DESTRUCTION OF DEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20800, 17 February 1931, Page 7

DESTRUCTION OF DEER.

WORK IN SOUTH ISLAND.

EFFICACY OF NEW GUNS.

The cafnpajgn for the destruction of deer in the South Island' is proceeding satisfactorily. In one day in the Lake Hawea area 204 deer were shot. The official parties engaged in the work are in charge of Mr. G. F. Yerex, of the Department of Infernal Affairs. He reports that, although the operations have been hampered by rain and frequent falls of snow, the results have been excellent. During three weeks a party of six men killed 327 deer and recovered 126 skins. That brought the total, Mr. Yerex states, of the number of deer destroyed on a property over which operations were being carried out to 680. These operations culminated in an organised drive in the East Burn Yalley, when 204 deer wero shot in one day—further evidence of the wholesale slaughter possible in the driving principle adopted. The only hitch in connection with the drive was that some, of the men who happened to be in the most favourable positions ran out of ammunition, otherwise an even larger number of doer would have been killed. This party was moved to the head of Lake Hawea on January 26 and was then to proceed to the head of the Hunter Valley. A new party was taken to the head of Lake Hawea on January 20 and commenced operations the following day. At .Stewart Island operations were resumed on January 5 by two men, another resuming on January 9, and the party has since been maintained at a strength of three only. A total of 86 deer wero killed and 68 skins recovered. Mr. Yerex triod the new special guns and the fact that the only deer, threo in number, at which he fired wero all killed would appear to indicate their efficacy.•