Thread: Choppers shooting during roar peroid.

Couple mates have just reported a chopper shooting deer in an Otago doc block in same gully they are hunting. Stags roaring also, so has really fucked there trip. Why do they do this at this time of year?!?

Got to remember it's their job/income and recreational hunters are a hassle to them. There are specific dates they cannot hunt doc land during the roar period though. It's a bit crap no matter which way you look at it.
By the way Doc want to change the no WARO time frame to 29th March till 15th April by memory.

Its just shit they have video of them pretty much flying over top of them and dropping into gully and few hundred metres below them and shooting. They would have seen the boys there for sure. Its Alpine Helicopters. I understand making a living but not at this time of year when hunters are in the hills. Health and safety must come into this too. Just poor form from them yet again!

For anyone thinking they are well before the roar, stags roar early in there, now until end of the month is prime. Its a massive block, i am sure they would have seen the orange tent and could have gone elsewhere. Just a shame.

How does health and safety come into this?

Originally Posted by Fat ninja

How does health and safety come into this?

I am unsure if you have been in the situation where a chopper is shooting the same block/catchment as you, Its pretty un nerving trust me, when they apparently do not know you are there.

Originally Posted by Fat ninja

How does health and safety come into this?

It’s also their (choppers) workplace so I would imagine there is significant H&S requirements to abide by although I have no idea what those might be


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Originally Posted by HOO

It’s also their (choppers) workplace so I would imagine there is significant H&S requirements to abide by although I have no idea what those might be


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Some sort of public notice of the area and date they are going to be shooting at least you would think, maybe they did this i am not sure i am not saying they didn't. Is there somewhere they do say where and what they are doing? Or is this up to doc to let people know?

Yeah be hard for them to ensure there firing line is safe from a chopper, for all they know a ground hunter/tramper could be behind the deer. Seems like an accident waiting to happen to me

Originally Posted by H.M

Some sort of public notice of the area and date they are going to be shooting at least you would think, maybe they did this i am not sure i am not saying they didn't. Is there somewhere they do say where and what they are doing? Or is this up to doc to let people know?

Yeah I’m really not sure. I have a lot to do with the H&S for the electrical company I work for and there is a hell of a lot of hoops to jump through so I suspect adding in a helicopter and some firearms and that would add to the paperwork significantly


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Yes very annoying when that happens, I was stalking some flats years ago just on day break when a chopper shot a couple deer 100m from me.
https://youtu.be/2bv5zpgVmgE

If your mates are concerned about the safety of it they could complain to DOC but history says nothing will happen…..

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

Yes very annoying when that happens, I was stalking some flats years ago just on day break when a chopper shot a couple deer 100m from me.
https://youtu.be/2bv5zpgVmgE

If your mates are concerned about the safety of it they could complain to DOC but history says nothing will happen…..

Yep has happened many times when tahr hunting. But as you say nothing happens, they are just getting in there before there cut of period for the roar. But its a shame they have to pick a spot where stags roar early and gets a lot of foot traffic. They are also very close to private land but that may be totally legit too. Just very frustrating as you say.

Originally Posted by H.M

Some sort of public notice of the area and date they are going to be shooting at least you would think, maybe they did this i am not sure i am not saying they didn't. Is there somewhere they do say where and what they are doing? Or is this up to doc to let people know?

Weather and season dictate where to hunt, too dynamic for public notice.

Moralities aside, have they operated outside of their concession?
I get you’re venting, but you’re frustration should be aimed at DOC rather than the operator.
DOC are inviting submissions currently on WARO.

Originally Posted by Gibo

Yeah be hard for them to ensure there firing line is safe from a chopper, for all they know a ground hunter/tramper could be behind the deer. Seems like an accident waiting to happen to me

Don’t recall any legitimate near misses in the last 60 years aerial recovery has been undertaken.
Not saying it’s never happened, just that if it was a genuine issue it would have presented by now.

I can see it now

Private hunters banned from DOC land due to rising concerns from WARO operators.

I can see it now…Hunter found halfway out in the Tasman with two bullet holes in him