STALKING OF CHAMOIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21875, 10 August 1934, Page 8

STALKING OF CHAMOIS

ACTIVITY AT MOUNT COOK POPULAR SPORTS GROUND MANY GOOD HEADS SECURED The Hermitage at Mount Cook, which for many years has been one 0 f the most popular winter sports centres in New Zealand, is now noted for another pastime which can probably be undertaken at any season of the year with equal succes. This is the stalking and shooting of the chamois, a fine sporting animal which has flourished remarkably since its introduction to • New Zealand nearly half-a-ccntury ago. The chamois has now become a wild animal well worth stalking, and more have been taken in the Hermitage region so far this year than in any previous season. From inquiries which have been made recently about the prospects by sportsmen there are indications of increased activity. The chamois has spread well over the high alps, and the Hermitage makes a good base for the operations of the stalking partie.-s which from time to time stalk iri the near by ranges. Although the finest chamois range about the slopes high up to the snow line, the smaller heads can be found on any of the lower country. Hunting them involves 110 very strenuous labour other than climbing, but the timidity of the animal of good type calls for experience and a good shot. The excellent shooting provided is said to compensate fully for any slight hardship met with. One gets the finest shooting during the winter, when the skin of the animal is in the best condition and the herds arc not so big. A small herd means, to the huntsman, better opportunity for selecting a fine head. In interest and attraction the stalking of chamois is said even to outdo that of deer-stalking, for the reason that the chamois is a smaller animal than the deer, much more nimble, and faster, and a more difficult target. The chamois goes higher into the ranges, and when hunted shows all tho sagacity for which it has become noted as a sporting animal. Generally the sport is said to compare very favourably .with that provided by the chamois in its native European mountains, in the Hermitage region many very fine heads have been taken, and so far, because of a close supervision kept on the shooting by the authorities, there has been none of the deterioration in size or beauty of head which has affected the deer herds in New Zealand.