Newton McConochie Award - For the Most Outstanding Young Deerstalker of the Year
| Winner | Branch |
| Jacob Clement | North Taranaki Branch |
Recommendation from Stuart Langslow North Taranaki Branch President
Jacob has been on our North Taranaki Committee for several years and has been instrumental in the growth and development in the Branch, his enthusiasm is contagious and is a great asset to any meeting or gathering.
He is a real driver of our club hunts and routinely takes new members out locally and down the Ruahine Ranges.
When we went to the 2022 conference in Hamilton (North Taranaki hadn't been for a number of years) he was intent on learning about how to become a hunts instructor to further add to his skillset, he also was social and spent a lot of time networking which paid off hugely when he took time off work to go to the south island for two weeks hunting.
This year he has completed Range officer training as he is an active competitor in our local shoots and is intending on running some of our club shoots at the new range.
He Managed to secure a 8 Point Sika Stag off Clements Road during the 2023 sika Rut, and went on his first trip down the south island for Tahr, Wallaby and Chamois, getting good representative trophy's helped by contacts he had made through the NZDA.
His enthusiasm for hunting has also found himself on the front cover of NZ Outdoor magazine and I believe he currently has a unpublished article sitting with them at present.
It has been a pleasure both working with and hunting with Jacob, I could think of no one better for the Newton McConochie Award and have had no less than 10 People tell me I should nominate him.
Recommendation from Rob McGregor
I would like to nominate Jacob Clement for the Newton McConochie award for the most outstanding Young Deerstalker of the year.
Jacob is the most vibrant young member to join North Taranaki DS in the 30 odd years that I have been a member.
Born to be a hunter, he turned up to our monthly meeting unaccompanied as an 18-year-old. His friendly disposition soon had him talking hunting to others.
At the first opportunity he joined the Committee. Along with Stuart Langslow (new President) they tackled the branches lack lustre online profile, which has proved hugely successful in attracting new members of a younger generation.
This year Jacob has taken up the role of hunting party convenor and as such has tabled a couple of hunting trips in the near future.
Being single, and keen on hunting, he makes plans and hunts most weekends. We, on the committee hear of his success or otherwise at our meetings.
We persuaded Jacob into writing a few details down to be printed in our Branch newsletter, the Roar. The monthly stories are now published as the 'Clem Report' and are going down a treat with our members.
Now a freezer can only hold so much meat and as successful as Jacob is as a hunter, he had to adjust his thinking on, so now the camera is used more than the rifle which adds a lot to his 'Clem Report'. Our Photographic competition is sure to see some stunning photos in the future.
With his ability to use electronic gear that is available and his enthusiasm to use it, he has quickly picked up the knowledge to reload his bullets and test the loads out at longer ranges. I drew a wry smile when he said he got a puff of dust off a white rock on a slip face at 720metres. Not bad for a young guy only a couple of years into hunting.
For what this award is about, I have never met a more fitting candidate.
I am sure Newton McConochie would be as impressed with Jacob as I am.
