Gritt Outdoor & Hunting Skills Camp - Presented by YETI
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
Gritt’s first hunting camp went off with a bang (literally)!
We were lucky enough to be welcomed to Island Hills Station, a working farm that also offers horse trekking, walking, and guided hunting tours.
With rain overhead, the morning saw our group of keen young hunters and professional guides kick things off with a workshop session covering gear, safety, weather forecasting, and everything that goes into preparing for a successful hunt.
Once the weather cleared, we jumped into the 4WDs and headed up into the ranges for the afternoon to sight in the rifles and get in some target practice. Only a few dodgy scopes stopped us from hitting the targets at first, but after some adjustments, the young hunters were right on target. I wouldn’t have wanted to be a deer around this bunch!
As the last of the sun disappeared from the rolling hills and evening began to set in, it was time for the evening hunt. Guns sighted, skills refined, and layers warm, we split into three groups and stalked through different areas, keeping our eyes peeled for deer. We spotted several stags, but none were the type we were after, so no shots were taken. However, on the way back to the hut, we stumbled across a 10-pound brown trout that one of the guides somehow managed to wrangle with his bare hands.
Back at the hut, we got the fire roaring to warm up our fingers and toes and tucked into the beef patties that Lucy Cookson had kindly prepared for us earlier. Apart from a few bouts of sleep-talking gibberish, most of us slept like babies after a big day in the hills.
The next morning, we were up well before sunrise to down a bowl of porridge and head into the hills before dawn broke. Once again, we split into three groups to cover different areas. Harry had a good feeling in his toes that it was going to be a successful morning.
Not long after setting off, we spotted two hinds grazing nearby. We quietly got into position and waited for them to move into the open for a clean shot. After about 20 minutes of waiting in the cold, the opportunity came. All that target practice from the day before paid off, resulting in a clean shot.
We had learned the day before that pulling the trigger is only one part of the process, so it was great to see all the preparation, patience, and planning come together and lead to a successful result.
Not long after retrieving the deer, we heard over the radios that the other groups had also been successful. By the end of the morning, we had a total of four deer. Not bad for a group of 11 to 15-year-olds!
Back at the hut, the guides took us through a butchery session, showing us that there are a thousand ways to skin a deer and explaining which cuts make the best eating. Luckily, there was a BBQ nearby, so we enjoyed some fresh venison for lunch before making our way back to the station entrance to wrap up the weekend.
With our freezers full, plenty of new knowledge under our belts, and smiles on our faces, everyone headed home happy. We’re sure a few slightly exaggerated hunting stories were told at school the following week!
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this fantastic weekend possible. We can’t wait for the next one.
A special thanks to:
YETI
Shaun Monk at Island Hills Station & NZ Wild Things
Event Organiser: Harry Cookson
Hunting guides: Emilio Kennedy, Quaye Paora, Angus (Gussy) Gardener
Media Team: Parker Carruthers (Stills) & James Saunders (Motion)
Event Support: Jamesa Hampton
Patty Supply: Lucy Cookson
Words by Jamesa Hampton.
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