Photo SCNZDA-1: ‘SCNZDA member Hayden Greenwood with a wallaby shot on private land’.
Over the past twelve months 5,707 pests and 435 game animals have been removed from New Zealand’s environment by members of the South Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Deer Stalkers Association (SCNZDA).
SCNZDA members keep a record of their hunting and predator trapping kills through a monthly online survey. The tally of animals killed for the past year demonstrates that local groups of recreation hunters play an important role in managing New Zealand’s pest species and game animals.
“Removal of pest species by our members contribute towards conservation of New Zealand’s native flora and fauna and helps to maintain healthy habitats that sustain our valued game animals,” says SCNZDA President Stuart Humphrey.
“Our members pest control and hunting efforts also support farmers to manage excessive grazing of pastures and crops by wild animals like wallaby and deer”.
Pest species removed by SCNDZA members includes rabbit, feral goat and wallaby shot while hunting; possum trapped for their fur; and stoat, ferret, rat and hedgehog trapped as part of personal or community led conservation projects.
Game animals harvested include tahr, chamois, pig and the various deer species found throughout New Zealand. These species are harvested by hunters for their prized free-range meat, and for their trophy antlers, horns and tusks.
“Of note, SCNZDA members removed 4,438 wallabies over the past year at no cost to rate or tax payers,” says Humphrey.
“SCNZDA are an organised group that hold regular club hunts on private and public land, and all members are covered by indemnity insurance.”
“We urge farmers or public land managers needing to manage game or pest animal numbers to contact SCNZDA. Our members may be able to contribute to reducing the number of animals such as wallaby, deer and tahr at our own cost.”
Photo SCNZDA-2: ‘SCNZDA members on a organised club hunt - female tahr were harvested on private land in an effort to reduce their numbers for the landowner’.
Photo SCNZDA-3: ‘SCNZDA member Allan Gillespie with trapped possums plucked of their fur’.
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