With thousands of hunters about to head into the hills for the annual deer Roar, the Game Animal Council is reminding
them to follow the 5 Ps for a safe and successful Roar; plan for the best, prepare for the worst, provide your intentions, positively identify your target and pick the right animal.
“The Roar is the highlight of the hunting year and as I often describe it, bigger than Christmas for deer hunters,” says
Game Animal Council General Manager Tim Gale. “While I definitely want to encourage hunters to get out and enjoy some
great hunting, I also want to remind them to take the necessary precautions to make sure they have a safe and successful
trip.”
The 5 Ps, focus on the preparations and decisions hunters need to make before and during their hunts.
“The fact is if you undertake the right planning, carry the right gear, take a personal locator beacon and leave your
intentions then you significantly improve your chances if something goes wrong,” says Gale.
“Likewise, positively identifying your target, treating every firearm as loaded and chambering a cartridge only when
ready to fire significantly reduces the likelihood of a firearms incident. I also strongly recommend wearing
high-visibility clothing, particularly if you are bush hunting.”
“When out hunting, we also want hunters to take a judicious approach to the animals they target. Knowing how to identify
younger stags from mature males that are ready to be harvested now is important, as these young stags still have so much
potential and will provide great Roar hunting in the future. Targeting and harvesting hinds as meat animals hinds will
also positively contribute to management.”
“Finally, there will be a lot of hunters out and about over the next couple of months so always assume other people are
in the area,” says Gale. “If you come across other parties, share information of where you intend to hunt as this will
reduce the safety risk and mean there is less chance of getting in the way of each other’s hunting.”
The 5 Ps for a safe and successful Roar are:
Plan for the bestPlan where you’ll go and what you’ll huntCarry the right food, clothing and equipmentCheck the forecast
Prepare for the worstCarry a beaconTake a first aid kitBe prepared to wait out a storm or high river levels
Provide your intentionsLet others know where you are goingInform them of when you plan to get outGive a date and time to raise the alarm
Positively identify your targetIf you are bush hunting, wear high visibility clothingTreat every firearm as loadedChamber a cartridge only when ready to fireBe absolutely positive of your target
Pick the right animalImprove future Roars by leaving younger malesKnow how to identify and target mature malesIf you are meat hunting, target females.
The promotional video for the 5 Ps is available at https://youtu.be/XR53hVKbi7E as well as through the GAC’s website, Facebook and Instagram.
The NZ Game Animal Council is a statutory organisation responsible for the sustainable management of game animals and
hunting for recreation, communities, commerce and conservation.