DEER STALKING.

Shannon News, 17 April 1928, Page 2

DEER STALKING.

A 21-POINTER SECURED. . As the month progresses, news of general interest to deer-stalkers begins to filter through, with the return of parties from the ranges. of two kills has come to hand over the weekend. The first, in a truly notable achievement on the part of Mr R. W. Priest, who has brought in a 21-pointer head from the Mangahao district. Mr G. Luff, of Palmerston North, secured >a thirteen pointer at Ohau, on Easter Saturday. The big kill fell to. Mr Roy Priest, who, in company with Mr E. V. West, also of Palmerston North, has been deer stalking in tl;e country around the head-waters of the Mangahao during the week-end. On Sunday morning, Mr Priest secured'a magnificent 21-pointer which is unquestionably one ' of the -finest heads ever secured in this district. The record head for the Manawatu is held by Mr M.> Halbeg, of Hastwell, who secured a 23-pointer three seasons ago. The same gentleman, it will be remembered,- bagged another splendid head last season when he shot a stag with 19 points. The New Zealand record head is held by Mr' Geo. Sutherland, who shot a. 24-pointer in the Rakaia \ alley, some years back. • ■ A few years ago, a 2l7point head was killed in .the same neighbourhood hear Ohau, but as it was illegally obtained, the Wellington Acclimatisation_ Society confiscated the nead, and it, now adorns the walls of the Society’s offices in the'capital city an example of New Zealand’s possibilities as a sportsman ’s paradise. Messrs Priest and West left Palmerston North on Saturday and spent the week-end in the ranges at the back of Levin. Early oh, Saturday morning the stalkers drew a stag, but the animal evidently scented the sportsmen at the critical moment, and made off. Saturday passed without further incident, but early on the morning of Sunday, Mr Priest was answered by a big stag when he sounded the horn.. After a comparatively short walk, he. located his quarry standing in the middle of a track through some scrub. It was. a good shot, and the hunter made.no mis-' take. One shot sufficed to bring low a head which, when mounted, will make one of the finest trophies procurable in any country where deer arc known and hunted. ; During the week previous to Easter, Mr Priest was a member of another Palmerston North party which- covered the same ground as that which formed the domain of the twenty-one pointer.' On that occasion, Mr Priest drew a • blank, while his two companions secured a head apiece. Sunday’s kill, however, was the for several seasons of visiting for the ‘'big stuff” that is at once the hope and dream of every stalker.