The Bay of Plenty branch of the NZDA recognises that many hunters want a challenge for their day to day hunting and to be recognised by their peers for their efforts. The Advanced Big Game Award System is a continuation of the Master Hunter challenge and is to be awarded once a member achieves 6 or more big game awards. The major difference for these awards is that there is a minimum trophy value placed on each species, so in order to be eligible for the award, the hunter must carefully select their animal.

The first of these awards is the “6 species” award and requires the hunter to claim six different big game animal. Subsequent awards are given for 7 species, 8 species, up until the hunter has achieved all 11 species of New Zealand big game. For each award, the hunter will start from scratch, game is not carried forward.

Cost

• Senior members $50 annually
• Junior members free but must be entered before any animal is targeted.

General Rules

• In order to be eligible for awards, members must have registered and paid their entry fee prior to shooting the animal.
• No animal can be claimed retrospectively – only those shot after entering can be submitted. A digital photo with meta data is required to prove authenticity.
• No more small game awards are needed.
• To claim an award, the member must fill out the claim form, as well as submitting both a digital photo and short story to be used in the club magazine and/or social media.
• The hunter must be present at a club night to receive their pin, ribbon, or master hunter trophy.
• Any photos submitted must be suitable for general publication so should show firearms in a ‘safe state’ and show minimal ‘gore’.
• All members need to follow the NZDA ethics as set out in the BOP Members hand book while hunting.
• Claim forms and supporting documents need to be emailed in to the Awards email a minimum of 48 hours prior to a club night to allow for adequate time to prepare awards.
• If a member wishes to have a trophy measured, they need to contact Tim a minimum of 48 hours prior to a club night to allow for adequate time to find a qualified measurer.
• Game boards will be written up and displayed at the club entrance in recognition of their success.

Specific Rules:

• All deer species must be stags.
• Chamois: 9 inches
• Tahr: 12 inches
• Pig: boar only, minimum weight 30 kg, tusks DS 1234
• Red deer: 12 points or DS 1234
• Fallow deer: DS 1234
• Sika deer: 6 points DS 1234
• Rusa deer: DS 1234
• Sambar deer: DS 1234
• Whitetail deer: DS 1234
• NZ Wapiti: DS 1234
• Goat: minimum spread 30 inches or DS 1234