Hunting book launch sees ambition fulfilled

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 436, 12 May 1992, Page 1

Hunting book launch sees ambition fulfilled

Fields Track Station farmer Bob Pittaway fulfills a 17 year ambition this week, when his book on hunting f allow deer is launched. The launch of his first book "Fallow Deer Hunting in New Zealand" is to take place at McLean's Bookshop in Raetihi on Friday aftemoon, with the help of the Waimarino Deerstalkers Association. The book is published

by New Zealand 's hunting publishers, Halcyon. Mr Pittaway 's first intention, in 1975, was to write about Wanganui area fallow deer, but various publishers suggested he broaden his outlook to make it a New Zealand hunting guide. "I got disillusioned at the beginning at how little information was available," he said. "I had to build up a collec-

tion of research information for myself, before I could start." He said the book had basically taken 10 years to complete, working part time at night. Mr Pittaway manages Fields' Track station. Incorporated in the book is a set of photographs taken by Mr Pittaway, who is a keen photographer as well as writer and hunter. Turn page 2

Hunting book

Frompagel "I get as big a buzz, probably more, from taking photos of deer than shooting them," he said. Despite this view, he is still a hunter, and says the f allow deer venison is 'beautiful'. The book will be of interest mainly to deer hunters, but his aim is not to tell people how to hunt fallow deer. "I'm trying not to tell people how to hunt fallow deer, but about how I hunt them." He said despite "a bit of technical stuff" the

book should be easy to read. There is information about the fallow deer species and their habits and habitat, and sections on hunting based on Mr Pittaway's 25 years' experience of hunting them. He includes a chapter on where to find the fallow deer, and also includes some of his views on game management for the future. Fallow deer are the second most populous in New Zealand, and second most widespread, behind red deer. They live in semi-open country and semi-farmland.