Disclaimer

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.

2003 Season Report

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 reduced from 138 in 2002 to 76. The reason for this was the Blocks on lands under the control of Ernslaw One Limited being made unavailable to the ballot. We were able to secure 2 additional blocks with 6 licences from the Department of Conservation. Unfortunately these did not produce much in the way of sign or any animals taken. The hunters who drew Waitarere Forest blocks were given the opportunity to have a companion hunt the block with them. This year this helped in Waitarere with 4 animals taken.

This year the ballot attracted 1109 applicants, down from 1178 of the previous year. This shows continuing strong interest in the public ballot which we hope will be the same this year. While the news letter was late going out last year due to the new format I do not think that this contributed to the drop in numbers. How long does it take to write your name on a piece of paper and post it off? This is conformed by the fact that only a few applications arrived too late to go into the ballot. This is very pleasing and obviously people are noting the Ballot Cut Date. I do not like rejecting applications but it takes time for them to be processed and details made ready for the ballot. So please send your applications in early.

While mentioning the cutoff time I must 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 9th 2004. This does not mean posted on the 9th. As there is NO advantage in when your ballot application is received PLEASE don't make me say No to you. This is even more important this year as ballot night is the following Monday night, not Wednesday.

For the last season we issued a total of 365 licences, 117 for ballot blocks and 248 for private land and Ernslaw One blocks previously in the ballot. 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 up this year but only after we sent out reminder letters. It is a condition of the licence that a return be sent back by 31st of October. Until we sent out reminders the returns were disappointingly low. We eventually received 69.9%. This year 76% of ballot block hunters sent in returns and of the other land hunters 67% sent in returns. This is an improvement but as stated only after sending out a reminder. Its easy really, When you have finished hunting, fill out the form behind your licence and send it back in the stamped addressed envelope that we provide. How hard is that? And if you do manage to do that by the 31st of October we enter you into a draw to win one of two $50.00 sporting vouchers.

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 reduction in licences issued during the season we have been advised of 57 animals taken by hunters while hunting Sambar. This is up on last year. Those taken were made up of 26 hinds and 31 stags. In addition to the numbers we receive from hunters on their returns we are aware of 14 other animals taken but the hunters have not put returns in. This would make the take approx. 71 animals. This would be the highest yet. A pleasing result this year is the increase take of hinds. Management of the herd dictates that both hind and stags need to be taken.

Hunters on ballot land took 7 animals. By blocks, these were:-

The companion hunter system in Waitarere did produce additional animals this year with both hunters on one block being successful one weekend. The most outstanding item on the public block returns are the numbers from Moutoa. The monitor reports plenty there and reasonable numbers were seen. Despite this the number of 2 hinds is well down on previous years.

Due to the number of hunters not putting returns in it makes 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 786 Sambar during the season and many also saw animals on their research trips. These were made up of 196 young animals, 167 stags and 423 hinds. 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. However we are aware that most hunters particularly on private land are after a trophy.

On ballot blocks we do sometimes ask that you take the first animal. This is for management reasons and we would request that hunters assist by doing so. The consequences of not lowering animal numbers are ones that we do not want to have to go into and would be unpalatable to most hunters.

Hunters are certainly spending plenty of time out there looking even if we did have some lousy weather. A total of 5619 hours (up on last year by 37% ) were spent by hunters actively hunting and they also spent some 1515 hours (also up on last year) researching their hunting areas before going hunting. On average each hunter spent 22 hours hunting (17.5 in 2002) and 6.9 hours on research (6.3 in 2001).

This year the fastest successful hunt was on a private block and took approx. 1 hour. This hunter also spent 16 hours checking out his block first. Research does pay off. On ballot blocks the quickest hunt this year took most of the day.

Hunters estimate they spent $64232.00 in relation to their hunting. This is an average of $289.33 ($282.85 in 2001) for each hunter. If this was spread over all licences issued rather than just those who sent their returns in the amount spent would be $105606.33. Many hunters do not like putting down what the cost is. Some only put down the $20.00 for the licence. Many say hunting is a pleasure and they don't like to put a value on it, others don't want their partners to know what that weekend away really cost! The reality is that our sport contributes to the economy. To help protect our sport it is important that we are able to show what that contribution is.

Hunting Sambar is for a very limited time and there are opportunities for only a few. It is only a small part of what hunters and hunting contribute to the national economy.

I shouldn't say it again but I will:

        PLEASE SEND IN THOSE SEASON RETURNS.

RANGITIKEI RIVER HUNTING

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 Horizons Regional Council. 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 Horizons Regional Council 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 Horizons Regional Council 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.

Other Contributions
The Chairman's Thoughts
A Few Notes From The Committee
Santoft
FOUNDATION PROMOTIONAL GOODS

FOUNDATION WEB PAGE

    http://www.sambardeer.co.nz

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.

A Few Notes From The Committee

Each month a dedicated few meet in Sanson and try to sort out problems that come up, plan for the coming year, seek survey information, see how we can do things better and do some long range planning for the future of Sambar Deer. Sometimes after the meeting a few jokes are told or the odd x rated email displayed. This number varies from 7 to 12 people. A few extras turn up now and then closer to the season but often disappear after a meeting. Maybe they think that they are going to get a job!

Occasionally we organise a social event (at no cost to the Foundation) involving our partners so that we can thank them for their support, assistance and letting us out to do other Sambar work. I know for a fact that several partners dread the coming of the Sambar season. Why? Well these same people on the committee are also the ones you call on the phone all night to find out about your block or you meet them in the field doing monitoring duties during the season. Some of them twice a day for the 6 weekends. These are over and above the weekends they have spent in the forest finding out about the deer so that they can pass on the information to you the hunter.

Why am I writing all this --- Well its to ask for your HELP.

We need a few more people to be involved on the committee, some people maybe not interested in the committee but who would be interested in doing survey work or monitoring work. Basically we are looking for more people to be involved in managing the Sambar Deer. Now we are not expecting you to come down from Auckland (we have other plans for you!) but there are those local to the area who might be able to give up a bit of time. While we meet in Sanson, there are cars travelling from Palmerston North, Marton, Wanganui and Levin. If you want to come along and see what we do give me (Ian Fitchett) a call and I will try to get you a ride to the next meeting.