North Auckland NZDA Newsletter August 2025

lesleymclaren2
Sep 1
15 min read

President's Report - Words by Ivan Ramsey

Kia ora koutou members,

Despite the recent deluge, the North Auckland branch has been buzzing with activity! The wet weather hasn't dampened our enthusiasm for hunting or kept us away from the range.

Range Update:

Progress on the 50-metre range development has been a bit slower than anticipated due to the persistent rain. However, we're pushing forward and are eager to unveil the improvements as soon as conditions allow. Stay tuned for updates!

A Night of Spice and Laughter:

A huge thank you to Taste Lab Hot Sauces and comedian Jamie Bowen for hosting a fantastic members' night! It was a great opportunity to socialize, share stories, and enjoy some top-notch entertainment. We appreciate your support!

National Recognition:

We're incredibly proud to announce that the North Auckland branch was recognized at the recent NZDA National Conference as the fastest-growing branch in the country! This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our members and committee. Congratulations to everyone!

Upcoming Hunts Course - October/November:

Looking to upskill your hunting techniques? Applications are now open for our next Hunts Course in October/November. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge.

Contact mike@circuitdesigns.co.nz or lesley.mclaren@nads.org.nz to secure your spot.

Spring Hunts on the Horizon:

We're busy working on plans for some exciting spring hunts. More details on locations, dates, and registration will be announced soon. Keep an eye on your inbox and our website for updates!

Chiller and Meat Processing Facility:

We're excited to announce that our new chiller and meat processing facility is nearing completion! This valuable addition will provide another fantastic benefit for our members. We’ll share more details and an opening date soon.

Stay Connected:

Keep up with the latest news and events by visiting our website and following us on our social media links

Ngā mihi nui,

50 Metre Range

Background:

1n 2004 the running boar range was closed because of safety concerns. The 2020 update of range requirements allowed us the opportunity to re-develop this range subject to the Commissioner of Police’s approval. Planning began. In 2022 the area was approved for the use of air rifles without structural improvements. To use this area with other firearms required significant earthworks and safety structures. In 2024 the branch committee approved redevelopment of the area as a .22 rim fire range.

The Plan:

To provide a 50m no-danger range for the use of .22LR rifles for both training and competitions.

Budget - $50,000.

Time Line – 2025

Process: Limited self-help and work parties.

Here are some diagrams of the intended result. Each shooter will have a 1.5m wide space which includes two folding tables for left-hand or right-hand use, as well as room for normal 4-P shooting.

The Reality:

We are grateful to the 8 – 9 people who have already put in several weekends of work. Weather has stopped play – the ground conditions are atrocious and further construction cannot continue until Spring. The next self-help task is to reposition all the building material in preparation for completing the backstop wall and side walls.

If the range is to be completed this summer, the branch will have to engage professional labour for drainage, concrete work and the highest parts of the backstop. The budget is nearly depleted, and a bid for additional funding is being prepared, which will have to use some of the range development fund being introduced from 1 October this year. A budget increase of at least $15,000 will be required. Future newsletters will update you on progress.

Signage

Later this year when the 50m range is completed we will have several metres of wooden fence available to rent for signage - if you have a business this would be a great opportunity to support your club and get some advertising exposure - expressions of interest please e-mail lesley.mclaren@nads.org.nz

Many thanks to all those who have already helped with the construction of our new 50m Range. We are still needing help to finish the project if you are interested in volunteering, please contact our Chief Range Officer Bob McMillan b3o2b7m5c@gmail.com

Butchery Workshop

Last month we had an informative, hands-on butchery and skinning workshop.

The event was led by Mike Richardson a seasoned hunter and gather.

The workshop drew a good turnout of members eager to deepen their understanding of how to properly handle butchering a deer - from the first cut to the final package and preserving the hide for those interested in tanning.

Mike walked through the step-by-step process of how to efficiently break the carcass down into primary cuts with the focus on minimizing waste and maximizing usable meat.

Participants had the opportunity to try their hands at quartering and trimming under his supervision.

The workshop wrapped up with members enjoying a BBQ of fresh meat and taking home some venison for themselves.

If you missed out, don't worry we are already planning another session later this year.

Marksmanship Workshop

Last month we had another Marksmanship Workshop with Paul Carmine that brought together shooting enthusiasts of all skill levels for a focused day of instruction and practice. The workshop was designed to cater to everyone from beginners learning the basics to experienced hunters aiming to fine-tune their accuracy.

We are lucky to have such a dedicated instructor with so much skill and patience, thanks Paul.

The feedback was fantastic, and we will be planning another workshop in the future.

Club Annual Prizegiving

The evening was well attended with a strong turn out from both long-standing members, newer faces and family members. Ivan our Club President opened the ceremony with a warm welcome and highlighted the high level of achievement of all those who competed in our competitions this year.

The night was also a moment to reflect on the Clubs continued success and growth. With new members joining regularly and increasing participation in our club and national competitions.

Special thanks to the competition organisers and all those who volunteer to assist in running these events

We look forward to an exciting season ahead and more names engraved on trophies.

Chilli & Comedy Club Night

Our latest Club Night has a fantastic turnout and a great atmosphere that reminded us of why we love this community.

The evening kicked off with a fiery bang thanks to the team from Taste Lab, who brought the heat with their artisan chilli sauce showcase.

Members were treated to a delicious and daring tasting experience - ranging from smoky mild blends to sauces that had a few brave souls reaching for their beers! There was plenty of laughter as the room warmed up both literally and figuratively.

Then Jamie took the stage and turned up the heat with his sharp wit and effortless charm.

A seasoned comedian with a knack of reading the room, Jamie entertained us with a few spicy jokes of his own.

It was a night of great company, laughs and a few burning taste buds.

A huge thanks to everyone who came and helped make the night such a success.

Stay tuned for our next Club Night show casing Fenix torches and head lights.

National Wild Goat Competition - Don't miss out enter now and claim your prize.

A friendly reminder to all members who've been out there on the hill chasing goats don't forget to bring your tails and heads to the branch on Sunday 14th September and Sunday 23rd November. There will be experienced hands-on site to measure and log entries.

As part of our ongoing support for the National Wild Goat Shooting Competition, we are keen to see what's been harvested and now's the time to put your efforts forward and win

over $70,000 in prizes across multiple categories, there's something for everyone.

Wild goats are abundant in New Zealand and do serious damage to our natural environment, every entry will help keep numbers down

Refer to doc.govt.nz for all the details

Hunter categories open from 1st August - 26th November 2025

The competition is brought to you by the Department of Conservation and the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association

NZDA Hunter National Training Scheme (HUNTS Course).

The next course is scheduled for October/November and is open to all our members, unfortunately spaces are limited to 12-14

Please register your interest in the next HUNTS Course by e-mailing lesley.mclaren@nads.org.nz or

mike.richardson@circuitdesigngs.co.nz

We are also looking for experienced hunters to train as new HUNTS instructors, this is a very rewarding and invaluable to us, so we are able to continue growing the HUNTS Courses into the future.

Members Stories

Story - Ian Mason founder director of The Brandery

It started with Youtuber Joe Edlington needing a website, and he chose my company, The Brandery to build it.

Rather than a meeting in Auckland however, Joe took me hunting and we planned it all over a week in the mountains.

I managed to shoot my first Chamois as a nice way to end the trip.

Said Chamois ended up gracing my daughter's bedroom wall!

The hunt can be viewed here:

https://youtu.be/tET6tSJURwk?feature=shared

Hunting with my ex-wife - Robert Clarke

I should’ve known the hunting trip with my ex-wife was going to be memorable the moment she saw the backpack.

“That’s not a backpack," she said, hoisting it onto her shoulders with all the enthusiasm of someone picking up a sack of wet cement, "that’s a portable chiropractor bill.”

We hadn’t even made it past the first fence when we encountered the gorse. I pushed through, swearing quietly. She pushed through, swearing loudly, and made sure every thorn was documented like evidence for a war crimes tribunal.

"Who hunts in a plant that bites you back?" she asked.

Somewhere along the way, she managed to get lost—though I’m still not sure how, given she was only about twenty metres behind me. I found her ten minutes later, standing on a ridge, looking like she’d been abandoned by a tour guide in the Sahara.

Then came the "she-wee" moment. She treated it like a delicate surgical instrument, then looked offended when I suggested she might want to face downhill. Let’s just say the test run was… splashier than anticipated.

Finally, I shot a decent stag. As I pulled out my knife to gut it, she stood there, arms folded, a look of mild betrayal on her face.

"That is disgusting," she said. "Do you have to pull all that out?"

“Well," I replied, elbow deep, "I could let you carry it out whole.”

Strangely enough, she didn’t complain about the backpack after that

Woodhill HUNTS with Paul Carmine (Past President, HUNTS Instructor)

Every year the Woodhill Fallow Committee allocates hunting blocks for last year’s HUNTS trainees. I got the call from Mike Richardson asking if I could mentor a hunter, this I readily agreed to do. Due to one mentor having to pull out Mike took on two trainees and I took one. It was agreed that if my hunter was successful in the morning I would take over his second hunter. We agreed to meet at the block at 6am. I had a hunter to guide for a meat hunt the previous day, so I stayed on the farm that night which meant a short drive for me to Trigg rd. On arrival we had a quick briefing, and I took one of Mikes handheld radios so we could organize the afternoon hunt. Morgan and I were to take the first track on the right which follows the northern border of the block and Mike and his two hunters would head to the south end. suited me as I had a good idea where there should be some deer in that area. Being a Woodhill committee member, I have good knowledge of the hunting blocks due to the time we put in during patrol work to look after the balloted hunters. As committee members we do our best to offer advice to the hunters and we are always excited to see successful hunters returning with a deer.

After learning from Morgan about his calibre and scope zero, I felt confident that when the time came, I could offer good advice on taking any longer shots. I carried a range finder a pair of binoculars and a PLB. We all proceeded down the road into the forest on foot Morgan, and I were the first to split off. The first part of the hunt was down a sand track through some young pines which were well above head height and too thick to go off track, the deer sign was seen occasionally but no deer spotted there, after half an hour of walking we came out on a large cutover area. I told Morgan to be prepared and keep his eyes open .There was another track going up the face of the hill which I recognised ,to the left and right of the track there were newly planted pines and some patches of well grazed grass .I had hunted with Morgan on the HUNTS course and found him to be capable and enthusiastic .he was quick to point out deer sign and was an excellent navigator .There were a lot deer tracks heading up hill into the cutover and the wind was coming from that direction so we both agreed to hunt into the wind and keep our eyes open .After cresting the rise and peeking over the top as the terrain opened up I was able with the help of my binoculars spot a group of five deer feeding out in the open near the high young pines we had travelled through ,We could not see them with the naked eye as my range finder told me they were 700 yards away .

It was time to make a plan. The wind was still in our face coming down the hill and there were a few depressions we could use to get back over to the young pines which would allow us to use them for cover to get within 200 yards of the deer. It was too far away to tell if they were does or spikers but there were no palmated antlered bucks among them. Morgan had told me he was very keen on taking some venison home so a doe would do just fine. As we crept in, we made sure we only moved when their heads were down feeding and that we stayed below the ridge line. For the last 15 yards we crawled and slithered into position, we finally found a stump that have us a good rest and Morgan placed his pack on top and rested his rifle. Having kept in mind that he had a 100 yd zero and knowing that the deer were 200 yds away he adjusted his scope up 8 clicks. Using my binoculars I picked out a nice mature doe and Morgan waited for it to turn side on before he squeezed off the shot and dropped it. After photos and congratulations, he field dressed the animal and installed a sling to carry it out and he worked out that we only needed to follow the track out back to the car. I bid him farewell and headed up the main road to meet the other hunter for the afternoon hunt.

It felt strange walking the road with no rifle, but no deer were seen so no problem Eventually I saw Tonci step out of the trees at the intersection ,he told me that Mike and both hunters had walked along the top of the area where I was hunting then headed further up the block no deer were seen but they did hear a pig amongst some thick stuff .It was midday by this time and any deer around would be bedded down and hard to find. We were higher up on the block from this morning’s hunt so decided to look over the cut area and check for sign of which we saw plenty. There were fresh droppings and prints. It looked like the deer had covered every square inch going from one grass patch to the next feeding all Night long then heading for cover not long after the sunrise. I was decided that we would stop and rest for lunch and keep an eye on the forest edge to kill some time. I explained that we were not likely to see much action till after 3pm so walking around all day would just tire us out and make the evening hunt too hard.

About 3pm we decided to set off the wind was still blowing from the north so we could hunt back toward where the deer was shot in the morning. The terrain was fresh planting with little cover but plenty of small ridge

Three deer appeared near the young pines, 750 yards away. We quickly formed a new plan: approach from above and shoot down at them. We headed uphill following the hollows keeping low behind the ridges seeking cover amongst the sparce cover stopping still whenever their heads came up for a look. It was a bit nerve wracking but eventually we were above and behind some small hills. As we crested each hill no deer were seen I was beginning to wonder if they had spotted up ,finally we climbed the last hill onto a long elevated bench and as we crawled to the edge there we saw two does who suddenly hopped into cover I looked back to see Tonci with his head up looking at them. They must have seen his face so I explained the problem to him and that he must keep his head down and only look beneath the brim of his cap at the deer. Deer vision is like a permanent scan and they see movement and anything that is unusual on the skyline like a human face. Not to worry Tonci I am sure some more will pop out before long I exclaimed. Sure enough a spiker popped out I got Tonci to set his rifle up on his pack and practice getting it in the scope and dry firing at it with the safety on. We watched that spiker for half an hour and then another spiker came out. Then at last a doe and fawn appeared, ’Right aim at that one on the right it is the doe I exclaimed now take a deep breath slowly exhale till the cross hair is on the shoulder then hold your breath to hold the aim slowly squeeze “boom the deer dropped on the spot. Awesome you have just shot your first deer congratulations. Tonci did a good job of field dressing the animal just as he learnt on the HUNTS course he then set up his carry sling put the deer on his back, and we both made our way back to the vehicles ‘.

By Paul Carmine

Buy & Sell

If you have any firearms of items relating to hunting that you wish to sell contact lesley.mclaren@nads.org.nz and we will post them in our next newsletter

Please include all details, your contact phone number or e-mail and a photo if possible.

Seller Geoff M - mobile 022 505 3006

1 x Lee Enfield Mk111 Star .303 date of manufacture 1918

Fully Wooded no volley sights

Good bright and shiny 9/10 with Sling

$750

1x Lee Enfield no 4 MK11 .303 date of manufacture 1918

Fully wooded and has had a heavy barrel fitted

$850

1x Rifle long hard case ( one latch needs replacing)

1x Carbine/Shotgun hard case hold 25 rounds

1x Duck shooter camo net

$50 the lot

1x Biltong making box $10

Seller Gareth B - Mobile 0212883123 gtbennett@btopenworld.com

Backpack. Berghaus Cyclops II Vulcan. $250.

80L + 10L + 10L Capacity.

2 Zip detachable 10L side pouches that ca be combined into a 20L day pack.

Internal Frame & rain cover.

This will last a lifetime. As New. Only used once.

Jacket. SAS M14 Smock. $200 as new

Australian Camo. Size XL

Rip-stop cotton outer material with a breathable and waterproof liner.

Olive Green Removable Inner Fleece Liner.

13 Pockets. Under Arm Zipped Ventilation. Removable Elbow Pads.

Seller Bob - Mobile 022 543 2295

Pedersoli 1873 Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 carbine. Buffington rear sight. Two spare (factory) rear sights included. $1,400.

Marlin 1894 Classic, 44 Mag, blued/walnut, as new, $1,700.

Swedish Mauser, M38, Carl Gustav. dial rear sight, VG condition, $950

Remington 700 VTR .308, 22” barrel with integral muzzle brake (triangular barrel), synthetic stock. Scope, Leupold VXIII 2-7. Asking $1,300

Tikka T3 .223 laminated stainless 1:8 twist. Scope, Nikon Monarch NCC 3.5-10 x 50 illuminated. Asking $1,400

Seller Kane T - Mobile 0221715049

Bayonets These have been inherited from his grandfather who recently passed away.

There is not much detail on them unfortunately, but Kane is looking for expressions of interest or information on these bayonets

Up and coming Activities

Workshops

Navigation Workshop in September

Butchery Workshop in November

Marksmanship - To be confirmed

Dates to save

Working Bee - Saturday September 27th

Xmas Spit Roast - Sunday December 6th

Xmas Shoot - Sunday 7th December

HUNTS Course - October 9th - November 16th

National Goat Competition - 1st August to November 26th

Party hunt - Wanganui River in September

For those of you interested in Party Hunts we have a WhatsApp Group with over 80 members who share their experiences and connect with each other to co-ordinate private party hunts.

If you wish to be added to the Nads party hunt group, contact Steve Arther as above.

Women's Party Hunt Group

We are looking at putting together an ALL WOMEN hunt, sometime in the future and would love to get some feedback as to how many of you would be interested

Whether you are a seasoned hunter or keen to just take in the great outdoors this is your chance to get involved - contact Sonja Brown malmum@xtra.co.nz

This will be for members and partners/family of members.

Range Officers Course

If you are interested in attending the next Range Officer Course, please contact b3o2b7m5c@gmail.com

If you are interested in using the archery course, we have an archery WhatsApp group NADS Archery, contact paul.carrington.2506@gmail.com and he will send you an invite to join.

Signage

Committee Members

Ivan Ramsey - President

Mike Richardson - Vice President/HUNTS Co-Ordinator

Gavin Green - Vice President /Chief Range Officer

Sonja Brown - Treasurer

Lesley McLaren - Secretary/New Members Officer

Bob McMillan - Chief Range Officer

Steve Arther - Media and Marketing/HUNTS Instructor

Paul Carrington - Marketing/ Archery

Mike Simms - Armourer

Geoff Mentor - Maintenance Officer

Paul Carmine - HUNTS Instructor

Closing - words written by Lesley Mclaren Secretary and New Members Officer

As we wrap up our third addition of the Clubs Newsletter, I'd like to extend a thank you to all who have taken the time to read, contribute and support this growing effort.

When we first set out to revive the newsletter, our aim was simply to keep members informed, engaged and perhaps even a little entertained along the way.

We hope we are keeping your attention and your interest with the content we are putting together. Whether it's a members account of a memorable stalk, an update on Club Events or an insight into our buy and sell page, we want this to be something you look forward to reading not just skimming over.

Of course, the best way to make a newsletter better is with your input. If there is something you would like to see more of - be it technical tips, land access issues, let me know - this is your newsletter after all.

Thanks again for staying with us so