DEER-STALKING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12948, 15 April 1904, Page 6

DEER-STALKING.

(Per United Press Association.)

OAMAIHJ, April W. Several dew-stalking parties have returned and report that, while game was plentiful, fow good heads wore secured, tlio proportion of small and inferior head; being much above the average. This is no doubt due to tho severity of last winter, which tho iine and early spring did not compensate for. Sport in tho Hunter Valley was very disappointing, both as to numbers anil me sizo of heads. Messrs M'Uowan, Begg, and Ititcliic, of Duneclin, who were camjjcd at the hwd of the- Dingle, had up to within a few days ago shot seven stags, the. two latter getting three caeli and Mr M'tiowan one. The- ltt-y. W. C. (Jlliver, Messrs J. H. Bond, J. Porbes, K. Hardeastlo (Christchurclr), and Harold Hcdglcinson (Oamaru) secured 16 lioad?, including seven royals, the best head being an 11-nointer 45in in length of horn, shot by lir Modgkinscn. Mr Olliver shot a royal with an abnormal spread of 41m, wliieii equals that of Mr Harold 'Hodgkinfion's big royal shot two years ago. This party were forestalled in their usual camp at Cotter's Cleaving in tho Dingle by Messrs Telford and Smith, who claimed tho right to thoot over all Mr Dell's leasehold up io the Otajo-Canterbury boundary line. Mr Telford, on the open-' ing day of tho season, crcssod this boundary and shot two stags on others' ground. The matter has given rise to considerable dissatisfaction, and tho Canter■bury sportsmen wero much disgusted at their treatment, and more is iikoly to b» Jic'affd of it. Ono of tho best heads re■pdfted to be. shot is a very massive royal secured by Mr D. Middleton, of Waimate, in the snowy gorge- on the Benmore eido of tho Almriri. Mr Klcnn, of Oamaru, who was up tho Hunter Valley, shot a stag with three separate home, carrying 11 points in all. ..'