Northlanders Stalk Deer

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1938, Page 11

Northlanders Stalk Deer

Interesting and enjoyable deer-stalk-ing was the lot of a Whangarei trio, Messrs, W. J. Bell, of Kauri, H. C. Fraser, of Maungatapero, and H. W. James, of Whangarei, who returned last Sunday after a ten-days’ sporting sojourn in the vicinity of Lake Tarawera, in the Rotorua district. The Northlanders joined a party at the shooting camp of Mr H. C. Hardcastle, and operating over country which had been but little explored previously, met with a considerable measure of success, the party of seven securing a total bag of 25 stags. Three very good heads were secured, an 11-pointer falling to Mr Fraser's 1 rifle, while a 12-pointer and another 11-pointer were also included. The party also shot a particularly large wild boar which, when weighed, turned the scales at more than, two hundredweight. They brought back with them the jaw, tail, and a piece of the shield, or hide, which is one and a-half inches thick, and which will be on view at the Whangarei Winter Exhibition.

The weather was fine throughout the whole period of the party’s stay. The country traversed was of especial interest to the sportsmen, who found numerous signs of the Tarawera eruption, From some of the higher peaks, excellent views of the surrounding district wore obtainable, including Rainbow Mountain, to the south of Rotorua.

The greater part of the area, which had been practically denuded by the eruption, was found to be covered with a second growth’ of. light native bush ,and bird life was unlimited, tuls and bellbirds being most numerous.