Pilot 2: Braving the Elements and Collecting 35 Deer in Whanganui
From September 6th to 8th, the Hunt for Good team was back in action for Pilot 2, and this time the Whanganui Hill Country threw everything it had at us! With relentless wind and rain pounding down, conditions were far from ideal, but that didn’t stop our dedicated hunters from pushing forward. Bob Pittaway, Bill Osborne, Jasper Osborne, Glen Osborne, Daniel Watson, Dyllan Turnball, and Niall Cole all braved the storm to make a difference.
Despite the challenging weather, the team successfully harvested 35 deer—a testament to their resilience and skill. While the hunting was intense, the bad weather gave us plenty of downtime to focus on improving our safety measures and refining our collection processes. It was a great opportunity to talk through what’s working and what could be better, ensuring future hunts are even more efficient and safe for everyone involved.
Pilot 2 showed us that no matter the conditions, our mission to provide sustainable wild venison to those in need remains strong. Every deer collected brings us one step closer to filling the red meat gap in food banks, helping nourish Kiwi families. We’re stoked with the results and can’t wait to keep improving as we head into the next phase of our journey.