DUEL WITH STAG

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1932, Page 2

DUEL WITH STAG

'FARMER’S EXCITING EXPERIENCE,

An experience of an unusual naturehefeT a resident of Five' Rivers last week (writes a correspondent of the Southland Titms). 'While riding out t'X his run on Thursday his dogs put up and took after an eight-pointer red deer. After an exciting chase the dogs bailed it up in a patch of bush. Having only a pocket knife with him at the time, the man attached himself to a, hefty piece of timber with which he approached the beast. As the came near, the stag lowered its head and with a couple of quick twis'ls sent two> of the dogs ':lsft in the air, ■while the third it stamped on with its fore feet) The man was able to get only one crack on the maddened beast’s herd when suddenly it turned on him and charged. After having seen what happened to the dogs the. man made for the neares: tree. Then “the strangest par tof the tree. Then- the' (strangest, part of the affair began. The stag came round the dodging round and - barking they tore •round and round with the man only a few jumps ahead of the deer. This proceeding lasted some time, according to the Wan concerned, till a-t last the stag flopped and took the opportunity to get behind a dump of bushes; Tb his great, astonishment the stag, fiftfir Worrying all the degfi) ifladg ft)l ; this cltlmp, and ; with u, magnificent leap cleared bushes and tilali, and llla.de off With the dogs after It.

The man followed as fast ns he could ■and came up with the beast again bailed up in a pool in a creek. The dogs would only .stand round and bark, but would not take hold. The man made a. stab at the deer with his knife, but caught it ,in the- flank when the beast flung its head round hitting his wrist and sending /the knife spinning. He ■ then got into the water and took hold of the an'tliT s forcing its head into thi water with the intention of drowning it. The beast evidently had other views and 'tried to drown itg assailant, for with a jerk of its head -it threw him into the 'water. >;Shortly 'afterwards the man man ag: d to. twist its head against the roots of adre-eon the, bank; Not having en’Ough:«s(tring .ito tie the beast down he left w,ith the dogs' while he went a short distance tp get some flax.

•Returning to .the. scene of battle, he again came to grips with the stag and managed to' twist its head sufficiently to get .one side of, tbh antlers tied to the roots of a ttee. He them the, other 1 side-tied down ;in a. similar manner and started for home to get a' knife. ; Aftet. going a short' distance he came on a piece qf ..Wire arid returned with , it , to make the antlers' more secure. When hr returned, with a knife To despatch the ‘beast, only the wire was.holding it. down,.. 4he flax having parted with the beast’s struggles. This: will, no,doubt,' be one 'df'tiletiifflbs al"red d@er has- been' Taken with bare,hands.