CHAMOIS HUNTING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19957, 18 June 1930, Page 13

CHAMOIS HUNTING.

TO . THE ■ EDITOR OF THE . PBESS. Sir, —We read; with interest in Monday's paper the opinion of Mr ,E. F. Stead on chamois and • thar ■ hunting. Such original views deserve an answer. "The only inducement there might be to. shoot a chamoiß or thar would be the possible satisfaction that some people might, get. in-the knowledge that it was killed in the Alps,"; says (Mr Stead. He - Bpeaks as though- it. was rare for these animals to - be • shot' in the Alps, and as though usually they bothered the sportsmen by attempting to eat out of their hands.' This may be the case with the rooster Mr Stead mentions, and even with the. shags and eels on which he is ; such 1 an authority, but it scarcely agrees with the following opinion of ' experienced stalkers • Mr F. S. Steffan. the, well known hunter of Oamaru, who obtained two excellent heads last season,'-.in. a .newspaper article last year threw some light on the other Bide of the picture: "It would be simply. suicidal for any man over fifty vears of age. without anv experience in dangerous rock climbing, to attempt to secure the matured old majo chamois or thar. The places they inhabit must be seen to . be -appreciated. Bare ledges or razor-backs not mqre than, six inches wide are their 1 playgrounds." It' is worthy of note that the' heads liately obtained in the Alps were at an altitude ' of from' six to seven thousand feet. To quote , a little more from M r Steffan's advice to the sportsman who is not experienced in shooting 1 these animals; "In the"-first .place-he -must

be . sound; in ', wind ,and; limb,and ;it would bo wise for him to consult a doctor and ascertain, the state-of his heart. Next; he should'be more, than an■ average rifle shot., for with a,few. exceptions, 1 which., do not coiint, one can' barely approach closer .than 260 or 300 yards off these animals, 1 which are j much closer , to tho ground than deer, and present a much more, difficult target. Moreover,, judging*the distance in; the rarefied air of from five to seventhousand feet, 7 is a very high-class science."-' . »

The questions arise: Has Mr Stead been in the Alps? Has he ever attempted to shoot' a chamois or a thar? Or is his stalking done at the level of the roosters 'he seems to 1 know so much aboutP ,

In conclusion' it may not be out of place (to quote from a letter - from Mr T. E. Donne, • who started the Government; Tourist Bureau in New Zealand.'; and was, responsible for the introduction'- of chamois and thar. The letter was sent from London: "Congratulations ; 1 on shooting a chamois: This is a magnificent trophy, and one that hunters ' over here would, give much to possess. The hunting of this animal is one of -the finest sports, in the world, and you should feel proud to have accomplished such a feat."— Yours, etc.; - ' A HHPNTER WHO HUNTS. June 17th, 1930.