Double records were smashed at the long weekend’s River Inn Moonlight Hunt at Tākaka.
One hundred and seventy junior and adult hunters were all guns blazing with more than $20,000 was raised for the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter, and Tākaka local Jack Holland to support his level four melanoma treatment.
The fundraising smashed the expectation of $12-13k with the most competitors in the hunt’s history.
Adult categories included heaviest boar, sow, stag, hind, and fellow stag and hind, as well as biggest tusks, average pig and local’s heaviest boar.
Junior gongs were for the heaviest hare, possum, goat and herrings, and most hares and possums.
An open category for most goat tails was also in play along with a wild game pie competition at the weigh-in.
Jamie Sixtus, who co-hosted the four-day bash with his mother Paula, and father Richard, says they were “absolutely blown away” by the result.
“We’ve had a few comments back already from people saying they couldn’t believe how amazing the hunt actually was,” he says.
“We got 47 deer, 42 pigs, and we had 90 goat tails entered… 40 plus hares, and a dozen or so possums.
“The weigh-in was a vibrant family-friendly atmosphere with gumboot throws for the adults and the kids were running around with hares and doing gumboot throws as well.”
Jamie, Paula and Richard applauded the event sponsors.
