DEER-STALKING IN OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12351, 13 May 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

DEER-STALKING IN OTAGO.

RECORD HEADS I'OR THE SEASON. Now that the stalking season Iβ coming In a close and the majority of sportsmen have returned from the doer country, a few notes regarding the best trophies v.-i'll bo of interest to many. Tlie finest specimon— a royal -was seciii-ed by Mr Harold .Hodgitinson, of Longslip, and was shot in a valley _ overlooking the Hunter River. I his specimen measures 46in along the beam and 41iu widest span. Those who have seen this trophy declare it to be without doubt tho finest model of a royal stag's head ever shot in New Zealand. Mr Harold Hodgkinson also bagged another very heavy royal (45in along the beam and 36in span*; also a 14 and a U-pointer, both good heads. Mr Con Hodgkingon'n bag comes next with a magnificent 14-pointcr, «im long and 37Jin span. The circumference of the burrs of this hoad is just under 10m. His other three heads-a 13pointer and two " royals "—are also splendid specimens. Mr W. (i. Munro, of Kurow, was fortunate- in securing a splendid 13pointer, measuring 41in long and 35jjin' widest span. Altogether this head is a very handsome specimen, all the tines being long and showing plenty of ivory at the points. Mr K. Hardcastle, of Christchurch, bagged four stags, the best being a massive Id-pointer, MJin long and 34-iti widest span. Tim beam of this head is fairly heavy, but most of the growth shows in the tops, which are very long, the brow, bay, and tray tines being in consequence rather stunted. The next hoad of note h a 13pointer shot by Mr R. Dick, of Oamaru, and is a good deal above tho average. Mr K Hodgkinson (tlso secured three good royals." Mr Leatham, a visitor iroin I'.ngland. secured .icven heads high up on the Hunter River. Six of those were very good, one of 10 points being a- remarkably line head. He also secured a 13-pointer with antlers 43in in length and 37iu in widest span. Taken as a whole, the number of good heads seen this season is vory pleasing, as compared with the growth of antlers last year. By those lyirdy sportsmen who do not mind a lot of rough work, some really splendid stags were secured. The imported deer were seen and worn in fine, condition. Ihe stag sent from Scotland to the Dunedin Acclimatisation Society by Colonal Cra<loek has 10 points, and, although in good condition, ie very fine in build as compared with even the spikers born in the locality. The extra heavy stags are, as may be expected in bush country, very hard to get, tho stalker having to bo ouv his ground at daylight to catch them before they return to tho dense timber for the day: and the most difficult places to ap-proiich-that is to say, tho rough gullies above tho timber line—seem to be the favourite haunts of old stags. Out of the 35 heads sent to Mr Harold Hodgkinson for preservation, 17 were "royals" and over, which must bo regarded as a very fin? average.