Thread: Hello and Thank You

Hey all NZHS Forum,

My name is Leroy, I am a 32yo keen hunter of 11 years, and a lifetime surfer. Fishing, diving, tramping, gardening / gathering wild food, dogs and photography are other passions which I'm sure many of you will also share.
I grew up in a relatively alternative, vegetarian household on an orchard with chickens, goats, big gardens etc. The 'food comes from the land' upbringing led me towards wild food harvesting via fishing in my late teens and eventually a very strong passion / obsession for hunting that consumed most of my 20's until present.
The reason i mention this is because there were no elders around to lead me or show the ways into fishing or hunting, and so I was self taught via old books and time out there doing it. That was before I knew about this forum.
I sometimes joke that i was taught by Barry Crump, as ' A Good Keen Man' was the first book I took instruction from. Although that's primarily fiction, the colourful stories none the less became my blueprint, and is it was with an old swanndri, secondhand boots, pack and rifle (new) I began finding my way in the bush and backcountry. Later, better sources of information followed via an old NZFS Hunters Guide and a diet of Classic Kiwi Hunting Books, where i digesting every piece of information i could get out of Pack And Rifle by Philip Holden, Rex Forester's True Hunting Adventures, Harker Hunts the Coast, etc, etc.
The journey has brought a mentor or two along the way, for which I am eternally grateful.
Next in the timeline was of course this forum, which has become quite invaluable really as a very good reference for more specific lines of inquiry. Like many others, as seen from other introductions, I have spent months and years searching in the archives, and never felt the need to ask a question as so many had asked the same questions before me and had them answered in abundance by the many generous and knowledgable members who use this space.

Now, it's about time to say hello, and thank you all who have built this wealthy source of information, and who continue to give your valuable time to share and impart your hard earned knowledge. Perhaps i may have also learned enough to contribute going forward .

Cheers.

Leroy