Hi all

An update on heli-hunting in NZ. The below quote from the NZ department of conservation website, things are not looking good.

‘From 5 February until 19 February we will work to put in place a “way of operating” for heli-hunting for the 2010 season. A season of 19th February 2010 to 30th September 2010.’

It has not even yet been decided that heli-hunting will go ahead. From March 2010 a public submission process will begin. Even though this process has not even started and no operator holds a concession to do this activity the department of conservation wants to open up heli-hunting in 2010.

Please help us stop this. If DOC issues a way of operating for 2010 it will be the first time heli-hunting has been legal in NZ and it will pave the way for issuing heli-hunting concessions across public conservation land.

Doc has left one last lifeline by way of an online feedback form. Please click this link. http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting...heli-hunting/#letter
Scroll half way down the page and find the text Online feedback form click the text and send in your thoughts.

Some points you may want to include are listed below. The main point is.
“I do not want heli-hunting in NZ and I do not want to see a way of operating for 2010” Include where you’re from and a reason for being against heli-hunting if you can.

Some reasons:

Heli-hunting:

-Is extremely cruel as animals are chased to exhaustion.
-Is extremely unethical and portrays NZ in a poor light and will chase away far more hunting business than it will attract, it will destroy NZ as a quality hunting destination.
-Has no conservation benefits whatsoever
-Does not occur in any other country in the OECD
-Animals taken in this manner are not recognized by any major hunting organization
-Will destroy our sustainable population of bull tahr and chamois.
-Has killed 2 clients in recent years
-Will benefit a handful of operators to the detriment of all kiwis who public conservation land belongs to.

-Wealthy overseas tourists can hunt on private land or in game parks keep them and low flying
helicopters out of our backcountry.

The department of conservation is also trying to change the Mt Cook National Management park plan to allow for heli-hunting. Please click this link
http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting...-cook-national-park/ an send in your thoughts to the email address provided at the bottom of the page.

Main point is “No heli-hunting in Mt Cook National Park, leave the park management plan as it is.”

Quote this point from the park plan if you want to
4.3.3(c) No approval should be given that would increase aircraft activity or aircraft noise within the
Park.


Heli-hunting definition from DOC website

“The activity generally involves the helicopter being used to search for and find the trophy, to position the hunter on the ground and, if necessary, the helicopter prevents the animal from escaping until it is shot by the hunter. The helicopter then recovers the hunter and the trophy.”

I think you should post this in some of the other forum's as well, Outfitters, American big game and whatever else you think will get the most coverage.

This has got to be stopped or it's the end of trophy bull Tahr for everyone.

A note I've sent to SCI.....

Hello

I would like to draw your attention to the fact the New Zealand government via the department of conservation is in the second steps of making illegal heli hunts real.
I have included a link to the government website about this matter. http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting...heli-hunting/#letter
I hope you will show your distain to the government representative that is about to do the shows trying to drum up business for this.
As we all know this practice is band by SCI rules.

If the rules here are changed will SCI bother to recognize any 'trophies' from New Zealand, after all there will be some problems finding out whether the animals having been shot according to SCI rule book.

Kindest Regards
Stephen Dickson

maybe put this in the American hunting section

My comments on the site, plus voted on the poll:

quote:

Heli-hunting if legalised will make NZ as a serious trophy hunting destination a farce.

Tahr and chamois are regarded as some of the premier chase animals, and the introduction of legal heli-hunting will taint all trophies from NZ.

Similar to "caged lion" hunts from South Africa, how will any tahr or chamois trophy be regarded as a serious fair chase trophy. Such trophies are already disallowed by most hunting organisations but ANY trophies from NZ for serious sporting trophy registers should be disallowed if heli-hunting is legalised.

In addition the pursuit of tahr and chamois by helicopter is cruel to the animals.

Game animals should be managed but not exterminated by such silly "hunting" practices.

Seriously NZ should be struck off as a hunting destination for trophy registers if heli-"hunting" is allowed. Similar to the caged deer hunting etc that is already rife.

Yep you've hit the nail on the head there NitroX

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:
Yep you've hit the nail on the head there NitroX

Trophy registers don't bother me. Never put a tape measure on any of mine, though others have.

But if say SCI trophy registers disallowed ALL tahr and chamois trophies from NZ as a result, well I think that would have an affect.

Same with these monstrous steroid farm bred red stags with a guzillion points, I'd hate to shoot a really good red stag free chase in the wild as no one would believe it.

I have shot a 12 point red stag in NZ back in 1993 free range and at least that one looks like a wild head.

I've emailed the SCI ethics committee and asked them to Suspend Tahr from the records while Helihunting is being practiced.
Havn't had a reply.
Your 12 point head would be imediatly recognised as a wild head, and If you have shot a wild 12, then thats something not everyone has acheived, good stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:
I've emailed the SCI ethics committee and asked them to Suspend Tahr from the records while Helihunting is being practiced.
Havn't had a reply.
Your 12 point head would be imediatly recognised as a wild head, and If you have shot a wild 12, then thats something not everyone has acheived, good stuff.

Whats the point in that?? Heli-hunting trophies are not allowed by SCI anyhow - as it doesnt constitute fair chase. Not that it makes much difference anyhow... if the SCI member wants to lie and submit a record then what can anyone do about it??

Nitro X - there is a separate record book for estate hunted animals.

It seems that book is not always used Matt, in fact there are a few SCI rules broken over here but they don't seem to give a rats about that....

The point is Matt, that once its legal there will be no distinctiion between a helihunted, and fairly taken head from NZ, so they should all be treated as helihunted as far as the records go.