We have a number of new members that are new to town

Glenorchy Races are on tomorrow, Sat 6th.

It’s a great day out and a special type of "race day", not your standard jockey and thoroughbred racing. This one is where local horses have their numbers spray painted on - no Ascot hats here,  just shorts, singlets, stock saddles and lots of alcohol.

A great party as well if you want to stay the night and camp. If you’ve not got plans already this is a locals event to experience (at least once!) ☀

If you want to join other like minded members and yarn about hunting spots over a beer at the event - join up on What's App and reach out to the others going 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/L4lBORfeLhBAiuVHnwFhFf

Click here for the Map - first race starts around 10.30ish, take picnic lunch, drinks, chairs, sunscreen and maybe a tent if you intend to drink (BYO)

Enjoy!

We are looking for volunteers for the following annual event 

A & P Show Lake Hayes

When: 13 Jan 2024
Where: Lake Hayes Pavillion

EVENT DETAILS:

Deerstalkers Venison Burger Fundraiser

A&P Show at Lake Hayes

This is one of our annual fundraising opportunities and a great day to get to know and meet fellow club members whilst working. Often good hunting spots are discussed over the salad and bun preparation!

We need around 13 helpers on the day 8.30am - 3ish to help prepare, cook and serve venison burgers.

If you can't do all day, we also need a few people at 7.30am to collect the buns and salads and drop them at the show and a few to help the tired legs at 3pm pack up so you could swap with someone at lunch time. 

No experience necessary

If you, family members , partners or flatmates are able to help - please register here or reply to this email.

Free entry, lunch and a cold beer will be included in the day as a thank you.

Competition entries

If any of you are keen bakers or preserve makers or have kids keen to make something. There are also prizes on offer for any of you keen to enter the "home categories competition" on the day. Some of the unusual categories have very few entries so you are in a good chance of winning.

Check out the show on this link

Bring the family along too with magic shows right opposite our stand and in attendance are the Coastguard, the return of the Rescue Helicopter and bouncy castles for the kids. It is going to be a very busy show. 

Volunteer Here

Best regards,

Hot Barrels
Sharon Salmons
Club Secretary

• Takahē conservation

  18 takahē (9 breeding pairs) were returned to the Greenstone and Caples areas in August 2023.

  While the releases were mainly on Greenstone Station, takahē are known to range widely. You may see takahē as you walk, on bush edges and over time, they may disperse into other areas such as hunting blocks.

  At a glance, people may mistake the takahē for a pūkeko. Takahē are a large bird with deep blue and green colouring, sturdy red legs and beak. The chicks are black and small, as they grow, they will grey out. The juveniles will go from grey and muted blue and green, to the striking colours as they mature. For more information, visit Takahē Recovery

  If you see a takahē 

  To keep takahē safe in their new home:

  • keep a respectful distance to reduce stress on the birds
  • don't share any food with takahē as human food can make them sick
  • report any sightings (particularly outside the Greenstone Valley) at birdbanding.doc.govt.nz/sightings. Try to note details such as location, number of birds and leg band colours.

Freeman Burn Hut

Due to material delays (we have to source 2nd hand timber as it is a heritage project) and that we need to finalise a few design details, we have had to delay till end of Jan/early Feb. 

What needs doing

Simon is drawing up a scope of works which I can send out to show the work that needs doing but we are thinking of running the project over 3 weeks for a start to get as much as possible done and then return at the end Feb if we have the interior and painting still to do.
Once we have a plan, we will make up a tools and equipment requirements and communicate that out.

Apart from lifting the hut, re-piling, making a new chimney, reclad and reroof the hut, there is a new partition wall to put up and bunks to fix etc.
We will have a substantial amount of concrete to mix so will hire a mixer to do that (unless anyone has one) and have a generator on site.

We are looking to send all the heavy stuff and materials over on a barge on the 21st Jan. 

New working Bee dates :-

21st Jan - 7th Feb (which covers 3 weekends) but if you are keen to take a few extra days off during the weekdays that would be awesome too.

Completion/painting weekend: end of Feb - dates to be confirmed

Getting there and staying overnight

The Manapouri Water Taxi has offered to run us back and forth at a discounted rate, so we will run these most likely on a Friday and Sunday and maybe midweek, so you can join for a weekend or longer. If you have a boat, the best place to launch it will be Pearl Harbour in Manapouri.

As there will be spells where the roof and walls will be off the hut, best to bring a tent. The ground around the hut is not exactly flat or suitable for tents so either bring a tiny one or pitch yours on the beach.

What to bring

The grant covers basic food and the transport via water taxi or fuel for your boat over so all you need to bring is beer, your hunting/sleeping gear and tools as required. 
Simon will discuss tools in more detail nearer the time.

Help required 

Building experience helpful but not essential as there are lots of labouring jobs. 

We are looking at setting up a permanent kitchen/camp on the beach where it is flatter. We will also be looking for volunteers to help with the cooking for spells between 21st Jan and 7th Feb - so do let me know if you are keen. 

More info

We can have a zoom briefing nearer the date and confirm everything via email too. I just wanted to let you know the new dates ASAP as I know some of you booked holiday to help out.

What next?

Like most of you, I'm still in holiday mode so will be able to send out more info and photos next week and of course research the hunting options too.

...and due to the change of dates, can you let me know if you are still available ? and when? 

Happy to take calls if easier

Happy New Year!

Regards

Sharon Salmons
021 942 328

Secretary
Southern Lakes NZDA 

First newsletter from the new system 

Read it HERE 

 The latest Edition of the associations Hunting and Wildlife magazine is now out

Members will get emailed a link to the electronic copy or you can purchase a printed copy on the website www.nzda.shop

Copy of the recent newsletter is available on this link

https://mailchi.mp/25edb9e50ff8/sept_newsletter?e=[UNIQID]

Copy of the recent newlestter is on this link

https://mailchi.mp/8223b195090b/july-newsletter?e=[UNIQID]