FALLOW DEER.

Evening Star, Issue 14631, 29 July 1911, Page 5

FALLOW DEER.

NUISANCE TO SETTLERS

There was a lengthy discussion at last night’s meeting of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society about the fallow deer herd in Central Otago. The Tapanui Society had recommended that culling of the herd be" permitted during the month of August, » limited number of permits to be issued. The Deer Committee of the Otago Society recommended that culling be limited to 30 permits, operative from August 1 to 15. Hanger O’Neill, authorised by the society to investigate the complaints from settlers as to the depredations of these deer in the Rankleburn district, forwarded an exhaustive report, from which it was apparent that settlers were much annoyed at the damage caused, not only to crops of oats and turnips, but to the grazing, the carrying capacity of the pastures as regarded both cattle and sheep being greatly lessened by the presence of deer in such numbers. A great deal of further information was placed before the meeting, it being asserted by ono party that on an an a of 54,000 acres there wore between 20,000 and 30,000 deer—a, statement which some members scouted as ridiculous; another estimate of 12,000 del tas being the outside total of the hern' being regarded as much nearer the mark. Fences erected by the settlers have failed to keep the deer out of the crops, and the society are threatened with a lawsuit by one of the settlers. The Chairman announced that 50 permits had been issued to shoot hinds only between August 1 and 15, and if the two weeks did not prove enough the time could lie extended. These have been forwarded to the Tapanui Society, who will issue them to-night. During tins discussion the condition of the herd was mentioned. It was asserted that malforms were very prevalent owing to inbreeding, and that fresh blood might with advantage he introduced. A Tapanui sportsman wrote maintaining that the herd was the best, not only in New Zealand, hut in the world, and that culling was all that was necessary.