Stay on Top of Your Game for Spring Hunts

Spring is in the air, with longer days and warmer temperatures. But don’t be fooled. Not only is the weather unreliable, spring hits differently in the mountains. Planning is key to staying safe on any springtime trip, whether you’re doing a meat hunt to stock up the freezer for summer BBQs or you’re trying your luck in the National Wild Goat Hunting competition.

Plan Your Route

Chat with your mates and plan a route together before you go. That way you’re all on the same page and you can share the plan with an emergency contact. With Plan My Walk’s (PMW) custom track builder it’s easy to create a route anywhere in New Zealand, whether that’s combining existing tracks with off-track routes or going fully off-track. You’ll see alerts, weather forecasts and warnings for the area on PMW too. When you’re happy with the route, share it with everyone who needs to be in the know.

• Plan a route before you go.

• Share your plan with an emergency contact and tell them when you’ll be back.

Pack for the Weather

Even on a sunny spring day, pack the full kit, especially in the hills where you could still encounter wintery conditions. Be prepared for cold temperatures, rain and wind, and snow if you’re venturing into alpine terrain. Plan My Walk’s custom gear lists make packing easy for a hunt. Create and save gear lists for different types of hunts, so whether you’re planning for a day out or big game multi-day trip, you’ll have a list ready to go. Tick off the items as you pack them, and then share your list with your emergency contact as part of your trip plan.

• Take warm layers and a quality rain jacket. A hat and gloves are also essential.

• Layer up so you can strip off when you’re hot (meaning you won’t get too sweaty, which will ultimately make you cold) and pile clothes back on when you cool down.

Rain, Snow and Rivers

Spring often brings more rain and snow melt, so think about river crossings. What may have been a tame stream on your way into the hills, could turn into a raging beast on your way out, and you could find yourself stranded and frustrated. Check the weather forecast on PMW before you head out as well as on the day, and change your plans if the weather’s looking bad. When checking the forecast, look out for rain in the river catchment area, not just where you’ll be hunting.Throw a dehydrated meal into your pack along with a torch and an emergency shelter as well as a first aid kit, so if the river is up, you can wait it out until it drops.

• Change your plans if the weather forecast is bad and if the conditions change when you’re out on your hunt.

• Have a plan B in case you can’t cross the river to get home.

Avalanches!

In alpine areas, snow and ice can still be present at low levels, and storms can bring new snow, filling up gullies and increasing avalanche danger. If you’re heading into the alpine, check the NZ Avalanche Advisory during your planning and again before you leave home. If there is snow about, take essential avalanche rescue equipment with you, including a transceiver, shovel and probe.

On the hunt, be aware of the frozen ground on shaded faces, as this can be slippery. For the goat competition, you’re asked to provide a goat tail as proof of a kill. In steep country that may be difficult or dangerous to retrieve, so don’t push it. A goat tail is not worth risking your life for. Also remember that animals don’t know about avalanche danger, so don't follow game thinking if they're okay, you are too.

• Get the avalanche forecast

• Be aware of avalanche terrain when choosing your route and campsites.

• Avoid travelling in snowy alpine areas, unless you’re equipped and experienced to do so

Be Firearm Safe

Do the essential firearms checks before you leave home. Think about the last time you re-zeroed. If you haven’t been out recently and confirmed your zero, spend time on your rifle ahead of your hunt.

When on the hunt, always check your firing zones, know where everybody is at all times, and identify your target. If you have more than one shooter at a time, be sure everyone else is unloaded.

• Re-zero your rifles.

• Always check your firing zones and identify your target.

Follow the Basics

Keep the NZ Land Safety Code top of mind when planning your trip.