DAvid Butler
Where are you from? I Lived in Tuakau/Pukekohe for 26 years then moved to Maramarua. Tell us about you! What were your interests when you were younger and how did you end up owning a hunting a fishing store? I’ve always been into sports and being outdoors. I played football (soccer) for the local clubs for 27 years then moved on to IPSC pistol and 3Gun shooting, which stemmed from my enthusiasm for hunting. I’ve been hunting since I was 19 and worked as a mechanical engineer for 17 years, so an amalgamation of the two meant customising my own guns came easy and my passion for competitive shooting grew from there. What do you love about the outdoors? The quiet! And knowing that when you go off track in the middle of nowhere, you can find little spots of paradise that no one else has been before. Tell us more about your achievements over the last five years. I managed to go from a B grade to a Master Grade shooter in a year and topped it off with Finishing 5th overall, 3rd Kiwi and 2nd Master grade at last national championships. Working at RDO brings in the money while doing what I love. Who / what got you into hunting and shooting? My mates and I were generally running amuck when we were kids but when I got older a family friend took me real hunting and was hooked. Pet peeves? Uncontrolled Children Fondest hunting / fishing memory? Too many to name! Seriously, each trip has its own outrageous story. Any advice to young shooters? Just get amongst it! I remember my first attempt at a “hunting” trip (which was really just walking around carrying a gun), I was literally dragging 30kg+ up the Western side of the Kaimai’s. With the amount of gear I carried up, you can consider me a pioneer of glamping. It almost killed me, I’m much smarter now though. So get amongst it but do your research first! |
Kiri Anderson
Where are you from: From south side of the mighty Waikato River. Been a mad fisher and hunter since I could walk.
Tell us about you! What were your interests when you were younger and how did you end up working at Rusty Dog Outdoors? Did an 8 year stint writing articles for NZ Fishing News Magazine & worked on various commercial boats as deckhand. Passionate about Fishing and hunting in all its various forms, but mainly pig hunting, and I have chased pigs around the bush with a pack of dogs and a knife for nearly thirty years now. I'm part way through my book, which is a dedication to my dear departed hunting mentor Jimmy Hale who died aged 74 while running to his bailing dogs in the Hunua Ranges near Auckland. My favourite way to unwind, is sitting in our 6m walkaround sport fishing boat trolling for big game fish with some good music and lots of yummy snacks and drinks. Usually topped by a screaming reel. What do you love about the outdoors? Absolutely everything. When I’m not at work, I can be found either fishing, hunting, or somewhere on our lifestyle block where we have a huge orchard, sheep, chickens , and beef cattle, a couple of cats, and 6 dogs, and never a dull moment. Tell us more about your accomplishments, especially about KAC! Kiri Anderson Custom rods was borne entirely through My current Boss David, motivating me to do the things I love the most and creating cool stuff! Pet peeves? My biggest peeve is seeing children in today's world who prefer to explore a keyboard and screen rather than actually get out there and feel the rain and sun on their skin, graze a knee, catch an eel or shoot at targets. They don't get to get a tan and feel life in its totality. Fondest hunting / fishing memory? Too many to choose from; One afternoon, Jimmy and I were running through the scrub to the urgent bail of our dogs, and I had edged slightly ahead of him when suddenly, the ground opened up under me and I fell into a big hole full of blackberry , Jimmy was next and landed squarely on top of me… we gathered ourselves and carried on running, and I heard him yell back to me, as by now he was ahead by about 4 paces, “Thanks for the soft landing!!!!” we both cracked up. I still laugh today when I remember that. |