That message came during the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association's annual conference in Oamaru at the weekend, from two members of the Government - associate Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson and United future leader Peter Dunne.
About 150 people attended the conference in the Oamaru Opera House.
On Friday night, moose hunter Ken Tustin spoke about his search for elusive moose in Fiordland.
Both Mr Dunne and Ms Wilkinson outlined progress being made with the Big Game Hunting Council, which would have statutory authority to speak on a wide range of hunting-related issues with one voice.
Mr Dunne, who was not at the conference but sent a message, said the council arose from the need for greater co-ordination of the many and varied big game hunting interests.
The previous Labour government was unwilling to give the council the necessary statutory authority to make it an effective organisation with the influence to effect real change.
"A change of Government has seen a refreshingly less ideological approach to big game animals," Mr Dunne said.
An establishment committee made up of five hunting representatives was working on a set of recommendations which would be consulted on later in the year, he said.
Ms Wilkinson backed that co-operative approach, saying National saw hunting as a valid recreational activity.
One issue Ms Wilkinson was asked about was the aerial application of 1080 poison.
Bay of Plenty delegate Dean Maisey urged her to consider targeted ground control measures.
Ms Wilkinson said the department was being more discriminating in poisoning operations and said if a compromise could be reached that met its objectives, she was prepared to consider it.
Results of the national antler, cone and tusk competitions were:-
McGowan Shield (best fallow head): Andrew Oakes (North Otago) 1, John Munro (Otago) 2, Ben Pitelen (Otago) 3.
Mel Larritt Memorial Trophy (best red head): Daniel Herries (Tutira) 1, Robert Shuttleworth (Nelson) 2, Steve Gillan (South Otago) 3.
Sedden Shield (best rusa head): Kerry Boyle (Rotorua) 1.
Cliff Marshall Memorial trophy (red sika head): Ian Carppe (Taupo) 1, Martin Reid (Manawatu) 2, Graham Vowles (Taupo) 3.
Manawatu Branch Trophy (best white tail head): Peter Rathgen (South Canterbury) 1, Stephen Foote (Southern Lakes) 2, Grant Tipling (Taranaki) 3.
Norman Douglas Trophy (best branch entry of antlers, horns and tusks): North Otago 1, Otago 2, Waikato 3.
Orbell Trophy (best antlered head all species): Robert Shuttleworth 1, Andrew Oakes 2, John Munro 3.
Colin Porter Trophy (best goat head): Edd Berry (Bush) 1, Corey Geddes (Ashburton) 2, Nick Evans (Tutira) 3.
Dillon Shield (best drawn pig tusks): W.
Bremner (South Auckland) and Tim Flower (Waikato) equal 1, Clyde Foster (Rotorua) 3.
Putaruru Branch Trophy (best undrawn pig tusks): Clyde Foster 1, Glenn Ralston (Ashburton) 2, Shane Neal (South Otago) 3.
Egmont Trophy (best horned head, all species): Christian Seufert (Marlborough) 1, Zeb Lowen (South Canterbury) 2, Corey Geddes 3.
Bowhunting senior: Andrew Oakes 1 and 2.
Keith Severinsen Trophy ( best Fiordland-type head): Rob Suisted (Wellington) 1, Trevor Bentley (North Canterbury) 2.
McConochie Trophy (best chamois head): Nick Kermode (Ashburton) 1, Max Seufert (Marlborough) 2, Lim Clark (Eastern Bay of Plenty) 3.
Mt Cook trophy (best tahr head): Christian Seufert 1, Zeb Lowen 2, Corey Geddes 3.
Trevor Chappell trophy (best wild sheep): Steve Gillan 1.
Poverty Bay Branch Trophy (best by under 19 years): Henry Pearse (South Canterbury) 1, Max Seufert 2, Liam Clark 3.
Leithen Award (best non-typical type antlers): I.
Te Kohika (Tutira) 1.
