RED DEER IN THE WAIRARAPA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10062, 9 August 1910, Page 7

RED DEER IN THE WAIRARAPA.

The report of the Wellington Acclimatisation society for the past year states thai conflicting reports have been received from the Wairarapa this shooting season soma stalkers expressing great satisfaction with the number and condition of head?, others complaining that they saw very few heads worth taking. It can hardly be expected that the country, j which has now been stocked with j deer for many years, is becoming hemmed in by settlement, and has j been shot over continuously, will, produce the phenjmenal heads of years ago, but, notwithstanding this, the reports as to the presence of many good heads are well authenticated. Satisfactory accounts continue to be received as to the condition of the several new herds of Red Deer which the Society has established during recent years in various parts of the district. At Wainui-o-imta some very fine stags have bean seen, and also at Paraparaumu Forest. It is thought that next year the Council might very well consider the propriety of opening these iwo reserves to a limited number of stalkers. The Wainui herd appears to De extending its range eastward to the Orongo-erongo, where there is a large extent of suitable country for them. The Paraparaumu herd is keeping well to the Forest Reserve, and during the past rutting seasun many good stags were seen and heard round the deer park and neighbourhood. At Eketahuna the herd is reported to be doing well and ircreising. In the Tararuas additions have been made to the numbers there, by way of liberating young deer, while the deer at the head of the Tauherenikau river, mostly Werribee Park strain, are stated to be thrivirg. A small herd has been started by the Society at the foot of the hills north-west of Carterton, and four hinds were seen there recently. The. three herds last mentioned will no doubt join forces. As statei in last year's report, a herd has also been started at the foot of the Ruahine Range, beyond Mangaweka. It only remains now to start a heid, say, at the head of the Otaki river, and to supplement the small herds already started in order to stock the whole of the ranges from Eketahuna to the West Coast, and as far north as Tai-hape-a Btretch of eoiatry that should afford to sportsmen one of the finest, if not the finest, stalking area in the Dominion. For the past season the revenue derived from stalking licenses was over £220, and s the results s6 far indicate that this will at least be be equalled for the present .season.