WAPITI IN FIORDLAND.

Grey River Argus, 8 May 1926, Page 6

WAPITI IN FIORDLAND.

THE HERDS INCREASING. Although several stalking parties in quest of wapiti have returned from the Sounds district of Western Otago and Southland unsuccessful, the experience of one. party which shot over blocks in George Sound neighbourhood goes to show that in that locality the wapiti are increasing in numbers. Major Barker, of Geraldine, and Messrs N. Olsen and F. llalberg, from the Wairarapa district, loft Manapoun with Guides Leslie Murrell and Raymond Murrell. After walking over the tourist track to Deep. Cove, in Doubtful Sound, the party travelled by boat about 63 mib's to the head of George Sound and established a base camp. Leslie Murrell and Major Barker then paid a flying visit to Bligii sound (about 24 miles by launch) to prospect there, but found no satisfactory evidence that the wapiti Yiad reached that neighbourhood. In George Sound, however, there was ample evidence of the presence of wapiti in increasing numbers. The trip covered about three weeks in all, and during the time spent in stalking the party saw well over half a hundred beasts, all in excellent condition. Although some of the bulls were rather young, and were consequently passed by, three satisfactory heads were secured, one 11-pointer and two 13pointers. Those were the first heads obtained this season.

Superb weatner was experienced, only two days of the three weeks being wet. The country worked was very rough, but the sport was good and the trip most enjoyable. The ' w shiiig in the sound was excellent, trumpeter, blue cod, travalli, and groper being very plentiful.