The Whitetail Deer of Stewart Is., NZ

Apart from a few local residents, getting to hunt White-tailed deer on Stewart Island, is for most of us a major undertaking requiring either boat or air transport. One cannot drive down the road for a weekend hunt. The producers of this video were faced with the same problems and this video is result of over six years work.

It traces the history of White-tailed deer from their liberation at Pegasus is 1905. Viewers are taken on a tour around the various locations on the island and an excellent cross-section of what to expect on many of the blocks is shown. The Islands is captured in all it's moods and the frustrations of filming in inclement weather are obvious.

This is not your usual hunting video. For a start there are less than 10 dead deer. The producers had a huge selection of live animals to choose from but film of that big trophy buck eluded them. I'm not surprised by this as the number of good bucks taken by my hunting group in over 25 years has been minimal. This is not to say they are not there as bucks shot in the last 15 or so years continually nudge others out of the top 20. Just to watch these deer moving gracefully undisturbed is great. You can't drive down to the deer farm to watch whitetail.

It includes footage of most of the Islands birds and flocks of muttonbirds on the wing will have been seen by only a few. The filming is spectacular.

The video does correct a number of previously published factual errors about the biology and habits of these graceful deer. Using remote cameras the producers have recorded the behavior of bucks on scrapes that has surprised even some experienced hunters.

A number of local hunters are interviewed. All offer very constructive advice on deer habits and when and how to hunt them. Listen to what they say. All hunters chasing Whitetail will learn something and this advice is essential for first time hunters. Every year several hunters get caught out and fail to get back to camp before dark. Some need to be assisted and practical advice is given.

Tim TeAika was the last runholder at Mason Bay and farmed there for 20 years. Tim had the opportunity to observe whitetail every day. His knowledge of the animals is exceptional but he considers the condition of the forest paramount. This view is shared by other hunters and DoC who consider forest condition more important than animal numbers. Some very refreshing views are included and reinforce the excellent relationship between the Dept and hunters on the Island. After all, every two hunters equals one dead white-tailed deer.

The video also shows some of the results of work by Southland Branch members involved in the capture and tagging of Whitetail to learn more about their movements. It also includes the Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust working with DoC, building huts for hunters on the Island. Other parts of NZ could learn a lot from this initiative.

I think this is the best video South Coast Productions have released and I am very pleased to have been associated with making parts of it. White-tailed deer look special on film and the scenic beauty of Stewart Island shows why 3000 hunters visit every year. Value for money - absolutely. If you are slightly interested in White-tailed Deer, buy yourself a copy to store alongside your favorite hunting book. As a bonus, film of some of the Islands best trophies as displayed at the 2003 NZDA Conference is included.

John DeLury NZDA Southland Branch