DEER STALKING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1929, Page 8

DEER STALKING

SOLTI IL ANDERS’ EXPERIENCES

FINE COUNTRY TRAVERSED

INVERCARGILL, April 9

Fine deer country, much of which has never hcen stalked before, was taversed by a party of Southland sportsmen during the past week, and their experiences are of great interest to other stalkers. The party, which consisted of Messrs A. Hamilton (Invercargill'), Charles Goodall fOrawia), and W. Malcolm (AVinton), had their main camp in a valley between the peaks of Mount Eldrig and Mount llurns to the north of Green Lake, tin* north-west arm of Lake Monowai. A flying camp was established north of Mount Hums at the head of a lake about two miles lomr not named on the map. Their experience was that the country was very line hut hard to work. Heads were seen in largo quantities and of a better average quality than in other blocks, hut among the difficulties caused by the rough nature of the country was that of finding a suitable place to encamp. Except in Lbe valleys below the bush line there was scarcely a level piece of ground. The supply of water was another difficulty, and in the higher country holes had to ho dug in the hillside and cups used to catch tlm water as it trickled out. There was no trouble with fog except about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Snow held up IJie party for the first two days during the week-end, and in consequence they had to work the valleys until the snow cleared from the mountain tops, re about two days the snow was cleared off by a nor’-wester and they were able to got on to the higher slopes which bad never been shot over before. Several heads of good type were mot with and in one valley- alone three I l-poinl ers were secured. As the party moved through the. country many line massive heads wore observed, hut only in two instances were they carrying Re ■ Tines. The stalkers were seeking onlv first rate specimens, and the difficulty of bringing heads over the rough country rendered it not worth while t-e shoot animals which would he bettei left for breeding purposes. Everywhere the absence of Hez Tines was a disappointing iealwre, and even the heads brought out showed no growth of them. The introduction of fresh blood is therefore considered necessary. An interesting spot visited was thal valley at the head of the norland which Messrs Twigg and Holmes visit, ed ill 1919, securing therefrom a record hag. This valley, right in the centre of the Hunter Mountains, is surround ed by lofty peaks and is almost perfect deer" country. It would probably provide more than a week of excellent stalking. The popularity of stalking in South, land this year 'is almost uuprecedont ed, .and the results of sportsmen’s trips on the whole have been vei\ satisfactory. Culling of the herds has been done in the Lillburn district, and this..should result in the improvement of the quality of the herds.