Matariki Pig Hunting: A First-Timer's Adventure

Chris Young, the Head of Marketing here at Huntech, takes us on an adventure with him for his first ever hunt; and not just any hunt, but a pig hunt. 

Growing up as a city kid venturing into the world of pig hunting for the first time, he found himself on a journey to join in on the Big Four Hunting Competition** - a staple in the North Island hunting scene. Here’s his recount of this unforgettable experience.

Our adventure began as I drove down to the farm of Rob Horsley, a long-time Huntech collaborator, in coastal Waikato. Arriving at the lodge in darkness, I was greeted with a hearty steak sandwich and an evening of storytelling as the team trickled in, eagerly planning for the next day's hunt.

The day started early - very early. Before first light, we were up and fuelling ourselves with a big breakfast of bacon and eggs. Little did I know this would be our only meal until dinner! By 6:30am, with temperatures below freezing and frost coating everything, we loaded into the UTEs, ready to hunt wild pigs.

Our initial stop was at a farm where wild pigs had been causing damage. As we tramped into the local bush, the experienced hunters, Scott, Elliot and Rob, quickly spotted fresh tracks. For almost an hour, we followed these over a ridge until the dogs caught the scent of our quarry.

Suddenly, everything erupted into chaos. The dogs went wild, having cornered a pig, and we sprinted downhill to reach them. By the time I arrived, huffing, puffing and seriously warm in my Olaf Puffer Jacket, the wild sow had been dispatched and was being gutted on the spot. Scott hoisted the pig onto his shoulders, and by 9 AM, we were ready for our next location.

The rest of the day was an exercise in persistence. We covered multiple blocks, splitting into groups, and searching relentlessly for signs of wild pigs. Despite plenty of tracks, a bunch of goats and even coming across a couple of older pig carcasses, live sightings eluded us for hours.

As the day was winding down around 5pm, Rob pulled out his his night vision scope for a quick scan. He spotted a pod of 20-30 pigs in a valley 1-2km away. Excitement surged through the group as we quickly formulated a plan.

A herd of wagyu beef helped to cover our approach, as we split into three groups to surround the pigs.

What followed was pure adrenaline-fueled action. The dogs rampaged into the pod, scattering pigs in all directions. In the ensuing chaos, I witnessed the skill and efficiency of experienced hunters as they cornered and dispatched their targets.

Though I was too slow to make a kill myself, I got my share of the hunt by shouldering a 40-odd kilogram sow back up the hill to the quads. Let me tell you, that's a workout (and smell) I won't forget anytime soon!

By day's end, our group had successfully caught and killed eight pigs - a respectable haul, I was told. Back at the lodge, a hot spring-fed bath soothed my aching muscles, followed by a well-deserved feast and more storytelling.