DESTRUCTION OF DEER

Evening Star, Issue 25927, 19 October 1946, Page 11

DESTRUCTION OF DEER

BIG CAMPAIGN IN SUMMER PROVISIONING PARTIES FROM THE AIR (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 18. Preparations are in train for a largescale summer campaign in both islands against deer, thar, and chamois. The operations will begiu very shortly. About 80 men aro employed on the work by the Government already, and much success has ,bcen achieved by parties during the winter months, especially in the Marlborough district where big killings of goats are reported. - Though the offensive against goats was concentrated in the Marlborough area, it extended to Lake Wakatipu, Lake Te Anau, and the hinterlaud ot Hawke’s Bay. Small-scale mopping up operations are still being carried on on the fringes of areas which have been subjected to intensive goat destruction. These will continue when the summer destruction programme for deer opens. The hunting of goats on the slopes of Mt. Egmont is also envisaged this summer, while thar and chamois, which were inaccessible to shooters during the winter months because of snow, will also be a target in certain areas. Arrangements are going forward vigorously to put into aoplication a scheme to provision parties in isolated parts from the air, Much greater range will thus be given to shooters. It will be possible to work systematic- • ally through country formerly almost beyond, consideration owing to the ‘ difficulties of packing in supplies.