Thread: Woodhill Ballot

So tell me your thoughts, is this pretty mcuh rigged for NZDA members only get chosen in the ballot or is it an honest draw?
ive heard through a couple of people that it can be bias so just thought id throw it out there and ask.

I'll be lookign at becoming a member before close of ballot this year but just felt last year after what i heard and saw who had been drawn in the ballot it seemd that way.

im not looking to stir things up , im genuinely asking,

cheers B!

Quite a few years back I drew Block 6 for the second weekend which was good, seen 16 deer and a large pig, was a good day on the hill. Don't know what it's like these days.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I'm not a member of the Steer Dorkers and I have drawn a block five times out of about 10 draws. So I would say its pretty fair.

Oh yeah sweet as , good to know!

Lol @ steer dockers!

By my observation the draw seems to be fair and reasonable. We have entered this ballot every couple of years since 1994 and managed to secure a dozen or so very memorable days up there. In one stretch we did 5 consecutive years, then missed out for a couple of years. The deer numbers appear to have increased - either that or my skills have improved. As luck would have it we've only ever shot a couple of deer however there have been many opportunities to sit and observe them moving around the blocks. On the last trip two years ago we saw more than 70 deer on our block. The year before that we saw over 60, most of them at dusk.

If you go in with the attitude that you're heading up there for a nice days' walk in the forest and that securing a deer is just a nice a bonus, then you won't be disappointed. It's a great way to spend a winters day when instead you might only be sitting in front of the TV or strolling the mall.

While I've not personally had the opportunity to use their "take a kid hunting" option, I commend the committee for bringing this to fruition and I hope plenty of hunters take up this excellent way to get kids into our recreation.

Get into it.

wow thats huge numbers!

As i love the feeling of just getting out and walking around the bush I think ill have the right mind set,
and im also looking to register my 12yr old for "take a child" day so lets see,

fingers crossed for 2017 !

My mate was on the committee & he went 5yrs without drawing a block so it's defiantly not rigged, it's drawn under police supervision.

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

My mate was on the committee & he went 5yrs without drawing a block so it's defiantly not rigged, it's drawn under police supervision.

That's nice to hear... not so much for your mate, of course, but for the peace of mind for everyone else.

I have participated in the Woodhill draw, and it's definitely not rigged. Didn't notice anyone in police uniform there, but I didn't know everyone present personally either, so one might have been police - I don't know for sure. Several people there had participated every year for years, and hadn't been drawn for ages. It's a busy ballot, lots of entries. The local iwi now own it, and they are putting the prices up. I would expect less entries as a result of the higher cost, so although more expensive, you'll stand a better chance of getting a block.

Originally Posted by BLABLANZ

wow thats huge numbers!

As i love the feeling of just getting out and walking around the bush I think ill have the right mind set,
and im also looking to register my 12yr old for "take a child" day so lets see,

fingers crossed for 2017 !

Good on you and good luck for the draw. The cost has put me off this year so your chances just increased.



We've found the best way to see lots of deer is to suss out a commanding position, get out the binoculars and just sit and watch. Sometimes you might not be able to shoot the deer from where you sit but at least you can enjoy watching them move around. You'll see small family groups wandering around right on dusk but they're pretty skittish - as you would be - so keep movements to a minimum.

Play by the rules and you'll have a great day out.

Originally Posted by BLABLANZ

So tell me your thoughts, is this pretty mcuh rigged for NZDA members only get chosen in the ballot or is it an honest draw?
ive heard through a couple of people that it can be bias so just thought id throw it out there and ask.

I'll be lookign at becoming a member before close of ballot this year but just felt last year after what i heard and saw who had been drawn in the ballot it seemd that way.

im not looking to stir things up , im genuinely asking,

cheers B!

I will PM you when the ballot draw is to take place so that you can come along and see for yourself. Make sure you can write legibly as you will be expected to help fill out the notifications to the successful ballotees.

The only rider to the invitation is that the day following the draw, you will be required to ring the people that told you it was rigged and tell them they are full of crap.....

sweet as no worries @Allgood

i lived at the woodhill state forest village from 73-80. many a good time as a kid shooting there

Fingers are still crossed that one day i'll finally get drawn, i was also starting to wonder if it was rigged

Surprise fucking surprise....not drawn again this year but see some very familiar names from last year and the year before.... still think this BS is rigged...