By the early fifties, it’s become apparent that the deer elimination strategy isn't working. One report estimates that in 20 years the cullers have shot just 10% of the deer.
Photo: John Johns
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So, in 1956, the well-funded Forest Service takes over the deer control programme building a network of huts (the basis of today’s backcountry huts) and wire bridges across rivers.
Now, in theory, a hunter is never more than four hours walk away from a basic hut with bunks, a fireplace, billies, and often a food cupboard. Trial airdrops of food are carried out, not always successfully. Kea get into some while others land in the river or on tree tops.
Photo: Supplied by Paul Roy
However, successful drops provide a greater variety of tinned foods and basics, no longer having to be carried in on the cullers’ backs. Some shooters explain how they’re forced to live off just the deer they shoot when floods cut off their airdropped food supply. Others tell of coping with injuries or isolation, with some becoming virtual recluses.
Photo: Supplied by Paul Roy
Yet with the new huts, better food, some tracks and some wire bridges, hopes are now high that cullers can make more of a dent in the deer population.
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You can hear it on Sunday mornings after 7am on RNZ National from Sunday 22 October.
Written and presented by Paul Roy.
Sound engineer - Alex Harmer.
Additional sound engineering - Jeremy Ansell and William Saunders.
Executive producers - Katy Gosset, Justin Gregory and Tim Watkin.
Deer Wars is made with the support of a Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho, Piki Ake! Kake Ake! New Zealand Oral History Grant from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage to Iguana Productions.
