THE WAPITI DEER

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1927, Page 7

THE WAPITI DEER

HERDS IN FIORDLAND. TRACES OVER A WIDE AREA. Interesting information regarding the wapiti herds in Fiordland was contained in a report presented to the Southland Ac-, climatisation Society last week by Mr. Alexander Sutherland,, of Hinakura, the well-known stalker, who has explored a great deal of almost unknown country while hunting in the vicinity of Lake Te Anau during the past three seasons. The report stated: — "Our experience leads us to suspect that the wapiti are leaving their old haunts and are working hack in a wide half-circle. I do not know how far north they have gone—probably further than anyone has yet stalked. An odd one or two havej reached the North Fiord, and somg have worked down opposite the Downs Station l on Te Anau and to Lake Hankinson, From: this year’s stalks I would say they are working through to the Doon Valley, We found their traces on all ground We covered, but they bad moved further inland. We went into Charles Sound by launch, but so far they have not reached the head, of this sound. However, they cannot be far from it. "The deers’ old haunts on No. 1 block are almost deserted. This block is considered their headquarters, but although we had bad weather most of the time, nevertheless w-e stalked over a lot of the ground and saw only 10 wapiti all told. In most of the country through which we travelled the deer had already preceded us a year or two before, so my conclusion is that they are travelling fast down the coast and also inland. Supposing this to be the ease, the red deer have worked in from Lake Manapouri to Doubtful Sound, and as far as Garden Lake Te Anau, so that it is only a matter of a year or so before the two herds meet. As the two species cross easily the eventual result can be easily guessed. In this respect No. 2 and No. 3 blocks would be fairly safe for a number of years, but there is no doubt- that the red deer will in time work round from Garden Point to the Doon Valley and then through to the coast. "The small number of deer we have seen and the information received fromother parties during the past, three years leads us to believe that the wapiti are not so numerous as they ought to be. I think that 200 at the most would account for the whole herd. During our wanderings this year we came across half a dozen dead ones which had fallen over high cliffs, so that the death roll, must be considerable. Iw most of the. small rivers one sees bones washed down by the floods. We followed the tracks of deer, over almost inaccessible mountain tops. “The wapiti have as yet no particular breeding season. We saw the marks of a young one, only a week or two old, this season, while another which We saw was about six months old. -J came across two young stags probably 4000 ft. up. They were just in the.velvet; another one which we saw was just getting rid of it. The one my brsther shot bad been out .of the •velvet for-a m«*stlLor two. K