Meticulously Executed Strategy
Preparing for a Summer Hunt in New Zealand: A Guide to Custom Tracks and My Gear Lists
In the latest issue of the NZDA Hunting and Wildlife Magazine (Summer 2023/24), early planning for a successful summer hunt is emphasised. This article will focus on two key tools that can aid in your preparations: Custom Tracks and My Gear Lists, available on the Plan My Walk trip planning tool.
Custom Tracks
For off-track hunts in New Zealand, where trails may not be marked, Custom Tracks can be a valuable asset. This feature allows you to create your own routes, using manual drawing or GPS waypoints on a map, to plan precise navigation paths through rugged or forested terrain.
By planning entry and exit points into hunting areas, marking key landmarks, water sources, or shelter locations, and navigating difficult topography beyond standard trails, you can increase your chances of a successful hunt. Your custom tracks can be saved, edited, and downloaded for offline use, which is crucial in remote hunting locations where cellular data may be unavailable.
My Gear Lists
My Gear Lists help you prepare and organize all the equipment needed for a hunting trip. You can create custom lists depending on trip length, weather, and terrain, ensuring you pack essentials like hunting licenses, clothing, navigation tools (GPS/compass), food, survival gear, and safety equipment.
Keeping a digital Gear List helps track what you’ve packed and can be shared with hunting partners for coordination. This feature is particularly useful for ensuring nothing is forgotten when packing for a hunting trip.
Getting Started
To make use of these features, we recommend checking within the Plan My Walk app or the Plan My Walk website for precise instructions on creating Custom Tracks and managing Gear Lists. For off-track hunting in New Zealand, focus on features like offline map usage, waypoint marking, and customizable gear checklists to ensure safety and navigation accuracy in wild terrain without marked trails.
For more information, you might also consider tools like AllTrails or OnX Hunt, which have advanced custom route and gear planning features tailored for hunters and hikers going off-track, as well as local New Zealand topographic data.
Sharing Your Plan
Once your plan is complete, you can share it with your group and emergency contact. This includes adding trip dates and group members. Items ticked off the list will be sent to the emergency contact with the trip plan, providing peace of mind during your adventure.
Effective communication in the bush is crucial, especially in larger groups. Stick together and communicate regularly to ensure a safe and successful hunt.
Additional stories can be found in the Stories section of the MSC website. Happy hunting!
- For successful hunting trips during summer, you might find the Plan My Walk trip planning tool beneficial, especially its 'Custom Tracks' feature, which allows you to create your own routes in rugged or forested terrains, increasing your chances of a successful hunt, especially in areas where trails are not marked.
- In addition to the Custom Tracks, utilizing the 'My Gear Lists' feature can help ensure you have all necessary equipment for your hunting trip, as it allows you to create custom lists depending on trip length, weather, and terrain, including essentials like hunting licenses, clothing, navigation tools, food, survival gear, and safety equipment.
