The Case for Managed Hunting by Howard Egan

This newsletter is obviously not read by a vast number of people. But at least they have the same general interests as myself. Although mine have become more singular as my life has quickly passed. My passion as you know, is Fallow deer. And the seed that was sown decades ago, mixing with European immigrant hunters, absorbing their ethic and beliefs, whilst visiting a Ranger training college in Germany.

That seed has been nurtured over the last ten years, as I have had an involvement (observing, talking) with the improvement in fallow trophy quality in the lower North Island. And I know the cause has been a mix of new gene pools from liberations, and especially, good management of hunting by private land owners.

I have had quite considerable involvement in the Wanganui and Wairarapa fallow herds, and I want to share what I am seeing. I do so in the hope that my evidence might influence the thinking of any who doubt. ie; The spiker shooting brigade. But I’m not going to say too much, I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

My opening statement is that this is a bunch of National and World class fallow trophies shot in the lower North Island over the last six months. The areas involved are Wanganui and Wairarapa. Private land, not paid hunting, and in every case strictly controlled hunting..

I have Douglas scored all but one of these heads, and I can tell you they are all bucks aged beyond 6 ½ years. Pedicles and tooth wear. And it is landowners not permitting young bucks (especially 3 and 4 yr old bucks) to be shot, that is the key. More Strength to their arm.

Here are some of the seven book bucks I have measured since the 2014 rut. And then I’ll show you two of the many wild bucks I photographed during the 2014 rut. They are still posturing and breeding. And doesn’t it show that you don’t have to be inside a deer fence to see or hunt mature, trophy quality, fallow bucks?

In my opinion there is no place for high wire hunting of fallow deer in New Zealand. Managed hunting, whether on commercial, private or DOC land, is the key.