Deer cullers to have big reunion in Christchurch

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 12

Deer cullers to have big reunion in Christchurch

Christchurch will be host in August to more than 200 former deer cullers — professional shooters employed by the Government in New Zealand’s high country — at the seventh triennial reunion of the New Zealand Deercullers’ Society. A varied programme is planned for the occasion, which will be held at the Blue Skies Scout headquarters at Kaiapoi during the week-end of August 3 to 5. The society’s Christchurch reunion committee, which has been planning the weekend for the last three years, expects a gathering of about 450, comprising deer cullers and their wives and families.

Christchurch had a big role in deer culling administration since this programme was instituted in 1931 to eradicate the huge herds of red deer and other large noxious animals which posed a threat to forests and vegetation cover in mountain areas. Christchurch was also the venue for the first reunion of deer cullers in August, 1966. At that gathering the deercullers’ society was formed, to hold reunions every three years, alternating with venues in the North and South Islands.

The society has a membership of 430 former shooters, from districts as far north as Great Barrier Island and Whangarei, to Southland and Stewart Island. Nine members now live in Australia, two in

Canada, and one in south Africa. The efforts of deer cullers working from tent camps or huts in the remotest mountain and bush areas of both islands led to huge reductions in animal numbers — in some cases several thousand animals eradicated from critical major watersheds each year. These inroads into noxious animals populations were later accelerated with the use of helicopter hunting for carcases, and then live animals. The full circle taken in New Zealand from destroying to farming deer has also been taken by many cullers, who are now amongst the ranks of deer farmers.

Others run deer recovery helicopters and many others are in other branches of wildlife conservation, including national park and forest reserve ranging.

The programme for this year’s reunion will comprise a reunion dinner on Friday evening, August 3, the triennial meeting of the society, and a social evening on the Saturday, and a field day on Sunday. The field day will include contests in backpack races, stag roaring, boulderhopping races, range guessing, activities for children, and a hangi.

The society’s national president, Mr lan Thyne, and national secretary-

treasurer, Mr Jack Bell, are both of Christchurch and were amongst a small group of former shooters which was instrumental in the first reunion being held in 1966. Also active in this group was the late Mr Joff Thomson, who became the first president and was author of the books, “Deer Hunter” and “Deer Hunting Days.” These were amongst the earliest works in the post-war interest in writing on New Zealand rural and high country topics. Mr Norm Davey is president of the reunion committee and Mrs Shirley Davey is its secretary. Other committee members are Messrs Thyne, Bell, Joe Seaton, and Jack Elcock.