STEWART ISLAND DEER

Southland Times, Issue 18077, 2 May 1919, Page 5

STEWART ISLAND DEER

" A SPLENDID HERD. PARK OF EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. This season is the first that licenses for deer stalking have been issued by the Southland Acclimatisation Society and the re-, turn of the stalkers with reports has been eagerly awaited. Messrs J, Tanner and J. Fifield, of Longburn, Manawatu, were the first to arrive back and they bring excellent reports. Messrs Tanner and Fifield have been deer stalking in the North Island for over 20 years and are very enthusiastic over the future of the deer on Stewart Island.

Speaking to a Times reporter they could not find sufficient praise for the country from a stalker’s point of view over which they travelled. Their section was from the mouth of the Fresh Water river to East Ruggerty Beach and down to Mason’s Bay. They said that Stewart Island was the finest deer park they had seen and was full of magnificent specimens. All the deer were well grown, good conditioned and almost perfect specimens. On stag in particular, a 20-pointer, was a superb animal and they stalked him unsuccessfully for a considerable time. He was easily the finest deer they had seen in any of their expeditions, but the country in which they struck him was very difficult for stalking and they had the disappointment of finally losing him in the bush. All the heads seen were perfect, showing plenty of character, good spreads, large horn and beautiful colour. The main beams of the heads were strong and well formed and the 8 and 10 pointers they saw were without' blemish. In a few years’ time Stew’art Island would be one of the best deer parks in Australasia. The country was ideal for breeding. Feed throughout the bush was very plentiful, and this was emphasised by the fact that a piece of pasture had been sown at Mason’s Bay in English grasses but 1 the deer had not touched this although they were very partial to this feed. The contour of the country was easy, there being very little country. Although this country suited deer it made it very difficult for the kaiser who had great difficulties to contend with before getting into a good position. If some of the hills were more open higher up the stalker would have a better chance, as he would then be able to locate his quarry easier. Towards Mason’s Bay the deer were very plentiful and at one place a play-ground in the sand was found. Here there was evidence that the deer were in great numbers aud roaring was heard from every direction. One very fine head was sighted at dusk but the failing light made stalking impossible. This stag was - a mass of points and the party had reluctantly to abandon the chase. The Acclimatisation Society would have to exercise care with regard to licenses for Stewart Island for the next three or four years. If indiscriminate shooting were allowed there would be a great danger of the herd deteriorating and this should be carefully guarded against, as the herd was now fast becoming an exceptionally fine one. The hinds were not too plentiful and this was a very healthy sign as a preponderance of hinds very quickly caused a herd to weaken. All the young stags were well grown and beautifully coated, the latter being a particular feature in the 50 to 60 stpgs sighted. In no instance was there any sign of malformation in the herd and with scientific culling there is no reason why the herd should not in a few years attract stalkers from abroad. At present the deer only frequent certain parts, but as they increase the younger stock will be driven further afipld by the hinds and thus the country shot over will increase. When this happens the Society should issue more licenses, but at present these should be limited to four or five and the candidates specially selected. The Stewart Island herd was the only one the stalkers had seen which was not mixed in standard. They were all of the same type and the Society should be careful in introducing any fresh Feathered game was plentiful with the exception of pheasant and partridge. All the native feathered game, pigeons, kakas, pukaki and teal ducks, were numerous and were in evidence throughout the bush It was a very great pleasure to see these birds so abundant as they were becoming very scarce in other localities. “Although we are going home with only one head,” concluded Mr Tanner, “we are well satisfied with our trip. We could have procured other heads, but as these were younger animals we preferred to leave them for the present. Our great regret is that we were unsuccessful in stalking the 20pointer we sighted. It is our intention, providing the Society will issue licenses to us next year, to visit the island again and try and bag that magnificent head. The Society should also alter the dates of the licenses, as the present dates are too late in the season. If the Society renews our licenses we intend with their permission to shoot a good head that the Society can mount and hang-in its room as a specimen of the Stewart Island herd.”