Deer become problem in Haurangi forest: 1913

Ashburton Guardian, 15 July 1913

It will surprise many people to learn that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 deer in the district controlled by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The animals have increased enormously during the past few years, and unless they are checked they are likely to become a great nuisance. Mr C. H. Bould, one of the Society's rangers, has just returned from the Haurangi Forest Reserve, between Martinborough and the sea coast, and reports that in accordance with instructions from the Council of that body, he and some assistants have shot about 200 malforms and weedy hinds.

In his opinion at least 2000 more should be killed. The forest reserve is admirably suited for deer, but owing to the country being very rough it is almost impossible to market the carcases of the animals which are shot there. Venison would fetch probably 9d per lb in Wellington, but it would Mr Bould says, cost about 1s per lb to place in the shops any of the flesh from the Haurangi Reserve. Mr Bould has orders to return at the conclusion of the shooting season and wage further warfare against the deer.