DEER STALKING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 4

DEER STALKING

SEASON IN SOUTHLAND

Now that the deer stalkers 'have put away their rifles \mtil next year, a review of the season should prove of interest (says the Jnvercargill correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times"). So far as the number1 of stalkers is concerned, the season has constituted a record. A larger area than iisual,was covered by the many parties that were out, but it cannot be said that the number and quality of the heads obtained were in keeping with the number of stalkers. It -is true tlfet one or two line heads were brought out, but a great many sportsmen suffered disappointment. A lot of virgin country -was stalked this year, aud although it was anticipated that fine heads' would be obtained in these blocks, in most cases tue deer were surprisingly scarce. . The results of Messrs. C. Clark and Sutton Gardner's expedition •-into the Princess Mountains were eagerly awaited, for this fresh country, was expected to yield a rich harvest of heads, and many were envious of these stalkers good fortune in drawing the block. As a result of the trip, however, it has to be concluded that these ranges contain compara tively few deer. Messrs. W. Hamilton and C. Goodal , who tried their luck in •reputedly excellent country at the head of the Borland, also reported that the'deer were far irom plentiful. ' . i -i c What is regarded as a super-head tor Southland was obtained by Messrs Guthrie brothers and G. Scandrett m the ranges at the head of Monowai,' >rth- of Electric River. This head is a 12-pointcr. which is reported to be over 40 inches m spread' and 40 inches in length. This block may. well prove a favourite in the future. ~ Mr. J. S. Anderson, a Melbourne sportsman, was delighted with the stalking provided at Hauroko, . Mr. Lan Talbot's party from Ohai'was unfortunate enough to get no good heads from Titiroa, which is regarded as very fine country. The deer were plentiful enough, but good heads were very scarce. Taking all reports into consideration, it would appear that the deer are now most numerous on the Billow Mountains, which lie between Monowai and Hauroko. A large number of partie£ tried .their luck at Stewart Island, and on Easter Saturday there was a regular army of stalkers preparing to, set out at the Freshwater River. The results, however, were disappointing, the deer evidently having been subjected to a good deal ot shooting from the islanders and tourists and having retreated, to the, dense bush. The best head at the island was obtained by Mr. W. Cavanagh, of Pukemaori. He secured a nice 12-pointer. It "is evident that stalkers will soon have to look for fresh fields, and it is probable that parts of the Takitimos will be exploited, for there are reported to be plenty of deer in this range. - Deer are also increasing in the Five Rivers district, and Wakatipu may also become a favoured locality. Mr. J. Woods tried his luck in the Routeburn this season and was rewarded with a beautifully-shaped 17-pointer. The wapiti season was not a very good one, only one head being secured. Messrs. Dalrymple and Olsen had no luck at Te Anau, though they saw plenty of wapiti tracks. Mr. Olsen later made a solo trip up the north arm and picked up' the very fair head of a bull which had apparently died. George Sound was not stalked this season. At the Lugerburn, near the head of the north arm of Te Anau, Messrs. Colquhoun brothers sighted only three wapiti. The Witz brothers were at Caswell Sound, and saw a fair number of young bulls and cows. They obtained one head. From the reports of the last two years it would seem that Caswell is the home ,of the wapiti just now. : .Mr. E. J. Herricks again went after moose;in Dusky Sound. Though he spent a. month, there, he had no luck. Signs of moose were observed, but the animals could not be located. The dense bush and bad weather made matters very bad for the stalker. ■ . ■ ■..-'.. ... . '