WAPITI HUNTERS RETURN

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 6

WAPITI HUNTERS RETURN

Expedition Back From Bligh Sound

FOUR HEADS IN THREE WEEKS With a bag of four wapiti heads, including a fine 14 pointer 55 inches long, Mr E. J. Herrick, of Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, and Major R. A. Wilson, of Bulls, returned to Invercargill last night after three weeks in the Bligh Sound district. In the course of their trip the hunters saw nine wapiti bulls, six cows and three calves. In an interview with The Southland Times, Mr Herrick said that the cullers had done their work well, and had cleaned out the Glaisnock. Mr Herrick and Major Wilson entered the Bligh Sound area from the Glaisnock, which runs into Lake Te Anau. They crossed the Edith, which runs into George Sound, and negotiated another pass leading into the Pitt river, which runs into Bligh Sound. They were on the hunting ground for three weeks, and had perfect weather nearly all the time. “Our best head,” Mr Herrick said; “was a 14 pointer. It was a long head and very heavy, but a bit narrow in •the beam.” He added that points did not count for very much in wapiti, the length being the main factor. This particular head was 55 inches, which was good. They had shot four bulls, one being one of the best he had. seen and another being the worst—a very poor specimen which was better dead. It might, he thought, be regarded as a sign thiit the quality was deteriorating. Mr Herrick and Major Wilson will return north this morning.