A competition to win two days of hunting an array of game birds for young people aged 14 to 17 is now open for entries. Photo: Supplied.
Young aspiring game bird hunters can win a weekend at spectacular wetland locations in Central Hawke’s Bay in a Fish & Game New Zealand competition.
The organisation is inviting aspiring young hunters aged 14 to 17 to enter the competition, which includes two days of hunting in outstanding established wetlands on farms near Waipukurau on the weekend of 24-25 May.
“It will be an absolute privilege for us and the landowners to host eight keen aspiring junior hunters at these two outstanding properties,” says Fish & Game chief executive, Corina Jordan.
“Many adult hunters will remember the expectation and excitement of childhood, getting up in the dark, having a cooked breakfast, and then going off to the maimai. I am very much looking forward to sharing that experience with our winners. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create lasting memories in the great outdoors.”
Events will include early morning and afternoon hunting adventures. Former New Zealand clay bird shooting champion Dave Hearn will take the winners through firearms safety and a clay bird shoot. All accommodation and meals, including a duck dinner, will be provided.
To enter, aspiring young hunters need to fill in the entry form and write about 500 words explaining why they would love to win and why they would not normally have the opportunity for this experience. Corina says she is looking forward to being one of the supervisors for the event. “The competition is open to young people ideally with some experience with shooting but who may not have had the chance to go game bird hunting. We have so many passionate young people in New Zealand, who would love the opportunity to experience game bird hunting.”
Gerald and Ben Wilson are passionate about supporting the next generation of hunters, so are offering use of their wetlands with an extensive array of birds.
Entries must be received by 11 April. The winners will be announced in the 25 April issue of the Fish & Game e-zine ‘Both Barrels’. Full details can be found at www.fishandgame.org.nz