DEER MENACE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1930, Page 6

DEER MENACE

TWO MILLIONS

IN SOUTHERN RANGES.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, Jan. 9

Air C. C. Collins, of Omarama, who spends the greater part of his time fleer stalking in the Otugo, Westland. And Canterbury ‘high country, declares that unless the Government takes the matter in hand very soon, doer will prove a greater menace than ever rabbits have been. In the year 1928 Air Collins shot 1700 deer, and in throe months last year lie shot 800 Taking the Westland, Canterbury and Otago ranges, he estimates that there are no fewer than 2.000.000 deer, and,, in fact, they arc more ‘ numerous in those regions than are sheep. At the rate at which the deer are breeding, be estimates that it will not be long before deer will occupy about one-third of tlie South Island, that is, the mountainous regions of Nelson, AYeisitliwid, Canterbury and Otago. At Glen Lyon Station, Dobson’s Gorge:, near Lake Olmu, they generally winter about 2000 bead of fat stock. Owing to the heavy snowfall in the Lake Oliau region in 1928, tlie deer came down to the lower grounds and fed. and they were able to feed only 150 head of cattle. Air Collins strongly urged that the Government should send two or three experts to investigate tli,o question, and he himself would bo pleased to show them where the ileor are. and let them see the numbers there are about. In a distance of five* or six miles he has come across herds of 500 or 600 doer, a state of things that he candidly admitted was hardly credible unless one actually saw them. Up in the ranges, according to ATr Collins, one can see where the door have eaten the bark off trees, and lie maintains that with the destruction of the flora in the ranges, bird life will bo destroyed. At present the Government pays 2s 6d per tail to stalkers like Afr Collins, who operate under special license. Afr Collins considers that this sum is inadequate, as there is not much left for the stalker after ammunition and stores have been paid for. He estimates that a payment of about 4s per tail would make it profitable to tlie stalker.