Thread: Carrying firearm on doc track

I once past a tramper on a doc track who said nothing but "Bit hot for those pants isn't it?( I was wearing fleece longs). I took it as he was having a crack because he could see I was a hunter and that was the only thing he could pick on. So I replied " only if you're a pussy". Nothing else was said as we parted ways.

That was the worst encounter I've come across. But most are generally interested if I got anything which is good.

https://www.herengaanuku.govt.nz/adv...lVxSYA3I3RuYis

walking down creek in peel forest..bro in law and myself could hear kids having a ball playing in creek ahead of us..they came into sight,one young fella ,must have been 9-10 yelled out "he's got a gun" ....pointing at me. quick as a wink I yelled back "look he's wearing shorts" .... pointing at him,
the other kids cracked up laughing...
we crossed past them and young fella was still speachless..... his mates grinning.

Originally Posted by MB

My wife always asks the same question. She knows it annoys me, now does it on purpose. The joys of married life!

Yep, same

Originally Posted by MB

My wife always asks the same question. She knows it annoys me, now does it on purpose. The joys of married life!

Walking out from duck shooting one day and guy asks if we caught any ducks. My son said "No - I couldn't throw the dog high enough". Absolutely cracked me up. Maybe we need a smaller dog.

Walking out from Cone Hut in the Taherenikau Valley some smartarse and his wife coming down the hill says "Did you get anything?"
I say yes we're carrying it out
He says"can I have some back steaks?"
I ignore him and look his pretty redhead wife dead in the eye and say "sure, as long as I can fuck your wife"

I didn't wait for an answer, just kept walking up the hill

She looked a bit fed up with him anyway

Me and missus were walking up coast for about 1 km before climbing hill onto farm to shoot some rabbits and magpies and do some mushrooming as well meet this smarty on coast who asked what we were doing . I replied mushrooming manly , his reply was what ya gonna do shoot them .Well missus replied fuck yeah they are fast round here , that shut him up .

'Crap out of the barrel'?...from many years of stalking....a couple of strips of insulation tape over the end is perfect...and then three or so longer strips wrapped around the barrel as replacements when needed.....

I made a cover out of ripstop nylon and elastic. Quick to get on/off and keeps a bit of shit/moisture out... but classically usually haven't got it on when passing people. Always make a point of stepping off the track letting people past, flick the bolt up if its in, and point muzzle away. Most people friendly/inquisitive. On older yank couple I once met on the track pointed at a headless red hind on my back <insert American Accent here> "oh my gawwwd, is that a wallaby?". Ended up having a great yarn with them, and they took a few photos. Pretty much everyone has asked whether I've seen/"caught" anything (a few have thought about it when seeing a rifle, and corrected themselves). I always make a point of mentioning how many there are about, and how much damage they are doing in the bush. Usually have a few photos of deer browsing/pig rooting to show. Most end up saying thank you/keep it up. Generally not hard to engage in some polite chit chat, ask how their day is going, how far, where to, etc.

100% have a right to be on tracks/in huts, but as hunters seem to be held to a higher standard, so I try to behave as such. As mentioned above, set a good example, clear branches from tracks, pick up rubbish (do that anyway), fill the firewood shed, if coming in to a hut late, get bedding etc ready outside hut and be quiet as poss coming in, etc., etc. Basic common courtesy. If people have nothing to complain about, then they may shift their attitude? Or god-forbid maybe just complain less?

Just go for it! Be respectful, turn on the charm, but be as said above, be confident in your right to be there.

I suspect a lot of the 'caught' comes from those who have not had much / anything to do with hunting but have had experience or seen fishing where the food is 'caught'....I think in a lot of cases it is simply that is what they have heard when they here 'hunter gather ' people hen the hunt fish so use the same terminology when they see a gun (hopefully they see it as equivalent to a fishing rod for deer.....) ....What have you got / caught....? At least it is not How could you?

I was walking out with a pig on my shoulders and I met some Chinese tourists coming the other way, turned into a long breather for me while they all took photos of it and gave it a pat.

worst I've had were some hikers who ended up sharing a hut with me and would not stop going on about how I smelled like a wet dog. I get it, I had the scent of a stag all over my clothes but it was 4 degrees and there was no way in hell I was going for a dip in the river to try and wash it off.

The times I've bumped into hikers they were friendly enough but seemed a little startled. My rifle was slung over the shoulder each time. I suppose those not into hunting don't tend to see firearms in public in NZ. All we can do is try our best to come across as non-threatening and friendly.

Ive had neighbours etc approach me as i prepare to go duckshooting .Im open to their questions apart from anything relating to my firearm security etc and i must say generally ive had a very warm reception with a lot ,including kids thanking me for taking time to talk.
Same applies where we shoot .Its polite ,i think,and commonsense to tell people there may be gunshots heard and exactly what we are hunting.Again the response by and large is positive-yes you get inevitable howler questions"how come ducks cant shoot back?" a jackie chan lookalike with model girlfriend in 6"stilletoes wanting to do some birdwatching in middle of season opening day!!!!
I look upon it as both education and PR for the sport,sure as hell beats the other and hey it takes up SFA of my time.

Originally Posted by kotuku

Ive had neighbours etc approach me as i prepare to go duckshooting .Im open to their questions apart from anything relating to my firearm security etc and i must say generally ive had a very warm reception with a lot ,including kids thanking me for taking time to talk.
Same applies where we shoot .Its polite ,i think,and commonsense to tell people there may be gunshots heard and exactly what we are hunting.Again the response by and large is positive-yes you get inevitable howler questions"how come ducks cant shoot back?" a jackie chan lookalike with model girlfriend in 6"stilletoes wanting to do some birdwatching in middle of season opening day!!!!
I look upon it as both education and PR for the sport,sure as hell beats the other and hey it takes up SFA of my time.

Well if you interact with a member of the public and your interation is positive and you come across as a contributing member of society, you maybe able to counter the stigma firearms and their owners have.

My kids shoot the air rifle in the back yard but we're aware that our naive neighbor may call the cops one day thinking were shooting a gun. I keep it on the down low even though im well within my rights as I'd prefer not to have that interation.

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Originally Posted by kotuku

...with model girlfriend in 6"stilletoes wanting to do some birdwatching in middle of season opening day....

Sounds like you've got an interesting spot there @kotuku