NOTE FROM THE SECRETARY - NZDA Nelson Branch
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Newsletter of Nelson Branch NZDA February 2018
NOTE FROM THE SECRETARY
Contents
Overview
Hi all,
Molesworth
Hope the New Year is treating you well, and that you Management Plan
have been taking the opportunity to get out in the hills 1080 Plans for the
Whataroa Area
on the fine days, despite the heat.
Hunting News
A number of red stags have stripped their velvet Bits and Pieces
already, and I have seen several good heads taken by Club Shoot
hunters, including a strong 13 pointer that was actually
Range News
running with hinds. With the bigger stags stripping
Club Nights
now, it’s a great chance to get a set of antlers while
they are still in their summer feeding patterns. Red Deer Lodge
Information
A few reports of success from members indicate there Committee Members
are animals about in the areas that have not been January and
subject to a recent 1080 drop. Regrettably some big February combined
Committee Meeting
areas have been announced for treatment this year minutes
including the Tahr ballot blocks in the Perth, part of
Websites of Interest
the Whataroa watershed, more about that later in this
newsletter.
Next Club
Remember that I am always looking for contributions Meeting
and information for the newsletter. Just flick me an Tuesday 27 March
email at plumstone@xtra.co.nz Fish and Game
Rooms
66 Champion Road
Cheers Warren Richmond
7.30 pm
www.nzdanelson.co.nz
Molesworth Management Plan Please see the attached link in the notes below, and if you have not already completed, go in and give DOC some feedback on your thoughts on future management of this area. As a bit of back ground we received the following letter from the Department of Conservation I am contacting you as previous submitters to the Molesworth Management Plan. In 2013 the Molesworth Management Plan made an allowance for public consultation to be carried out, prior to the current lease expiry. This was to “help direct any future management plan and assist with the decisions around lease renewal”. This was in recognition that the majority of submissions to the 2013 management plan centred around public access and recreation issues, which the Management Plan could not make provision for under the current lease regime. We are enabling the public to have a say on the future of Molesworth, through an on-line survey. The survey was begun in December 2017. Please take the time to participate in the survey here: www.nzdanelson.co.nz
http://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/have-your-say/all-consultations/2017/the-future-of-mole sworth-station/ this link takes you to the DOC website with information about the consultation. From this page there is a link to the on-line survey. Or go direct to the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Molesworthconsultation This consultation is a non-statutory process: there will be the opportunity to make formal submissions to any management plan review that may result from the any lease review, as outlined in the current management plan. You are most welcome to share the link and encourage as wide as possible participation in the on-line survey. Kind regards, Chris Wootton Ranger Supervisor, Community We discussed this in committee and thought we should go out to the Nelson club members to encourage them to give some feedback, as there is a real risk green groups in the urban centre’s may encourage large numbers of non-users to push for the farming to cease and the area be turned into some sort of great big defacto National Park. Our interest is driven by the fact that this area has provided some of the best hunting in the top of the south for the last four or five years. It has the capacity to be the be the best hunting opportunity for Nelson and Marlborough hunters going forward if managed, and has some wonderful blood lines present, going by some of the magnificent stags taken there in recent years. While the recent 1080 drop has badly affected the deer herd in the portion treated in 2017, long term if Waro helicopters hunting continues to be excluded, and it could recover with animals moving in from surrounding areas, particularly if managed. So please answer that you would prefer to retain the property as a Government owned cattle farm. Why I say this is that under the stations management, currently Waro and helicopters are banned, and they have responsibility for control of large game animals, not the Department of Conservation. It’s hard to argue that there is no place for a recreational deer herd, when they are eating the same food as the cattle present. Cessation of farming would almost certainly lead to Waro permits being issued, and an almost total extermination of game animals as happened back in the 60's and 70's in this extremely open country. The other very good reason to retain cattle is that their grazing helps control Broom and Briar and even Wilding pines, as does the income they provide. Managed grazing as currently occurs retains the open nature of the country & sense of history which is so iconic. As proof of this you only have to look at the neighbouring St James station which has been destocked, and you will see the rampant smothering of the open country by introduced weeds. www.nzdanelson.co.nz
The other benefit of grazing is that it substantially reduces the risk of fires. You could probably add that other than providing a few more approved parking places for gaining access to hunting and fishing areas, and stretching out the time one can access the road, that you are supportive of the existing rules banning unmanaged camping along the access road. Freedom campers and their fires and toilet wastes cannot be managed in this arid environment and would be a significant risk, so need no encouragement. 1080 Plans for the Whataroa Area. Some very disappointed local hunters who had thought luck was on their side when they were successful in drawing a Tahr hunting block for the 2108 season in the Adams Wilderness area in the Perth valley. They have now been told that the area will effectively be unsuitable for hunting as pre work and pre feed drops will be occurring throughout the ballot period, and conservation and private operators running the Zip trial will be on the ground. More details on just what is happening can be found in the following link.https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/101497138/a-zerosum-game. In short it’s an attempt to totally remove all rats stoats and possums from the area, as a proof of concept towards the predator free 2050 goal. All previous rules around 1080 use appear to have been suspended as this will require aerial application to all areas including huts tracks and waterways, and using double the normal sewing rate after two applications of pre feed. www.nzdanelson.co.nz
Successful ballot hunters have been told they can have their ballot fee refunded, or have the
permit transferred to the same period next year. Guess it depends on whether you think any
tahr will survive this saturation poisoning. It may be better to cancel your permit, which
would at least allow you to go back into the ballot for the 2019 year for an untreated block.
Hunting News
“A couple of old blokes out there doing it”.
You might recall a few months back a small article by one of our keener members Eric Hall
taking a very good chamois buck. Well he is still out there doing it and has taken another
very nice animal, and well-earned I can verify, having been present at the said chamois’s
demise.
We have been very fortunate to have managed a late summer hunt together on the tops
somewhere, almost every year for the last forty. This year was no different, walking part way
in the dark after work in the rain, to break up the many hours travel required to get us beyond
the average weekend hunter.
Wet and soaked to the skin the fly was put up at 10.30pm, with the hope of better weather in
the morning. Climbing high the following day we broke out into scorching sunshine for the
next 3 days.
Highlights were taking a nice chamois each, shooting a stag, taking a few photos of residents
and watching a number of undisturbed animals.
Eric & his Chamois trophy
www.nzdanelson.co.nz
Warren and his Stag
Billy Goat
Probably the scene I treasure most was observing a red spiker run around a face barking after
he winded us, to join up with 2 hinds and their fawns some distance away. One of these hinds
www.nzdanelson.co.nzI believe to be and old friend we have seen twice before in different years, with fawns at foot
each time. She lives above the bush during the day, in the most unlikely steep rocky gulch in
a cliff face. This hind had the attention of the spiker, who could well have been her previous
years fawn. They seemed very excited to see each other, grouping together all most touching
and proceeded to caress and sniff each other while shuffling around in circles on the spot for
a considerable time .The way they interacted certainly suggested they knew each other.
We left these beautiful animals glistening in their summer coats in the morning light
undisturbed , but with heavy hearts knowing this area is designated for a 1080 drop this
coming winter.
So passed a great few days with big distances covered by taking our time and camping up
high, saving climbs up and down each day.
Quite a few aches and sore knees reminded of our age, and gave us time to pause and be
grateful that we could still do it, albeit taking twice the time it took in our youth.
Bits and Pieces
An interesting read. We aren’t the only country with a deer problem.
www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/20/deer-cull-dilemma-scottish-highlands
Help keep New Zealand’s deer herds disease free
NZ Hunters and Trampers Returning Home
New Zealand deer herds and trophy animals are mostly disease free. If diseases like Foot and
Mouth Disease and Chronic Wasting Disease get into New Zealand it will devastate our deer
herds, and hunting opportunities for tourists and local hunters.
Chronic Wasting Disease is found in USA, Canada, South Korea and Norway. It could enter
New Zealand on dirty hunting and camping equipment (as a contaminant of dirt, blood, and
urine). This disease is similar to livestock diseases such as BSE infecting cattle (mad cow
disease) and scrapie infecting sheep.
You can help by:
Thoroughly cleaning all tramping, hunting, and camping equipment, including
footwear.
Purchase your equipment in New Zealand or get a hunting guide to supply the
equipment you need.
Never use urine based deer attractants - they are an illegal import.
Declaring hunting and outdoor equipment on your arrival card.
Declaring any trophies or skins coming into New Zealand.
Our biosecurity border staff are serious about preventing pests and disease from entering
New Zealand. Bringing dirty tramping and hunting gear or illegal imports will likely result in
lengthy delays at the border, cleaning costs, and, infringement fines. Save yourself the hassle!
www.nzdanelson.co.nzNOTIFICATION OF ANNUAL WASP CONTROL OPERATION, LAKE
ROTOITI, NELSON LAKES NATIONAL PARK
The Department of Conservation is intending to carry out wasp control for biodiversity
restoration and staff/visitor safety purposes in late January/early February 2018.
As in the many previous wasp control operations in the Nelson Lakes area, the toxic bait
Vespex (previously called Xstinguish, active ingredient Fipronil 0.1%) will be used. Fipronil
is a highly effective insecticide that is not that toxic to birds or mammals, and the bait has a
protein base so it is not attractive to bees. Poison bait is also dyed green to discourage bait
take from non-target species.
Around 20gms of bait will be placed in bait stations within the Rotoiti Nature Recovery
Project (RNRP) Mainland Island, St Arnaud Township, Black Hill, Black Valley Swamp area
of Big Bush and the Lakeside Track from Coldwater Hut to the Mt Robert Rd. As well as at
key recreation sites in order to protect the public and DOC staff from wasp stings and the
resulting risk of allergic reactions. These sites are: Travers-Sabine Track, Lakehead hut and
campsite, Coldwater hut, Sabine hut, D’Urville hut, Kawatiri Junction, Rotoroa campsite,
Hope saddle viewpoint, Maruia falls viewpoint and the Skyline track (~1km) just west of
Murchison township (see map in attached key facts sheet).
All remaining bait the wasps haven’t taken will be removed from these stations after three to
eight days. All waste bait is disposed of through the appropriate facility.
To notify the general public a notice will be placed in a January issue of the Lake Rotoiti
Community News and Murchison Community Newsletter. Information fact sheets will be
displayed on community notice boards in St Arnaud and Murchison. Warning notices will be
placed at the normal entry points to the control areas. Bait stations that are accessible by the
public will also have individual smaller warning labels. All bait stations will be placed at
least 1.5m above ground to exclude pets and small children.
The Tasman District Council staff and the Medical Officer of Health have been notified of
the wasp control operation.
If you have any queries or need any more information about the operation please contact me.
Emma McCool
Biodiversity Ranger - Kaitiaki Kanorau Koiora
Rotoiti/Nelson Lakes Office
Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai
VPN: 5114 DDI: 03 521 1179
Tākina te hī, Tiakina, te hā o te Āo Tūroa
www.nzdanelson.co.nzClub Shoots at Packers Creek Range.
Another combined fun shoot planned, probably mid-March, will send out an email and post
on website as soon as confirmed.
Target Frames. I know some of the frames are past their best by date with multiple bullet
holes, be assured these will be updated and replaced in coming weeks. So please help
increase their life span by pinning your targets to the middle of frames, and avoiding the
structural uprights and cross beams. Thanks.
What Autumn Brings!
It has finally started to feel vaguely like autumn, first thing in the morning at least. This
brings thoughts of better times for hunting and cool enough to really want to be out and
about.
It was noticeable at the range this weekend that the early light is up to its autumn and winter
tricks by making visibilty uprange quite difficult for the first hour or two after 0900 hrs. The
picture below was taken last year to highlight this effect…and the benefit of wearing Hi-Viz
at the range.
This angle of light early
morning affects the drive in
too with low light and sun
straight into your eyes. So
please all remember the
basics for keeping risks low:
Turn lights on when driving
into the range
Keep to 30 km/h (there are
walkers, cyclists and other
vehicles on this road)
Put your Hi-Viz on before
going up to target area (there
may be debate about the
benefit etc of blaze in
hunting situations but Hi-
Viz at the range is a no-brainer – it ONLY going to reduce risk of being unseen)
Don’t forget: Range gate opens for vehicle access 5 minutes each side of 0900 and 1030
hrs Saturday and Sunday. Keep an eye on your emails for notifications of closures.
Refresh yourself with the Range Standing Orders – They are on the website
http://www.nzdanelson.co.nz/Documents/Packers%20Creek%20Range%20Standing%20Ord
ers.pdf
and printed and attached by the flagstaff. These can easily be taken for granted and it can be
tempting to cut corners or only comply with some of the requirements. However, they are all
important to everybody’s safety and our continued use of the range.
www.nzdanelson.co.nzRange News
No resolution as yet with the locked gate access, so usual entry procedure continues.
You need to be at gate at 9.00am or 10.30am Saturday and Sundays to be let through
the locked gate. The small team that have been opening the gate over the last few years are
struggling to cover with so many other commitments, so if you are a regular user and are
prepared to go on the Range roster please let us know.
With a very limited number of keys there are a few logistical challenges around picking up
and passing on keys, but I am sure these can be worked through.
Club Night
Next club night Tuesday 27th March. Usual venue
If you have some knowledge, or interesting item or passion around the outdoors or hunting
you are prepared to share, let Warren know, as always looking for club night topics and
speakers
Red Deer Lodge
Information on costs and bookings of the Red Deer Lodge at Lake Rotoiti
Contact the Calders: info@starnaudholidaycottages.co.nz
Use the website at www.starnaudholidaycottages.co.nz
Saying you’re a member
2017 Committee
Greg Couper President: terminatorproducts@xtra.co.nz
Richard Wells Vice President
Lester Bowden Patron
Warren Plum Secretary: ph. 547 9143 plumstone@xtra.co.nz
John Noakes, Bill O’Leary, Neil Cliffe, Graeme Ching, Graeme Smith Immo Neumann,
Rob Shuttleworth, Richard Wells
Range: Graeme ChingMinutes: Committee Meeting NELSON NZDA MEETING MINUTES 13th February 2018 (January and February combined meeting) Held at Warren Plums home,7.30pm Present: Warren Plum, Graeme Smith, Don Harris, Greg Couper, Neil Cliffe Graeme Ching, Bill O’Leary, Richard Wells, Apologies: John Noakes, I Neumann Last Minutes: Accepted, Moved, Warren Plum /Don Harris Inward Mail: Info from the “Handy Man” re quotes about possible work at Red Deer Lodge via Nigel Calder who runs Lodge for us: Distributed by email to committee to consider. Info from National office re: Molesworth. Latest membership form from National office: Have sent on to M Stump who has updated our web site. Request from National Office to provide a letter of support, in relation to fund raising re the National Heritage Trust: To help them when approaching possible grant providers. Outward Mail: Items to accountant, Thanked Nigel Calder for help around advice and quotes for Red Deer Lodge and advised would come back to him after considering at committee. Letter of support sent as requested to National office re the National heritage Trust Museum and Library Accepted, Moved Warren Plum / Don Harris Financial: Deposits; Rimfire shoot range fees $75.90, $80.00 re Network Tasman distribution re power at Lodge. Moved $8456.96 from the 02 account to the 00 account. Agreed would look at changing name of 02 account to something different. Currently World Bench Rest 2107, perhaps Special events. Plan to use for Oceania Championships later in year. Payments made. Refunded G Smith $244.46 for Fuel $50.46 range, loading ramp for Range mower $185.00 and $9.00 for Rego re trailor. Chq 100900. D Harris refunded for replacing Gas bottle at range chq 100904 $38.99. W Plum $20.00 re 2 meeting costs chq 100901 Dept Of Conservation $230.00 for administration of annual licence fee re Red Deer Lodge, chq 100902. Current chq balance $21970.68. The Term deposit of $50k will roll over on its 6 month term in March. . Approved B.Oleary / W Plum www.nzdanelson.co.nz
Range: No progress with access, G Couper to re contact Tasman pine again. To report back at next meeting then we are to approach Ngati Koata with a proposal on annual rental. Next shoot mid-March. G Ching to provide details for newsletter. Reminder to members not to pin targets directly on to up rights on target frames as damage is severe and hastens need to replace. Bench rest steels have been moved. Discussed Oceania shoot for later in year and what this would entail. Evidently scoped rifle and metalic events would require different target placements. Will need to look at filling in holes in back stops again. Roster, re gate duty. Onerous on small team who have to man every weekend, seek help from membership. Bill to approach some possible regular users. Membership: Several approaches re membership, have been deferred to work in with new financial year starting 1 March. Hunts Course: Likely to start around April May. Several inquiries already. Newsletter: Still looking for articles. Next issue out this coming week. Need to increase print run by 20 copies for those members without computers. Health and Safety: Incident at range with mower . Action taken includes buffer zones around banks and creeks to be amended in Health and Safety plan. To also investigate whether roll bars are available for this type of mower. Red Deer Lodge: Warren has completed a spread sheet on costs and income for Lodge over the last 8 years. Concerns around reducing income as a result of increasing costs, in particular insurance and inability to increase income substantially due to nature of building and restrictions as result of Fire plan and licence. That deferred maintenance likely to be more than income if we cannot do the work ourselves. Difficulty of arranging working bees these days. Discussed recent quotes. G Ching to visit lodge and report back at next meeting with a list of what is most urgently needed to occur. To then discuss other options and quotes and how to proceed. Other possible funding options about capital work like replacing water tank. Need to seriously look at long term future as next licence review in 5 years’ time. Club Nights: Still working on potential topics and speakers for next few club nights. Unsure if we can run in February. Warren will advise in newsletter General Business: Molesworth: Discussed at length the current online feedback questionnaire being run by DOC. Management plan comes up for review in 2020. As hunters it would be very much in our interest that the area remains as a working cattle farm. Will put a note in newsletter about this, reasons to support and requesting members to have their say and fill out the 10 to 15 minutes questionnaire. www.nzdanelson.co.nz
1080 Further to the 1080 drop, work is progressing re the survey, but published results still some time away. Next meeting March 2018, time and venue to be advised. Warren Plum. Secretary 13.2.2018 www.nzdanelson.co.nz
Websites of Interest National Deerstalkers’ Website http://www.deerstalkers.org.nz/ Like the NZDA National Heritage Trust Facebook page for great historical deerstalking photos: https://www.facebook.com/nzdaheritagetrust?ref=bookmarks Department of Conservation Information http://www.doc.govt.nz/ DOC maps. You can select a Topo view and to have DOC hunting areas highlighted http://maps.doc.govt.nz/mapviewer/index.html?viewer=dto DOC hunting permits can be applied for at: https://huntingpermits.doc.govt.nz/huntingpermits/start Game Animal Council http://www.nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz Walking Access http://www.wams.co.nz/ Walking Access Maps http://www.wams.org.nz/wams_desktop/index.aspx Walking Access Mobile Maps http://www.wams.org.nz/wams_mobile/index.html Kea Sightings www.keaconservation.co.nz South Island Kokako Sightings www.southislandkokako.org Wasps https://www.merchento.com/vespex.html Falcon Survey www.nzfalcon.org.nz Email nativebirds@xtra.co.nz www.nzdanelson.co.nz
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