HEADS FROM SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1929, Page 7

HEADS FROM SOUTH WESTLAND

I’RAfSE FROM DEER-STALKERS. That the heads secured in South, Westland this year were better for size and shape than anything seen in other parts of New Zealand during over 20 years’ deer-stalking, is the opinion of Mr D. B. Livingstone of Tukikaramea, Frankton, who, with his brother successfully stalked a large block of high country at the head of Lake Wanaka recently. Their bag included one sixteen, three fifteen and twe fourteen-pointers, and must easily have constituted the best haul of the season in the Westland area at least. “Only one malformed head was seen —and shot,” says Mr Livingstone in a special account of the party’s experiences to the ‘Auckland Weekly News” in winch he modestly attributes the success of the expedition to the fact that little stalking had been done over their particular territory for a number of years.

“An interesting run of 200 miles by service car from Dunedin, crossing the Taieri plains—some of the richest land in New Zealand—and later on following along the banks of the Clutlia River which shows ample evidence of the extensive gold-niining that had been carried out in tne early days, finally landed us in Pembroke, at the foot of hake Wanaka, one of the most beautiful of the South Island lakes,” he says “Here stores were 'obtained and the following day we left for Makarora at the head of the lake ,a launch trip of 38 miles. Pack horses were then hired and an early start the following morning saw us on the way to our block at the head of the Young River. TRIBUTE TO PACK HORSES. “When we arrived at a point beyond where the horses could not go, we established our base camp. I might mention that anyone can take their hats off to the pack horses they have in that part of the country. A string of five tied one behind the other climbed through miles of bush; up steep banks and down equally steep grades on the other sioe; over roots and up rocky faces one step at a time, and every \step carefully picked. One false move and the horse and his load would go crashing over the rocks and boulders through th bush to the bottom. The horses are so tied on such journeys. that if one does go over his ropes' break, leaving the others on the track.

We bad arrived just at the right time. Stags were roaring in lull blast and quite a- few were seen on the wn\ up. One ,a pretty but small bead was shot on the edge of the bush. “1 do not think one would be wrong in saying that in no other place in New Zealand would you find wilder, rougher, or steeper county than in South Westland. So wc found it. The bush line runs up about 3030 ft, and from there up to the snowy covered pinnacles is another 2000 ft. There are no main ridges. As far as the eye can see in any direction, there is nothing but jagged, rough peaks .sticking up all over the country. Some of the most wonderful views were seen from these mountain peaks—here a glacier and there a straight, rocky, bluff, almost a sheer drop of 3000 ft., and over all the peerless snow-clad peaks. “Deer we encountered all over these pinnacles, some ot the best beads befog secured right under the snow line. The difficulty we found was that after stalking over one peak we had to descend right to the river bed. camp for the night, and climb another next day and so on. BEST HEADS IN 20 YEARS. A large number of young sings were seen, especially on the river beds, and on the high country, where most ot the hinds appeared to be older stags were found. Feed was plentiful, and the deer were in splendid condition. Only one malform was seen, and, generally speaking, the beads for size and shape were better than anyth ug seen m other parts of New Zealand in oyer 20 years’ stalking. “It is generally supposed that Hip “boss” stags—Hie ones holding J'io finds—are Hie big-horned good heads but that is not so. We came across instances one in partieulai, where a stag held n mob of about 40 binds oil a little flat under a rock bluff lie had a poor miserable bead, but was evidently a good lighter, for the older stags! with good heads), were a

way by themselves and the young stag were Hanging round the outskirts.

Jur bags included 1 sixteen pointer (of poor shape), 3 fifteen-pointers, and two fourteen-pointers. Other re ports from Westland were rather dis appointing. Our success was due to doubt to the fact that for a period of years the weather had been so bad bat no stalking lmd been done on the high country. We. were fortunate in having beautiful weather —so good in fact, that we often slept in tho bush without covering of any kind. “Bird life was rather scarce. There were paradise duck on the river beds and a few pigeons, bell birds, and kaka parrots. Quite a lot of keas were seen however. Those carry a bounty of 7s. fid. per head on account of damage they do to sheep, vet it is a curious fact that deer shot and left lie will keas all round are never touched. At night could be heard the whistle of the blue mountain duck, a few small bush birds, and an occasional sparrow hawk.