Deer Shooting Days

Published in 1964, this book fits a very specific sub-genre of New Zealand books. As a genre, they are written by hardy hunters, they are written in a very simple way, without a lot of complication. Barry Crump is probably the best known author in this sub-genre, although he preferred to fictionalise, but many of his stories were based on his deer-culling experiences.

As a background, deer were introduced to New Zealand from the 1850s onward, primarily for sport. Eight species were released - red deer being the dominant breed, found in both islands, fallow deer also form localised herds in both islands. Sambar, rusa and sika occur only in the central North Island, and wapiti in Fiordland. White-tailed deer are found around Lake Wakatipu and on Stewart Island. The axis deer is no longer found in New Zealand. Additionally, moose, chamois and tahr were introduced in the 1900s, although moose died out relatively quickly, the other two species are common enough in the central Southern Alps (of the South Island).

Once established, the populations excelled in the predator free environment, and trophy hunting was a tourism draw as well as making hunting available to everyone, rather than the upper class sport of Britain. By the 1920s or 1930s deer were rapidly spreading through the mountainous forest terrain, and the Acclimatisation Society started offering bounties to cull them.

In 1930 the Department of Internal Affairs took over the management of deer. This heralded the era of the professional hunter. Small groups of men lived in tent camps or built rough huts in isolated parts of the country, killing deer and skinning them. They were paid wages, with a bonus for each skin. It was very hard work, the days were long, and the weather was often cold and wet. Between 1932 and 1954 at least 1.4 million and possibly as many as 3 million deer were killed. Deer culling by the state continued on a smaller scale into the early 1970s. It effectively ceased in 1987 when the Department of Conservation was formed.

After this, times moved on to helicopter carcass recovery, then shooting or netting from helicopter and even ‘bulldogging' or jumping from helicopters onto deer to wrestle them to the ground! But this was all after the setting for this book.

Joff Thomson, and his many brothers (I lost track of them all - Trevor, Errol, Claude, Norman - and I think at least one I missed) spent many years as cullers, and as freelance hunters, selling skins. Joff shares a lot of his adventures and his experience, but also writes a pretty thorough book. Well broken up into chapters which outline some of the earlier history of hunting deer - some of the legendary hunters he grew up hearing about, following in their footprints. There are chapters on specific areas he hunted (Mostly central South Island), or specific trips, a chapter on ‘odd things that happen', one on hunting technique, one on bushcraft, one on the deer themselves. Then a few more about his experiences and a conclusion. While the author was obviously a talented and clever hunter, the book is far more a sharing of knowledge than a bragging story.

There are a lot of black and white photographs - a few only of trophies, more of the way of life - the huts, the people etc, all of which are pretty good.

An excellent example of this sub-genre. 4.5 stars, rounded up. 5*****