Southern Lakes Branch NZDA

26/03/2026

What a night! Thank to our friends Hunting & Fishing Queenstown for hosting our Roar Night and helping put on such a great evening.

It was a brilliant turnout, a great atmosphere, and an awesome way to get fired up for the roar.

We’re also stoked to share that, with your support, we raised over $2,800 for trapping in the Greenstone Valley. That money will go directly towards supporting and expanding important biodiversity work on the ground.

A big thank you as well Hikmicro, Spika, Hunters Element, RAB and Stoney Creek, Yeti, Beretta and Trager for their generous support, and to Hunting & Fishing Queenstown for getting in behind the event and helping bring it all together.

Massive thank you to Anto Hall from Redstag Hunters Club.

Thanks also to Stag Whisperer for supporting our Roar comp and being part of the night and adding to the fun.

And finally, thank you to everyone who came along, bought raffle tickets, had a yarn, and supported the branch. We really appreciate it.

Announcing the winners :

Hikmicro Thermal: Dion - Queenstown
Spika Gun Safe: Leon - Queenstown
Hunters Element Jacket: Ross - Taupo

All winners have been contacted.

Great people, great support, and a great result for conservation.

25/03/2026

24/03/2026

Roar Raffle – Win & Support Conservation
Prizes up for grabs:

Hikmicro LYNX S LE15S 15mm thermal monocular
Spika 12 Gun Electronic Safe
Hunters Element Storm Jacket

💰 Tickets
$10 per ticket
1 ticket = entry into all 3 prize draws
Buy more tickets = more chances to win

🎉 Bonus
Spot prizes on the night
Thanks to Hikmicro, Spika, Hunters Element, Yeti & Hunting & Fishing Queenstown

📅 Draw Details
Drawn at Roar Night at 9pm

📍 Hunting & Fishing Queenstown

🗓️ Thursday 26 March starts 6.30pm
You don’t need to be there to win
Prizes can be collected nationwide

🌿 The Cause
Supporting Southern Lakes NZDA biodiversity work
Funding AI trap network expansion in Greenstone & Steele Creek Valleys (Takahē country)
Helps improve predator control and protect native wildlife
Goal: Raise $2,000+

👉 Great prizes + great cause = grab a ticket!

https://www.southernlakesnzda.org.nz/Sys/Store/Products/413449

21/03/2026

HUGE!! Fundraising Roar Raffle Tickets available now- We have the amazing opportunity to hold a raffle to fundraise for our clubs Community AI Trapping Network expansion in the Greenstone and Steele Creek valleys (Takahe County) - So get your tickets to win a Hikmicro Thermal monocular or a Spika 12 Gun electronic safe or a Hunters Element Storm Jacket. It will be drawn this thursday coming at 9pm at Queenstown Hunting and Fishing - details here

15/03/2026

The Roar is nearly here, and we’re kicking things off with a Roar Expo at Hunting & Fishing Queenstown.
This will be a great night for hunters to get together, talk hunting, check out gear, and get fired up for the season ahead.

Entry is free and everyone is welcome. Whether you’re a long-time hunter, just getting started, or simply curious about what the roar is all about, come along and join us.

We’re stoked to welcome guest speaker Anto Hall from the Red Stag Hunters Club. Anto will be sharing stories and lessons from years spent chasing big red stags during the roar, along with insights into what it takes to consistently find success in the hills.

It’s shaping up to be a cracker evening. We’ll have the BBQ going, gear showcases from Hunting & Fishing, and thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs for both new and existing members.

Our Stag Whisper Roar Competition will also be running on the night, with some great prizes for those keen to test their calling skills.

Bring a mate, talk hunting, and get ready for the roar.

Thursday 26 March
From 6:30pm
Hunting & Fishing Queenstown

Hunting & Fishing Queenstown New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Inc Stag Whisperer The Hunters Club

24/02/2026

February Club Night – All Things Duck and Shotguns!

If you’re even half thinking about opening weekend, this one’s worth turning up for.

We’ve got practical shotgun training lined up with the crew from the Whakatipu Clay Bird Club. Real-world tips on mounting, swing, lead and actually hitting what you’re aiming at. No theory for theory’s sake. Just practical improvements you can take straight to the maimai.

Henry McCook will be talking shotgun maintenance. The stuff most people rush, skip, or get wrong. Cleaning properly, checking wear points, looking after your gear so it runs when it matters.

We’ll also have a look at the gear that can make or break your opening weekend. From choke selection and ammo choices through to the small details that separate a tidy setup from a shambles at first light.
If you want to go into the season confident rather than hopeful, get along.

Bring your questions. Bring your shotgun knowledge gaps. And bring a mate who needs the tune-up.

New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Inc Hunting & Fishing Queenstown Hunting & Fishing New Zealand

12/02/2026

ARMS BILL SUBMISSION GENERATOR—COLFO

The Arms Bill is the most significant consultation process that will determine the future of New Zealand's Firearm laws. This is important to us as hunters. To make it easy to have your say, COLFO have created a system that does it for you in three easy steps:

1. Tick the boxes you agree with and add your thoughts
2. Check your emails for your PDF Submission
3. Upload it here; https://www.colfo.org/arms-bill-generator

Submissions close February 16th.

Get in the fight.

This page will guide you through making a simple but strong arms bill consultation submission. It makes it easy for those who care about good gun control in New Zealand to have their say and create strong gun laws.

09/02/2026

Members – this matters. Action needed.
Submissions are now open on the Arms Bill, and this is a critical chance for hunters and shooters to be heard.
If we do not speak up, decisions will be made without the lived experience of lawful fi****ms users at the table.
The Bill replaces the Arms Act 1983 and, while New Zealand Deerstalkers Association supports it as a step forward, it does not yet go far enough. Key issues remain around excessive discretion, lack of recognition of lawful fi****ms use, the fi****ms register, licensing processes, and the ongoing impact on clubs, ranges, and participation.
You do not need to be a lawyer. Personal, well-reasoned submissions carry real weight. Even a short submission, written in your own words, helps reinforce the case for proportionate, workable fi****ms law.
Submissions close 16 February 2026.
Take 20 minutes. Read the guides. Make your submission.
This is how we protect hunting, shooting, and club life in New Zealand.
https://www.deerstalkers.org.nz/resources/publications/news/arms-bill-make-your-submission

04/02/2026

The Southern Lakes NZDA is proud to support Bush, Balls and Breaking Barriers when it comes to Wānaka on Saturday 28 February.
Mental health matters in our hunting and rural communities. We’ve seen the impact first-hand through past guest speaker Gwyn Thurlow from Mental Hunts , and the work being done to create space for honest, practical conversations that actually help.
This evening brings together powerful speakers, real stories, and straight talk about resilience, setbacks, and finding a way forward. It’s a relaxed setting, good people, and an important cause, with funds raised going directly to support Mental Hunts and their work on the ground.
If you can, we encourage members and supporters to get along and back this event.
Saturday 28 February
Lake Wānaka Centre

Doors open 5pm | Tickets $35 via Humanitix

03/02/2026

The Roar starts now.

We’re 12 weeks out, and this is the window where the groundwork gets done. Fitness, planning, and preparation all pay dividends once you’re in the hills. More ground covered, better decisions made, and fewer injuries when it counts.

We’re backing the NZ Mountain Safety Council message because it aligns closely with how we hunt and look after our mates. Their free 12-week guide is a solid, practical resource to help you get yourself Roar-ready.

At 12 weeks out, the focus is simple:
• Get moving. Walk, tramp, train, or get out for shorter hunts.
• Be consistent. Small, regular effort beats last-minute heroics.
• Start strength work. Build gradually, whether that’s pack weight or gym work.
• Plan your hunt properly. Route, terrain, access, river crossings, facilities.
• Do your homework on your chosen area before committing.

Why it matters:
Injuries spike during the Roar. Good fitness and planning don’t just make the hunt more enjoyable, they give you options when conditions change and help get everyone home safely.
If you’ve got less than 12 weeks, start anyway. Any preparation is better than none.

Download the free guide and put the work in now.
Have a hmmm this Roar. Slow it down, think ahead, hunt smart.

29/01/2026

Range days and Shooting competition dates are set, and these are the last range days before the roar.
If you’re heading into the hills this season, now’s the time to check your zero, confirm your setup, and get some solid trigger time in.

Range Days
• February 1st
• February 15th
• March 22nd

These are relaxed, practical days at the range. Ideal for final rifle checks, building confidence, and making sure everything is dialled before the roar. Open to experienced shooters, weekend hunters, and those still learning. Family-friendly and low pressure.

Summer Shooting Competition
• March 8th
A full day of friendly competition, BBQ, and classic NZDA-style shooting. The format will be confirmed closer to the date, but expect a good mix that suits hunters and target shooters alike.
More details and registration info coming soon. Get these dates in the calendar.