https://www.gets.govt.nz/NRC/Externa...tm?id=27912047
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https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets...cal/SFC212.pdfQuote:
Originally Posted by LOC
Page 11. They were illegally liberated in an area where deer farming is prohibited.
Great info, thanks. Implies they were released roughly 30 years ago
I drove through the forest two weeks ago, it’s incredibly dense and steep, perfect for Sika to evade choppers and night vision
Its called predator free NZ but apparently includes possums, rabbits, goats and deer. While these are pests, they are not predators (despite DoCs photoshopping a possum with feathers in its mouth.....)Quote:
Originally Posted by MB
There are only two ways I can see that would actually get us to the end goal....and both are cases of cure is worse than the disease.
1) Bio control- Modifying a disease or similar to target a specific species. Sounds promising ....until you put thought into it....This is how we got mustilids (released to hunt rabbits which were their natural prey in the homeland - but quickly found our natives easier to catch and eat...) and how we nearly got mountain lions to control deer (until a local pointed out deer run faster than sheep and mountain lions have a hankering for easy mutton too...)
The real big problem with this genetic control however is much scarier than a new import. The hard part is getting a disease or similar to target a specific species such as possums. BUT once this is done, it is much much easier to alter it to target something else.....deer goats etc...now if it gets into the wrong hands you can add people to that list and you have changed a biological control into a WMD....And no one wants this.
2) total reset / clean slate- wipe out every living thing in an area the start again with a clean slate reintroducing the native flora and fauna making sure the undesirables stay out but lets face it, what we have now is already better than that solution......even with the pests...
What does really get my goat though is we have Tahr listed as a pest by the likes of twigs n tweets, but this population is probably the only healthy population of tahr left in the world.....If we get rid of them, they will likely be an endangered species as their current original population is in decline. Similar with possums....They are protected in Aussie....if Ozzie really wants them, they should come and get some- our population is healthy and thriving......
no they were trucked or well trailered up there - but even though we all like deer it was a silly thing to do- it was never going to end wellQuote:
Originally Posted by LOC
In reality the sika are a minor ecological threat up there than mustelids, cats, possums. The money should be allocated accordingly.
Just like the ones that were allegedly released out Collingwood way, back in about 85 or 86. Truck and trailor across the strait and out to the side of the road past Collingwood.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry the hunter
Odds are they were sourced from the same place tooQuote:
Originally Posted by Husky1600#2
But has it really contributed meaningfully to threatened species recovery and sustainability? Even setting aside the volunteer effort in places like Miramar (which arguably isn't transferrable) I cant help think the money spent there would be better applied in habitats where those species more naturally belong? And I have a concern at the potential affects of neglect where ( I think) it matters because people think they are making a difference, when actually they may not be? Just my view, of course.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
Yes it does make a difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxx
I’m the first to say deer in Northland would be awesome, fallow would do great up here in all the broken bush and farm land, it’s not like much of the bush is native any more with all the invasive plants and constant pine tree planting.
But the sika cull is to my understanding not really going to affect many of us, I know allot of people and hunters up here and have never seen or met someone that has seen one of these deer dead or alive. My understanding is they mostly are in the private land to the NE and that is why doc have not been able to cull them out, rumour was they were shot on the bush edges by a couple of farmers out that way that sort of kept them safe. But I suspect they have sold the land or gotten older and handed it down and the younger generations are not interested in keeping them around and doc is getting in while they can.
It isn’t uncommon to see up to 5 feral cats driving up this way at night and I can’t count the amount of times I have had to stop due to pigs on the road so it does seam off they are spending this much money on a few deer that really cannot spread far due to open farm land or the ocean.
Can someone explain this to me. My understanding is that Northland is riddled with feral pigs, do they not cause at least equal if not more damage than deer? Why this focus on deer rather than pigs?
Have to agree with the last couple of posts. I don't disagree with the eradication as a hunter, I disagree as a tax payer! As rusl says, it won't make a bit of difference to the vast majority of hunters in the north. They are not a viable target for those hunting on public land. Lots of other pests to deal with first, especially predators which are rampant, then of course, there's pigs and goats. My opinion is that this is an ideology-driven endeavour rather than something that is going to have a meaningful impact.
As an aside, I know of one person that has a large sika herd on her private block and no one is coming anywhere near them. There must be others. In addition, releasing pigs in to the bush for the purpose of hunting with dogs is also pretty common. I was fortunate enough to hunt an adjacent farm for a while and was bringing home the bacon!
I read with some horror in the news article the words Taranaki next bugger off
That is my broader concern. If it's OK for one region, why not for the next?Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry the hunter
In this climate with budget cuts, I don't think we need worry too much as it took a lot of time and work to get the funding to do the Sika in Russell. This funding was approved as it was an illegal release into any area without a resident population.Quote:
Originally Posted by MB
I have never seen as many deer as there are in the wild now post Covid and with a major reduction in WARO, the numbers are climbing and I don't think removal is a treat, effective control without some form of intervention is, however.
While I was away during the roar 5 different blocks in the areas I hunt had culled to waste, they had not done this before Covid. One station alone culled over 400 animals.
From what I've read on the forum, I think you're right, but as someone who has to drive at least half a day to even start deer hunting on public land, you'll forgive my concern.Quote:
Originally Posted by gmm
Taranakis problem is that Taranaki Regional Council have money and if TRC get involved they are driven by a lot of Dairy Farmers who are worried about TB - even though the threat is no longer there - to be watched
Yep, in the same boat there with the travel. I have started to hunt the South Island a lot more as find it easier to get access and lot less hunting pressure. The issue is always the travel, just have to go for longer.Quote:
Originally Posted by MB
They're also suggesting coromandel as well as naki and norf. It's all another green extreme rort and timed with the desire to eradicage Tahr and wapiti.
Yes Coromandel interesting did not know there were deer there I did know about the Northland populations having worked up there I doubt they know about them all though --
Wandered in from Kaimais I guess. Pigs all rhu there.
What a loaded fairy tale! Apart from the fairy stories the recovered meat amounts to about 12 deer. Seems the hapu wasted the other 48. Public money ineffectively being used for a lolly scramble.
Northland governance in a nutshell. I hope the rest of the country does it better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woody
I wonder if 61 sets of ears and tails are recorded officially confirmed by the bod responsible for handing over public funds?
Woody, they're more than just recorded. DNA sampled. Compared the DNA they'd colated.
Before they started they collected DNA and set a large number of trail cams. Also using txt cams to help with catching them when they are around a cam.
There's some silly numbers being spouted on face book about what was spent. It's a fair bit but nothing to special in pest control. Especially when you see what the councils are spending on follies, art peices and other things round here.
The whinging is kind of pathetic since the release, folk have had nearly thirty years to get their act together and have a hunt. I've snooped around and pig hunting large parts and from all corners.
Don't mistake this for our southern herds. The best 8 I've seen was nothing too special. The bush is pretty unpleasant to stalk and get more awful further away.
They didn't get them all and won't. However they have probably got a fair chunk.
There to her deer in northland. They just don't seem to thrive and aren't enjoyable to hunt.
I don't understand your comment on the Lolly scramble, have you taken the time to understand the program and how the program is being conducted?Quote:
Originally Posted by Woody
The simple fact is that this was an illegal release of deer into a deer free environment. Personally, I think the current program is the best solution to the issue and I would rather see a well-planned comprehensive program to eradicate the herd than the often-standard go to of a 1080 drop.
The bottom line is that a program like this is the only way to eradicate this population, plenty has been done in the past with little or no result. Hunting has proven to have little or no impact and as Cowboy has said it's a hard place to hunt and the numbers are low. A lot of money has been spent on this in the past with little result.
The heard is small in numbers and a lot of the hinds when shot during this program have been found to be baren which may be the reason why.
I was skeptical about the program at the start, however I took the time to understand how the program was being run, the obligations DOC had to remove the herd and full scope of the research leading up to the actual eradication process and I now fully support the program, and I am impressed with the results.
The program still has some phases to complete so not finished yet.
What has become apparent to me is that the complexity, cost and time it has taken to eradicate this small herd puts the predator free 2050 program into context.
Yep. Get rid of them in Nthland and make the CNI herd a HOSI.
https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/h...cial-interest/
I do have to correct you on one point 1080 is not used to target deer in NZ and long may that continue DOC have expressly stated they will not use 1080 specifically on deer and have not done so - yes deer are killed when 1080 is used in possum control but they are bi-kill - the no killed can vary a lot depending on how much feed is available for deer - we cant stop thatQuote:
Originally Posted by gmm
Drove up Ridge road to Apiti today. Lotsa forestry conversion on both sides of road down lower. Think the deer from the Ruahines will stroll over for better living. Sheep farms are going the same way as the old deer farms in that area. Saw some dairy farms but staggered how they grow grass. Crazy.