DEER STALKING.

Shannon News, 10 August 1926, Page 4

DEER STALKING.

THE 1926 SEASON. , The stalking season for 1926, opened On 20th March, and was closed on 31st May, 1926. The regulations were the same as for last year, and any license holder may take an unlimited number of hinds. The heads taken up fo tho 7:th May, although hot equal in number, are almost in line with those of last season, and the heavy culling is telling its own tale. The season was earlier, by a fortnight than is customary, in response to a number of complaints that in the past two seasons the stags were roaring weeks in advance of rifles. The advantage of opening earlier is still undisclosed, but a dry or moist autumn makes 95 per cent, of the difference. No overseas sportsmen materialised. so far, though advice was received of several intending visitors. A 12-poin'ter with an . exceptional spread was taken by Mr. J. Mayo, of ' Palmerston North,* a veteran stalker, in the Tiritea. An 18-pointcr with very heavy top .was taken by Mr. Honore, of Levin, a novice, on his first stalk, in the Ohau. A good 13-pointer, said to be equal to the 16-pointer taken last year by an English sportsman, was ' taken in the Ohau on May 11th, but the measurements have gone astray. Up to the closing of the list, viz., 7th May, the number of. licenses issued has crept close to the record of last year, 216; and jjrobably by the closing yeek . of May a new record will have been created. Tho appended table gives . heads, points, and localities:— Tararua Range, Paraparaumu: 1 14-pbinter, 1 13pointer, 1 11-pointer, 2 10-pointer. The 14-pointer is a heavy, even head; spread 36in, length of antlers 35in. The 13-pointer is also a heavy head, spread 34in, length 35-lin. Ohau: 1»18-pointer, 1 15-pointer, 1 13-pointer, 2 ' 12-pointcr, 2 10-pointer. The 18-pointer is a line even head, very heavy on top; spread 34in, length 33in, coronet lOin. Shannon: 1 15-pointcr, 1 12-pointcr, 1 lOfpointer. The 15-pointcr is above the! average; beam 6in, spread 32in, length 33in. Tiritea to Shannon: 1 12-pointcr, 2 . 11-pointer, 3 10-pointer. The 12-poiut-er is a very fine head with exceptional spread 4oin, length 38in, coronet 9|in, beam s|in. Eketahuna: 1 13-pointer, 2 12-point-er, 3 11-pointer, 4 10-pointer. The 13- ■ pointer is a heavy urieven head, spread 37in, length 35in. Ruainahanga Water Shed: 2 12pointer, 1 11-pointer, 2 10-pointer. One of the 10-pointers is a heavy head, spread 39in, length 374 in. . Waingawa: 2 12-pointcr, 1 11-point-er. ,

Tauber cnikau: 1 13-pointer, 3 12pointer, 2 11-pointer, 4 10-pointcr. A greater number of heads liave been taken in this locality than recorded during past seasons., Of the 10 heads taken, there is nothing outstanding but all are fair specimens. Kaitoke: 1 13-pointer,. 2 11-pointer. Rimutaka: 1 12-pointer, 2 10-pom ter. Wainui-o-Mata: 1 12-pointer, 3 11pointer. Akatarawa: 1 15-pointer, 2 #er. The 15-pointer is a heavy head, ’beajn.. biin, suread 344 in, length 34in. Kuahine Range. Mowhajiigo: 1 16-pointer; 1 12-point-.2 ll'-pointer, 6 10-pointer. The 16*

pointer' is a very good even heal, spread 36in, length 33in. , No reports have been received of heads being taken in the Upper Kawatau. Wairarapa Area, Haurangi Forest: 1 14-pointer, 5 12pointer, 2 11-pointer. The 14-pointer has a spread of 34Jin, length 3Sin, boain 5-Jin. Two of the 1 12-pointers are also very fair specimens. Cape River: 1 12-pointer, 2 er. Te Awaite: 1 17-pointer, 3 12-point-cr, 5 10-pointer. The 17-pointer has a spread of 36in, length 37in, beam 6in. Home River: 1 12-pointer, 2 11-point-er, 4 IG-pointcr. Lagoon Hill: 1 11-pointer, 3 10pointer. . Whatarangi: 1 13-pointer, 2 12pointer, 4 10-pointer. During the past year severe culling has been carried on, and the numbers are being steadily reduced, every part of the vSociety’s area contributing to the total destroyed. The following list shows approximately the localities shot over, and the total's obtained: — Wairarapa: Tauherenikau 33, Whakatomotomo 500, Whaterangi 223, Hinakura 120, Te Awaite 150, White Rock 210, •■Rough River 73, Cape River 83, Lagoon Hill 214, Te Wharau 132, Haurangi Forest 200; total 1938. ‘Tararua: Paraparaumu 75, Ohau 20, Tiritea 10, Eketahuna 30; total 135. Ruahine: Moauhaugo 20, Wainui-o-Mata 50; total 70. To this total may be added the stags shot up to 10th May and listed as heads at taxidermists for mounting 124, plifs' the hinds shot by stalkers as permitted by the regulations. More remains to be done, but the Society is doing, all in its power by finding cartridges, and rangers' parties when time permits. Roughly 80 per cent, of the deer destroyed were hinds, and 20 per cent, stags. Herd at Paraparaumu. As, under present conditions, there is no reasonable prospect of any liberation being , authorised, the Council reluctantly decided to destroy the herd. A muster was carried out and all the deer yarded and shot, with the exception of a few animals which evaded the drive. The venison was sold for export to America.