Stoney Creek Test Team

The Stoney Creek Test Team

Our Test Team has always been part of Stoney Creek and our guys are well known for their passion, knowledge and experience in hunting and the outdoors.

They can analyse our gear with a critical eye and offer ideas for product development while providing honest and constructive criticism for performance improvement and suggestions on design.

These are kiwi guys testing gear in our New Zealand backyard.

Our Test Team guys know and understand our environment and the clothing that is required in these conditons, from the top of the North ot the bottom of the South and everywhere in between.

When our gear is put through the paces in areas like Fiordland with extreme weather conditions, you know that when you're out at your favourite spot you will have gear that you can rely on when the weather changes at a moment's notice.

Bringing with them a wide background of hunting and outdoor experience, from Bow Hunting to Rifle and Shotgun shooting and working as hunting guides, we know that our gear is tested in the rigours of the field and will do what it is supposed to do and if not we make changes, continually looking at innovative ways to bring you the best hunting gear on the market.

Our guys have over the years used a wide variety of gear, so know what works and what doesn't and that is why they now choose to wear Stoney Creek because it does what it says it will do, gear that can be relied upon.

Meet the Team:

Anthony `Anto' Hall

What Hunting Mean's to Anto:

`Hunting and fishing are more than just my passions, they are what define me... exploring the wilderness and the mystery of never knowing what is or could be around the corner.'

Anto's Favourite Piece of Stoney Creek Gear:

`Microtough Trousers, I use these year round, in full, snowy winter conditions and in the dry heat of the Otago summer. The material is so tough you almost can't wear them out, they certainly don't rip regardless of what happens.'

A Bit About Anto:

Anto's based in Queenstown within the heart of some of the best hunting and fishing in the world, boasting a wide variety of Big Game animals including Red, Fallow and Whitetail Deer, Wapiti (Elk), Chamois, Goats and Himalayan Thar, plus Rainbow and Brown Trout fishing.

Anto spends most of his time in NZ's magnificent Alpine environment and in this extreme environment the weather can change instantly, putting the hunting gear he wears to the most extensive test possible. He relies on his gear to not only to provide him the edge over his quarry but also for survival, especially during the snowy winters.

Read Anto's Blog.

Darrell Wong

What Hunting Mean's to Darrell:

`...Hunting isn't just a sport for me, it's a passion that satisfies some primeval urge to provide, beat a wild animal in its own environment and allows me to soak up the fantastic NZ back country. It relieves the stress of daily life and means I get to enjoy the company of my good mates.'

Darrell's Favourite Piece of Stoney Creek Gear: 

`I've been using Stoney Creek for 6-7 years now and my favourite is my Blaze Orange Sika Top and has been with me on almost every trip. In the summer the minimalist Blaze Orange Air Mesh Shirt is my go-to shirt. 

A Bit About Darrell:

Darrell's an avid fly fisherman from back in his varsity days and his passion for hunting stemmed from this. Darrell found out with hunting it's a bit more difficult to get immediate results so he joined the NZDA in Auckland to see if that would help him. He meet some good blokes who were expert hunters who helped him on his hunting journey. Nowadays he loves chasing the Sika in his beloved Kaimaniwa's and Kaweka's, on occasion Reds and likes to head off each year to chase Tahr (The Southern Alps are irresistable for a Highlander!).

Darrell reckons over the years, hunting has made him appreicate what a fantastic place we live in and what a tremendous resource our game animals are.

Gary Johnson

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What Hunting Mean's to Gary:

`When I look at Fiordland's majestic scenery, it represents to me the invigorating challenge, freedom and wild grandeur that inpsires me to go outdoors.'

Gary's Favourite Piece of Stoney Creek Gear: 

`After many years of avoiding long trousers, due to heat build up and accepting minor leg abraisions as the norm, I was blown away when I took the plunge and tried out Stoney Creek's Microtough Trousers. It's space age, lightweight material that moves easily over the legs allowing full freedom of movement and also dries promptly after a complete soaking. These featues, combined with an incredible inability to rip make this garment a `must-have' for any hunter in my opinion. My legs also agree due to the lack of blood loss from the countless abrasions they used to endure under my old-school shorts-only regime'.

A Bit About Gary:

As a hairy legged school boy chasing rabbits across nearby paddocks to deer across the rugged Tararua ranges, Gary is your typical kiwi hunter with over 30 years experience. Gary represented NZ as a road and track cyclist and has a passion for photography. For many years he has clambered the North Island and Fiorldland Mountains, a very fit and focussed grass-roots Kiwi hunter. Gary's absolute and enthusiastic passion for the hills and his interest to hunt and test gear under the worst hunting conditions imaginable makes him a valuable asset to our test team. 

Gerald Fluerty

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What Hunting Mean's To Gerald:

`Hunting unlocks me mentally, physically and spirtually and challenges me to the extreme in all these areas and rewards me with the pleasure of sharing my passion with my family, friends and those who are new to the sport, also at times put food on the table.'

Gerald's Favourite Piece of Stoney Creek Gear: 

`The one I use most is the 2-Pocket Shirt. I wear it all the time. Next in line, as my favourite gear to hunt is the Silent Series Lightweight Shirt and Pants.'

A Bit About Gerald:

Gerald's a full time hunting guide and owns Wildside Hunting Safari's, located in the Central North Island, the heart of New Zealand's Sika herd. He spends most of his time trophy hunting with clients from New Zealand and around the world. Gerald has always hunted from an early age having come from many generations of professional hunters. 

When he's not working, Gerald plans private hunting with his kids up North and down South.

Gerald says ` We all pitch in with our family business, we also own our own bows and rifles which we go out and hunt with, keen as!'

Having to hunt in all conditions, Gerald firmly believes that Stoney Creek gear is the best there is for New Zealand conditions, no matter what nature serves up.

Paul Fantham

What Hunting Mean's to Paul:

`The one thing that always keeps me going back for more is the sense of adventure that each trip promises, whether it's finding a new spot, shooting a trophy or just laughing with my mates, it's all good.'

Paul's Favourite Piece of Stoney Creek Gear:

`To be honest I don't have a specific favourite. I'll favour any piece of kit so long as it continues to do the job. With Stoney Creek gear, I've found it all performs exceptionally well and has never let me down....I've thrashed my gear...no question, it's absolute value for money.'

A Bit About Paul:

Paul reckons one of his greatest hunting highlights was when he was out with his son Jack (8 years) when he shot his first deer with a youth sized .243. Jack had been involved before in hunting / shooting but he found the deer, lined up the shot and pulled the trigger all by himself - a fantastic moment!

I inherited the hunting bug thirty something years ago when my uncle set me off shooting rabbits. Since that time I've been fortunate to hunt with and learn from some genuine top blokes. 

This year for Paul, possibly looking to head off to the Haast Roar Ballot, some overnighters around the lower North Island, travelling light and exploring plenty of ground during the summer months. Also a couple of week-long Tahr trips and the usual freezer filling trips tossed in ...

`You've got to have faith in your gear, trust it and know that it will do the job. I turned to Stoney Creek for that confidence after I learned the hard way, that el-cheapo stuff is cheap for a reason. You will never regret buying quality, especially when it's cold and wet and you're hunting.

Rob Dexter

What Hunting Mean's to Rob:

`When you are really hunting, you have nothing else in your mind and are totally connected via all of your senses to nature.'

Rob's Favourite Piece of Stoney Creek Gear:   

The Airmesh Long Sleeve Shirt is fast cooling after slogging up a big hill, it allows the sweat out and dries quickly. Excellent camo without bulk or weight. This is my favourite all rounder and it gets a hard time.

A Bit About Rob:

From the age of eight, Rob's Dad considered me old enough to pluck a duck and row a boat and it continued from there.

The first 30 years was spent mostly with rifles and shotguns, hunting in many New Zealand locations then moved to bow and arrow's. Since then Rob's probably shot more big game by a decent margin,as the adrenaline buzz of of bow hunting and need to get close without the animal being aware, is so addictive.

Rob's been able to travel and hunt in other countries and by doing so appreciates what a fantastic place we live in.

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