DESTRUCTION OF DEER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 8

DESTRUCTION OF DEER

METHODS NOT APPROVED SUGGESTION OF POISONING Criticism of certain features of the campaign against deer, planned by the Department of Internal Affairs has been expressed by a member of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. “It must be admitted that deer have become a pest in New Zealand, but it has yet to be proved that their total extermination is desirable, ” bo said. “Culling of herds is certainly necessary but I have my doubts concerning some of the methods proposed. “I refer to the statement that ecr tain material has been ordered Irotn England to deal with the \ irginian deer on Stewart, island and that. the campaign will not be launcned there until the material arrives, when both tho Virginian and red deer will be attacked- What is this ‘certain material?’ One can only come to the conclusion that it is poison and that a ptrjson campaign against deer is contemplated.. “I have seen animals dying by this cruel method, particularly rabbits and dogs and they suffer terrible agony. However, apart from the humanitarian viewpoint, there is the danger to other animals and to bird life. Pheasants are never liberated in rabbit country, where there is always Inc possibility that poison may have been laid.

“Again there is reference to a supply of ammunition from the Defence (Department to be given to acclimatisation societies at a reduced cost lor deer destruction. This is military ammunition, full metal-covered or hardnosed, the use of which on the ground of cruelty, is expressly forbidden in the Animal Protection Aet, No sportsman would use this class of 1 wounding’ ammunition on any animal other than pachyderms, for, unless the shot strikes the*brain, vertebrae or heart the animal must die a lingering death.” The sportsman added that the question of dealing with the deer menace was involved. The department would be well advised to concentrate on efforts to cull the herds by killing as many docs as possible, but tho absolute extermination of deer would remove from New Zealand an asset of growing value connected with the tourist traffic. Only soft-nosed, expanding or mushroom bullets should be used and nothing less than .30 calibre rifles should be permitted.