SLAUGHTER OF RED DEER

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21456, 24 April 1935, Page 11

SLAUGHTER OF RED DEER

AUCKLAND SPORTSMAN'S PROTEST STALKING EXPEDITION !* SOUTH WEST LAND [THE PEESS Special Service.] » AUCKLAND, April 23The indiscriminate slaughter of Scottish red deer in South Westland recently by a party of men employed by the Department of Internal Affairs is the subject of comment by Mr Harold Thomas, a keen sportsman who has returned to Auckland after a four weeks* stalking expedition. "While most enthusiastic stalker* realise the necessity for judicious culling and' intelligent control of deer in New Zealand, it seems a pity that an outstanding herd in the Dominion should be indiscriminately slaughtered," said Mr Thomas. "I do not think the department will ever exterminate deer in South Westland, as parts of the country are impregnable. Yet its present action is going to destroy the sport for stalkers, which is a valuable tourist attraction. There are other herds in the Dominion in which deterioration has advanced to such an extent that it would not matter much if the beasts were killed out." Mr Thomas and Mr C. Hodgkinson, a well-known guide, of Hawea, set out from Pembroke, via Makarora, with pack horses, and travelled over the Haast Pass into South Westland. Stalking over toward the coast, they experienced good weather, and were not troubled with the floods which often impede the progress of stalkers in that part of the country. "On the whole, wa had very good luck, and secured a most satisfactory bag," said Mr Thomas. The best head was an 11-pointer, measuring 47 inches in length. Another was a 10-point head, measuring 48 inches. All were remarkably fine specimens of Scottish, red deer heads.