Rod and Gun Qualifying For Licence To Shoot Wapiti

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31237, 8 December 1966, Page 17

Rod and Gun Qualifying For Licence To Shoot Wapiti

(Specially written for “The Press” by R. J. SIERS) One of the pleasing features about the Fiordland National Park Board's policy toward wapiti hunting is that at long last the principle of user pays has been put into effect The board, on the recommendation of a sub-committee, decided to institute a new system for the taking of Wapiti trophies. Briefly, the system calls for either volunteer work in the park in culling field trips, or the payment of a sum of money to defray the cost of sending substitute shooters. The new system became effective with the first culling las* t abour weekend. Before the culling parties went into the park, the board placed notices in newspapers, circulated hunters whose names appeared on the board’s files, and also wrote to the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association. The notice, which was issued in October, said that the wapiti control committee of the Fiordland National Park Board recognised the need for proper incentives being offered to shooters to enable the board to achieve its desired object of herd reduction throughout the year. To this effect, the system of qualification for hunters has been altered so that the ballot system will no longer be used. To take part in trophy shoots hunters must now first qualify by taking part in deer reduction drives organised and directed by the committee. In the case of a man who for any reason cannot take part, an amount must be paid to defray the cost of sending in a substitute shooter. For North Island hunters

the sum is £2O, and £3O for South Islanders. The notice says: “It is, of course, hoped that trophy shooters will qualify by giving their services in person, and that little or no money will be collected as the real need is for experienced hunters and not money.” Individuals will not be free to undertake work alone. To qualify by work, they must adhere to strict rules laid down by the committee. Among the conditions to be observed will be these: Deer reduction parties will be directed to specific areas and will work to explicit instructions. The taking of “velvet” or antlered trophies by reduction parties is forbidden. Trophy skins may be recovered by members of reduction parties at the discretion of the party leader. Permission for recovery of headskins may be granted in special circumstances but each request will be treated on its merits. Transgression of conditions will entail a monetary penalty to be determined by the board, and in cases where it may be proved that a hunter has broken these rules and has not declared the breach, he shall be liable to exclusion from future trophy hunting in the park. If possible lake transport will be provided by the board for reduction parties, but the board accepts no liability for persons entering the park, although it will cover deer re-, duction shooters under the provisions of the voluntary labour section of the Workers’ Compensation Act The parties entering the park

must be self-sufficient in all respects.

Killing priorities are laid down. In every instance (especially when a group of animals is approached) red deer hinds should be shot first The second priority is off-type females. No male animals are to be shot unless specific instructions are issued to the party leader. ■ So, once you have either taken part ip a field reduction trip or sent in your money for a substitute, you are entitled to a trophy shoot and your qualification is valid for a period of three years. The principal times for trophy shoots will be two three-week periods, the first in the late March-April period and the second during the May school holidays. Qualified persons may choose their own block and their own trophy period. Where too many choose the same block, a ballot may be necessary. A maximum of four rifles a party is allowed, and only one trophy a rifle, be it red, nontypical or wapiti, is the hunter’s permissible bag. It must be of a minimum standard with three points on each top, inclusive of the royal tines. A significant condition of the trophy shoot is that hunters must pack in meat, and confine themselves to shooting trophies only as undue disturbance of the herd by trophy hunters would nullify the efforts of the autumn herd-reduction work. Those wishing to take part in reduction work to qualify for a trophy shoot will have the choice of a wide range of times. There will be four tenday field trips, beginning with Labour week-end, another for ten days during Christmas, one in April and another in August. All that is necessary is to obtain an application from the board, and nominate the preferred time. As a hunter who would like to see a greater participation of hunters in the management of big game in New Zealand, I welcome the move by the park board as an indication of what may happen in the control of some of the other important trophy herds in New Zealand.