Survey of Tongariro Deer: Reply

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 2, 4 June 1985, Page 14

Survey of Tongariro Deer: Reply

Some misunderstandings have arisen as a result of the article which appeared in the 21st May issue of the Waimarino Bulletin. In this regard I submit the following comments. The Park has no existing information which implies that "more action is needed to curb further damage to the bush." Our records indicate a gradual increase in the numbers of deer destroyed by recreational hunters over the last ten years. This does not mean that the size of the deer population is increasing. It may in fact be the result of increased hunting pressure.

The management plan encourages recreational hunting in the Park and I would stress that helicopter operations, or other forms of organised deer control, are not being considered by Park management. Our aim is to gain further knowledge of the size and health of the deer population and to determine what effect these animals are having on the regeneration of the different forest types. In gathering this information we hope to also get a better picture of the migration of sika deer into the Park and the influences they are having on existing red deer. This will no doubt be of interest to the recreational hunting fraternity. Immediate indications are that sika deer are slowly moving into the Park from the Kaimanawa region and with this a westward drive of the red deer. However, more information is required before this can be known for certain. Our present knowledge of the deer in the Park is based principally on permit returns.

We are building on this data base with the use of vegetation plots and deer exclosures designed to monitor any differences in forest regrowth in those areas accessible to deer and those not accessible. The deer jaw survey is the most recent (and publicly displayed) means of obtaining new information. The teeth provide an index of animal age, the jaw length, an index of size and the bone marrow gives an index of animal fat. None of this tells us "how much fodder a deer has eaten. " It does tell us though how much stress is on the deer population for quality food. When all three sources of information are considered together a picture of forest and deer inter-action will hopefully begin to emerge giving indications of population distribution and the likely quality of trophy animals. It is intended that any information obtained from these sources will be made available to recreational hunting groups.

Bryan

Norton

Ranger - Ohakune