Planning and Balloting - Red Deer Roar 2022 - Helpful Hints, Contacts and Links - Airsquare
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Planning
and
Balloting –
Red Deer
Roar 2022
Helpful Hints,
Contacts and Links
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
Drive-in - too easy
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-chancesMAPS • 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 PortalKey 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 intelAnd occasionally you get to shoot something…
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