HUNTS
HUNTS – The course for everyone by Maureen Coleman , Thames Valley btanch
There were just a few places left on the 2016 HUNTS course when I got a phone call to ask if we could cope with taking a young guy out for a hunt who was a tetraplegic . My impulsive answer was “ yep , for sure !” and it also got me thinking that doing the HUNTS course could also be a neat opportunity for him .
“ Yes , he ’ s tetraplegic … but that ’ s no drama ...”
After I went to Tauranga to meet Elliott and his family , it was all systems go : we take the approach that things such as the HUNTS course are all about what you can do , not what you can ’ t . Until Elliott ’ s mountain biking accident 2½ years ago , he was one of those 14-year-olds who live life to the full – diving , surfing , biking ; he ’ d signed up to join Search and Rescue and a HUNTS course as well . The latter two on this list were about the last things he wrote in his own handwriting before fate intervened . Now it was time to “ get back on the bike ’, so to speak , and the HUNTS course and an opportunity to learn to hunt would be a wonderful kickstart for new and exciting experiences .
The course began in late July and we had a full contingent of participants ranging in age from 14 to 71 who would work their way through the various parts of the programme , culminating with a hunting trip over Labour Weekend . This year we ’ d again decided to take the group on a fly-in trip to the Ureweras – certainly a wonderful place to be and a great way to tick a number of other boxes for them at the same time . However , this part of the course wasn ’ t going to be workable for Elliott , so we looked into finding a more suitable hunting spot for him .
Starting the first night of the course with the introductions always brings out the shyest of responses from everyone but it wasn ’ t long before that all went out the door . At the various sessions we had guest presenters in addition to our HUNTS course team , who demonstrated and taught topics such as navigation , animal behaviour , hunting techniques , weather assessment , first aid , firearms safety and licencing , river crossing , butchery and much more . A lot of the course is always very “ hands-on ” and this is a key part of what we feel makes it so beneficial for all the participants .
Many people with a puzzled look on their faces asked how Elliott was going to get on with the course . The answer is simple : he just did it . With a few adaptions , it was straightforward to accommodate what was required . Admittedly he didn ’ t put a pack on his back , lace up his boots and slog his guts out on the hill – but who ’ s to say this is the only way to get an animal and enjoy the thrill of hunting ?
Before the range session , all the participants were put through the firearms licencing instruction process and had to complete the test papers . Even those who already had their licence benefited from re-doing it , especially since most of them had a different instructor this time , so no doubt they would share in more helpful information . In Elliott ’ s case , had a helper to write his answers for
Eight of the 12 HUNTS course participant from 2016 . L-R : Steven Gray , Kelvin Clark , Daley McGuire , Elliott Keys ( in the Polaris ), Lisa Daly , Mike Keys , Greg Rendall , Jason Clark .
24 NZ Hunting & Wildlife 196 - Autumn 2017