Hunters help with conservation

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 406, 1 October 1991, Page 2

Hunters help with conservation

The Tongariro/Taupo Department of Conservation is asking all hunters who have been issued with a permit to return the 'Hunting Diary' portion to the Turangi DoC office, Private Bag, Turangi, be-

fore 14 October . The June to September hunting period for the Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy of the Department of Conservation comes to a close on 30 September 1991. The information

gathered using hunter's diaries, combined with data from deer jaws and vegetation monitoring is providing DoC with valuable information of the effects of the immense hunting effort both local and visiting hunters put into the conservancy. The area covered includes the Kaimanawa Forest park, Tongariro National Park, Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy, Tongariro Forest, Erua Forest, Rangitaiki Forest and the Lakeshore Reserves. The weather over the winter period is expected to have put many hunters off their planned trips. However, the department asks hunters who may have obtained a permit but were unable to go hunting for one reason or another to nevertheless retum their diaries. The hjunters diaries provide Department of Conservation with useful information even if no kills are recorded. By returning diaries, hunters are also eligible to go into the prize draw. Prizes include free helicopter or fixed wing transport into the Kaimanawa and/or Kaweka ranges; sporting goods and free accommodation. DoC rely on information gathered from hunters and with the advent of the BNZ sponsored Kiwi Recovery Programme the department are hoping to hear from any hunters who may have spotted kiwi. "We are very keen to hear from hunters who may have sightings or reports of kiwi, as we are currently trying to map kiwi distribution in the conservancy. Space is provided for such comments on the hunting diary," said Cam Speedy, senior conservation officer responsible for wild animal/fauna management at Turangi. Hunters wishing to renew their permit for the spring/summer period can do so by ticking the appropriate section on the hunting diary.