CHAMOIS HUNTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21253, 5 August 1932, Page 13

CHAMOIS HUNTING

SPORT AT HIGH LEVELS A party of six Springbuni sportsmen spent part of ]ast week near the headwaters of the Rangitata River chamois hunting. They enjoyed good sport and excellent weatheij, says a Christchurch newspaper. The party journeyed about six or eight miles beyond the present Erewhon homestead and camped in the old Strongschrubie homestead, a cob and tussock house reinforced by locally-hewn timber and built over sixty years ago. Although the party went a little way up the Lawrence River, most of its time was spent along the Clyde River and its tributary, the Sinclair. They found chamois fairly numerous in herds of about a dozen. In the springtime they recede further into the ranges. The ones shot, of which several skins were brought home, were in excellent condition. The herds, if any skins are required, have to bo manoeuvred by rifle shots out of their rough, inaccessible haunts to areas which are more easy going for the packing out. Riflo bullets striking the rock on any desired side will slew the herd round, and it can then be checked again by a well-placed shot if the new direction is not desirable. In such a manner is the herd driven to a suitable place for procuring trophies, but even the best places, aro always over 5000 ft. in altitude. Tho wonderful agility of the chamois in racing over rough country or leaping from rock to rock greatly interested the party. The winter in the back country has been good and many of the small rivers are dry. Whero the party was camped, keas were plentiful.