Author(s): Dave McClunie

Hunting

In the beginning there were no wild game animals to complement the spectacular New Zealand landscape. Because of their cultural, historical and spiritual value to most people, Wapiti, deer, Chamois and Tahr were introduced by early settlers to fill the void in the ecological system left empty since the eradication of the large herbivorous ground birds during earlier times. In 1930 the government declared these animals to be "noxious" and commenced a cleansing programme which has continued for over 70 years. The author has trodden countless game trails in the North and South Islands. Along with many others he believes that when sustainably managed these animals are a national treasure.