Junior Deerstalkers Train In Mountains

Press, Volume C, Issue 29458, 9 March 1961, Page 8

Junior Deerstalkers Train In Mountains

Thirty boys, members of the recently-formed junior section of the Canterbury Deerstalkers' Association, had the week-end of their lives last Saturday and Sunday when they took part in their first field trip into deer shooting country. The party camped in tents and in a Deerstalkers’ Association hut near the Lewis Pass summit. Divided into eight groups, each instructed and supervised by a senior member, the boys went on hunting trips up various river valleys in the area during the two days: two groups camped out on the open tops above the bushline, at a height of 3500 ft.

The camp was an outstanding success, and the Canterbury branch of the Deerstalkers’ Association has been considerably heartened at the enthusiasm shown by the junior members. The field trip was the culmination of a series of talks and range shoots in which firearm and bush safety instruction has been instilled in members since the junior section was formed a few months ago. Inaugurated to instil a high standard of safety in young shooters, and an awareness of the potential dangers of firearms, bush, rivers, and mountains, the junior section has proved so popular that a special sub-committee is needed to administer this side of the association's activities. From an original membership of about a dozen boys, the group has grown rapidly to more than 30 members with others joining regularly. Week-end’s Shooting

Last week-end’s programme included river crossing and bushcraft instruction on the Saturday afternoon. The groups were to have gone on shooting trips to the tops on the Sunday but rain which set in for most of the weekend. blanketing the tops in fog. over-ruled this for most parties. Undeterred, however. the instfuctors took this chance to acquaint their charges with the difficulties and hazards of wet weather in the mountains, including fire lighting and swollen rivers. Because the fog made deerstalking out of the question for the two parties of older boys who had camped out on the tops on Saturday night, they were taught at first hand how to find their way out of fog-bound country.

The rain also brought deer out on to river flats, and the bush edge, and most parties encountered at least one or two beasts. This was the first sight of deer for many of the members. Handling Firearms The boys’ handling of thenfirearms during tire week-end was beyond reproach, and they observed all the safety rules which they had been taught during the last few months, said the convener of

the Deerstalkers’ Association’s junior section sub-com-mittee (Mr A. D. Campbell). He said the main aims of the sub-committee in organising the field trips were to provide a good recreation for the boys and to train them thoroughly in the art of caring for themselves in the mountains, The trips were invaluable also in promoting a high standard of sportsmanship among the boys. Although the committee was put to considerable work in organising the junior section the effort was more than justified by the enthusiasm shown by the boys and the very real progress already made in promoting safety among young shooters, Mr Campbell said.

The next activity of the junior section is likely to be an another range shoot at Gebbies valley because of the number of newer members who have joined since the last instruction day. Future field trips are also planned.