OPENING OF DEER-STALKING SEASON.

Shannon News, 3 April 1925, Page 2

OPENING OF DEER-STALKING SEASON.

MAGNIFICENT HEAD SECURED ON OHAU. Said to be little if anythiing interior to the "KUminster" head, the best red deer trophy ever secured in the Wellington Acclimatisation Society's district, an English sportsman, Mr W. A. Daffarn, of Winchmoxe Hill, London, to-day fought into Levin, a magnificent 16-pointer head, secured on the Oihau river early this morning at the back of Mr Narbey's property. The most remarkable feature of the splendid trophy is the thickness of the antlers, the circumference at the coronet being no less than 9 inches, whilst the measurements in every oflher respect are almost equally good. The measurements .over all are as follow;—Spread 35 (inches, length of antlers 32 inches, circumference at coronet 9in., circumference above tray points 7* I .in, width between top points I6in, length of brow %ines }32in, bay ijiiies H£in., tray tines 13£m. Speaking to a "Chronicle" representative, Mr Daffarn, who is accompanied by Mr P. W. Wilson, one d the Wellington Acclimatisation Society's rangers, expressed himself as highly delighted witfo, his good tortune. He had left his camp only half an hour when the stag was heard roaring in the bush. It had been called out to where a s'not had been obtained at 90 yards. He stated that he was particularly impressed with the saze and massiveness of the head. lie had stalked in Scotland for a number of years, but the heads there were vastly inferior to those He had seen in New Zealand, being mostly deficient in tfhe bay tine, which was indeed often missing. The size of the New Zealand deer was also a surprise to : him. He had shot four stags in Scotland last year, the average weight of which was 14 stone, o<r it cwt. The stag shot this morning was at the very least 4cwt. Mr Daffarn stated that die was returning to. camp immediately, and hoped to add to his bag, but he protested that even if he did not get another shot in New Zealand, he was well repaid foj nis trip.