CULLING OF DEER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 124, 24 April 1935, Page 12

CULLING OF DEER.

CRITICISM OF SLAUGHTER. AUCKLAND. April 23. The indiscriminate slaughter of Scotch red deer in South Westland recently by a party of men employed by the Department of Internal Affairs is the subject of some comment by Mr Harold Thomas, a keen sportsman, who has returned to Auckland alter a four weeks, stalking expedition. “While the most enthusiastic stalkers realise the necessity for judicious culling and intelligent control of deer in New Zealand, it seems a pity that the outstanding herd in the Dominion should be indiscriminately slaughtered,” said Mr Thomas. “1 do not think ilie department will ever exterminate deer in South Westland, as parts of the country are impregnable, yet its present action is going to destroy sport for stalkers, which is a valuable tourist attraction. There are other herds in the Dominion in which deterioration has advanced to such an extent that it would not matter much if the beasts were killed out.” , . “On the whole we had very good luck, and secured a most satisfactory bag,” said Mr Thomas. “The best head' was an 11-pointer, measuring 47 in. in length; another was a 10-point head measuring 48in. All were remarkably fine specimens of Scotch red deer heads.”