Greig Caigou - Hunting Adventures

I have enjoyed reading many hunting books over the years and some personal favourites I have read over and over again. Most of the authors of these books were not professional writers; however, they modestly recounted their stories and the experiences along the way that were special for them and their cobbers. This book is no different and I simply felt it was my turn to add to the pool of hunting literature available to avid readers.

I have been fortunate, too, in writing this book, since in doing so Ive discovered a whole other means to relive the adventures Ive had out on the hills. I didnt appreciateuntil I started writingthat here was a great way to reflect upon and enjoy all the other moments of those hunting tripswithout the cold and the sandflies or the sweat and toil of challenging missions. However, I fully appreciate that such things provide much of the full essence of memories made on those hunting adventures and so Ive made this the theme for my book.

One of my favourite sayings to my children is that life is about creating memories and I see this even more clearly nowits like looking through a quality set of new binoculars after straining your eyes through an old cheap pair for so long. (I remember I got those binoculars from a second-hand shop, way back in my impoverished days at university!) As I took on the task of writing this book, I found more than enough material to draw from and came to appreciate again what a great and full storehouse of memories I already have.

This is not a book about shooting lots of animals and you wont find any photos of me standing with great trophies. I just went out when I was able. Over the years I took few photos, and even fewer that are of good enough quality to print. Im an ordinary hunter. I dont even get out a lot either, by some peoples standards.

This book is more about having some adventures while out with binoculars and rifle (or a fly-rod in the case of one chapter). Its simply about getting out in the back country and doing stuff that is good for us. Throughout the book I also raise some of the matters Ive pondered on as a result of these trips, such as why we hunt to kill, what makes a trophy, what aspects I especially enjoy and how I can make more of an adventure out of my time in the hills. There are some other thoughts on gear and food for trips, from my point of view. There is no information on spot X, no Google Earth mapsjust my experiences and thoughts. No apologies.

I hope you enjoy reading along on these trips with me. In the reading, I hope you are strengthened in your resolve to get out there adventuring and particularly to look for those special elements that create the best and most lasting memories for you.

I have some acknowledgements I want to make.

To my wife: Thank you for gracing me with the opportunities to get out in the hills when that meant time away from you and less mutual support at home. Im fully grateful.

To my parents: My dad introduced me to hunting in the first place and my parents provided me opportunity as a teenage boy to head off into the hills in the Morrie. The independence they encouraged in me reinforced that in the long run it is best to cultivate a sense of adventure and not wrap young people in cotton wool. Newton McConochie wrote youll learn no harm from the hills and my 30-year career in the outdoors developed from this initial exposure fostered by my folks. Thank you.

To my cobbers over the years: Grant Irvine, Ken Pearce, Chris Howden and Peter Sinclair. You have shared the burden of packing into campsites, joined in when the fire had to be started and the tent pitched or some other chore done when we were all tired or done in. Weve sat on the hill together and yakked about everything and weve shivered with cold, sweated and toiled together as well as shared some wow moments while being out there. Youve been great company. We dont see each other that much but when we do, the bonds forged during those moments in the outdoors seem to come alive again and we just pick up again from where we left off. Youre good friends.

So the thanks go out to you all for being part of the process of making these memories for me. Im full upand of course still keen to keep on making more memories yet!

A couple of other items of thanks are due as well.

I finished this book whilst overseas in 2008. My wifes cousins in the Netherlands, along with their good friends, provided excellent hospitality and support which allowed me to stay focused on writing. I am also supported in this book by some contributing photographers. As members of the hunting community, they have been happy to provide some images to add to my rather poor-quality collection and this is appreciated.

While writing this book, I have come to appreciate again the value of active pursuits in the wilderness and the legacy of hunting in New Zealand that both my grandfather and my dad enjoyed before me. I, in turn, am enjoying these same pursuits and have grown in character through such adventures, and in bringing up my own children Ive been keen to pass on the values of our outdoor recreation heritage. Im thankful Sarah, Emma and Daniel are seeing that and I suspect theyve taken up this philosophy and the same attitudes of striving to step out of their comfort zones, step up to challenges and to be extra-ordinary. Adventuring does that to you.