Success for city stalker

Press, 13 July 1979, Page 1

Success for city stalker

After a long and patient stalk less than 10 minutes from Cathedral Square, the “George Wilder” of the deer world was finally run to earth yesterday. But a tranquilliser dart failed to bring down the big stag which has roamed free on the outskirts of Christchurch since he leaped a twometre fence round the Avonhead deer farm of Mr Lloyd Allen last week. The stag is shown above being tranquillised by Mr Mike Barnett. He failed to succumb to the drug, and was still being watched by his would-be captors late last evening. By lying low during the day in the sparse cover available, the wily head of Mr Allen’s 60-deer herd has managed to elude con-

certed efforts to recapture him. By night, his wanderings have brought many reports to the police from astonished motorists and residents. In the end, his harem proved to be his downfall. After being “put up” by a noisy tractor from his hide-out in a dry water race yesterday, the $l5OO stag headed back to Mr Allen’s farm at the corner of Avonhead Road and Hawthornden Road. Waiting behind a bush for him was Mr Barnett, another deer farmer, armed with a rifle and a supply of tranquilliser darts. The first shot of th a tranquilliser failed to bring down the eightpointer stag which is now in the velvet. The second missed, and the hunt became a waiting game. “We have several other stags, but he is the big boss — and it is getting near the end of the ‘roar’,” said Mr Allen. “We hoped that might bring him back sooner or later.” Mr Allen said late last evening that the stag was being contained near the compound, and could probably be put back “behind wires” this morning.