DEER STALKING IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1928, Page 4

DEER STALKING IN SOUTH WESTLAND

(By KITTO BROS.' in “The Shooting Gazette.”) Block IX or the Howe Greek Block, South. Westland, extends from the Hnnst River to the Okuru country, and has for its main boundaries the Southern Alps, and the Burke River, which is n tributary of the Haast. Howe Creek is a tributary of the Bourke and is roUghly ten miles long. The Howe Valley is a hard one to get into, and perhaps the easiest way is the one over which we travelled. AA’e camped in Mule A r alley, about one mile below Haast A r alley, and from there 1 climbed around the ' shoulder of Alt. AYilsori, and along the south side of the Burke, crossing Roaring Sound, a three hours’ climb, cn route until, keeping well above- the timber line, we came to Howe Valley, which' place we entered two miles above the junction of the Howe and Bourke streams. AVe established a camp on the hush line oil Mt. AVilson, and another at the entrance to Howe Valley, besides which wo used a small flying tent for exploring as fains' possible into and beyond tho Howe country. Thus at one time we had four camps erected, averaging about a day’s walk apart. Thanks to Major R. AA’ilson, from whom we got full information, we found all the, camping places, etc., and in fact had no trouble getting on to our ’ ground. Deer were fairly plentiful, and al! seemed to he in excellent bodily condition, as well they might, be, for th feed is luxurious, all. over tho Hbw% AVe might just iis well state here, wliil on the subject, that the deer had don absolutely no harm to the forest, wine in ally case is valueless, consisting as it does, of bcecll. AVe did not find : fire during out traverse of the Howe. The undergi'owth, as is usual in South AVestlalld, Was dense, and “fiVc finger is a prominent sliwil). AVe were i.r owed with fair weather conditions, that is, fair for South AVestlalld. Dicing our stay of four week's, we had about a couple of days’ rain every week, but taking all things into account it was a fine weather trip io. ! three weeks. The last week it rninc.. ceaselessly for five days straight.

AAV commenced our trip from Mule Valley on March 20th, arriving r. Howe A’allev on the 22nd. AVith heavy roads it is a two days’ trip. AVe then had a few days’ stalking (mostly Walk ing) and Saturday, March 31st, fouVi-.l us in tho upper reaches of the Howe. The next morning wo crossed out o; the Howe, over a high, steep, hut cl Viable saddle, and, to our great surprise, found ourselves at the head of tin; Okuru river. It was very evident tens that the country we were on had been badly mapped. Our map, a Government one. No. 28, scale four utiles to the inch, showed that the Howe ended miles away from the Okuru, andthat the Okuru, from Princes Creek and Mueller Pass, was twelve mile 1 ; long. As tho Ilowe source was the dividing ridge between it and tliOkuru, tiie latter was only some 8); miles from Princes Creek, and instead? of tbe Howe being live miles long, as shown on the ntap, it is nearly doubfe that length. However, the head of th Okuru spread out below our eyes, arid wo also bad a practically uninterrupted view of the river ail tho way to the sea. AVe saw the breakers on the Open Bay Island, opposite the mouth of the Okuru. AVe wore told later, that it is nearly forty years since the surveyors were at the source of the Okuru, and that J. Cowan, of Okuru, is the only surviving . member of that surveying party. Also, wo were told that a Maori was supposed to have .[lone the trip from Haast Pass to the coast, \ i i Okuru river, hut was disbelieved; we now know that his trip was quite feasible, and can be done by experienced men in about four days. The Okuru country seethed't'o ho well stocked with rather a poor type of deer, the stags carrying a short, narrow type of antler, although' down on the river flat at the head of the Okuru we saw a couple of fair Royal heads. AA’e did not shoot an Okuru stag—weshould have done so, and even if w‘e could not have got the antlers out, a photo of them would have earned weight. Thus a mistake was made by us, which we now deplore. Tn Howe A T nlley, a better class of deer is to be found, but unfortunately for us wo could not see or find, much less secure, a first-class headi The only stag we secured was shot above the bush in AVilson’s Creek, but far from our base camp in Mule Aralley, a 13-pointer, with strong lines, 30) inches long, 38) inches wide, 3 inch beam. It was rather a pretty head, having the fourth tine growiiig in the same place as the beam, sometimes similar to Wapiti l .' T-d summarise briefly, our trip was a hard, rough, hut. enjoyable one, as we bad fairly decent weather, and traversed an area of unknown stalking country, never before shot over by stalkers. Good heads will he shot in Howe A r nlley for years to come, especially if culling of Hinds is done soon, as a good type of stag was seen there by us, and feed is plentiful. . The Okuru country is mostly hush, with high bluffs all the way up, and very little high stalking country. The flat at the river head is small in area, but a couple of good stags may be secured there. The Ngatau branch may well be worth a visit, as although not shown on the map as running in behiyid the sources of both the Blue arid the Young Rivers, Otago, we feel sure will be found to do so, and good deer should be shot there sonie day.

Anyone contemplating a trip to Howe Valley, should engage carriers to do tlie heavy work of carrying tents, stores, etc., from Aluln Valley. Tlie country to bo traversed is high, gorgy, and rough, nhd quite tlie worst possible walking almost all the way, consequently only hardy experienced stalkers should take on tho trip. To such men, the trip will be a’ jt>y find a pleasure, but to inexperienced men it would be a curse. It is a hard country, and only the fittest can hope to do it ns it should be done.