their first day but by now all the usual teething issues have been sorted.
 

A huge thank you to all who made the effort to join or rejoin the NZGCA. It is fantastic to see our numbers building to what is fast becoming a significant organization with potentially a strong voice. 

Having said that I can tell you we have plenty of room for more folk

to ‘hop on our train’. Whether it be as a Pin member, a Club member, or in fact a Gold member, you are all most welcome. Joining can easily be done on-line or with the application forms that have now been sent to all the Preserves.
 

I must extend an apology to our Gold members. There was an unexpected delay in receiving the special Gold Member Garters which are part of the Benefits package for you good folk. I am happy to say these Garters have now arrived and very shortly you will be

receiving your complete membership packages. 
 

Thanks for your patience.

The two lucky winners were drawn at the end of April and a more excited pair of blokes you have never met. 

John Pilcher was drawn to attend a shoot day at the fantastic

Lighthouse Station. Congratulations John, I’m sure James, Jamie, and the team will take very good care of you. 

The draw for the Ngamatea Station shoot day was actually won by

Karen Griffiths. Being the perfect wife that she is, Karen gave the prize to her husband Torin. Most of us here in the Hawke's Bay will watch with interest to see if this means a new piece of expensive jewellery for Karen. No such thing as a free shoot, Torin.

Our grateful thanks to both Preserve teams for their generosity in offering such outstanding prizes for our members. Your support of the NZGCA is very much appreciated.

Winner, Winner, Pheasant Dinner: Torin at Ngamatea

Frankly, I don’t have much to report here. The Arms Bill is still before the Justice Committee. We await their report before it goes before Parliament for its second reading. 
The Fish and Game Reform Bill is still yet to be presented. 
It seems the Government has an ever-changing list of priorities.

What with issues in the Middle East, fuel price increases, and a budget presentation due, I guess it is fair to assume changes to Fish and Game does not share the same urgency. We will continue to watch this space.

NORTHMERE: Reece responds. The season is going well with 5 shoot days completed so far. We shot last Thursday and Friday and managed over 300 pheasants each day. We’ve had teams who have never shot driven pheasants before and now they want to introduce

their friends to the sport. The high air pressure has been a bit of a struggle to work with as it makes the birds difficult to get to climb. Unfortunately, some things are beyond our control. We have some new beaters that have joined us after hearing about driven pheasants and they are loving it. There is still lots of work to do and lots to change for next season but for a first proper season we are going really well.

 

LIGHTHOUSE: Jamie advises. We need some wind and rain to get the birds flying properly. They are still flopping about and I find low flying pheasants highly frustrating. Things will improve. We have had a good few days with high shot counts though. All the staff, including seasonal staff, are working hard to make things happen. Looking forward to the rest of the season.

 

GLEN MASSEY: Dickie writes. Our first day at Glen Massey went well. Our Keeper, Jared Paterson proudly presented well feathered, plump birds that flew well. Messrs Horton and Britain earned ties for Guinea Fowl and Rosella respectively. The Mahindra broke down, so

we might have to buy another Land Rover.

 

TOTARA LODGE: Will reports. We started with a hiss and a roar and are keeping that momentum going. The bids are going great considering the weather (you always see us keepers cringe when someone says it’s a lovely sunny day for it). The new drives are going really well, just a bit of fine tuning and we will get them firing on all cylinders! We are looking forward to seeing new faces and old this season at the mighty Totara Lodge.
 

PORONUI: Ben checks in with. The first few days are done and behind us. They went really well considering the still, hot days. We are looking forward to getting some more under our belt. We have yet to try the new drive, but we are excited by the prospect of giving it a go within the next few weeks.

 

TE KONINI: Andrew advises. The season seemed to have come around quicker than ever before. The team and I had a huge amount of work to do to get this new shoot ready. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the Te Konini team we were able to get everything sorted in time.
 

I always knew this property had the fundamentals to produce high, challenging pheasants within a stunning environment. It was the finer details that concerned us the most in the lead-up. Thankfully, with the help of Orton Catering, the hospitality package has been

flawless.
 

The first few shoot days proved to be ‘very good learning days’ as Richard put it. As with any new venture there have been a few teething issues but fortunately these are proving easy to rectify. We have seen some spectacular shooting from our clients. High, curling birds, that look more like end of season pheasants, have been shot beautifully. We are grateful to our clients who have, with enthusiasm, risen to the challenge of these extremely sporting birds.

 

We are very excited for the rest of the season, to see how the new drives develop, how the shoot itself progresses, and how our team continues to improve and grow stronger with every day. Again, we are so appreciative of the support we have received from everyone within the driven pheasant fraternity. We look forward to seeing you all at Te Konini.

 

LAGOON HILL: Malcolm reports. The season is finally underway. The new drives are showing tons of potential, just the odd bit of fine tuning required. All in all, the Guns seem happy and have appeared to have enjoyed their days so far. I am extremely grateful to all who have attended and to our extraordinary team of helpers.

 

CRAIGMORE: Oli writes. The first couple of shoot days have gone well. The birds are still well spread out over the station and some drives are doing better than others. Ideas for improving certain drives are already being discussed. 

We have some new faces in the beating line, which is good to see. There is, of course, plenty for them to learn (dog control in particular), but mixed in with our usual squad (and Harry), who know the drives, we are confident we will make it happen.

A Gun’s Eye View by ‘Top Shot'.

The drive from Napier to Andrew and Lou Newman’s new driven shoot at Te Konini takes you past Tuna Nui Station. Memories of past decades of wonderful hospitality and spectacular shooting come flooding back as the excitement builds for the first day at this new shoot on the sporting calendar.

 

As you arrive at your destination the usual gaggle of dogs, cars, beaters, pickers, and guns welcome you. It is immediately apparent there has been a tremendous amount of work gone into setting up the shoot, from the lodge to the game drives that await. Richard the

Gamekeeper is a familiar face and his vast experience adds huge value to the team.

The property is situated on flats beside the Tutaekuri river with some high cliffs and release points that form the basis of some spectacular shooting.

Our day included five drives with birds that flew well over the line with many of a rather testing height. For a new shoot it was a testament to the quality of the team that the day went so smoothly without any problems.

Andy and Richard are committed to providing sport that will accommodate all levels of ability, and the quality of food and hospitality is exceptional.
 

Congratulations are due to the whole Te Konini team for creating a shoot that will be enjoyed by all who are privileged to experience a day on this beautiful property.

A VERY SLICK OPERATION.
 

In 1982, Stuart Deadman’s father purchased a small farm near State Highway 1, just north of Taupo. Over the years the family added to the property. It is primarily a dairy farm, and one of significant size. 

You would think an operation of such size would be enough to occupy most farmers. But not Stuart. He grew up with a passion for shooting, particularly Ducks and Pheasants.

Some years ago, Simon Dickie established a driven pheasant shoot Harakeke, not far from Totara Lodge. Stuart shot regularly here. When the shooting at Harakeke closed down, Stuart offered Simon the opportunity to open a driven shoot on his farm. 

Simon accepted and Totara Lodge Driven Shooting was born. 

With the untimely death of Simon, Stuart had a choice to make. He could either close the operation down or take it over himself. A no brainer choice. Stuart is a shooter and loves it. Not only did he take it over, but he also started making improvements and has kept making improvements ever since.

Today, he presides over a shoot that anyone in the world of driven pheasants would be proud to call their own.
 

One of Stuart’s first, and he will tell you one of his best moves, was to offer Will Cox, the head gamekeeper position. Over the years they have turned a dairy farm with some pheasants on it, into a complete and highly respected Pheasant shoot which shares space on a highly

successful Dairy farming operation.

 

The best has been made of the property’s landscape to produce drives that will satisfy guns of all abilities. Drives such as Flick over, Deadman’s Bluff, Bottoms Up, and Watch Tower will live long in the memory of all guns, lucky enough to experience them. 

The bird management system they use is based upon pheasant pens rather than release sites. It is the only preserve I have seen in NZ that uses this method. It is more expensive to establish, but they tell me it is easier to control the birds and makes predator eradication far more targeted. Healthy crops are strategically located to work hand in hand with the home pens.

The farm tracks are free draining and pose no problems in wet weather. Transportation for guns, pickers, and beaters are centred around two beautifully restored Landrovers, and a stable of 4 x 4 ATVs. All vehicles are immaculately presented in Totara Lodge livery

and signs written to boot. They are all washed and cleaned the day after each shoot.
 

The Stuart Deadman, now famous, hospitality package, is based around the most magnificent Lodge. A truly wonderful building decked out with an array of exotic trophy heads from around the world. A large fireplace is centrally located, and, close by, an outstanding kitchen set up where chefs prepare meals. The expansive dining table can seat 22. What a place to relax, enjoy great company, and tell lies about the day’s efforts. 

The latest construction for this season is the Bothy, where elevenses will be enjoyed. A bothy is a simple, typically stone-built shelter, more commonly found in the mountains of Scotland and Northern England.
 

It is not a requirement to present facilities like this at a NZ driven shoot but everything about Stuart confirms his philosophy that “If it’s worth doing, then do it right”.

 

This critical thinking is repeated with his conservation projects on the farm. Plantings, wetland developments, and protective fencing areas abound.

This season Stuart aims to offer in excess of 25 driven shoot days, and a further significant number of semi-driven walk-up days are planned. All hosted by Stuart himself.
 

He even has made time to organize 4 horse hunts each year.

 Totara Lodge shoot is a properly managed complete product, based around good sport and hospitality. It is a very slick operation. 

This shoot should be on every gun’s bucket list.  
To experience it, you will need to book well in advance.

 

 

Grantham is the Lincolnshire market town where Sir Isaac Newton went to school. 
It is the birthplace of former English prime minister Margaret Thatcher. 
It is also the birthplace Totara Lodge gamekeeper, Will Cox. Illustrious company.
 

It is a town where if you dig in your back garden, you could find Roman coins. Dig deeper and you could unearth Bronze age artefacts. Dig even deeper and you could find Stone age tools like a Paleolithic axe that carbon dating was used to put its age at up to 150,000 years.
 

Now that’s real history.
 

Will’s early years were spent 20 minutes north of Grantham in the village of Claypole. His parents were farmers in the area. At age 12 or 13 Will went as a beater to a local shoot. He fell in love with driven shooting and set his heart on becoming a gamekeeper. When he was old enough, he enrolled at Riseholme College to study Countryside Management, a flash way of saying Gamekeeping and Pest control.
 

After graduating Will found employment at Blankney Estates where amongst general farm work, he helped set up game rearing pens and was in charge of pest control. He spent 6 years there. Rabbit control work on a nearby farm led him to helping out at a shoot that was

held there. When that shoot closed, the Farmer asked Will to resurrect the programme. He agreed and for the next 3 seasons he ran the shoot. It was, frankly, a small shoot with only 2,500 ducks, pheasants, and partridges on 600 acres. It was, however, great experience, as Will had to do everything in running the show.

 

It was at this time that the gamekeepers scourge raised its head, the dreaded ”itchy feet” syndrome. Will felt the urge to move and found himself in the employ of a Belgium owner of a property in Romania, of all places. As head gamekeeper he looked after a shoot that hunted wild cock birds only. They did, however, offer driven Roe deer, Hare, Partridge, Duck, and even walk-up Quail. The pest control was more varied as he trapped or shot Foxes, Jackals, Badgers, Stoats, and Weasels. Will has also forgotten how many thousands of trees he planted on the property.
 

While Will was involved in chasing his gamekeeping dream, his parents, 2 brothers, and a sister moved from England to the Nelson district here in NZ. Will decided he needed to be closer to his family and so he sent C.V.s to all the existing preserves in our fair land. While in Romania he received a job offer from Simon Dickie who was setting up a preserve at Totara Lodge.
 

So, Will and his Romanian wife arrived and settled into life near Taupo. One year later Simon suffered a fatal accident, leaving Will looking at potential job loss. That was the moment that changed Wills life dramatically. Stuart Deadman took over the shoot reins and asked Will to join him as Head keeper. Stuart didn’t have to ask twice.
 

Nearly 8 years later, and between the two of them they have developed Totara Lodge into what many say is the best shoot of its type in the country.
 

Will says he and Stuart have never stopped learning, improving, and developing. He is proud to state that with the added input of under keeper Kane, no 2 drives are the same. 

One of his greatest personal achievements has been with Driven Guinea fowl. The penalty for a gun who shoots one of these odd- looking birds is $100. This money is then donated to the GREENLEA RESCUE HELICOPTER based in Taupo. The reason they did this was due to a serious motorbike accident suffered by underkeeper Kane, 4 years ago. The injury was so severe the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was required to transport Kane to hospital. The fund raising is purely based on gratitude. Last year the total donated was an eye watering $4600. They are hoping to do better this year.
 

Will Cox is well settled at Totara Lodge with his wife Corina and two

sons, Henry and Lucas. They are very happy and we wish them well.
 

Pictured: Will Cox (L) & Stuart Deadman (R)

I have decided to put up 2 bottles of fine HB wine for the best story of the season. One bottle will be presented to the teller of the story, while the other will be awarded to the victim.

All subjects will be considered. Tales of woe will be published in subsequent Pheasant Tales editions. Images would count for bonus points. The awards will be made at the end of the season. Submit your entries to: robbiedanks@hotmail.com

Don’t forget we have a peg vacancy page on our website. Listed here are all the vacant shoot day spots that are available. If you fancy a day or two shooting then make sure you check out this page. It is simple to find. 

Google NZ Game & Conservation Alliance, Click Menu, 
Click Members and finally click on Peg Vacancies. 

Click on the individual Preserve name to see what is available. 
Contact details for each Preserve are listed for easy contact.