DEERSTALKING SEASON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2963, 28 December 1910, Page 58

DEERSTALKING SEASON.

DEFERRED OPENING DEPRECATED. CHRISTCHURCH, December 20, An emphatic and practically unanimous protest against the proposed postponement ol the opening of the deer-sunk mg in North Otago from April 1 to April 1U has been made by the Canterbury and Outgo deer-stalkers interested. A deputation waited upon the Hon. D. tuddo, Minister of Internal Affaire, and presented a petition signed by over 4(1 stalkers and it was stated that another largely-signed petition had still to come to hand from the Havvea district. Strong feeling has been aroused among the stalkers, and protests have been received from the North Island to Invercargill. The principal grounds for opposing the postponement of the stalking season aie that" the shooting' of stags during the ruttint'’ season has had nothing whatever to do with the deterioration of the herd, as claimed by the societies, this being solely a question of over stocking, thiough the natural increase of the deer and the fact that the particular part of the forest affected has been heavily stocked with sheep in recent years; that the stags sought after by stalkers are old enough to have left numerous sons to take their place; that the increasingly high average of heads obtained of late years whore the feed is holding out is proof that no injury is being caused by shooting stags during the rutting season; that as the great majority of stalkers can afford only 10 to 12 days on the ground, it will be almost impossible for them to fill their licenses after the stags have left the hinds; that as stalkers have now to go further back into the high ranges for their sport, there is great risk of their being prevented from stalking or being blocked in camp oy snowstorms, such as occurred on April 12 last; that and far these reasons the later date will probably prevent a number of stalkers from making the trip; that the later date will be unsuitable for oversea sportsmen; and that the Tourist Department has advised against anv change in date being made. It was further pointed out to the Minister that the later date would practically close the Makarora, the Upper Hunter, and the Ahuriri Gorge, which were now the principal stalking grounds in the district. It was also staled that a number of stalkers had definitely expressed their intention of not taking out licenses for the later date. The Minister, in reply, said he would forward copies of the petition to the Otago and Waitaki Acclimatisation Societies.