Thread: TB control in Molesworth

Originally Posted by Tahr

Its easy to be negative about this but there is a positive and that is that they are using repellent. Kudos to the local NZDA for their survey and lobbying - I hope everyone supported it (Give a Little page at the time).

TB is a trade issue and its hard to argue against.

I hunt the Haurangis and they are knee deep in 1080 at times but for the last few times with repellent. There are plenty of deer still - probably too many. Like Molesworth, there is plenty of country for the deer to re-seed the poisoned areas from.

On Molesworth even the worst predictions of the drop without repellent have not come to past - the poisoned areas seem to be re-populating? Still a damn shame though that some wonderful trophys ended up dead and rotting.

All is not lost. Onwards and upwards.

You are right Tahr that there are plenty deer in the Aorangis. Too many. I am seeing the impacts now. It is an issue and an increasing one. This is not limited to this area though. The problem is that not enough people are successfully hunting the bush anymore and the pressure in there is insufficient. The hunters are all carrying big rifles, big day packs and wearing bino bivvies . They cant get through the bush easily where the deer are and the open country, what little there is comparatively, is getting the majority of the hunting effort. Access in some places is also an issue. Most farmers are good with access there, but it still concentrates everyone else in certain places. Ah the joys.