Wellington Branch Competitions
Each year at the September club night we hold the annual Branch competition, including Antler, Horn & Tusk ("AHT Comp."), photographic, film, and literature. The annual prize-giving is held at the December club night. Note that the NZDA National level competitions are held each year at NZDA Conference in July. Refer to the NZDA website for terms and conditions. The following Wellington Branch competitions are indicative only. Please refer to full Branch Rules and Constitution.
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Competition Shooting Awards
Currently no active range card.
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Literary Competition
Hugh Mattheus Literary Award – Awarded for the best written piece by a member of the Wellington Branch over the previous year. Submit your stories, including those published in magazines.
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Video Competition
Jim Jones Memorial Cup – Awarded for the best non-professional film between 10-20mins in length. Content must meet NZDA standards.
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Photographic Awards
Five competition categories, with NZDA Certificates for 1st, 2nd & 3rd in each category. Winners are chosen by popular vote at the September Branch meeting.
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Game Trophies (i.e hunter with quarry, etc)
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Live Big Game Animals
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Live Wildlife (other than big game animals)
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Scenic in Stalking Country
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Outdoor, Artistic, Abstract or Flora​
Antler, Horn and Tusk Trophies
​NZDA Certificates for 1st, 2nd, 3rd for each New Zealand big game species. First place receives a trophy with their name engraved.
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L.O.H. Tripp Memorial Trophy (Any deer species)
Antlered game shot anywhere in New Zealand (discretionary)
John Savage Trophy (Any deer species)
North Island Antlered Game
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South Island Antlered Head (Any deer species)
Antlered head shot in the South Island and Stewart Island
Royal Cup for Antlered Trophies (Any deer species)
Biggest “Symmetrical” and “Typical” head
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Kevin Brown Trophy (Any big game species)
Awarded to a person over the age of 60 years (discretionary)
Alex Sutherland Ngaipu Trophy (Red deer)
Red Deer (discretionary)
Lawrence Shield (Red deer)
North Island Red Deer taken south of Manawatu Gorge
Mount Cook Trophy (Tahr)
Best Tahr
Chamois Trophy
Best Chamois
Bukholt Trophy (Goat)
Best Goat
Best Horned Game Animal (Tahr, chamois or goat)
Best horned animal shot anywhere in New Zealand
Wilkinson Trophy (Pig)
Undrawn and in a full jaw pig tusks
Best Sika Head (Sika)
Best Overall Sika
Sika Trophy (Sika)
Best Typical Sika
Ladies Trophy (Any big game species)
Best head shot by a woman
First Big Game Animal
Any big game animal (includes females)
Novice award for the best first big game animal taken by a member.
Bring a photo as evidence.
NZDA's 'Fair Chase Rules' apply to
all competition entries
Fair Chase Definition: Fair Chase is the ethical, legal and sportsman-like taking of any free-ranging feral animal that has an unimpeded avenue of escape on both private and public lands.
Eligibility for Competitions in relation to Fair Chase, entries will not be eligible if:
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a fee has been paid; or
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taken by any of the following methods or scenarios:
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in an enclosed area i.e., behind deer wire or any such fence or fixture that impedes the animal’s unrestricted chance of escape
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restrained i.e. snare, trap, fence, etc
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with the aid of a spotlight, night vision or heat detection equipment
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from an aircraft, powered vehicle or vessel
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coursed by dogs, with the exception of wild pigs
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The trophy: Is of a feral game animal taken legally under Fair Chase conditions as defined above.