As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.

Te Tari Pureke – Firearms Safety Authority, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.

Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.

“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.

“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”

Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.

The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”

Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:

• Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
• Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
• How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have?

“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.

Background Information

What is the ‘Roar’?

It is the breeding season of New Zealand’s red deer species. The roar runs from mid-March through April. The roar lasts approximately four weeks, with stags being the most vocal attracting mates in the middle two weeks.

Who are the Recreational Firearms Users Group?

The Recreational Firearms Users Group was formed to help align the important messaging of the various stakeholder groups involved in recreational hunting in New Zealand.

This group consists of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, Fish & Game NZ, Game Animal Council, Mountain Safety Council, NZ Deerstalkers Association, Department of Conservation and Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority.

Useful sources:

Game Animal Council: https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/the-roar/

Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/hunting/what-to-hunt/deer/red-deer/

Te Tari Pureke – Hunter Safety: https://www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/firearms-safety/hunter-safety

The 7 rules of firearms safety: https://www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/firearms-safety/7-rules-firearm-safety

Data on hunter injury numbers: https://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/explore/research-and-insights/a-hunters-tale

Source: New Zealand Police

24/03/26