Thread: Are you a member of NZDA?

I had a look at joining my local club. Thinking it would cost around $100 to join and meet like minded individuals. As Im new to hunting I thought it would be a good way to meet other hunters share a few tips , tricks and stories and hopefully tag along on some hunting trips.

Lets Just say I was shocked to find it was going to cost $210:

One of joing fee $50 (No one can tell me why?)
Adult membership $120
Range Fee $40

Grand Total $210 ?!

All things consideer I will probably join, more for the range than anything else as I have no where to sight my rifle in and practice.

But I find it interesting that I can get all the NZDA offers here on this Forum, except insurance and tropheys. ( Not that Im interested in Tropheys,getting some meat to take home is reward enough for me)

So while I will begrudingly join NZDA , I would like to say thank you to you all for your help and advice , stories and those of you that have let me join you on armed walks.

As a new hunter and member its appreciated.

Mine is only $90 a year. Guess everything is more expensive in Auckland. I would pay the grand total to have 7 day a week access to a range each year.

It ant 7 day access . ITs only weekend access and you have to go and certain times.... Oh living the dream in Auckland ... Not.

only $80 a year for west coast branch

I was a member of the tokoroa NZDA but for what I paid for, the monthly meeting revolved around the Target shooting scene and not much about hunting, no hunts or bushcraft courses were offered or anything that would draw any members to the branch unless you were a hard core target shooter. For me to use a range now I would happily pay to be a member of the tokoroa shooting complex for 7 day a week range access but not the NZDA there for the reason they are not hunting orientated at all except for when it comes deer permit issue time for the pines, other branches do focus on hunting and very few do not. But for now the occasional trip to the taupo NZDA for $2 donation is a good alternative, and keeps me from shooting off too much ammo.

I'm a member, and will be for some time too I expect. The $120 sounds about right (some branches use National to do all their paperwork and pay a fee for it).
$40 for a range is sweet, esppecially in Auckland. We have been without a facility for some time here in Hastings and it sucks.
The joining fee would be the first one I have heard though of and is not the norm.
All in all, good on you for joining up and I hope you meet a bunch of like minded fellas (and gals). NZDA is like a lot of clubs, where you will get out what you put in and as with most hunters don't expect a mariachi band at the front gate heralding your arrival. Make yourself known when you get there (the President or Secretary should see a new face and welcome you to the club on club night anyway) and you should be fine.

I have been a member of the Auckland Club for several years

Where you there on Tuesday for th AGM( I didnt see your fine figure), my first night there was interesting..........

Originally Posted by Rushy

I have been a member of the Auckland Club for several years

No mate I wasn't. My attendance at the club is pretty few and far between (in fact I haven't been for years) and as I never use the range (because I can zero on the farm and have never really been into target shooting) I guess I only really maintain my membership out of habit and to take advantage of the insurance cover if I should ever need it.

I would like to know what the 1 off $50 is for most clubs have gone to membership through head office now so there is not to muxh work for the club itself.
My club is $85 a year and thats it.

Apparently its a one off new joining fee............

Originally Posted by Mohawk660

Apparently its a one off new joining fee............

Yeah i find that a bit of a joke to be fair, we should be encouraging new members into the NZDA and not rouging their pockets before they join.
There is no more work in joining a new member up than renewing an existing member so no need to charge more money.

I'm a member of the Auckland branch. Mostly for use of the range though.
I do go to about half of the meetings but often not a lot of it seems relevant to me. In saying that it's good to have a chat with the guys.

Originally Posted by RimfireNZ

I'm a member of the Auckland branch. Mostly for use of the range though.

+1

I also have range card for North Auckland.

I'll go to the range at least once a month, mostly for tinkering with new hand loads, so holding range cards is well worth it, especially with the $20 non member casual fee or even the member $10 non range card fee. I'll shoot all day happily.

Did a party hunt one time, no deer were shot and lots of talk, but that is what happens when big groups go to one area. I was complete newbie too.

Through me, North Auckland have access to my rellie's farm for the Hunts training course, so I've given something back.

I'm also studying part time, so get a student membership (50% off), its small fry in the big scheme of things. Happy to continue paying.

I joined once many years ago as it was the only way too get a permit too shoot wallabies around Okataina with a rimfire rifle.
My first trip there was permitted with a centrefire rifle but just imagine what was left of a wallaby with a .270 (NOTHING).
So I paid the $50.00 membership fee and went for a hunt and never got a shot