contact with a hunter or farmer down there that can help.
Im a farmer / builder on Banks Peninsula myself.

I got pretty badly beaten up in a big fall hunting in South Westland last month and Im working on the rehab to try and get out hunting again in about a months time hopefully.
Just thought I should try to arrange a hunt somewhere a little easier ( wallabies ) to have a goal to work towards !!
Also got given a new DPMS Ar 15 by a nephew and have it reasonably well sorted now so it would be good to get it out in the field.
The 223 will be as big as I can handle for a while as both shoulders are damaged ( among a long list ).

For those of you who have have PLBs ( hopefully most ). I used to think one per party was fine. But now realize that it might be better that everyone has their own ! or at least 2 per party !!
I had the beacon in my pack, I took the fall, my pack was destroyed and the bag with the beacon in it was 50m away from where I ended up.
My hunting companion had to climb down to find it and set it off at considerable risk to himself.
If he had had one also it would have been much safer !
I will now carry it on my body when in serious alpine areas and not on my belt as that's the most likely place for it to be damaged in a big fall.
A lot of my gear was damaged or destroyed but my Blaser K95 took most of the fall with me ( 100m total ) and only the front sight, illumina scope covers and sling were wrecked !! Brand new Swarovski ATX 65 will be winging its way back to Austria soon ( more insurance hassles ) for factory repairs.


Strop rescue by Mt Cook SAR team.


Coming in to the ridge with Dan on the strop with me


On the ridge with Dan. I fell from just below this location and ended up by the small knob just in view by Dan's left shoulder. Its steeper than it looks because the GOPRO used has a wide angle lens


Into the Squirrel and down to Franz Josef to transfer to West Coast rescue helicopter.
Then off to Grey Base hospital for a few days.