73rd NZDA National Conference

Members of the Game Animal Council attended the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association’s 73rd Annual Conference,  in Queenstown, earlier this year. Hosted by the Southern Lakes Branch of NZDA, the conference theme was ‘hunting is conservation’. GAC Councillors and staff enjoyed engaging with NZDA members and other hunting sector stakeholders from all over the country and discussing how we can improve hunting opportunities while contributing to good conservation outcomes.

GAC General Manager Tim Gale addressed the Conference. You can read his speech HERE.

Fiordland Wapiti Area Venison Project

The Game Animal Council and Fiordland Wapiti Foundation partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to provide 18,000kg of free-range wild Fiordland venison to foodbanks and feed thousands of New Zealand families in need.

In 2020 600 deer were removed from Fiordland National Park for processing into 18,000 1kg wild venison mince packets that were distributed throughout the country. This resulted in benefits for the wapiti herd, conservation due to lower deer numbers, provided jobs and employment for local meat processors and helicopter operators.

The project was jointly funded by the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation with the Game Animal Council administering the programme.

A big thanks goes to Safari Club International (NZ), New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, Central North Island Sika Foundation, Tahr Foundation and NZ Hunter Magazine who came on board to help with transportation and promotion.

Southern Lakes Helicopters and Fiordland Helicopters undertook the recovery, Fare Game processed the venison into mince and Bowmont Wholesale Meats provided storage facilities.

You can read more on the project including some great venison mince recipe’s from famous Kiwi chef’s here.

The Sika Show

Unfortunately the 2020 Sika Show didn’t take place due to COVID-19 however the 2019 version was a fantastic opportunity to talk to  hunters about what we do. Our Councillors really value the opportunity to discuss the issues important to hunters as those discussions help us to advocate on your behalf. Popular topics of discussion ranged from changes to firearms laws, the management of tahr and the use of deer repellent. It was also great to catch up with folks from the Sika Foundation, NZDA, FWF and DOC as well as the Minister of Conservation and other sector stakeholders. The 2021 Sika Show is set for 20-21 November at Mystery Creek, Hamilton. More information is available here.

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