Time for Some Wild Goat Stew & Epic Prizes
As springtime arrives across New Zealand, hunting tends to slow down a wee bit – after all, the Roar is done for the year and waterfowl season is well past. But wait! There is one bunch of pests that can keep the keen hunters busy right through the Spring…
Yup those pesky wild goats.
WILD GOAT HUNTING COMPETITION
Even better, the Department of Conservation (DOC, the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA), and a bunch of supporting partners – including Huntech and our mates at Hunting & Fishing New Zealand – have brought the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition back for another year (in fact, it’s actually been running since 1 August).
Wild goats are prolific breeders and destructive buggers, especially when they’re left unchecked. That’s where local hunters can help play a role in the management of numbers.
WHAT'S THE COMPETITION ALL ABOUT?
The competition runs between 1 August and 26 November, with over $70,000 of prizes up for grabs, including more than $10,000 worth of prizes from Huntech. You can enter at Hunting & Fishing stores across the country and select DOC offices and NZDA branches – so there’s no excuse not to submit some wild goat tails this year!
The competition takes place during a quieter period in the hunting calendar, after the roar and duck shooting. So, if you're planning a hunt soon, factor in a side mission to target some wild goats too.
Callum Sheridan, National President of NZDA says:
“The timing gives recreational hunters an extra reason to get out into the back country and refine their hunting skills – all while doing their part to control wild goat numbers”.
The competition can take place anywhere people have permission to hunt. This includes private land as well as public land. This is a great opportunity to build relationships with local landowners.
Case in point, last year one of our winners, Jesse O’Gorman, dropped flyers into the letterboxes of local landowners around his hometown Wellington. This led to gaining permission to hunt wild goats on QEII blocks and a large forestry block.
Over 10,000 wild goats were removed last year – can we beat this for 2024?
KEEP IT SAFE
Obviously, everyone involved, especially Te Tari Pūreke | Firearms Safety Authority (one of the Supporting Partners), wants to see safe, ethical and humane hunting. Do the right thing with your firearms folks.
WILD GOAT RECIPES TO TRY
Last year our wild goat meat recipes produced by wild meat specialist chef, Dariush Lolaiy, from Cazador Restaurant, were extremely popular. Why not try something new?
Check out DOC’s blog and put some tasty wild goat meat dinners on the family table.
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO
If you haven’t entered already, get in there, sign up and start collecting those wild goat tails. Full details here.
AND FINALLY...
Here’s a big shout out DOC, NZDA and to all the other 2024 sponsors:
Founding Sponsor Hunting & Fishing
Major Sponsors InfiRay Optics NZ and Huntech (yeah okay that’s us, but shout out anyway)
Supporting Sponsors Traeger Grills, Backcountry Cuisine, NZ Hunter, Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority, Bushnell, New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association
Thanks to Sophie Carty from DOC for contributing to this post.