b'10 THINGS IVE LEARNT HUNTING BY MATHEW HEWETSONEditor Matt HewetsonI eventually grew to love hunting as Ifield into vehicles, identifying your target got older and with my own air rifle as a100% and your surroundings.This is a provides 10 key takeawaysteenager, I was taught gun safety early,key point for all hunters and one I never he has learnt from huntingabout identifying my target and whereforget today.When out in the bush, during his lifetime. my pellets would go if I missed the mynawearing blaze orange is a must have for M y earliestor sparrow, I was hunting like an Africanme and my hunting party.I also take an big game hunter.I then graduated toEPIRB when going into the hills in case of .22 rifles for pest control on rabbits andan accident as my family wants me back, memory ofpossums, and then onto a shotgun foras yours will also.They are worth the hunting wasgamebirds. investment, and you can hire them if you getting upIt wasnt until later in life in my lateare doing a big trip.super early to30s that I took up deer stalking thanks go with myto help from a couple of good mates02 PATIENCEgrandad duckMatt Amon and Matt Strachan whoBeing a keen fisherman shooting onhave contributed a lot to this magazine. helps to foster patience and his farm.I wasUnder their experienced guidance, I havehunting requires plenty too.Going young and struggled to keep my eyesmanaged to bag several deer and I haveslow when stalking in bush is vital open in the dark morning as we packedenjoyed the experiences.Along the wayand if you think you are slow, then up the Land Rover in the cold winter air,I have realised there are 10 key things Istop and go even slower.Being still, then drove the 15-minute rough triphave learnt about my hunting. watching for movement, blending into to his maimai over the farm and havingthe environment makes you harder to open about a dozen gates along the01 SAFETY FIRSTto be seen and gives you a chance on way.I remember getting excited as heHaving a grandfather whoan animal.I have been amazed how quacked away on his caller as ducksserved in WWII and taught memany times in thick bush that I have came in and then covered my ears forabout gun safety as a youngster was agot so close to deer that were almost in the expected thunder from his oldgreat start for a budding hunter.He settouching distance, only to spook them 12-gauge side by side.It was a big daya good example and drummed it into meand not get a shot.It taught me to take for a young fella and coming home atabout always pointing your gun in safemy time, be quiet and stop often.No midday with a few birds to show off todirection, checking it was unloaded whenneed to rush the hunt, take it slowly and my nan was worth it. storing your gun or moving from theenjoy being in the bush.88FISHING IN GODZONE SEP/OCT 2021'