WAPITI CROSSING WITH RED DEER

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1947, Page 3

WAPITI CROSSING WITH RED DEER

DUNEDIN, July 6. The conclusion that the wapiti herd in the West Coast fiord country has deteriorated very considerably as a result of crossing with red deer, particularly in the area adjacent Lake Te Anau, has been reached by Mr. Ken Sutherland, of Wairarapa, who has just returned to Dunedin after the latest of his many trips into the wapiti country. . . .' .. . So far as the taking of any heads was concerned, the trip was not a success, for Mr. Sutherland 's party shot only one wapiti of any size in the area stallced. Mr. Sutherland spent approximately one month in the basin between the middle arm of Lake Te Anau and Hcnry Saddle. The weather, which broke after the lirst four days and turned bitterly sold, with constant rain, slcet and hailstorms, prevented any investigation of the coastal area on the western.si.de of the saddle. From his own observations, Mr. Sutherland said he was of the opinion that 35 per cent. of the herd in the middle arm basin consisted of a red deer-wapiti cross and it was obvious that if any good heads were to be secured in futurc the animals should enjoy a respite from the attention of hunters who frequently stalk tlie accessible' area in the vicinity of the lake. On the far side of Henry Saddle.it was probable that the herd was largely intact, so far as the purity . of the species was concerned, for red deer in that area were few. If the deductions of the American party which recently invesigated the condition of the herd were COrj-ect and the animals tended to wdrk eastward if left undisturbed, there was a possibility of some good heads again making tlxeir appearance in the basin if hunters gave therfi a spell. The marked increase in.the bird life of the country over which' he travelled was commented upon by Mr. Sutherland, who said that native birds .were more numcrous now than he had ever noticed during the 23 years in which he had regularly visited the area. Wekas were plentiful and he saw signs which iseemed to indicate an irtcrease in the kiwi population, while the frequent ap'pearanee of other species of bird life was in. marked contrast to 'his experioneo in earliof yoars.