IS DEER EXTERMINATION A SHORT-SIGHTED POLICY?

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 420, 11 July 1947, Page 10

IS DEER EXTERMINATION A SHORT-SIGHTED POLICY?

| This is the concluding part | of the article written by an American sportsman, H. WENDELL ENDICOTT, and passed on to us by the Minister of Internal Affairs. In it the writer pleads for the conservation of our imported game animals as a sporting and economic asset.

T was on March 6 that we flew to the South Island-our trek to the wapiti country. It would not be telling the truth to say it was an easy trip. To me it was the roughest trip that I have ever taken. From every angle nature fought back at us: the rain (although our leaders claimed we were rfot treated to the usual constant days of downpour), limited equipment measured by ‘the strength of man who had to transport everything on his back while nature did its best to trap progress with snarls of dripping jungle (hens’ nests they called it), swamp holes, fallen timber, old logs and branches covered by ferns set to trip us, huge boulders and rock slides, everything moss covered, still further covered by ferns, shallow and deep mountain streams to plunge through or to be negotiated by balanc‘ing across a slippery log. Fortunately our leader; one Teddy Davison, had the nose of a hunting dog as he constantly "smelled out" some old _ half-hidden wapiti trail that spared us many a tougher mile. I often wondered how even a wapiti could negotiate some of the places we got into and yet we often saw their old tracks. , We didn’t secure any record heads. The big bulls were not in the bottoms nor in the bigger basins. However, specimens of three wapiti were collected that fitted into our requirements. During the trip our party observed 51 different wapiti mostly in mobs of five or sever In addition to the specimens (such as antlers, skulls, hoofs and hides), we did collect much information and data as to range, feed, conditions, habits, growth, etc., concerning the wapiti herd, all of which will be of substantial interest and value to the Harvard Museum from the scientific angle. That was the major part of our mission. Our trip was a success, But I frankly admit that personally it was a shock to us, and I believe would have been a shock to any sportsman from the United States when we were informed that only quite recently two parties had been in this national park and had taken out the skins of about 30 animals-mostly cow and calf wapiti. You see, we in the United States believe that the protection of our wapiti (elk) cows and calves is paramount and of course the killing for commercial purposes is prohibited" by law. I heard also of some 20 other wapiti having been killed in that general area. While we were there five other parties were hunting somewhere else in that reservation and five more parties booked to ceme in at a later date. What they will kill and how many can only be dgtermined later — whether. bulls, cows, or calves. That there may be, in addition, wounded animals that get away and die is also. something to consider. Can the wapiti herd stand this terrific toll and survive? I can only wonder if the present procedure is not a pretty close pattern to what proved to be so tragic in the United States. Damage to Bush New Zealand can produce the largest’ wapiti heads in all the world, yet how lightly New Zealand seems to view its outstanding possibilities. From our own

a observation and from the opinions of those who have travelled over these ranges and who have long been familiar with New Zealand wapiti country, there is no evident destruction of the luxuriant native bush-there is abundant feed and still further territory for overflow or expansion. I do not know how many times I have heard new-made friends and casual acquaintances speak: of the destruction caused by game. On questioning them I cannot recall one individual who will admit that he or she fiad actually seen any consequential damage. -They had secured their information only through hearsay. However, they were thoroughly imbued with the prevalent convictions. I am beginning to wonder as to the real facts. If I were not so thoroughly impressed with New Zealand’s at present privileged and unique position, viewing it as I do through the eyes of one who comes from a country which has been "through the mill," I would refrain from giving so much emphasis to these queries. To say that we did not collect record or outstanding heads is not a criticism of what might have been furnished by the country we were in-it is rather a criticism of ourselves. The big bulls were there-yes. We saw with our glasses several that were estimated as "excellent"-one definitely so and the others "probable." | But most of the wapiti were ranging in and around the topmost peaks, It was here: that our

fitness was the stumbling block. It took us two hours and a-quarter to climb a quarter of a mile up from the bottom (the easiest route there was) in order to reach the rim of one of the open basins, with some four or five hours’ further climbing to reach the peaks, skirt along the skyline where the bulls might be found and return to that point. In addition to it all there would have been the necessity of spending the night at timber-line with scant food and no shelter. We couldn’t have had better leaders. Any sportsman willing to have faced the rigors of this great land of fiords, and who had not been somewhat handicapped by recent physical complications, could without doubt have secured a prized and outstanding trophy of wapiti. However I cannot be unhappy in thinking of those majestic bulls who, as far as I know, are still bugling in that far away vastness of the Fiordland National Park. To Mount Cook The curtain ‘on thrill and adventure by no means fell at our departure from Te Anau. Our motor trip to the Hermitage gave us one of our most memorable days. Here was another reservation, and New Zealand’s adopted home of the thar and chamois. Previously I had not known of their existence outside of Asia and Europe. I experienced an inner thrill-the hope that I might secure a trophy of each. I realised, however, that my stay would ‘have to be very limited. If I were successful, what a story I would have to tell! What news I’d bring back that such sporting animals really existed in New Zealand! It was hard for me to believe that this country had two more wonderful additions to its wild life. For the first day as we "worked up" towards the Tasman Glacier we spotted one chamois on the very top. For our return we waited until late afternoon so that we might watch the mountain sides at twilight time-the time they were reported to come out to feed. One chamois popped into sight at 1,000 yards -but spotted us and took off in fright, He disappeared, That was all.

I later learned that official directions had been issued to exterminate both the thar and the chamois. Some few weeks previously between 60 and 70 chamois and perhaps a few thar had been killed by official "cullers"’ in that one short eight-mile area that we had visited. On the second day we set out on our hunt towards Mt. Sefton. Nothing was seen in the morning, but about 4.0 p.m, we picked up with’ our glasses a thar and a fawn, This was my first view of this unique species of the goat family -larger than our famous wild mountain goat (a trophy of the Rockies that figures high in any sportsman’s ambition). It was quite late when we spotted several large dark bodies in a group. "Big boys!" said Jimmy. "Perhaps we can reach them before it’s too dark." It was an exciting stalk. Jimmy did an excellent piece of work and got me within 60 yards of them. My heart gave a bound to heaven when, as I shot, I saw one big boy fall in a heap to the brook below. "Pump it into the others," said Jimmy. He too was éxcited. "No," said I, "I’ve got my trophy and what more could I want." It had been a grand stalk. I had brought down a fine big bull (Billy we’d called him). My cup of sporting pleasure was. filled to the brim. I did not remember having had a greater thrill from any trophy I have ever taken. But it was a narrow squeak. Darkness fell. It all happened in the last few minutes of the second and last day that had been left to me. "This Is Called Culling" The story that Jimmy had told to me during the day, however, had lingered in my mind and the joy of my successful hunt was battling with what seemed to me a tragedy. During those several weeks previous to our visit the "cullers" had been acting on the policy of extermination of the thar and chamois in that area. In the territory we had just been in during our second day, they had killed 37 thar on one mountain side, and 17 on another side, and in addition to those well over 500 had, in the gen- | eral area, been killed within the year. "What was done with them?" I enquired. "Oh, nothing," was the answer. They were left to rot where they fell. This is called "culling." My interpretation of culling in no way is applicable to carrying out orders to kill everything in sight. My understand--ing of "culling" is a process of carrying out a carefully studied plan based on scientific conservation-the greatest good for the herd in question. For example: how many animals can the territory support? How ‘many animals (roughly) are there ranging that territory? Are there too many bulls? For the proper conservation of the herd should the population be built up or are there too many mouths to feed in order to produce healthy stock? The answer to these questions might suggest a carefully planned "cull." This we do with our game herds in the Yellowstone Park. ~ _ ° Indiscriminate killing is foreign to our concept and yet one cannot blame the so-called "‘cullers." As far as I can find "out they are only executing an adopted and authorised policy. Nor can I blame ’ the individual skin hunters, They, too, are working on an accepted policy. However, it can only bring a query into my mind. Is it wise to carry on this policy, at least in all-areas, reservations and _elsewhere? Furthermore, will the love for the sport of hunting and‘ fishing grow with a growing country as it has in the United States? And may I

further query: What will the inheritance be for future generations? You see I] am always thinking of the pattern and experience of our own country. Mountain Flora I was informed by one ‘person while at the Hermitage that the thar and chamois were destroying the mountain flora. I only know that in the area we covered I saw many mountain plants"now sleeping"’-that still survive, including the beautiful mountain lily. I know that in the United States few people undertake trips into the distant wilds to view the mountain flora. Yet we have great love for flowers, as have the people of New Zealand. I have been charmed with the countless flower gardens surrounding so many homes, On the other hand, countless persons organise trips to many areas to view, to photograph, and to hunt wild game. While I was in the South Island I overheard one lady visitor from London express great disappointment at not having seen any wild game in a country where, she had been told, it abounded. What report will she bring home? It apparently means something to her, Economic Aspects It has been suggested to me by several people that conservation of game and the stopping of unlimited killing would mean the loss of jobs to many men-specially those employed by the Government. I can only say that in our country it has not worked out that way. Throughout our hunting areas employment is given to many men in the way of. guiding, packing, transportation, wrangling, cooking, etc., while our reservations require "cullers" (as I understand the word), wardens, rangers, managers, fire guardians, etc. We even do much in the way of opening up and maintaining countless trails, particularly through our national parks. All these activities require the services of many amen. It has grown to be a big business. I repeat again: New Zealand has shown it can raise the largest wapiti heads in the world. The red deer have the largest antlers of all the deer. We have no red deer in the United States, nor have we the Japanese deer nor the fallow deer. Has England the thar or the chamois? No. Has Canada? No. Has the United States these animals? No. Has Australia? No. Has New Zealand? Yes. Of course it was wholly unimportant to anyone except myself and those who had done so much on my behalf whether 7 or not I personally secured a trophy. However, how ‘wonderful it would be if I could only have brought home with me a report that any sportsman in search of a thar or chamois could with almost absolute certainty secure his trophy within a comparatively accessible territory and within a comparatively easy reach of a luxurious hunting lodge. But how can I ignore the results of the policy that directs the so-called "culling?" Perhaps I have said too much already, but how can two men who class themselves as sportsmen, and come from the United States, not view with deep interest the varied wild life that ranges New Zealand’s mountain areas, i forests, its hillsides, as well as its lakes and streams? Does New Zealand appreciate its present position-its opportunity to support a paradise of game? Does it want to pass this rare privilege on to generations to come? Will it knowingly or unknowingly follow what might easily be the tragic pattern of the United States before they awoke?