Keeping safe during the roar

As the days get shorter and the nights cooler, hunters are looking forward to the annual deer ‘roar’ or ‘rut’.

But the Department of Conservation (DOC) is urging caution and safety. The roar is red deer breeding season, which starts in late March, when male deer ‘roar’ to attract mates. Atotal of 41 people have died while hunting in New Zealand between 2007 and 2016. The Mountain Safety Council found 1030 people are injured in New Zealand each year while hunting. “Before your trip, make sure you have a current hunting permit if you are intending to hunt on public conservation land,” DOC’s Technical advisor recreation Peter Devlin said. “Permits provide information about local hunting safety restrictions. They are free and pretty painless to get.” The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association offers a hunter training programme. See : www.deerstalkers.org.nz/. Tips for staying safe:

• Be visible; wear clothing that contrasts with the environment and the animals being hunted.

• Be alert and prepared for changes in conditions. Monitor the weather. • Have appropriate gear. • Be familiar and practised with the weapon you will be using.

• Know the area you are hunting and share your knowledge with the other members of your party. Before the hunt, have everyone agree on hunting areas with a clearly defined “no fire zone” between areas.

• Always expect to encounter others.

• Identify your target. Ensure the complete animal is seen; don’t shoot based on individual items such as colour, shape, sound or movement. Shift to get a better view or don’t shoot at all. Use binoculars to identify your target. The rifle scope should only be used to place the shot.

• If carrying a deer carcass or trophy head, cover it in some way so that it is clearly contrasted with the environment.

• The hunt is not over until everyone is safely home.