Piper Campbell, teamed up
with her grandfather Jim,
firstly building predator traps
as a school project, before
entering 25 tails caught
around wetlands on
their Wairarapa farm.
SWAMP COMP
HEROS
Ben Gillett
(then aged 6).
BY ANDY TANNOCK - HUNTING E FISHING NEW ZEALAND, FOUNDER
New Zealand, but until then, get trapping stoats, ferrets, and weasels,
freeze the tails, then bring these into our stores for counting in November.
Entry is free, there are virtually no rules as to how and where you hunt
or trap. We encourage the focus on wetlands but do understand that a
predator removed from any habitat could roam to target wetland species
during their breeding season.
An important message we emphasize to our customers, especially
those who do not have the access or time to get out trapping themselves,
is to support the sponsors. When the sponsors see their donated prizes
encouraging those who can, to get out trapping, and they also see an
increase in sales as a result of you, the customer, prioritizing their brands,
their ongoing support is assured. Outdoor Outfitters with an outstanding
contribution of 140 prizes totalling $9328, need a special mention. So too
does Hunting & Fishing New Zealand which over and above covering all
the admin costs, provided $4200 in gear from Avery, Higdon, Moultrie,
Zamberlan, Banded and others.
The 2021 Swamp Comp delivered another record year with 3054 tails
counted. The $35,000+ prize pool was also a record resulting in prizes for
almost all participants.
There are plenty of people out there who call themselves
conservationists. They talk the talk, but do they walk the walk?
New Zealand waterfowl hunters on the other hand can be considered
conservation heroes. With actions rather than words they have addressed
where they could, the tragedy that has resulted in 90% of this country's
wetlands drained: Sitting in a maimai for extended periods makes hunters,
more than most others, appreciate the habitat and wildlife thatcalls our
swamps, rivers, lakes and other wet areas, home, Hunters were ahead of
the times when, many years ago, they initiated wetland restoration and
pond subsidy schemes. Frustrated that DOC's predator control focus was
around the 'glory species' such as Kiwi, Kakapo, Blue Duck, and other
forest dwellers, and that Fish & Game was not resourced sufficiently to
control predators around wetlands, hunters rolled up their sleeves and
got on with it. Hunting & Fishing New Zealand has played a big part by
facilitating the Swamp Comp, the hunter driven project that encourages
predator control particularly around wetlands. Knowing our customers
have the smarts as hunters, we figured they.could do a great deal of good
if they became the volunteer army 'mobilised' to target predators. We
called upon our Trade Suppliers to support this initiative by sponsoring
prizes which would reward the hunters' efforts. Sure, hunters benefit
by an increase in the success of gamebird breeding, but so too do all the
fully protected species like Bittern which are, according to DOC, more
endangered than Kiwi.
It's our intention to keep building on the success of the Swamp Comp:
We'l advise the 2022 prize pool in our Spring edition of Hunting & Fishing Under Armour Base gear, Warthog knife sharpener, Styx Mill Oilskin vest,
Generous support was also received from Cupped Wing Duck Calls,
Garmin hand held GPS's, Zempire camping gear, Steiner binoculars,
LED Lenser headlamps, Domex sleeping bags, Winchester chilly bins,
Goodnature predator traps, Yeti ice boxes, Rab and Klymit sleeping bag
and mat, Bushnell binos, Dirty Dog eyewear, Yukon binoculars, Ridgeline
outdoor apparel and accessories, Svord knives, Huntech clothing,
Dometic icebox, Peltor ear muffs, Black Diamond headlamps, Snowbee
waders, Stealth scope and spotlight, Hunters Element pack, Stoney
Creek jacket, GME radio, Fin Grip bike/rifle racks, Watersnake life jacket,
Kaiwaka Jacket, Flambeau hunting accessories, Back Country Food packs,
Gerber multi tools, Hutchwilco life jacket, plus MaxLife battery packs!
Waterfowl Enhancement Trust
SWAMP COMP
SUPPORTER
D62