SDMF Newsletter 2003

Readers are reminded that articles printed in this publication are the personal opinion of the writer and may differ from the official views of the Sambar Deer Management Foundation Inc.

Before starting the report on last season I again thank those Companies and Departments who make access available to the land for the public ballot. Without the continued support and assistance of these organisations and their personnel the public ballot could not go ahead in its current form. Those in particular I am thanking are:-

The ballot blocks are from Waitarere in the south to Harakeke in the north. This year the number of ballot blocks was increased from 120 in 2001 to 138. The reason for this was improved cover in Waitarere and Santoft Blocks. This has meant that deer have moved into previously open areas and these are very huntable. In addition the hunters who drew Santoft or Waitarere Forest blocks were given the opportunity to have a companion hunt the block with them as there is increasing damage in both forests. This was the first time we had allowed this in Waitarere. The companions are required to take out a licence. This year almost all hunters in these forests opting to take companions. With companion hunters there were a total opportunity on public land of 216 licences and there were 212 issued.

This year the ballot attracted 1171 applicants. This is the highest number we have ever had and confirms that there continues to be strong interest in the public ballot which we hope will continue. Again there were only a few applications for the ballot arriving to late to go into the ballot. This is very pleasing and obviously people are realising that the Ballot Cut Date. I do not like rejecting these but it takes time for the applications to be processed and details made ready for the ballot so please send your applications in early.

While mentioning the cutoff time I emphasise that it is VERY IMPORTANT to have your ballot application in before the time stated. The applications close and ballots MUST be received by 5.00pm on Friday July 4th 2003. This DOES NOT mean posted on the 4th. As there is NO advantage in when your ballot application is received PLEASE post early. PLEASE don’t make me say No to you.

For the last season we issued a total of 393 licenses, 212 for ballot blocks and 181 for private land. The numbers issued for private land are again up on previous years. Part of this is due to increased interest and also to more compliance in taking up licences by hunters on private land. The percentage of licence returns from hunters is down again this year to 60.1%. Of these 71% (148) from ballot block hunters but only 47% (86) from private land hunters. This is very disappointing as we need the information from the returns. Hunters need to remember that sending back a return IS A CONDITION of the licence. We have been very lenient in this area in the past, even offering prizes for those who send in return by due date. This is not working with one return actually arriving in early May this year. We are now looking at ways to encourage compliance by withholding licences in future years when hunters do not put in a return. We do not want to do this so PLEASE put your return in after your hunt.

The information received on these returns is important to the Foundation. These returns give us information on the health of the herd on both ballot land and private land. It also gives us information on the hunters, the amount of funds they produce for the local economy and the amount of time they are putting into the annual hunt. It is important that hunters fill in the information on the season return as accurately as possible. This information is important in the continuing management of your Sambar herd.

Despite the increase in licences issued during the season we were given reports of only 47 animals taken by hunters while hunting Sambar. This is down on last year. Those taken were made up of 12 hinds and 35 stags.

The companion hunter system in Waitarere did not produce any additional animals. Hunters did not report any additional numbers sighted either. However in Santoft the numbers taken reinforced that this method of hunting does work with hunters spending more time in the field and in some cases both hunters taking animals. Due to the number of hunters not putting returns in it make it very difficult to ascertain the correct numbers. Hunters are asked to contact a Foundation monitor if they take an animal even if they are not required to contact MAF.

Hunters saw 607 Sambar during the season and many also saw animals on their research trips. These were made up of 153 young animals, 113 stags and 341 hinds. On ballot blocks 189 deer were seen by hunters. The balance were seen by hunters on private land. The numbers of all animals is up on last year. However there is a swing in the numbers seen. There are more young animals and less stags seen. The Foundation will be monitoring this during the current season to see if it is a trend. As hunters tend to target stags a fall in their numbers is to be expected. Proper herd management encourages removing animals of both sexes and all ages. As hunters we do encourage you to take the first animal you see.

Hunters are certainly spending plenty of time out there looking even if we did have some lousy weather. A total of 4086 hours (up on last year) were spent by hunters actively hunting and they also spent some 1469 hours (up on last year) researching their hunting areas before going hunting. On average each hunter spent 17.5 hours hunting (17.4 in 2001) and 6.3 hours on research (6.1 in 2001). This year the fastest successful hunt was on a ballot block and took 15 minutes. The second fastest hunt was also on a ballot block and took 30 minutes. Hunters estimate they spent $68527.00 in relation to their hunting. This is an average of $282.85 ($297.39 in 2001) for each hunter. If this was spread over all licenses issued rather than just those who sent their returns in the amount spent would be $111160.05. I think that this shows that hunters contribute to the national economy to a large extent given that our hunt is just a small part of all hunting that takes place.

Every year we field comments and reports about problems with hunters on the Rangitikei river bed. This is potentially a very dangerous place to hunt so it attracts special conditions. To help those wishing to hunt in this area I will outline the position.

The consents to hunt in this area are controlled by horizon's m.v.. out of their Marton office. They will issue consent to hunt on the river only where a person has an access consent from the land owner adjacent to the river area to be hunted. This means that to hunt in this area you need the access consent of the land owner bordering on the river. With this consent you then approach horizon's m.v. for their consent to hunt the river area directly adjacent to the land owners boundary. You may only hunt this area and NOT outside it. There are NO permits to hunt the full length of the river as one party tried to tell another last year.

The Foundation still issues the actual hunting licence. However NO licence will be issued for this area unless we see both the access consent from the land owner and horizon's m.v. Due to past problems there will be increased policing of this area and permits will be checked. Those without the proper consents may find their Sambar hunting licence revoked.

SAMBAR DEER MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION INC. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE For The Period Ended 31 January 2003
Income
Donations	305.00
Interest	1399.29
Promotional Goods	1451.61
Raffle - Ballot Night	174.00
Subs	5220.00	8549.90
Expenses
A.G.M. Costs - Advert	315.99
Bank Cost	2.10
Consultant	1675.00
General Expenses	253.50
Meeting Costs	207.81
Postage	860.50
Stationary	385.31
Web Site Costs	299.00
Tree Damage - Santoft	7075.38	3999.21
Net Surplus (Deficit)		4550.69

HUNT ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNT For The Period Ended 31 January 2003
Ballot Fees	5204.44
Licence Fee	6989.67
Received GST	1523.89	13715.00
Ballot Costs
Data Input	559.02
Hall Hire	20.00
Postage & Stationary	437.44
Hunt Administration Costs
Advertising	1491.01
Data Pack Bits	72.72
Locks & Repairs	274.53
Photocopy, Postage & Stationary	1767.50
Tolls	412.56
News Letter & Report
Envelopes	310.00
Postage	1271.20
Printing	1988.00	8288.74
GST Paid		1021.20
GST To DoC		502.69
Transfer To DoC Reserve		3902.37

SAMBAR DEER MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION INC. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION As At 31 January 2003
Members Equity

Opening Balance		25669.76
Net Surplus From Statement of Financial Position	4550.69
		30220.45

This is represented by:
Current Assets

Bank Accounts & Bank Deposits	43802.30
Key Bond	200.00
Paid In Advance - Consultant	500.00
Resident Withholding Tax	85.51
Stock On Hand
- Monograms	264.00
- Badges	80.75
- Prepaid Envelopes	993.69
		45926.25
Fixed Assets

Microscope	1119.38
Jaw Drill	268.00
		1387.38
Less Current Liabilities

Prepaid Licences	20.00
Sundry Creditors	854.59
		874.49
Term Liabilities

DOC Reserve Fund	12316.32
Transfer From Hunt Administration Account	3902.37
		16218.69
		30220.45

The Foundations Web Site continues to prove to be a popular reference point for information about Sambar Deer and the Sambar Deer Management Foundation. We regularly receive email from the site links with people wanting information.

Photos are changed regularly (Do you have a favourite to share?) and shortly we will add a ballot application form and a licence application form. These will be downloadable.

If you are lucky enough to draw a block this year try the web sit for info on your block and a map of the area. Unlike some at least you will know where to find the correct forest! Sorry we can't tell you exactly where the deer are!

When you get a chance visit the site and let us know what you think or anything that you would like to see.

We have had quite a bit of feed back about how impressed people are with the layout and construction of our site. The Foundation offers its thanks to our Webmaster. If you are thinking of having a site created how about contacting him through our site and getting a quote for doing the work. I am sure that you will be impressed with what he can do for you.