Some time in the early 1900's ( the date varies from source to source.) My Great grandfather and two other men travelled to Wellington and took possession of a group of red deer, which they accompanied back to, most likely Mangaweka train station, and from there too the foothills of the western Ruahines where they released them.
Around 20 years later, He purchased a licence to hunt from the acclimatisation society. Probably no mean feat given he was a farm labourer, and took his Long tom rifle And shot a wonderful 12 pointer. I dont know for sure, But suspect it would have been one of the earlier licensed heads to be hunted in the region.
The mounted head, along with another 14 pointer, which I need to find out more about, and seems at this stage to be lost, were some of his prized possessions and much time has been spent in the next hundred years telling stories and reminiscence about them.
The Head in question has been looked after by another arm of the family, and we always knew where it was, But Id never had a chance to see it. A short time ago a surprise email too my father, who's in his 70s now himself, asked if we wanted it, being keen hunters and all. We leapt at the offer, and yesterday and just as importantly, met with family members some of us had never met, It was brought over to us.
It now hangs next to my grandfather's head from the 60s.
My brother and I have a plan to travel next April back up to the area of the release and get a new headskin for it On what will be very close too its centenary.
https://i.postimg.cc/BnHQh01s/IMG-0111.avif
