Thread: the OFF TOPIC to Stags shot 21 (discussion of wild animal management)

An interesting question relating to wild animal management for hunters is "what do you think should be done regarding tahr outside the feral range specified by the HTCP" ?

I.e. the introductions, migrations or escapees that are present in the Eyre Mtns, Oteake, Mt Hutt, Waikite, Hunter Hills, Arawhata, Waianakarua etc.



It's easy to think that these populations are a good thing, as it provides more opportunities for hunters. However recreational hunters under the present set of incentives and conditions haven't met the objectives of the HTCP within the feral range (acknowledging of course all the failings in management by DOC over the past 28 years) and the populations in most of the management units exceed intervention densities, so a requirement for more opportunities is difficult to justify.

Advocating for more populations or a greater tahr range also feeds the perception that hunters only care about maximum animal numbers rather than ecological values at all, which is an undesirable perception for managers and the public to hold, it's a mental model that is negative for the outcomes that hunters need.