Two backcountry huts. A sixty-strong calendar of working bees, training nights, and bush trips. A nine-decade tradition of safe, ethical hunting in the Southern Lakes.
Built and maintained by branch volunteers. Free for members, $30 a bed for the public, key picked up in town.
Twelve bunks on the Greenstone River, a short walk from the road end. Wood burner, gas hob, long-drop. The branch's busiest hut from November through April.
Eight bunks above the bush line, four hours up the Caples Track. Tin chimney, billy on the stove. The hut to head for if you want the tops to yourself.
Working bees, training nights, range days, and the AGM. Members RSVP through the portal; the public are welcome at most events.
Splitting macrocarpa, cleaning the chimney, replacing the long-drop seat. Lunch on the branch.
Welcome, kit walkthrough, paperwork. Eight-week intake runs Tuesdays through August.
Zeroing for roar, with branch-issue targets. Bring 40 rounds and your e-tag.
Whole-deer break-down, knife care, ageing. The Mountaineer Pavilion, 6pm.
Election of officers, rule changes, annual report, and a beer. The Boatshed, 4pm.
Branch dues fund hut maintenance, course subsidies, and the legal team that keeps public-land access on the agenda. In return, members get free hut nights, a quartermaster locker, and a vote at the AGM.
Both branch huts, all year. Bring a non-member at half price.
Two spotting scopes, four PLBs, packrafts, panniers — borrow free.
$50 off HUNTS, free range days, butchery and field-dressing nights.
Speak up at the AGM. Stand for committee. The branch is what we make it.
NZDA's flagship hunter-training programme, run locally by branch instructors. From the basics of rifle handling to butchering your first deer — eight Tuesday nights and three weekend trips.
The seven rules. Cleaning, storing, transporting.
Choosing a rifle. Reading drop charts. Wind and lead.
Topo50, route-cards, GPS basics, when not to trust them.
Shelter, fires, heat loss, cuts. Stop-the-bleed practice.
Reds, fallow, chamois, tahr. Reading rubs and prints.
100m group, drop chart out to 300m.
Gutting, quartering, packing out clean meat.
Two nights at Mid Greenstone. Stalk under instruction.
Local gear shops, gun retailers, processors, and the people who keep our courses kitted.
