A Hunter in Paradise by Zeff Veronese

His prowess with a rifle and camera have been long known and achieved national recognition within the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association. The collection of absorbing tales and photographs this back country author has provided, strongly conveys honest passion for our wild places and a sincere respect for the game animals hunted. Kevin J. Whitelaw, New Zealand's Hunting Legends Why do I hunt? That is a very hard question to answer. Both my grandparents were hunters and so was my father, my brothers and some of my uncles. I grew up in Italy during the war and the years after, in very tough times. However, the hunting instinct was never far away. We used sticks to kill snakes, blowpipes to shoot at butterflies and blowflies, shanghais/slingshots, bow and arrows, spears, air rifles to shoot at rats, sparrows, fish, frogs and eels. When we arrived in New Zealand, we found it to be a goldmine for a hunter and made the most of it. The first ten years we hunted mainly for meat and always had a freezer full of game meat. Mother and Father lived with us and we virtually never went to the butcher. Perhaps the last 40 years I have mainly hunted for trophies. Sometimes when in a good spot for a few days, I might see 30 or 40 animals and as they have no trophy value I don't fire a shot but happily film the events. Hunting is still good for me because I enjoy being in the wild. Camaraderie is an important ingredient on a hunt; there is nothing being in a tent or a hut with friends who have the same interests and are happy to share their funny stories after a hard day in the mountains. - Zeff Veronese

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