Planning and Balloting - Red Deer Roar 2022 - Helpful Hints, Contacts and Links - Airsquare
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Ballot Blocks and DOC • DOC administer most public land ballots • Widespread across South Island • Wide range of country – coastal, alpine, tussock, heavy bush • All can be found on DOC website using search tools • For an organisation that some think a problem for us they do a good job of providing information to help hunting
But first……….a good hard think • Ensure you plan before balloting • Why? Who? When? Where? • Good planning brings better results • Because it is likely a big investment in time and $$ is deserves some attention • Remote blocks usually means flying – fear of, party size, communications (radio/inReach etc) and cost need to be considered
Why and who? • Do you want a trophy animal, or just plenty of encounters? • Chances of other activities – other game animals, fishing etc • Working out the size of and who is in your team is critical consideration dependent on the block you are after for logistics etc • Good to have back-ups (plan b party members) for a team esp if chopper $$$ etc • I usually add a few names to ballot and can drop some – you can change names but not leader
More to Think About • Coastal areas can mean more numbers but smaller trophies • Thick bush needs good navigation MSC Navigation Skills • Mountain areas = alpine risks MSC Alpine Hunting • A lot of blocks have significant rivers – be river ready MSC River Safety • Roar Safety MSC Roar Safety Video
When and Where • Endless debate about the peak roar time for various places – it’s a lottery • You cannot pick the weather 6 months out! • Easter – good news re leave, bad news re more people balloting • Good to have other area options especially if you are having to plan fixed leave • Blocks have differing access periods from only a few days to a week or ten days
Areas • Fiordland wapiti DOC Te Anau • Molesworth Bookings Nelson Visitor Centre • South Westland aka Haast DOC Haast • Otago – Wainakaruas, Catlins, and Blue Mountains (fallow) DOC Invercargill • Southland - Waikaia, Leithen etc DOC Invercargill • Wanaka DOC Wanaka • DOC contacts provided further below
Travel and accom….road, air, boat or foot • A big part of consideration is access and if hutting or tenting • The constraints each brings (except the ute!) means good planning essential • Huts are good but hut blocks often attract more hunters in and out of roar and more chance of having trampers etc about
Air Travel – the world has changed • Far more scrutiny on chopper loading and safety • Need to think carefully about numbers, weights and costs – talk to your pilot BEFORE • Weigh and list all items and secure gear, lids etc duct tape good! Butane Gas separate; LPG an issue • Most chopper firms work hard in roar to co- ordinate lifts to keep costs down • Need to keep costs in perspective….. • You have had an adventure whether you shoot anything or not!
Squirrels • Four people • Heaps of payload • All weather (kind of) • Expensive unless you have big team to split costs
Hughes 500 • now can only lift 500 kgs not a tonne! • The pilot is 16% of payload! More if he likes his pies • 3 people and gear but need to have good weigh up – a week’s gear etc mounts up • Need capacity for meat out….. • Medium cost when split 3 ways • Feel cool and safe
500 ways to get to your block
R44 • 2 passengers pref skinny • Often now appearing more and doing two lifts into blocks • Payload more limited • They don’t like wind……..nor do I • Cheapest option, honestly not my pref but I do it…..
R44
Info search - Google Google Google • Hunting websites and blogs • Heli operators at Haast, Glaciers, James Scott and others • NZDA • Facebook blogs and groups
Your chances? Dated but interesting info https://www.pointssouth.co.nz/content/the- haast-roar-ballot-whats-your-chances
MAPS • DOC ballot area maps now much better • Freshmap/Topo (remember if on a map it looks kinda steep, its bloody steep and if its flat, it’s a generally a swamp…) • Google earth – bush type, slips etc • Use all other map tools
Ethics & Rules • DON’T double dip!! Or give away blocks • Online balloting reducing opportunity to do this • If you cannot make a block always advise DOC as early as possible so someone else can have the opportunity • Never cross boundaries and read and obey ALL the rules specific to your permit • Seek to share transport – choppers etc • DOC might give you contacts for “neighbours” which is helpful re transport and huts etc • Remember!! a ballot block is not a guarantee of no other people in the area – always stay alert and ID your target
Talk to DOC Offices!! • Most DOC regional offices have keen hunters in them • They can provide good insight and info on what’s happening locally and how any ballot works • Great examples are Renwick, Haast, Invercargill, Wanaka, Te Anau • They can help with access too inc across private land • Note ballot costs vary from zero (Wanaka) to $40 for Haast
Talk to DOC Offices!! • Marlborough – Renwick 03 572 9100 renwick@doc.govt.nz • Fiordland – Te Anau 03 249 0200 teanauadmin@doc.govt.nz • Haast – 03 750 0809 haasthuntingballot@doc.govt.nz • Invercargill 03 211 2400 invercargill@doc.govt.nz
The Nasties • Check out pesticide summaries on DOC site • https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and- threats/pesticide-summaries/ • These list past and planned 1080 drops • My experience has been that where deterrent is used, or it’s a rat drop (i.e. Battle for Birds) or in heavy wet country its not always a major but…..think about it • Probably puts more people off than it should • DOC and local chopper guys can advise recent WARO activity and 1080 impact on deer which varies (they do post drop rat/possie surveys)
Key Links All Hunting Info – spend a wet day in link below – follow your nose, just keep clicking! • DOC Hunting Information Portal
Key Links Ballots • Haast Ballot • Wanaka Ballot • Southland Waikaia Leithen Bush Wainakarua Catlins • Fiordland Wapiti Foundation Ballot
Marlborough • Molesworth • Still uncertainty re how 2022 ballot will occur if not just first come first served basis online as per link
Its not all over if you don’t get a block…….. • Use this portal in DOC hunting site to look at all open access areas and again, talk to local offices and pilots for intel
And occasionally you get to shoot something…
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