Families prepare to hunt for pests
LUKE KIRKEBY
It’s not often pests are wanted in the South Waikato.
But it is a case of weasels beware next month.
Stoats, weasels, ferrets, wallabies, rats, magpies, pigeons and other pests are all in the firing line at the Goat to Stoat Parent and Child Hunting Competition.
Families are encouraged to bring their pests to the weigh-in at the Putaruru Hotel on Sunday, July 8 from 10am.
The competition will see competitors out hunting from the Friday night beforehand. It is being run by Blue Light and there is as much as $2000 in prizes up for grabs.
Coordinator Donna Campbell said it was a way to encourage parents and children, aged 3-15, to get out doing something positive together.
‘‘It is all about getting families out in the environment. It’s good for your spirit and mind and has been shown to help people relax and have quality time as a family,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s helping out the Department of Conservation too and the reason it’s for 3-15 year olds is because with bigger hunting competitions the adults tend to go out with the kids for half an hour and Dad might shoot something and that’s what they take to weigh in but we didn’t want that. The whole point of this is for them to get out there and do it together.’’
Campbell said the event doesn’t specify that pests have to be shot but if they are a firearms licence is required when entering.
‘‘They can trap as well because you are not going to shoot a mouse or rat,’’ she said.
She said there will also be face painting, a sausage sizzle, gumboot throwing, and spot prizes.
‘‘Just because you don’t bring anything in to weigh-in doesn’t mean you are not going to get anything,’’ she said.
‘‘We have also got Best Dressed Kids and Best Dressed Pest categories where you can dress up a dead possum or think outside the square if you have got a possum as a stuffed toy at home.’’
Campbell urged people to get tickets as early as possible because categories were expected to fill up quickly.
‘‘They need to purchase tickets before the day so we know how many kids we have entered,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s five dollars. We’re not doing it to make a massive profit, we are doing it just to create an event for kids to go to.’’
Tickets can be purchased from Tokoroa Sport and Outdoors, Farm Source, Farmlands Tokoroa, Pride in Puta¯ruru, Puta¯ruru Home Kills, and Puta¯ ruru Tyres.
Campbell thanked the event’s sponsors.