GIANT BOAR SHOT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 15

GIANT BOAR SHOT

Kill With .22 Rifle In Tangarakau MANY LAMBS DESTROYED Dominion Special Service. NEW P LA’MOL TH, March 24. A giant boar measuring 6ft. 6in. from snout to the end of its tail was recently shot in the Tangarakau district. The animal, which was ar fearsomelooking monster, was suspected of killing numerous lambs iu the past few seasons. Its tusks were outstanding, though one was slightly damaged. Surprised at dawn as it was about to cross a ridge into the bush, the pig was brought to earth by Air. C. P. Wicksteed, Stratford, with a .22 rille bullet fired at 25 yards. The bullet entered the boar behind the ear and speedily put an end to an outlaw that had for years been a real menace to sheep life on properties in the neighbourhood. The party of hunters, which also included Mr." H. Rosewarne, used their dogs to enable them to get within striking distance. Once it had been bailed the giant of the hills showed little light, however, and gave but a poor indication of the ferocity a spectator might reasonably enough have given it the credit of possessing. Mr. AVicksteed later said that the boar was in first-class condition. So fat was the animal that a knife could be entered into the neck up to the hilt before touching bone. The pig s tail Air. AVicksteed described as being the finest he had seen. The district in which it was killed was said to be teeming with pigs. Proof of this was given by the bag of 31 caught by the party on this particular occasion. On another trip 40 pigs were taken. The owner of the property on which the giant boar was shot stated that losses of lambs in the past could be attributed to the depredations of thipig and be fully expected to see hu provement in the lambing percentages next season