Spring has sprung with some lovely warm days but there’s certainly been a sting in the tail along with it.

As I write this alpine passes are closed all across the country and North Canterbury is having the lowest snow fall in living memory – for the second time in a month! We are well and truly into prime avalanche time now for the next few months so tahr hunters beware and pay attention to the avalanche advisory’s latest forecast before venturing anywhere near or just below recent snow falls. And it would also be very advisable to do an avalanche safety course run by Outdoor Education NZ to ensure you can travel safely in the alpine backcountry areas this time of year.

www.avalanche.net.nz

Some good news after years of requests – the boys have finally found time to go back over old episodes and will be putting them up on YouTube – starting with Grandpa’s epic journey following the Colenso trail across the Ruahine Ranges. By the time you read this the episode should be live, so follow the link below to check it out. The intention is to work their way through all the past seasons and get them up for all to see, including our overseas viewers.

www.youtube.com/@nzhunteradventures

There’s some great stuff in this issue, starting with the FMC’s awesome “Love Our Huts” campaign – see the very next page for details and help out in any way you can. If you want to help more in the long run, or can’t get out like you want to, consider donating some time or funding to the Backcountry Trust.

Also Hannah’s fascinating interview with living legend game animal scientist Ken Tustin on early tahr research. This was real boots on the ground stuff, not the buzz around in a helicopter stuff and hope you get something accurate and meaningful as its been done recently – see page 12.

And the series that refuses to die – the 7mm PRC – back again due to popular demand for loading info on alternative powders due to the scarceness of the gold standard Reloder 26. Another factory rifle chambered in 7mmPRC we’d been waiting for finally turned up as well, so we rolled the powder test and Bergara Crest Carbon testfire into the 7mm PRC Part 4 – see page 88.

Finally don’t forget the Sika Show is back at the Fielday’s Events Centre in Mystery Creek November 2nd and 3rd. This extremely well run event is just going from strength to strength due to Mike and John’s awesome direction and organisation, so make sure you lock that weekend into your calendar and we’ll see you all there!

In this issue:

• A Word from the Editor
• 05 Love Our Huts by Mick Abbot | FMC 
• 06 Spring Bulls on the Edge of the Earth by Jonathan Fulton
• 12 Ken Tustin Talks Tahr to Hannah Rae
• 20 Eating Like Kings – Jetboating, Hunting and Fishing with Mitch Thorn
• 28 Suns Out Guns Out, Spring Sika Tips with Jamie Fairbairn
• 34 The G.O.A.T by Cody Weller
• 38 Balancing Act in the Ballot Blocks – Part Two, By Pat Barrett
• 46 Blue Duck Red Stag by Blue Steel
• 50 The Mountains Are Smaller by Greig Caigou
• 56 A Good Keen Pup by Riley Birks 
• 62 Better Hunting – Planning A Hunt, By The GAC
• 68 Second Time Lucky by Addy Jefferis
• 72 What A Year by Luke Care
• 78 Demystifying Herds of Special Interest By Game Animal Council
• 82 Tahr Ballot Blocks – Adams Flat, By Points South
• 86 Remote Huts – Top Butler Hut, By Andrew Buglass
• 98 What’s New
• 102 Rolled Rabbit in White Wine, by Richard Hingston

Test Fires: We evaluate...

• Bergara Carbon Crest in 7mm PRC
• Best Grip Boot Studs