HUNTING WAPITI

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 108, 8 May 1923, Page 5

HUNTING WAPITI

A BAG OF THREE

FIRST IN SOUTHERN HEMIS

PHERE.

The first wapiti secured in the Southern Hemisphere have been shot in the West Coast Sounds by Messrs. V. Donald (of Masterton) and L. Murrell (of Manapouri). The heads are truly magnificent specimens (says) the "Southland Times"). The best is a 15-pointer, the spread of the antlers being 53 inches, the length 49in, the beam 6iin, and the weight of the head 271b. The next is a 14-pointer weighing 341b, the spread of the antlers being 47iin, the length 53|in, and the beam 7^in. The third is an 11-pointer weighing 351b, the antlers having a spread of 40iin, a length of 48in, and a beam of 7in. One, if not two, of the heads will be sent to the Imperial Exhibition. "For young animals," said Mr. Donald to a "Times" reporter, "they show a really wonderful growth of horn, and I attribute this to the remarkable abundance of feed in the Fiord country. It must also be remembered that these are not specimen heads. We shot the only three bulls we saw. Had we made the trip earlier, when the wapiti were 'bugling,' we would have been able to choose tho most suitable heads, and would have obtained much finer specimens." Speaking of the possibilities 'of this part of Southland, Mr. Donald said: "Southland people fail to realise what a magnificent asset the Fiord country will be to their province. I do not doubt that some day it will be the finest hunting ground in the world, for its vast supply of virgin feed ia just the thing necessary for the breeding of moose and deer. The other grounds of the world are being thinned out by lack of feed and too frequent shooting. Besides, from a scenic point of view, the West Coast Sounds are without equal in the world." The original herd of wapiti was presented by Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, and consisted ol 18 animals, which were I liberated in George Sound in 1905. From reports received by fishermen and others they are known to be doing well, but Mr.: Donald's is the first comprehensive report, and he and Mr. Murrell are the first to secure actual specimens. Mr. Donald arrived at Lake Manapouri from Masterton on 9th April. Accompanied by Mr. Murrell, who probably knows more about that part of the country than any other man living, he went From Manapouri to Deep Cove, in Doubtful Sound, where Mr. Murrell had a 33ft launch. They proceeded by launch to George Sound, and struck inland to Lake Katherine, where they secured two of the heads, the 14-pointer and the 15-pointer. The first one was seen by means of a telescope, and was lying on the opposite shore of the lake. With great difficulty they worked round the precipitous cliffs bordering the end of the lake, but could not get nearer than 350 yards. A long shot proved successful. The main task, however, was the carrying out of the head and the skin, as they were about seven miles from their camp at the Sound. In some places they had to crawl round sheer bluffs, handing the head from one to the other, and in addition to this the antlers were ■ frequently getting caught in the undergrowth. The other head was secured under similar circumstances. In all, some seven or eight days were spent in exploring the country in the vicinity of George Sound. Traces of Wapiti were not plentiful here, but the profusion of bird life was wonderful. From George Sound, they went by launch to Caswell Sound, and then inland to Lake Marchant. They experienced some difficulty in finding thi6 lake, as it was wrongly marked in on their maps. They took its bearing carefully, both possessing compasses, and found that, whereas the map indicated that the lake ran north-east and south-west, it really ran north-west and south-east. The map also showed two streams running into the sound, but the travellers searched carefully, and were able to find only one, 'and that running in a different direction from either of the ones shown on the map. Traces of wapiti were not so plentiful near the shores of the sound, but became more common as they worked their way inland. Near the lake they say a bull wapiti accompanied t>y five cows, and managed to secure the bull. The country was so precipitous, however, that they were obliged to skin the head and leave it till next day. After spending a few days in exploring the country they cruised back to Dusky Sound, landing at Supper Cove, where the moose I were first liberated in 1910. Here they I saw many indications of both moose and wapiti. "The most hopeful feature," said Mr. Donald, "was the frequency with which we met with traces of the young animals, showing that breeding was progressing was ahopele6B matters, as the moose were four days stalking in the bush, but it was a hopeless matter as the moose were not roaring, and their only hope was to come across a bull by surprise. "Had we gone there in the right season," 6aid Mr. Donald, "I feel confident we could have bagged one." They were, however, rewarded by the sight of a solitary cow. Inland from the head of the sound is Lake Maree, which Mr. Donald describes as one of the most weirdly impressive sights he has ever seen. The lake, which is about two miles long, has evidently been formed by the blocking of a valley with a landslide, for the whole surface of the water is dotted with the tops of half-submerged trees, among which flit countless varieties of water fowl. The lake is walled in by an almost unbroken line of black cliffs, shutting out sound and sunlight, and giving the place an inexpressible air of dank desolation. From Supper Cove they reached Puysegur Point after a run of about three hours, and landed at the lighthouse to deliver the mails. They were very hospitably treated by the people there, who also informed them that deer were very common there, and used to cpme round the lighthouse in broad daylight. Several antlers had been picked up in the neighbourhood.