I've been deployed with the U.S. Air Force to Antarctica for over a month now and I'm going quite stir crazy. I've been reading a lot about the culling of rodents going on and was wondering what it would take to join in. I have no equipment with me and would be happy to pay for rifle rental, ammo, etc. I'm not at all interested in collecting any of the bounties that are offered. All I need is a great day in the field turning pests in to pet food to put me straight after living among the dregs here in McMurdo Station. My sentence ends in about 18 days or so and I'm back to Christchurch. It's hard to say exactly when I'll get there and when I'll have a day off. Any one have any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help. Save me some Montieth's!

Sorry for all the animation but, yes, I am that bored!!

i putting a group together for next year it will be around 4000$ per person but you can shoot till your hearts content......around 1000 rounds of ammo.

im from niagara falls ontario so if your still living in up state ny were really not that far apart.

Thanks for the offer Nitro. My military job gets me to NZ every year for a couple weeks on my way to and from Antarctica. I'm a lowely E-6 and paying my own way to NZ is quite a large ticket. Since I would arleady be in NZ what I'm trying to set up was some where to go shoot when I'm there. That's how I was able to get a few days in the field in South Africa last April. I was sent as part of the All Guard National Shooting Team for a match and all 11 of us were able to get out for a day or two. There's no way I could have financed that kind of trip on my own.

I'd guess that we're about 5 hours apart, maybe a bit farther. I hear you got hit pretty good yesterday, They got 5 feet outside of Buffalo. What team do you follow? I try to be a good Rangers fan, a tough thing to admit but this season hasn't been as hard on us. Good luck with your trip and enjoy New Zealand. The only reason they keep getting me to go to Antarctica is for the time I get to spend there.

Gidday Taurus,

If you manage to get a weekend off when you are here I maybe able to set you up with some time in the bush, Gear won't be a problem but if you are interested in chasing some reds or canadas plus some bunny busting we'll give it a go.

For the moment I am limited to weekends though.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Its great Hamish has offered to help this guy out on the weekend, thanks for keeping up the Kiwi side Hamish!

There must be someone else in SI who can assist? This guy can handle travel all around the world, I am sure he can get from Chch to Otago by plane/train/bus/hitchhike if he had somewhere to go for a couple of days?

He can get a visitors license at airport to allow him to buy ammo and use a gun unsupervised and I am sure he can cover some budget accommodation costs.

In USA I believe spotlighting is illegal, a night on possums and rabbits would be an exotic experience for him as well as rabbits etc by day. Especially with a suppressed rfile which is also rare in USA.

My own experience years ago in USA was that everyone bent over backwards to give me the local experince on prairie dogs and things like that.

Hope someone can show this guy some Southern hospitality on the same lines!

Hi Taurus,

drop me a note, maybe I could arrange something for You as my brother lives in NZ and goes hunting every free minute: He is sometimes also in the plane to Antarctica for meassuring during flights...

Klaus

Hey Hamish, that's the kind of thing I was hoping for. When you say reds and canadas, do you mean waterfowl, as in ducks and geese? I had a very slow season of my own this past year so that would be a great time. Furry rodents would also fit the bill. My e-mail address is bikrrbill@hotmail.com. Hopefully I'll be able to get time off on a week end, right now it looks like my only shot will be the 24-25th. I'll let you know how it works out as soon as they tell me.

Vince, thanks for the support mate. Depending on the amount of time I get off, a bit of traveling would be no drama at all. I've got the south island covered by motorcycle all the way from Nelson to Queenstown. Thanks also for the bit of info regarding a license. We're allowed to spot light for racoons, fox and coyotes, but I haven't hunted them at night. It's amazing to me how different the perspective can be between our two countries. You're not allowed to have pistols or handguns yet suppressors aren't any trouble. In the states buying a book off the internet that tells you how to make one would get you followed by the CIA! LOL

Thanks again to both of you. New Zealand is a wonderful place beginning with the hospitality of the people.

Hamish is talking about Red deer and Canadian Geese.

If you are ever in the north island yet me know,ill take out shooting up here.

Bill, you wont need a firearms license to just hunt with Hamish. You only need it to have a firearm out of direct supervision of a licensed owner or to buy ammo.

If someone takes you out and you stay close and let them buy the ammo from the shop you are fine.

Silencers are a growth industry here and several gunsmiths supply and fit them and PES brand are manufactured in Auckland and sold all over the world, certainy in UK and Europe.

Silencers used to be illegal and we used to get British made Parker & Hale brand silencers but a professionally printed sticker was put on box over the top of the word "Silencer" and said "Sound Moderator" Work that one out! Commonsense prevailed and they are now fine called what they are!

We have plenty of handguns but only for shooting on an approved range. We can have them for competition but not self defense. Truth is we dont really need them for that but hunting would be fun with them. I am sure it has been tried

Hello Top, thanks for the offer. I've been through New Zealand for 10 years now and have only spent a night each in Auckland and Wellington. As soon as I can talk my girlfriend into a vacation, I'll take get some leave and just might take you up on your offer.

Red stag from what I've read sounds like a lot of work. Hamish, if you're up for it I'll give it a go. Canadas would be great as well. Do you hunt them in a field or over water? Private land in New York is all you have for field hunting so I spend my time shooting them over water on public land.

I've been fortunate enough to take 2 white tails with my Taurus .44 Rem Mag. The area I hunt used to be shotgun, bow or handgun only- no center fire. My revolver weighs just about as much as my Ithaca 12 ga and is a pleasure to carry afield. I can shoot it as well as the Ithaca out to 50 yards which is the farthest I've ever shot a deer.

And Vince, it's good to see that common sense exists at all, there's almost none in NY. Especially now that Elliot Spitzer has joined Hillary and NYC Mayor Bloomberg. Shoot 'em while you got 'em.

Gidday Taurus,

Let us know when you have the dates sorted.

That weekend we are going for a trip on the friday and will be back sunday evening and checking out our roar stands.

You will get in some goose time and some red deer and maybe a chamois.

Just let us know.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Hello Hamish, things here in Antarctica are winding down but nothing is for sure yet. The guy who thinks he's in charge told us today to ready to go with an hour's notice but be prepared to stay until the 24th. He also said that these plans are carved in Cool Whip, what ever that means. I'll let you know as soon as I can. I hope we can work something out, it's giving me something to look forward to.

Gidday Taurus,

PM Sent

Happy hunting

Hamish

Hey Taurus Bill, did you get a hunt in? How did it go?

Better give us a write up, maybe even a photo or 2?

Hamish may decide to throw in his day job and become a PH and may need the reference!

I had a great chat with Hamish on the phone. He and his mates were headed out last friday morning and wouldn't return until mid day Sunday. There's no way my boss would have given me that much time off so we had to scrap it for this year. I'm going to try to plan things out for next season and see if we can get something set up.

Thanks to all for the help and the opportunity. I'll be headed home in the next few days so see you next season.