A Note from the Team …

With the Roar fast approaching, many of our daydreams drift to epic country, tall tines, and good times on the hill. We can’t wait for crisp mornings, loud days filled with excitement and action, and nights where the sound of stags roaring across the valley carries straight into our dreams. It’s the time of year many of us plan our calendars around.

However, the Roar period encompasses more than just hunting. It’s anticipation, preparation and the pull of wild places both familiar and unexplored. Whether you’re heading back into well-known country or setting foot somewhere new, the build-up is a significant part of the experience. We hope the stories and insights in this issue not only add to your stoke but also help fine-tune your planning so you can make the most of every opportunity.

Key considerations during the Roar include conservation and management, which have been explored throughout recent NZRod&Rifle issues and will continue to be talked about in the future. There’s been a clear and positive shift in New Zealand’s hunting culture, with more hunters adopting a long-term perspective and making field decisions that prioritise the future. It’ll be interesting to see whether the quality of stags harvested this Roar reflects these changing attitudes. When combined with recent legislative wins for the hunting community, there’s strong reason to be optimistic about the quality of animals in the years ahead.

The organisation and initiative shown by hunters in coming together, aligning goals and pushing for meaningful change around conservation and hunting has been impressive. I’m looking forward to seeing how we meet the next challenges and continue to protect, preserve and improve this way of life.

On that note, public opinion plays a critical role in the long-term sustainability of our hunting freedoms, so it’s worth keeping in mind how we’re perceived when sharing images on social media and talking with non-hunters about hunting and our Roar trips. Sharing the fruits of the hunt with a non-hunting friend, neighbour or workmate is a good way to leave them with a positive taste of hunting – in their mind and in their mouth.

However and wherever you hunt this season, we wish you fired-up stags, sound decisions, and safe travels.

Enjoy the Roar!

 – Bre and the team at NZRod&Rifle