By Dave Gousmett

The number of deer shot this year bounced back from the low number last year with 160 deer shot representing all seven species. Alpine game remained the same with a fall in the number of pigs claimed and a big rise in the number of wallabies.

The on-line claim system continues to be well used and it is pleasing to see high quality photos coming in with the big game claims as these can be used in our magazine. If anyone has problems using the claim system, please contact me to sort it out.

Our website is being updated with photos for all master bowhunters and record book entries. Not all photos are available however so if you have a missing photo we can use, of if you have a better shot than the one posted, please send it to me.

During the year I received a total of 811 game claims which was a higher total than last year. 125 members claimed game and I sent out 59 game awards.

Statistics from Big Game Animals (excluding Wallabies):

Distances:

The distance of the first hit varied from 3 metres to 101 metres, with an average distance of 24 metres. That 101 metre shot was by Cody Weller on a 12 pt red stag. The distance the animal travelled after being hit varied from zero to 800 metres and the median distance travelled was 40 metres.

First Hit:

The location of the first hit on the animal was in the heart/lung area for 70% of all animals taken. Individual totals included: Lungs 124 Heart 44, Neck 27, Liver 12 and Spine 12.

Broadheads:

Slick Trick broadheads accounted for 61 animals this year, overtaking Grim Reaper broadheads which had 49 animals. Muzzy were in third place with 25.

Bow Type:

Compound 235, Longbow 4, Recurve 4.

Bow Make:

Mathews continue to be our most successful bow manufacturer accounting for 105 animals this year. Elite bows are in 2^nd place with 56 animals ahead of PSE with 27.

Bow Weight:

From 16.7 kg (37 lb) to 33.5 kg (74 lb), average weight 28.4 kg (63 lb).

Wallabies:

21 members shot a total of 66 Wallabies this year more than twice as many as the previous year. 46 were from the Bay of Plenty and 20 from the South Island.

Small Game:

101 members claimed a total of 7964 small game points. The individual small game tallies were:

The individual small game tallies were: