The New Zealand hunting season ended last weekend. As always I thoroughly enjoyed being out under open, endless skies with the dogs. The hunting terrain and bird numbers varied hugely in quality. The last couple of weekends I only went out to forest blocks in the local area and it really was poor. Those areas really need some tender, love and care before Fish & Game go out and promote them with hunting permits. They are so overgrown, with gorse especially, that they’re not even worthy hunting with spaniels – and far from it for any pointing breeds. You have to be lucky enough to find birds adjacent to the forestry roads, have good retrieving dogs and pray that you don’t injure any birds, as retrieves can be tricky in some almost impenetrable scrub. Other forests and farms where I frequent have been excellent and inviting for big running dogs. I shot almost as many pheasants and quail as I did last year, while the duck season was nothing compared to previous years.
I’m happy to say the dogs are functioning really well and Bella has actually surpassed Moulin as my main hunting dog. Her ability to find and set birds combined her ranging, style and passion makes her a joy to walk behind. Lazy season ahead for the dogs now as I’m seriously gearing up for spring and summer, with the promise of doing lots of fishing and diving. I have always managed to keep up my hunting but since my youngest boy was born three years ago, the fishing & diving has suffered a bit. My oldest boy Aidan is already completely obsessed both with fishing and hunting, so he is naturally very much looking forward to this fishing season. These days we’re having a tow bar fitted on a new car (that’s the third car I’m putting a tow bar on – crikey..), having the boat serviced and buying a new boat motor. The dive cylinders are being pressure tested and regs & bc being serviced. Bring on the summer weather – I can’t wait!!
Aidan Luca in various snap shots during the past year or so …