I agree with you if you're just after meat.
I haven't ever seen deer numbers this healthy where I spend my time chasing them.
I can only speak about the coast as I rarely venture elsewhere for meat deer. No need.
We also in parts of the coast have regular waro but in my opinion those areas are still highly productive areas to hunt because of the terrain and how the animals use it.
It's the trophy or potential trophy stags being shot for weight etc out of known trophy herds for a dollar. To me it is just a waste and there is honestly no reason to do it as they are few and far between.
Leaving 1 or 2 stags alone won't make a difference.
You could argue that every spiker is a potential trophy but in reality that is not the case.
I can think of a few areas that could be closed up or have selective waro that would make no difference to any operation worth its salt.
Haast region has seen constant pressure since late 2003 after the sale of feral venison was shut down in 2001. The animals exploded in those 3 years. It was piss easy to fill the chiller.
However, every year since venison started up again there has been one or more 300+ class stags taken out of the region by recreational hunters.
I spose my point is that some areas can handle it due to the country/terrain.
Other areas further north are easy to clean out as the animals do not have the feeder country that is found in South Westland and Otago.
Easier again to hunt from a machine in late summer where the animals are away from cover, stags are generally mobbed up and complacent after no pressure.
I dont want or expect to see a trophy red stag in every valley but I would like to know if I do my research and put an effort in, there is a good chance I might find one because I will only be competing with someone else who planned their hunt the same as me and not a helicopter.
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