HUNTING DEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 269, 13 November 1935, Page 9

HUNTING DEER.

SPORTING HOLIDAYS.

KEEN DEMAND FOR SKINS.

departmental assistance.

Holidays of purpose and profit are likely to be the vogue during the next four or five months. A number of young New Zealanders have resolved to take advantage of the peculiar circumstances and .hunt, deer for the sake of the skins that are in the keenest demand in the history of New Zealand, Stewart Island and Lake Waikaremoana being the principal, places where such holidays arc planned. There is a demand for more skins than the usual deer-hunting activities can provide, and yet deer are so plentiful that they are considered as forest vermin. Five or six years ago the Department °f Internal Affairs organised the sale of deer skins, disseminated information about the skinning of deer and the proper treatment of skins, and undertook to market such skins as professional and amateur hunters could not place. The past two years have witnessed a large turnover in deer skins. The Department has disposed of them *11 by private treaty, and their destination has been as far afield as Germany *nd England. Thousands of skins havt wen tanned in New Zealand and made Into New Zealand articles, such as buckIkin jerkins, gloves, tramping boots and *ags. Forty-five Men For Southern Alps. Constant inquiries are received by the e part.ment from intending hunters as ° Iv r l° ca l'fc' es > market prices and the Methods of treating skins so that maxi- ™ prices mav be obtained. To meet ■ inquiries full instructions have °® e n prepared embracing both technical n fc V 1 an d common sense. The biggest „„ campaign against deer has been mmenced. Forty-five men —the most er engaged—will pass and repass along main mountain and watershed areas

of tho Southern Alps from Mount Aspiring to Mount Sefton, and a record slaughter is anticipated. Deer on Stewart Island and about Lake Waikaremoana are reported to be • very plentiful. Stewart Island is likely to be tlie scene of activities by South Island parties, and Lake Waikaremoana is the objective of North Islanders contemplating a profitable holiday. Official parties would be engaged in both these areas if finance permitted, just as a concentrated drive is being undertaken in tho Southern Alps because of the great danmgo being done to mountain and watershed areas, causing denudation, slips and floods in the main South Island river systems. "Deer Are Vermin." Deer are vermin, and the only formalities that any such hunter needs to be concerned with is to have a license for his rifle and permission to enter upon the lands in question. The Department of Internal Affairs has made arrangements whereby bona-fide deer hunters may obtain .303 Mark VII. military ammunition at tho low rate of 10/6 per 100 rounds. Full instructions as to skinning and treatment of skins —a simple but important matter —-have been forwarded to those inquiring. If those instructions are carried out the Department will provide the organisation for the marketing of skins which are brought back. Stewart Island seems to be the main objective of hunters this year. It is a beautiful little spot and abounds with deer. Most of the land is Crown property, including scenic reserves or forest reserve, and permission must be obtained before shooting can be done on these reserves.