S. Westland attracts hunters

Press, 6 April 1989, Page 6

S. Westland attracts hunters

PA Greymouth Hundreds of hunters from throughout New Zealand are making their way to South Westland’s hill country for the annual deer roar. The Conservation Department has issued about 200 hunting permits in recent weeks, and the district conservator, Mr Murray Reedy said there were more hunters in the area than in the past. “South Westland is dense with hunters at present — from Wanganui River through to the Gorge River,” he said. A number of parties from the North Island and even from Australia were in the district for the

height of the deer season. “South Westland has been increasingly popular for the last 4-5 years as deer have become harder to come by elsewhere in the country.” Deer were being found more easily in South Westland bush now than they had been for the last decade because of a slight jump in population. Mr Reedy said the influx was good for the region, because hunters had to stock up on food for two weeks on end and usually had to be flown into the hills.

One Haast helicopter operator had been busy for weeks shuttling hunting parties into the hills.