New Zealand Deerstalkers Association - Auckland Branch

🦌📯 NZDA Auckland Club Night – Tonight! 📯🦌

Join us tonight for another great club night and our annual Roaring Competition!

Bring along your roaring horn and put your deer-calling skills to the test. It’s always a great laugh, with plenty of friendly competition and some impressive calls on display. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just keen to give it a go, everyone is welcome.

📅 Tuesday 8th September
⏰ 7:00pm – 10:00pm
📍 NZDA Auckland Branch Clubrooms

Bring a mate, bring your roaring horn, and come enjoy an evening of hunting knowledge, stories, laughs, and good company.

Who will take out the title this year? 🦌🔥

See you there!

Hunter Training – Range Day 🎯

A great day at the range on Sunday with the team learning the fundamentals of Fi****ms Safety & Marksmanship.

Topics covered included:
• Fi****ms safety and safe handling
• Marksmanship fundamentals
• Sighting in and zeroing rifles
• Shooting positions for accuracy and stability
• Understanding ethical shot placement

It was fantastic to see everyone building confidence and developing practical skills that will make them safer and more effective hunters in the field.

A huge thanks to our instructors and volunteers for sharing their knowledge and helping make the day a success.

Next up - Hunting Techniques

RangeDay LearnToHunt

NZDA Auckland Club Night – Tuesday 8th September

Join us for another great club night with special guest speaker Nathan Foster from Terminal Ballistics Research (TBR).

Nathan is one of New Zealand’s leading voices in hunting ballistics and rifle accuracy, bringing years of experience helping hunters get the most from their chosen calibre and setup. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just starting out, this is a night you won’t want to miss.

🦌 Hear from Nathan
🗺️ Share your latest hunting adventures
🎁 Be in to win Reloaders Supplies vouchers

📯 And don’t forget our annual Roaring Competition! Bring along your roaring horns and put your skills to the test. It’s always a good laugh, a bit of friendly competition, and one of the highlights of the night.

📅 Tuesday 8th September
⏰ 7:00pm – 10:00pm
📍 NZDA Auckland Branch

Bring a mate, bring your roaring horn, and come enjoy an evening of hunting knowledge, stories, laughs, and good company.

Who’ll take out the title this year? 🦌📯

🦌📯🔥

Hunter Training – Week 4 🧭

Craig & Sam took the crew through the fundamentals of navigation, covering:

🧭 Compass use & map reading
📍 GPS navigation and finding north & south
🏔 Identifying landmarks and marking campsites/tracks
🌌 Navigation using the stars
⚠️ Common causes of getting lost in the bush

These are essential skills for any hunter and a great foundation before heading into the backcountry.

A huge thanks to Craig & Sam for sharing their knowledge and experience with the group.

Next Up: Rifle Handling, Shooting Techniques & Skills – Range Day! 🎯

We’re looking forward to putting these skills into practice on the range.

Last week our Hunter Trainees took part in Bushcraft 101 with Mike Morse 🌿

From fire-making and selecting a safe campsite to food care, survival skills, identifying poisonous plants, and helicopter safety 🚁, the crew gained practical knowledge that could make all the difference in the backcountry.

These are the skills that help hunters stay safe, prepared, and confident in the bush.

This week’s session: Navigation 🧭

StaySafeInTheBush OutdoorEducation

Week 2 of Hunter Training was all about rifle setup, with expert guidance from Satish.

Participants gained valuable insight into choosing the right rifle for their hunting goals, understanding suitable calibres, selecting scopes and optics, and exploring the accessories that can make a real difference in the field. The session also covered rifle fitment, setup, and the key factors that contribute to accuracy and confidence behind the trigger.

Next topic, we’re heading into the wild with Mike with a focus on Bushcraft 🌿. Get ready to learn the essential skills for surviving and thriving in the outdoors, from practical backcountry knowledge to the fundamentals every hunter should know.

NZDA Auckland is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam Ashby as our new Branch President following last week’s AGM.

Sam has been a dedicated member of the branch and brings a strong passion for hunting, conservation, advocacy, and the future of our club. We look forward to his leadership as we continue to grow and support our members across the region.

Please join us in congratulating Sam on taking on this important role. We wish him every success as he leads NZDA Auckland into its next chapter.

After years of dedicated service to the NZDA Auckland Branch, Brent Panckhurst has officially stepped down as President.

Brent’s leadership, commitment, and countless hours of volunteer work have helped shape our branch and leave it stronger for future generations of hunters and conservationists.

At our AGM, Brent was recognised with Life Membership - a well-deserved honour acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the branch and its members.

On behalf of everyone at NZDA Auckland, thank you Brent for your passion, leadership, and service. Congratulations on becoming a Life Member. 👏

Congratulations to Bruce Purdie on being awarded Life Membership of NZDA Auckland.

Bruce has been a valued member of our branch for many years, generously giving his time, knowledge, and support to help strengthen our club and community.

Life Membership is one of the highest honours our branch can bestow, and it is fitting recognition for Bruce’s dedication and service over the years.

Thank you, Bruce, for everything you have contributed to NZDA Auckland. Congratulations on this well-earned recognition. 👏

Our latest Hunter Training intake kicked off last week with keen attendees 🦌 Over the next 6 weeks, they’ll cover all the essentials - from gear and safety to a mentored hunt at the end. No promises on filling the freezer, but you’ll be well-equipped to give it a real shot.

Sam & Brent kicked things off with ‘Gear Tips’ - covering what to pack for a multi-day trip: day packs, compulsory items, sleep systems, layering, food, PLBs, boots, knives, binos & more.

Let the learning begin! 📖