Thread: Newby really needs some wiser more seasoned hunters advice to get started please

Im a 27 year old builder< I grew up in Otaki Forks and spent a lot of time running around tramping and riding trail bikes in and around the elegant and mighty sorrounding Tararua Ranges, and kayaked through its winding expanse of gorges but some how the aspect of hunting anything beyond rabbits and possums with my slug gun (and if i was really lucky the old mans .22 pea shooter), always escaped me. So after wanting to learn how to hunt< and after becoming the proud owner of a very choice very enthusiastic black Lab x bull mastive, named Badger, ive gone and purchased a cross bow and have been practising on targets and the odd possum< but feel im ready to go for a walk with Badger and have a look for some goat sign< so what i need to know is Where would a good place to start taking the dog and my crossbow for some walks< ideally id like to find some goats and i live in Island Bay Wellington so would prefer some where close like the Rimutakas or Akatarawas.Can anyone point me in the right direction to a track that "in your opinion" would be a good start for someone in my position?? And although Badger is very fit and smart, he doesnt seem to have an aggressive bone in his body< hes ten months and still has a big ol' set of nuts, and is about thirty killos, what are some good techniques in encouraging him to want to chase down and lock on to goats. Any help and advice would be so so appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read my questions>