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.

The Chairman's Thoughts for the 2003 - 2004 Year.

The 2003/4 year has been a dramatic one with a major disruption to the 2003 season where Ernslaw One Ltd withdrew their blocks from the Ballot at 11.00 am on the day of the ballot. This represented approx. 50% on the ballot hunting opportunities. On the night we were unaware if the blocks would become available before the season so the offer of returning ballot fees was given to those present, which was not taken up by anyone, and the ballot was drawn as though those lands were going to be available.

It proved that Ernslaw One Ltd did not make the land available and arranged for individuals to hunt the blocks on the basis that they hoped that these individuals would harvest more deer.

The SDMF felt it was not in a moral or legal position to issue licenses to these ÔPrivate Hunters on Public LandsÕ over the top of those hunters who had been drawn on the ballot night. The SDMF asked for a ruling from Department of Conservation (DoC) and it proved that the SDMF was not legally able to issue these licenses and so the licenses were issued by DoC.

DoC did make additional blocks available from their estate to enable some of the SDMF balloted hunters that had been drawn for a Ernslaw One Ltd block, to have a hunting opportunity. We thank them for this eleventh hour opportunity.

Ernslaw One Ltd ran the hunt within the regulations of the gazette notice and the number of animals taken was only slightly above the number taken the previous year by SDMF balloted hunters.

We understand that the reason that the Ernslaw One Ltd lands were withdrawn was that they were concerned that bark stripping had reached an unacceptable level and that their concerns and requests for action to DoC were being unanswered.

This year the bark stripping problem still exists and discussions between DoC, Ernslaw One Ltd and the SDMF have resulted in a proposal that we hope will make the lands available to the 2004 Ballot. At the time of writing the SDMF has advised DoC of our recommendations in the fine tuning of this proposal. We had hoped full details would be available to publish in this 2004 Newsletter however the wheels are grinding slower than we had hoped.

I wish to thank the executive and committee members for their hard work throughout a difficult year and to Peter Fitchett, our web site designer for another year of positive tinkering; check it out at http://www.sambardeer.co.nz

For those that want to be involved in monitoring and/or pre and post season surveying of balloted land please contact myself or the secretary.

The committee extends an invitation to all members to attend monthly meetings. The meetings are held each month ( except January ) on the first Wednesday of the month at the Golden Galleon in Sanson at 7.30. Sanson has been the historical meeting place as it is the most central point for people who travel from Wanganui, Palmerston North, Levin, south of Kapiti, Marton and occasionally from Taihape. If you wish to come and would like to car pool, then contact myself or the secretary and we will try to put you in contact with a standing committee member or like minded individual to get you there. New blood is welcome.

Neil Hammer
SDMF Chairman

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.

Santoft

On the day of the ballot last year we were advised that Santoft and other Ernslaw One lands would not be available for the ballot. The Foundation worked very hard between ballot night and the start of the season to get these blocks back. We were unsuccessful.

We have continued over the last year to work through the problems with the parties involved, unfortunately at the time of writing I do not have much in the way of good news. There is to be a meeting on Wednesday the 9th of June where we are hoping that we will find out what is happening for this coming year. Foundation members and hunters can be assured that we are always working for the best interests of all.

FOUNDATION PROMOTIONAL GOODS

Embroidered Foundation Monograms

	Cost   We have these in two colours. Yellow and Black for Foundation members. Orange and Black for Non Members.   Smaller than Actual Size	$15.00
Foundation T-Shirts
	You can have these in any colour so long as it is BLAZE ORANGE. The front has the words "Sambar Deer Foundation" around part of our logo and on the back we have the whole logo approx. 12" high. Both are black. With this on you are guaranteed to be noticed! These can also be viewed on our web site.
	Cost T-Shirt Post & Pack   Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL & 3XL	$30.00 $5.00

Please use the order form inside the mail wrapper of your newsletter, or email us with your order, and remember to tell us what size you want. It may be wise to order a size larger than you usually get as I am told sizing may be small.

To save being caught with odd sizes we will have these produced as we process orders. Please anticipate a delay in delivery. We will process orders as fast as possible.

Ballot - Rigged or Not?

Mystery Revealed

Well wonders will never cease, I am finally putting pen to paper but I feel I sort of have to you see as I am continually hearing stories of how the Sambar Ballot has just got to be rigged.

First off a little about me, the year was 1994 and all my mates were putting in for a Sambar Ballot and asked if I would like to do the same, so rather than ask what the f... was that, I said "yeah course." You could say my mates were just a little bit gutted when my name was drawn out and I had a block in Harakeke first time up. This is when I first heard the term "it must be rigged."

Of course their comments didn't worry me in the slightest but thinking back we all should have thought of the members who had got us this very special privilege with literally their blood sweat and probably tears, though Real Blokes don't cry so we'll delve no deeper.

Anyway the weekend duly arrives and my brother, a mate and I arrive at the block bright and early, before daylight in fact, cause we're keen to get started.     Dumb too eh.
Why is that, some of you may be saying, well we have made a couple of really bad mistakes before we have even started.

1) First thing you do when you get a block is find out who has been monitoring your block and talk to him. Yes that means phone him; his toll bill is already big enough. Why?
a) Well for starters my monitor could have told me there had been a little faux pas and 2 lots of hunters had the same block, nobody's fault just Murphy's Law or S... happens.
b) He may be able to give you a few clues as to the general whereabouts of the animals on your block, or at least where the sign is.
c) He may be able to tell you what sign to look for e.g. Scrapes, Rubs, maybe even where the preaching tree is.
d) He may be able to tell you that driving the roads is not necessarily going to get you an animal and when you do get out of your car and start hunting, you will need to halve your stalking pace.

2) Second thing you do is try and find the time to get on to your block before the allotted weekend even if only to find out your boundaries and familiarise yourself with the lay of the land. Your monitor can probably also help out here.
The result of our weekend was that monitor Dave was able to put us on the right block, tell us what to look for and where to look for it and the result is History. If only we had phoned before Sat night. Dumb, eh!

So... Back to the ballot night, Yes I was lucky to get it on my first try and have been lucky 1 other time. I say lucky because even some committee members who have been with the Foundation since its outset in 1988 have never been LUCKY enough to get a ballot.

O.K. What does happen on ballot night? Well I think I am in a position to tell you as I go along and help out. We all turn up at the Sanson Hall because we're all keen to see it's not rigged and there are over 1000 in the ballot now. Well, actually only about 50 people turn up, from as far away as Upper Hutt and Taupo, maybe further, I don't know. Anyway you get to buy a raffle ticket at the door (..great prizes..), then we all take a look at the list of hunters who are in the Ballot and memorise the number beside our name, and that of our mates who live too far away or just couldn't be bothered coming, so therefore couldn't possibly comment on the validity of the Ballot.

We now take a seat, and 4 people from the audience are asked to come forward and assist.
They sit at a table with 4 buckets one for each of them.
In these buckets are 10 balls, numbered 0 to 9.
The president tells us which block is being drawn.
One by one each person draws out a ball and the president, standing behind them, reads out the 4 digit number these make.
The number is entered into the computer and the name that corresponds to the number is read out. It is also checked that the number has not been drawn earlier.
The balls go back in their buckets and the process continues until we have that block's weekends full.
Then we go on to the next block.
When all blocks are full, we draw the reserve hunters.
With this done, we draw the raffle and accuse the successful ballot-winners of rigging the ballot!!

So now you know that there is plenty of room in the hall, we would really like to fill it just once. So please feel free to come along on Ballot night (we want your raffle ticket money)

Colin Harold   (Relatively new Foundation Member)