Wintones welcomes pig hunting

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 440, 16 June 1992, Page 2

Wintones welcomes pig hunting

Winstone's Forest management officer Shane Harvey puts forward Winstone's view of organised pig hunting in their forest: "The stance of WPI Forests on the issue of pig hunting in the Waimarino Forest is simple. We intend to manage the hunting resource in the Waimarino Forest for the benefit of those people residing in the Waimarino Ward. "Working in conjunction with the local Pig Hunters Club has made the task of managing and controlling the hunting in the forest a lot easier.

'The club is now hosting regular hunts in the forest. A structured hunting system enables us to monitor the pig population within the forest so that hunting pressures can be altered to suit. "Too many pigs are undesirable because of the potential damage they can cause. However, a lack of pigs means less hunting so a balance must be found. The hunting pressure in the Waimarino has meant that only the strongest and healthiest animals survive. This in turn ensures that the animals

breeding within the forest are disease free and of the hardiest stock. Besides being of a sporting value the pigs within the forest do an excellent job of cleaning up any carrion. In a single year this could amount to 10,000 possum carcasses, hundreds of goats as well as any cattle or sheep that may die in the forest. If these carcasses are left to decompose naturally, what happens next is a sudden increase in fly numbers which in turn poses a threat to neighbouring farmers in the form of fly strike.

"A major dilemma facing environmentalists to date has been whether there is a place for exotic wildlife in New Zealand's natural history. The idealistic answer is no. This is totally unrealistic and whether we like it or not we are stuck with pigs and deer as well as the rats, possums, cats, mustelids, hedgehogs, rabbits and hares. "Management rather than annihilation is required so that some form of natural balance may be obtained. In New Zealand the only predator of pigs and deer is man. It will

.no doubt remain this way as the introduction of grizzly bears and lions could be frowned upon! "So in essence the cultivation of a hunting spirit among young New Zealanders is essential in order to maintain an acceptable level of these animals in the wild. "Apart from the sporting side of pig hunting, there is also the community oriented side. Members of the Waimarino Pig Hunters Club have always been keen to jump in and catch a pig in order to supply pork for community functions Turnpage3

Pia huntina

From page 2 and charities. WPI Forests usually opens the gates to club members when such events are justified. "Also very important, the Waimarino Forest has been the source of much of the wild pork supplied to tangi's over the last 5-6 years. This has been very gratifying to ourselves and the pig hunters' club. "It is good to see that the Waimarino Pig Hunting Club are approaching their hunting with a very serious view to the conservation and the preservation of their own sport, while at the same time giving younger members within their fold a better appreciation of the great outdoors and the environment."