National News> June 2008

Hunter flocks into record books
This story appeared in The Timaru Herald | Wednesday, 28 May 2008

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

ONE-MAN GOOSE CONTROL: Bernie Hayman's goose hunting has won him a Beretta shotgun.

Timaru hunter Bernie Hayman bagged 705 Canada Geese in the past year -- the highest recorded tally in Canterbury.

On Sunday he won the North Canterbury Fish and Game annual Canada Goose competition and with it a Beretta shotgun.

He then won the "honk off" against some very good North Canterbury callers and took home a tool kit as well.

Winning the contest has been a mission.

"I went all out and in the last three and a half months I've only had two weekends at home."

His wife Gloria gave her blessing to try to win the contest this year.

"I said why not go for it. You have got the skills so go and use them," she said.

Typically, he hunts in the Mackenzie Country and Ashburton Gorge and stays overnight on the farms.

Mr Hayman said he had the advantage of 40 years experience and being well known by landowners. He is often called in when geese are eating feed and fouling pasture.

"I've got pretty good PR with the cockies and they will call me when there is a problem."

Mr Hayman said in South Canterbury there are a couple of dozen capable goose hunters, but not all of them can get out as much as he can.

Next season Mr Hayman will shoot less and his mate is returning to the sport, so he will shoot with a partner.

However, hunting by himself is often more efficient as another shooter can upset the pattern of the birds.

Six or more geese from six shots is not uncommon.

"You could say I carry out pest control under game regulations."

Mr Hayman has a range of calls from a long-distance hail, to a come back "it wasn't that bad" honk, to an excited greeting and the sound of geese feeding.

After driving the geese off the grass or green feed, for at least a kilometre, he digs a foxhole and sets up decoys and a portable maimai. He then waits, reads and uses his caller to draw the geese back in. The best hunting is morning and evening, but like duck hunting bad weather will keep geese returning all day.

Large groups he doesn't shoot, but he gets out of the foxhole and moves them on so they return in dribs and drabs.

Mr Hayman said in his 20s being a member of the recreational hunters club helped him pick up skills.

"After 40 years I am still learning."

While Mr Hayman's tally was more than 200 frozen sets of goose legs ahead of second place it was less than the record of 730 geese held by North Canterbury hunter Norm Marsh.

Central South Island Fish and Game officer Hamish Stevens commended the achievement to single-handedly control geese numbers and help keep geese classified as a game bird.

The Canada Goose is a controversial bird. To hunters like Mr Hayman it is the ultimate sporting bird, but to farmers it is a growing pest and to other water users it can be a source of pollution.

After years of hunting Mr Hayman and his wife still enjoy eating goose.

"Oh Bernie does all that side of it. With orange and everything it's really very tender. If we take it to a party it's the first meat to be eaten."