I began hunting about four years ago with my first fallow hind shot on private property a little north of Auckland. Since then, I've shot several more and learnt how to skin and tan the hides. My butchery skills are a work in progress, as is skinning the head of a deer possessed of antlers worth preserving. I'm a member of the NZDA and have been on a couple of party hunts (Te Urewera, Lake Tarawera, Pureora Forest). The fellowship of these events has been easily the more enjoyable aspect, as I've yet to shoot a deer or pig on public land. I'm currently looking to increase my small armoury with a rifle chambered in 7x57 or 6.5x55, but these calibres are not popular in NZ - popular in the sense of being readily available. The collective intelligence of the different fora I've sampled here point to an enjoyably instructive membership.
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