DEER STALKING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9432, 1 February 1921, Page 4

DEER STALKING.

SPORT AMONG THE HILLS. BALLOT FOR THE LICENSES. SUCCESSFUL SEASON EXPECTED. The ' opening of the deer shooting season is fixed for April 1 for the hinterland of the Ashburton County. » This year the Department of Internal < Affairs approved of the issue of 17' < deer licenses, as against nine, last year, the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society 1 having represented that the' increase of .the deer warranted an increased number of licenses. Ten licenses were allotted to the Rakaia Gorge district, three to Alf ord Forest, and. four to the Rangitata section. It was decided, however, only to issue seven licenses for the Rakaia district, as the country did not lend itself to cutting up intrf more blocks. •■,,,. The draw for the available licenses resulted as follows: — For Rakaia district there were 17 applications, and the following >■■ were successful : Messrs G. Sutherland, G. D. Mcllraith, R. C. Todhunter, H. E. Jessop, J. Deans, G. Penlington, and Dr McKillop. For the Rangitata there were six applicants for four licenses, which went to the following: — Messrs F. B. Robilliard, F. Pawson, C. F. and H. W. Olliver. Twelve intending stalkers applied for the three licenses at Alford Forest, those successful being Messrs J.^G. Johnston, W. D. Grieve, and J. T. Morgan. The stags come down from the high country for the rutting season during the months of April and May, and this year the prospects of bringing down fine heads are reported to be unusually bright. The feed m the back-country which the stags seek oxit is reported to be exceptionally good. How the English, grasses and clovers reach these inaccessible spots is not known, the carriage of seeds by birds being the only feasible explanation. The heads on the Ashburton side of the Rakaia George district are stated to be the finest south of the line. It was here that Mr G. Sutherland, a veteran stalker, brought down a 27-pointer, which is a world's record. Most of this area lies between the wide, boun- I daries of the Lake Heron estate, and exceptional feed is found Very higji up m quiet, unfrequented spots. In the Alford Forest area there are plenty of deer, but this section does not lend itself easily to cutting up, and only three licenses were allotted. From Springburn, Mount Somers, and Stave--1 ley the stags m the bush can be heard [ roaring every night. f The draw for the Rangitata section D has fallen out very fortunately for the 1 successful quartette, who, strangely B enough, arranged six months ago to ■" stalk the district as a party if successp ful m the ballot. Most of the guns m 1 this party are fairly new hands. One ° of the unsuccessful applicants* m this * case was the Hon. W. Nosworthy,

whose Mesopotamia station covers a large area, of the stalking ground. Mr W. Gifkins has also been unsuccessful for years, and was again so this year. A question arises m the allocation of licenses as to the owner's claim to a right to shoot over his own property. Thus this year m the draw for Alford Forest permits an owner of part of'tbe deer country is unsuccessful, while his manager draws v a winning number. It is stated that there ' might be a good deal of justice m a claim for preference to owners on the Rakaia section, but too many are concerned m the other districts to make the distinction and still leave room for outside guns. Among the veteran stalkers who have obtained licenses this year are Messrs ».Gr. Sutherland^ H. C. Jessop, and J. ! Deans, all on the Rakaia area.