Deer become a problem - 1905

Manawatu Times, 8 February 1905

Sportsmen in the Martinborough (Wairarapa) district should have a good time there during the forthcoming deer shooting season. There are said to be thousands of deer. The winter and spring were exceedingly wet, with plenty of pasture, and the deer have thrived. In consequence of the plenitude of feed, the antlers of the deer show an increase in size and length, and as there are plenty of animals about sportsmen should not complain.

At Te Awaite alone, deer may be seen now in bunches of from sixty to a hundred, and it is estimated that there are now fully 10,000 head on the station. Many of these are in the wild country. They consume much of the feed on the run, and in addition are terribly destructive to fences and crops, while their number are increasing so rapidly there that it is reported that next year Mr Riddiford intends to kill 3000 of them by contract. —Leader.