Thread: Hello from Mid Canterbury

Originally Posted by Rushy

I reckon there is a shitload of 308 owners that would dispute that. There must be something wrong with me as I don't own either.

I think we all know there is something wrong with you Rushy dont worry there's something wrong with me too!

The 270 kicks like a rhino but shit it's been good to me. All preference.


Sent from my Browning

Welcome. The biggest advice I can give regarding hunting in Canterbury, is you need to learn to spend more time sitting and glassing than running around the hills. I came from a bush hunting background, and when I ended up in Canterbury it took me a couple of years to figure this out. While I managed plenty of animals by trekking around the hills, my hunting time became much more efficient and I saw heaps more animals when I bought some 10x40mm binos and learnt to stop and look.

My advice is to spend as much as you can afford on a good pair of binos. Good glass is something you generally pay for. European optics are considered to be the best, but you pay for them. Brands to look into are ones like Leica, Swarovski, Zeiss, Steiner, Kahles, Zen-Ray, Nikon, Leupold, Bushnell etc etc. For big open country in Canterbury, buy some 10x40's. Shop around, hunting shops aren't the only place that sell optics.

Your VX-2 will be fine for type of hunting you are starting to do. Any of the calibres from 243 up will be suitable. Don't look past a decent 2nd hand rifle, as a good one can easily be found for under a $1000. Sight your rifle in properly and learn to shoot properly, from different stances. Some find punching paper boring as shit (I do), but there is no substitute for learning what you and your rifle is able to achieve accuracy wise.

As a learning hunter you will seldom be shooting out past 300 metres (which is not a shot distance to be scoffed at under hunting conditions). In my experience, most animals shot in the NZ hills would be shot within 150 metres. In my opinion you should learn how to stalk animals, and learn their behaviour before learning how to shoot long range and shooting at them across valleys.

A sharp knife is essential. A decent jacket should be an investment. Good boots (and socks) are worthy of a mention, no good ending up somewhere a long way from the car with f*^ked feet. A warm sleeping bag is very important in Canterbury at this time of year and heading into the winter, especially if you plan (or don't plan) a night out on the hill...a good one will save your life.

All of the other stuff is not so important. You can hunt very successfully with normal everyday gear. Having the flashiest and best gear, or the gear some other "hot shot" has will not make you a successful hunter. Time in the hills will. Join your local NZDA to meet local hunters and make friends with like minded people.

Originally Posted by Bavarian_Hunter

Well if you're a kiwi I think the quintessential rifle you'd have to consider would be a Tikka T3 Lite 7mm08 with a VX-2 3-9x40 or something like that!

Not quite, if you are a JAFA, this applies.

Originally Posted by Bavarian_Hunter

I've been helping out a young fella whos 17 get into hunting, before I met him he'd bought a Browning A bolt in .270 and he hates it. Kicks like a mule and for all his load development cant get anything better than a 2" group. He swears my 300WM kicks less than it too.

Might be just his though

All of my A-bolts (have owned a handful now) shot well, and certainly wouldn't boot any more than a tikka t3! My .280 shoot brilliantly with several loads. I'd say the young fell needs a bit of practice.

Originally Posted by JoshC

Welcome. The biggest advice I can give regarding hunting in Canterbury, is you need to learn to spend more time sitting and glassing than running around the hills. I came from a bush hunting background, and when I ended up in Canterbury it took me a couple of years to figure this out. While I managed plenty of animals by trekking around the hills, my hunting time became much more efficient and I saw heaps more animals when I bought some 10x40mm binos and learnt to stop and look.

My advice is to spend as much as you can afford on a good pair of binos. Good glass is something you generally pay for. European optics are considered to be the best, but you pay for them. Brands to look into are ones like Leica, Swarovski, Zeiss, Steiner, Kahles, Zen-Ray, Nikon, Leupold, Bushnell etc etc. For big open country in Canterbury, buy some 10x40's. Shop around, hunting shops aren't the only place that sell optics.

Your VX-2 will be fine for type of hunting you are starting to do. Any of the calibres from 243 up will be suitable. Don't look past a decent 2nd hand rifle, as a good one can easily be found for under a $1000. Sight your rifle in properly and learn to shoot properly, from different stances. Some find punching paper boring as shit (I do), but there is no substitute for learning what you and your rifle is able to achieve accuracy wise.

As a learning hunter you will seldom be shooting out past 300 metres (which is not a shot distance to be scoffed at under hunting conditions). In my experience, most animals shot in the NZ hills would be shot within 150 metres. In my opinion you should learn how to stalk animals, and learn their behaviour before learning how to shoot long range and shooting at them across valleys.

A sharp knife is essential. A decent jacket should be an investment. Good boots (and socks) are worthy of a mention, no good ending up somewhere a long way from the car with f*^ked feet. A warm sleeping bag is very important in Canterbury at this time of year and heading into the winter, especially if you plan (or don't plan) a night out on the hill...a good one will save your life.

All of the other stuff is not so important. You can hunt very successfully with normal everyday gear. Having the flashiest and best gear, or the gear some other "hot shot" has will not make you a successful hunter. Time in the hills will. Join your local NZDA to meet local hunters and make friends with like minded people.




Not quite, if you are a JAFA, this applies.



All of my A-bolts (have owned a handful now) shot well, and certainly wouldn't boot any more than a tikka t3! My .280 shoot brilliantly with several loads. I'd say the young fell needs a bit of practice.

He's not new to hunting or reloading, just been a varminter. And he has the skills (as far as I'm concerned anyways), filmed him shoot a fallow doe at 385m about a month ago with my brothers 300WM sako A7.

Since my last post i have purchased my binos and boots. Leupold BX2 cascades 10x42 for glass and Meindl Perfekt 10" boots from Cabelas, got a great price from out of the states off the website. Very happy with both tbh.
Appreciate the advice from you guys.

Im quite happy with my cascades.
One thing to watch tho is the objective lense caps can come off and get lost.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Im quite happy with my cascades.
One thing to watch tho is the objective lense caps can come off and get lost.

Yep they were my first pair of binos too, nothing wrong with them. Spotted plenty of animals with them and had no problems with them over several years use.