Mountain Safety Council Recommends Hunters Follow the Outdoor Safety Code

The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council are today reminding hunters to plan and prepare for a safe hunting trip, by following the 5 simple rules of the Outdoor Safety Code after two Labour weekend incidents.

A Dunedin hunter was rescued after separating from his hunting companions and becoming lost in a forestry block near Mosgiel. The man was walking back towards his vehicle when he took a wrong turn which led him away from his destination and deeper into dense bush. After spending the night outdoors and despite continuing to try to walk out, rescuers successfully located him at a logging caravan.

However, concerns are growing for a hunter missing in the Waimana area after he failed to return on Sunday night. Again the hunter had become separated from his hunting companions who raised the alarm and search and rescue teams are continuing to search the area.

‘Unlike trampers and mountain bikers, hunters rarely follow formed trails and often track game through thick bush. It’s easy to become disorientated and find yourself lost very quickly,’ said Mountain Safety Council’s Bushcraft Programme Manager, Chris Owens.

He says that taking an appropriate means of communication on all backcountry adventures is essential, especially for those tramping or hunting off the beaten track. This could include a personal locator beacon (PLB), mountain radio or satellite phone. Most people also take their cell phones with them in the outdoors, but these should not be relied upon in the backcountry as batteries can go flat, they can get wet, dropped or damaged and coverage is often non-existent.

Mr Owens went on to say that if things do go wrong and you find that you are lost and have no way to raise an alert then the message is to ‘stay put’.

‘Remember that water, shelter and warmth are the essential elements for your survival. If in doubt stay put - it is easier for searchers to find you if you stay in the same spot as opposed to wandering aimlessly,’ said Mr Owens.

The five simple rules of the Outdoor Safety Code provide guidance on how to prepare and act in the outdoors and are applicable to all outdoor activities whether it’s a short walk in the bush, a day out mountain biking or hunting to a multi-day mountain adventure.

The New Zealand Outdoor Safety Code:

1. Plan your trip
Seek local knowledge and plan the route you will take and the amount of time you can reasonably expect it to take. Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centres, i-SITEs and local operators are a good source of local information.

2. Tell someone
Tell someone your plans and complete written Outdoors Intentions BEFORE leaving on your trip. There are tools that make it easy on the www.adventuresmart.org.nz website. At the very least, tell a friend or family member where you are going and date and time to raise the alarm if you haven’t returned.

3. Be aware of the weather
New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the forecast and expect weather changes. Check track and hut conditions. Beware of rivers – if in doubt STAY OUT.

4. Know your limits
Challenge yourself within your physical limits and experience. Take a Mountain Safety Council course.

5. Take sufficient supplies
Make sure you have enough food, clothing, equipment and emergency rations for the worst-case scenario. Take an appropriate means of communication such as a Mountain Radio or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and know how to use them.

It is also basic common sense to tell some your plans before you head out of the door as that information could also save your life. ‘Providing detailed information such as where you are going, where you are planning to stay and what equipment you are carrying is invaluable to search and rescue teams and can vastly improve your chances of being found and rescued quickly,’ said Chris Owens.

The Mountain Safety Council recommends you use the simple forms on the www.adventuresmart.org.nz website to tell someone you trust your ‘Outdoors Intentions’ information before setting off on your trip. You can print out a form and give it to a loved one or even complete the details online and email it to a friend.

More information on how to enjoy New Zealand’s great outdoors safely and links to outdoors intentions can be found on the Mountain Safety Council’s website www.mountainsafety.org.nz

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