Thread: Northland deer (again)

Yes Coromandel interesting did not know there were deer there I did know about the Northland populations having worked up there I doubt they know about them all though --

Wandered in from Kaimais I guess. Pigs all rhu there.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-...LN3AXYHFNXPL4/

What a loaded fairy tale! Apart from the fairy stories the recovered meat amounts to about 12 deer. Seems the hapu wasted the other 48. Public money ineffectively being used for a lolly scramble.

Originally Posted by Woody

Public money ineffectively being used for a lolly scramble.

Northland governance in a nutshell. I hope the rest of the country does it better.

I wonder if 61 sets of ears and tails are recorded officially confirmed by the bod responsible for handing over public funds?

Woody, they're more than just recorded. DNA sampled. Compared the DNA they'd colated.

Before they started they collected DNA and set a large number of trail cams. Also using txt cams to help with catching them when they are around a cam.
There's some silly numbers being spouted on face book about what was spent. It's a fair bit but nothing to special in pest control. Especially when you see what the councils are spending on follies, art peices and other things round here.

The whinging is kind of pathetic since the release, folk have had nearly thirty years to get their act together and have a hunt. I've snooped around and pig hunting large parts and from all corners.
Don't mistake this for our southern herds. The best 8 I've seen was nothing too special. The bush is pretty unpleasant to stalk and get more awful further away.

They didn't get them all and won't. However they have probably got a fair chunk.
There to her deer in northland. They just don't seem to thrive and aren't enjoyable to hunt.

Originally Posted by Woody

What a loaded fairy tale! Apart from the fairy stories the recovered meat amounts to about 12 deer. Seems the hapu wasted the other 48. Public money ineffectively being used for a lolly scramble.

I don't understand your comment on the Lolly scramble, have you taken the time to understand the program and how the program is being conducted?
The simple fact is that this was an illegal release of deer into a deer free environment. Personally, I think the current program is the best solution to the issue and I would rather see a well-planned comprehensive program to eradicate the herd than the often-standard go to of a 1080 drop.

The bottom line is that a program like this is the only way to eradicate this population, plenty has been done in the past with little or no result. Hunting has proven to have little or no impact and as Cowboy has said it's a hard place to hunt and the numbers are low. A lot of money has been spent on this in the past with little result.
The heard is small in numbers and a lot of the hinds when shot during this program have been found to be baren which may be the reason why.
I was skeptical about the program at the start, however I took the time to understand how the program was being run, the obligations DOC had to remove the herd and full scope of the research leading up to the actual eradication process and I now fully support the program, and I am impressed with the results.

The program still has some phases to complete so not finished yet.

What has become apparent to me is that the complexity, cost and time it has taken to eradicate this small herd puts the predator free 2050 program into context.

Yep. Get rid of them in Nthland and make the CNI herd a HOSI.

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/h...cial-interest/

Originally Posted by gmm

I don't understand your comment on the Lolly scramble, have you taken the time to understand the program and how the program is being conducted?
The simple fact is that this was an illegal release of deer into a deer free environment. Personally, I think the current program is the best solution to the issue and I would rather see a well-planned comprehensive program to eradicate the herd than the often-standard go to of a 1080 drop.

The bottom line is that a program like this is the only way to eradicate this population, plenty has been done in the past with little or no result. Hunting has proven to have little or no impact and as Cowboy has said it's a hard place to hunt and the numbers are low. A lot of money has been spent on this in the past with little result.
The heard is small in numbers and a lot of the hinds when shot during this program have been found to be baren which may be the reason why.
I was skeptical about the program at the start, however I took the time to understand how the program was being run, the obligations DOC had to remove the herd and full scope of the research leading up to the actual eradication process and I now fully support the program, and I am impressed with the results.

The program still has some phases to complete so not finished yet.

What has become apparent to me is that the complexity, cost and time it has taken to eradicate this small herd puts the predator free 2050 program into context.

I do have to correct you on one point 1080 is not used to target deer in NZ and long may that continue DOC have expressly stated they will not use 1080 specifically on deer and have not done so - yes deer are killed when 1080 is used in possum control but they are bi-kill - the no killed can vary a lot depending on how much feed is available for deer - we cant stop that

Drove up Ridge road to Apiti today. Lotsa forestry conversion on both sides of road down lower. Think the deer from the Ruahines will stroll over for better living. Sheep farms are going the same way as the old deer farms in that area. Saw some dairy farms but staggered how they grow grass. Crazy.