NZ Outdoor Hunting 80th Anniversary Issue

NZOH 80th Anniversary Collectors Issue October/November. Available in many bookstores and supermarkets, with my feature article titled: Strange Finds Myths and Legends of the Outback and Wilderness New Zealand. Where I shed light and peek readers curiosity with tales of: the sightings of Big Cats in Canterbury, a skeleton found at Cavern Head in Preservation Inlet, Ken Tustin and the elusive Moose of Fiordland, and the Lost Ruby Mine of the Olivines and more...much more. 

Also on Page 46,  Frank Erceg makes a great profile opposite  Gary Johnson in a then and now comparison with gear and hunting weapons from Frank's era to the latest contemporary equipment around, with great photos of them both doing what they love and in Frank's case past tense: what he loved. Was really awesome when Gary contacted me to suggest he use Frank as the person for the reflection of how it was for trampers hunters back then compared to now.  

Go buy your copy now!!!!

Frank Erceg's 1960 Hunting Bow

Christchurch May 2017 and Carl strings the 57 year old bow

Ben Pearson 
Cat No 337

Strato Jet

Hunting Bow

May 14^th, and my younger brother, Carl, demonstrates with Frank’s 57 year-old bow.

“It’s a Ben Pearson Srato Jet Hunting Bow. Made in 1960. With a high velocity speed of about 150mph. And a 50-55 pound draw weight.”

Frank died in 1965, and the bow sat in fellow ex deer culler, Bill Henderson’s garage for over fifty years. I knew Bill had it, as I’ve stayed with Bill and Annette while down south doing research on Frank and the government shooters. Bill said to me last year, do you want it, it should eventually go back to the family. Well, at the start of this year, Carl expressed an interest in taking up archery and remembered about Frank's bow. As it transpired, I contacted Bill, and that same week, our older brother Peter,  just happened to be passing through Central Otago, so he picked it up and brought to ChCh. Carl adds “Since then I’ve been practising with it, and to be honest, it’s a little beast. It’s a very good bow.”

Carl’s had it restrung and new arrows made by Paddy Long from Archery & Bow Hunting New Zealand:

http://www.bowhunt.co.nz 


And keeps the original arrows for posterity, would hate to lose them if he fired them off and couldn’t retrieve them.

He practises in his backyard, on his custom made target range. The range is complete with a permanent punching bag, and an ever changing collection of found objects that sometimes include a few polystyrene cups, some balloons for fun and variety of other items. The day I took these photos he’d found a plastic corrugated advertisement for a Harley Davidson, but he told me it’s a bugger to get the arrows out of. Personally, I love the Red Pooh Bear Bag and laughing ball. Carl's wife Sharon, got out the spray cans and had some fun painting the back drop.

Carls’ taken to archery like the proverbial duck to water. He’s exceptionally good considering he’s only been doing it a few months. I spoke to him this morn, he’d been to the Full Draw Archery Range just yesterday, to practise:  

http://fulldrawarchery.co.nz

Everyone there was impressed with the bow and its story. He handed it to someone to try, like me, they struggled to draw it back.

Carl’s joining a club, his goal is to win a cup, and I’d say the best place for it would be next to the old arrows. The other amazing thing is, as a child Carl was left handed, and made to write with his right hand on starting school, and has done ever since. He says that his left eye is the better eye for archery, so recently he’s started practising with his left hand, as he did the day I was there. I couldn’t see any difference with his ability to draw the bow and hit the target.

It’s a wonderful story how the bow came to be in the family again, and that its being used with such passion and enthusiasm. I’m looking forward to holding that cup myself, and that day will include a nice drop of whisky and a hi-ho-here-we-go salute to our Uncle Frank.

Left hand draw

Right hand draw

I'm happy with that ! Carl annihilates the Pooh Bear Bag.

Carl's custom made backyard practise range. Just click on any photo and you'll get full page image gallery.

May 28th and Carl practises at the Full Draw Archery Range in Heathcote Valley, Christchurch. 15m distance.

Part Two: NZ Deer Culler Reunion Paeroa 2017

Held at the Thames Valley Deer Stalkers Lodge, the perfect setting for a deer cullers reunion. Caught up with friends made over the last few years, and enjoyed meeting a few new faces. Including Allan Farmer. One of the longest serving government hunters, with forty years on the job.

Having a yarn with Allan Farmer at the reunion

Arrived in the mail yesterday, Allan kindly sent me his book to read. Halcyon Press.

I was very much looking forward to meeting Keith Purdon, who knew Frank down south. Particularly in the off season when they all hit the hotels in Queenstown and Wanaka. Keith remembers his hunting days like it was yesterday, and it was a delight to sit and listen to his stories.

Keith Purdon, ex Field Officer, now 92. Ive interviewed Keith by phone, but this was the first time we met. 

With Pamela and Keith Purdon.

He watched over us the entire time. What a magnificent animal. every other head was dwarfed by him.

Some interesting finds on the display boards. George Erceg second row on left. And Ross Courtney, back row.

It was nice to  see Ross Courtney at the reunion. I interviewed Ross two years ago at the Kuripapango reunion. After he finished up culling, Ross trained as a psychiatric nurse. He has a big heart and is a gentle and kindly man, and I can imagine he would have been a great nurse. An engaging  and interesting man to talk too. 

The Daily Post, 17 July 1969

Found this on the table. 

Brenda Murcott, Arthur's wife. Sat with her Thursday evening and we enjoyed some light conversation, and all the racket going on in the background, all the boys catching up. 

Awesome couple, Tom and Karen Te Ata.

Tom and Karen live in Te Urewera, on Tom's ancestral land. I was fascinated by their lifestyle. The only way to reach their home, is by horse or by foot.  They've invited me to stay sometime...hmmm that will be interesting, not too good on the old horse, but hell what an offer.  We sat and talked for ages, I asked them many Qs about their life. Tom's very interested in the deer cullers history, so I'm sending him some of my articles, in an envelope of course, they don't have the internet ...yet. I said, so lets be pen friends then. Karen is awesome. She said she was missing some very important fruit bottling days coming to the reunion. She gets out once a week, they very connected to their wider community. I think they said its about 4 hours hike to get in. Thats if the rivers not flooded!! Glad they made the trip and looking forward to keeping in touch with them. 

Day trip to Martha Mine, Waihi.

On the Friday, we had a wet day out in the bus, didn't get to do the Karangahake Gorge windows walk, hit the hotel instead, and had a beer. We did get to visit the Martha Mine and Battery, which I  loved for its gothic look,  a stunning edifice.

Old Martha Mine Battery

Ghost trophies. Thames Valley Deer Stalkers Lodge. Paeroa.

Other highlights, besides the great food and atmosphere, I enjoyed talking with Jock Spinks, Graeme and Jenifer Reinhardt, always nice to see Andy Leigh, the editor of our newsletter, and Alison, the co editor. Great to see our President, Dave Pratt and his lovely wife Helen. Wayne and Janet King, and everyone else, too many to mention. Lastly though, big uppies to my hosts, Basil and Kaye Morrison. They put me up (or is that put up with me!) for three nights, and were so easy to get along with. We sat and yarned and enjoyed a lovely glass of wine...or two... at the end of each day. Basil was our guest speaker at the Saturday night dinner, a born and breed local, and ex mayor of the region, he had some great stories to share, and is a wonderfully entertaining raconteur.

What a weekend !

To all my deer culler mates and their partners, keep well guys and gals, and see you next year.

Part One: NZ Deer Cullers Reunion Paeroa 2017

09 - 12 March Paeroa

Hello!!! Its been awhile since I dusted off the ol' hut book and made an entry. Nice to be back.

It's raining outside, the bush water laden, the track in (driveway)  a braided stream, and, if I knock the gate to hard against the dripping Rimu, I get an instant bush shower. Didn't have a good day out hunting either, came in carrying a supermarket bag, a shrink wrapped tray of minced pork. Bloody hell, I failed miserably, I know.

Dinner's now in the camp oven, and here I am  for a few minutes with a quick update. Been very busy finishing off my first novel, and also spending time last year researching, interviewing, and writing up the Deer Cullers Article for NZOH - see last post. There's more articles lined up  for this year. So, watch this space.

Most exciting news, I'm heading off to the next Deer Cullers reunion, in March. This will be the third one I've attended, three years running. I love them, they are very special, great people, with great stories, and always so well attended, and highly organised.

This year, I'll be meeting up and interviewing a few very special cullers, that I've only spoken to by phone. They were active/started culling in the Internal Affairs days, so pre 1956.  I'll do a post with lotsa photos when I return.

Uncle Frank, is always with me, in my writing and daily life, and continues to be an inspiration and source of strength. Here he is...sorry, haven't cleaned this one up, but doesn't matter, Frank, in a suit, don't see that very often! And, he's probably with bare feet, as he was when groomsman at Doug Jones Wedding! This photo was taken at his brother, George's, wedding, Hanmer Springs, early 1960s.

Cheerio for now.

Louise.