The New Zealand Bowhunters Society
Game Award System
HOW THE AWARD SYSTEM WORKS
To become a Master Bowhunter the bowhunter must achieve "5 Small Game Awards" and "5 Big Game Awards".
The five Big Game Awards are achieved when the bowhunter takes 5 different Big Game species from the New Zealand Bowhunters Society (NZBS) Big
Game list.
The 5 Small Game Awards are achieved when the bowhunter takes 5 small game awards. Each Small Game taken is rewarded with a point value. An
accumulation of small game points goes toward the award. Each Small Game Award requires an increasing accumulation
of points. Only 20 points from any one species may be included for an individual award. Excess points from each Award can be carried over to
the next award.
The New Zealand Bowhunters Society currently has 80 Master Bowhunters.
To view the Master Bowhunter list follow click the link below.
- First Small Game Award (an accumulation of) 20 points. (White)
- Second Small Game Award (an additional) 30 points. (Black)
- Third Small Game Award (an additional) 50 points. (Blue)
- Forth Small Game Award (an additional) 70 points. (Red)
- Fifth Small Game Award (an additional 100 points. (Gold)
Image of all Small Game Award pins and patches
Advanced Small Game Awards
The Advanced Small Game Award system is designed to provide further challenges for those bowhunters who have gained their 5th Small Game Award. The emphasis is on shooting a listed variety of game but only one of each species listed needs to be taken. The Awards Are:
Animal
One each of Small Game Pig, Small Game Wallaby, Goat-minimum horn spread
of 760mm (30inches) , Hare, Rabbit, Possum, Rat, and any one of Ferret, Weasel, Stoat. A total of eight animals.
Bird
One each of Turkey, Magpie & Myna, plus one of either a Crow or Peacock. A total of four birds.
Fish
One each of Small Game Stingray, Eel- minimum weight 5kg, Mullet,
Parore, Flounder and any five of the following species: Small Game Shark, Kingfish, Kahawai, Snapper, John Dory, Butterfish, Octopus, Carp, Blue
Code, Dogfish, Trevally, Mackerel, and Barracuda. (Any other species of fish claimed which the committee consider merits inclusion will be added
to this section.) A total of ten fish.
Advanced Big Game Awards
The Advanced Big Game Award system is designed to provide further challenges for those bowhunters who have gained their 5th Big Game Award. The first of these awards is the 6 species award and requires the hunter to claim six different big game animal or fish species (starting from scratch). Subsequent Advanced Big Game Awards are given for 7 species and onwards to 10 species. In each case the hunter will start from scratch on the completion of an award, game is not carried forward.
Images of Advanced Big Game Awards.
Points Table
| Small Game | Big Game | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal | Points | Animal | Points |
| Wild pig ( under 15kg ) | 10 | Chamois | 10 |
| Stoat | 8 | Tahr | 10 |
| Weasel | 8 | Rusa | 10 |
| Ferret | 8 | Sambar | 10 |
| Goat | 5 | Wapiti | 10 |
| Hare | 5 | Sika | 6 |
| Wallaby ( taken using artificial light) | 5 | Whitetail | 6 |
| Rabbit | 2 | Fallow | 5 |
| Possum | 1 | Red | 5 |
| Rat | 1 | Wild Pig | 5 |
| South Island Wallaby | 2 | ||
| Fish | Wallaby | 1 | |
| Kingfish ( under 15kg ) | 10 | ||
| Shark ( under 20kg ) | 10 | Fish | |
| Dogfish | 8 | Kingfish ( over 15kg ) | 4 |
| Kahawai | 8 | Stingray | 1 |
| Snapper | 8 | ||
| Stingray ( under 20kg ) | 5 | Sharks | |
| Grass Carp | 5 | Tiger | 7 |
| Barracuda | 4 | Blue | 3 |
| John Dory | 3 | School | 3 |
| Mullet | 3 | 7 Gill | 3 |
| Trevally | 3 | All other species | 5 |
| Blue Cod | 2 | ||
| Butterfish | 2 | ||
| Kelp Fish | 2 | ||
| Mackerel | 2 | ||
| Parore | 2 | ||
| Koi Carp | 1 | ||
| Flounder | 1 | ||
| Octopus | 1 | ||
| Sole | 1 | ||
| Eel | 1 | ||
| Birds | |||
| Crow | 5 | ||
| Magpie | 5 | ||
| Peacock | 5 | ||
| Turkey | 2 | ||
| Myna | 2 |