NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE How To
I’d just posted another story on the Hunt forum about a recent hunt at my local, resulting in a healthy young hind joining us on the trip back home. A new hunter had noticed I’d had some success and wanted to know which track I’d taken in.
The discussion continued over a couple more messages - to his credit, the questions stopped short of “where is your Spot X?” but he circled dangerously close. I pondered this young hunter’s dilemma, thinking about the challenges of starting out, no doubt wondering what to do and where to hunt? I felt somewhat envious, for he was at the very start of the “process”. If it became an experience he embraced, it would result in a tremendous amount of satisfaction as he began to find and cultivate his own spots, building experience and expertise along the way.
The Process
After moving to Auckland years ago, I became heavily involved in spearfishing with a group of mates. Together, we formed the Axemen Spearfishing Club, and had huge adventures and learnt heaps about dive techniques and hunting different types of fish. My ultimate goal was to shoot large, moocher snapper. It took time in the water, and a few pairs of worn-out fins to become proficient. So, when I first took up hunting, I realised I was at the start of another big learning process. One I was going to enjoy - learning bushcraft, how to live out of a backpack, dealing with adversity, and hopefully to harvest animals. There was no rush to get to the end of the process, this was one to be enjoyed.
