My name’s Daniel Lastovicka. I’m a hunter and triathlete based in Leeston, just south of Christchurch, and a regular writer for NZ Outdoor Magazine. The outdoors has always been where I feel most at home, but I can’t always get away into the hills every weekend. I needed something to keep me active, focused, and challenged when I wasn’t out there doing it, and after moving on from CrossFit, triathlon became that outlet.

What started as a way to stay fit has turned into something that strengthens everything I do outdoors. Long runs and rides build the endurance needed for big days on the hill, and the discipline from triathlon helps me stay patient and push through when things get tough. On the other side, hunting provides clean, natural food that fuels my training—the venison on my plate becomes the best recovery meal I could ask for. At first glance, hunting and triathlon might look like separate worlds, but for me they’ve become two sides of the same coin. Each challenges me in different ways, and together they’ve made me stronger, more resilient, and more connected to the outdoors.

I started hunting in 2020 when my neighbour, Cam, insisted I come out on a hunt. I’d always been into the outdoors—hiking, exploring new places—but I’d hesitated to take up hunting, thinking it would be another expensive hobby. I’d actually tried it once before in 2015, when a mate, Sean, got me into archery in Australia. We went out a few times but came home empty-handed, so I knew it wasn’t something that came easy.

Cam and I headed out for a weekend to a spot he knew, not too far from Christchurch. It was about a four-hour walk in, and he spent most of it explaining how to spot animals and the basics of hunting. We reached our glassing spot just on golden light, ready to settle in for a long watch. Within five minutes, I’d spotted my first deer. Cam didn’t believe me at first, swearing I’d seen a rock. But sure enough, it was a yearling, and I took the shot. It was an unreal feeling. Looking back now, I know we could’ve waited for something bigger, but at the time, I was just stoked to have a successful first hunt. From that moment, I was hooked.

For me, hunting is a way to get out into nature and step away from the pace of everyday life. It’s taken me into some of the most remote and untouched places I’ve ever been, well off the beaten track. I hunt public land, and I walk. The terrain can be humbling, and I’m constantly reminded of how incredible these animals are, thriving in places we’d struggle to survive without good gear, food, and shelter. I love the whole experience: the thrill of the hunt, the quiet moments watching animals in their element, and the satisfaction of bringing home meat for the freezer. There’s something deeply grounding about earning the food that ends up on the table.

Tahr hold a special place in my heart. I call them the kings of the mountain, and anyone who’s seen them in the wild knows why. The fact that these animals not only survive but thrive in New Zealand’s rugged alpine country is a true testament to their strength and adaptability. You have to work for them—the terrain is steep, technical, and unforgiving—but that’s what makes it so rewarding. Earning a good cape and a solid head feels like the ultimate payoff for the effort it takes to chase them in their element. Alongside tahr, I also hunt deer—both sika and reds—the odd goat, and I’m slowly making my way through most of the game species we’re lucky to have in New Zealand. I’m not too focused on trophies. They’re a nice bonus when they come, but for me it’s always been about putting meat in the freezer first. There’s something far more satisfying about providing clean, hard-earned food than chasing numbers on a tape.

One hunt that stands out above the rest was a tahr trip with my good mate Sean—a mission we now call Lessons from the Mountains—which I recently wrote about in the August edition of NZ Outdoor Magazine. We’d planned it for months and, despite an orange weather warning, decided to head in anyway. The walk to the hut was long and wet, with howling wind and steady rain the whole way, but the forecast promised a clear window the next day. By the time we reached the hut that evening, the rain had eased, and we went to sleep hoping the forecast was right.

Morning came with perfect conditions—the kind of alpine day you hope for but rarely get. We walked across the plateau and soon spotted a mob of tahr moving across the face. After a careful stalk, Sean managed to take not one, but two solid bulls. I dropped a nanny earlier that morning and couldn’t have been happier. We spent the afternoon carefully processing the three animals, knowing there was no rush to get out. The real lesson came on the way home. When we reached the river at the base of the hill, what had been a calf-deep creek the day before had turned into a raging torrent. It was completely impassable. With no safe way across, we used my new inReach to call for help, and a helicopter picked us up a few hours later. No SOS needed—just a good reminder of how quickly the mountains can turn.

That trip and others like it have all built into Project Beyond the Ranges, a challenge I set myself for Movember this year. It’s a triathlon-style event through the heart of my favourite hunting country. It starts with a 5 km swim across the freezing waters of Lake Tekapo, followed by a 60 km run over the Two Thumb Range with more than 2,000 metres of elevation, and finishes with a 200 km road bike down the Rangitata Valley, back to Hunting & Fishing Ballingers in Christchurch. It’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically, and it will push me right to the limit.

But this isn’t just about distance or challenge. It’s about raising $10,000 for men’s mental health through Movember NZ and starting conversations around the four things that build better mental health: purpose, connection, physical health, and resilience. The mountains are my place to reset, to test myself, and to remind me what really matters. Because the heaviest battles aren’t on the map.

Three in four suicides in New Zealand are men, but mental health struggles reach far beyond that statistic. At some point, almost all of us face stress, self-doubt, or times when we feel lost. I’ve lost friends to suicide, and that’s hard, but I’ve also been through my own lows—times when I felt disconnected and out of place. What helped me turn things around was finding purpose, staying connected with my mates, and keeping active. Those things pulled me back to a better headspace, and now I’m more aware of when I start to drift. Looking after your mental health isn’t about waiting until things fall apart. It’s about building habits that keep you strong before the storm hits. If this project helps even one person find their footing again, it’ll be worth every step.

When it comes to gear, there are two pieces from Hunters Element that I rate above all else. First, the Legacy Pants—they’re tough, warm, and somehow stay that way even when soaked through in a back creek of the Rangitata River in winter. I never need thermals underneath, and after trying plenty of other options over the years, nothing comes close. The other is the Sleet Jacket. It’s light, packable, and unbelievably warm, whether you’re wearing it solo or as part of a layering system. It’s kept me comfortable on freezing hunts, and it’s the first thing I grab for glassing in the evenings. And the best part? It’s actually waterproof. I don’t know how they pulled it off, but this jacket just does everything right.

For Project Beyond the Ranges, I’m also leaning on a few Hunters Element pieces that have surprised me with how well they perform outside the hunting world. The Eclipse range—both the shirts and the cap—have been perfect for training. They’re light, quick-drying, and wick sweat better than any synthetic running shirt I’ve used. The long sleeve Eclipse will be my go-to on the day, and the cap has already proven itself over countless hours on the road and trail.

I’ll also be using the Acclimate as a windbreak in the lower sections and an insulation layer if it cools off overnight. It got me through winter training and has earned its place in the kit. For waterproof protection, I’m taking the Halo Jacket—small, light, and perfect for stashing in my running vest. To round it out, the Legacy Gloves will be coming with me too to keep my hands warm on the run, give me grip on the bike, and protect me if I go down.

You can support Project Beyond the Ranges by donating to Movember at movember.com/m/14876869. Every dollar goes towards improving men’s mental health and creating real change. You can also follow the journey and share the project on Instagram @dan_lasto. Whether it’s a donation, a share, or a bit of encouragement, it all helps make a difference.