Thread: Thank you NZ Hunter!

Originally Posted by kiwijames

I had expected someone to have put this here by now but I think its a pretty important statement to get out from Greg and the NZH team. I fully agree.

With lockdown commencing tonight we need to make a statement about the position of the government and officials in regards to hunting.

There will be no hunting in the next four weeks. No if’s, buts or loopholes. The hunting community cannot be seen to be flaunting these official directives, whether we think they are fair or not.

Some hunting trips are lower risk of contacting/spreading C19 than others, but the point is there’s still some risk, more than staying home. To justify grinding our entire economy to a halt and so we all come out of this as soon as possible, we need to minimize all possible risk. Can you imagine if we have to extend this lock down period? And it is seen in some way to be caused by hunters breaking the rules?! How do you think the general public will view that! This isn’t a fairy tale, people will die, fellow Kiwis will die.

Non-essential travel means no hunting, going into the backcountry is indefensible, injuries and SAR callouts are always far higher over the roar so don’t think it won’t happen. Even if you don’t have to travel you still can’t go. Even if it’s day hunts you can’t go. You’ll open gates, stop for food and gas, bump into farm staff, potentially get stuck and need a tow out, injure yourself and expose SAR or first responders to unnecessary risk – if it’s serious your treatment may mean someone with C19 died because your arrogance required medical treatment they needed. The potential for extra strain on the health system is unacceptable.

I know a lot of you will say ‘well it’s less risk than going to the supermarket’ – maybe, in some instances, but why have both risks? You can eliminate one, so don’t be stupid.

Our discussions around the matter have already made it to the media so the public eye is on us. This could destroy our image if we’re seen to be flaunting the lockdown - we’ll look like irresponsible hicks with guns who cared more about shooting stinky roaring stags than saving fellow Kiwis.

We’re all in this together and we know that in tough times like this going bush is exactly what we need to cope with it, but we can’t do it. Tell your mates “do not go”, and tell anyone who’s already in the bush to come home. Anyone out there hunting at all just makes it harder for hunters doing the right thing to stay at home – and that’s simply not fair. It’s one law for all, and the future of hunting depends on our how the public see our response to this emergency situation.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, we know! Not only can we not do what we love most, but this hits us big time in the pocket as well, as we film the bulk of our episodes through this period.

Do not go hunting while we are on level 4. Stay home, sort your hunting gear out, give the rifle a clean, learn a new skill, do that project around the house you needed the time for! And stay connected with fellow hunters, it’s never been easier.
The NZ Hunter Team

Well, there are reports of armed police responding to an incident in the Motueka Valley this morning. Social media says it was hunters, but I don’t know anymore than that. Now, I take social media with a pinch of salt, but IF it was hunters, and IF armed police deployed to deal with them, it doesn’t do us as a community much good.

Don’t be tempted, don’t think you have the right to do it, and please do as Greg and plenty of others advise. The deer, pigs, goats etc will still be there in a few weeks and the roar will be all the better next year (but not for me as I’m moving to Aus in May).

Just watched the Kaweka episode , man that was epic some great footage ,Willy and his mate with the 303 is more like the luck I've had hunting Sika