| Helicopter-based Hunting In Fiordland |
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Information AboutHelicopter-based Hunting In Fiordland |
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As long ago as the 1920s, the Fiordland National Park was plagued with introduced European deer, detrimentally to the native New Zealand fauna. The government placed a bounty on the deer, paying local hunters for each animal removed from the park. Combined with the market for venison and deerskin, by the 1960s, this had proved a lucrative enough business that several hunters invested in helicopters, the better to travel through this rugged landscape. Deer populations plummeted as a result, and competition among hunters grew more fierce. Arguments between men armed with helicopters and high-powered rifles resulted in more than one pitched battle mid-air over the park. The government soon stepped in to prevent such extremes; combined with a growing farm-raised deer industry, helicopter hunting declined steeply in more recent years. However, its legacy lives on, as dozens upon dozens of former hunting helicopters these days carry tourists on sight-seeing aerial journeys. One of the methods of capturing feral deer was to fly beside the fleeing deer and cast capture net over such,imediatly afterwards a crew member would jump from the helicopter, tie and place into "'livey bags" for carrying out to the waiting farmers. The Fiordland Deer Hunting days, although all but over, are being re-awakened by a former heli-hunter, now turned artist, Gordon Kane. He is painting in oils the history of heli-hunting. Red deer where imported into New Zealand and released into the forests. That environment was perfect for population explosion. The result of the population explosion being wide spread damage to vegetation. The New Zealand government, in order to solve the problem, paid deer cullers a bounty per deer tail in their attempt to control deer numbers. This solution failed. Germany began to purchase the exported deer meat, venison, and the deer hunting industry commenced. Within a few years a suitable price was paid for the venison by Germany. This bought about an industry of commercial deer hunting in New Zealand. Horses and jet boats were used to transport deer back to game depots for sale. The typical “kiwi bloke” “do it yourself” identity created and developed this self made industry. The next stage of development was to introduce the helicopter, which was used for carrying deer back to awaiting trucks, to be couriered to the meat works. The trucks were positioned at remote road ends to freight the deer, to the venison processing factories. Within one year the idea of shooting the deer from the helicopter, with the doors removed, became perfected. One thousand “aerial shot” deer was considered as a highly productive month per helicopter. The price of each deer averaged $150. The crew of the “flying hunter” helicopter consisted of 3 men, pilot, shooter and knife hand. This “flying hunter” helicopter would be supported by a larger helicopter used for the sole purpose carrying the shot deer, suspended by a hook, under that helicopter, and supplying fuel, to the remote based hunter unit. These men based in remote wilderness areas, either in huts, or lived on moored vessels in the sounds of fiordland, used as helicopter pads. With the strong demand for “organic venison” from a pure environment, and dwindling population of the wild deer it became about that one or two of the deer hunters began reasoning that it was meritable to start farming these deer. Initially the fawns were captured, hand raised, domesticated and the dawn of deer farming occurred in New Zealand. With strong conviction, precision and natural judgement, the idea of standing on the helicopter skids whilst the helicopter chased and manoeuvred close to the fleeing deer. The shooter would then jump onto the deer. A method of restraining the deer and tying the same sided legs together was learnt by trial an error. The deer would then be placed into “lively bags” and suspended beneath the helicopter and be flown to the eager awaiting investing potential deer farmers] The re-sale of these deer, “live’s was initially $300. . When compared to farming cattle or sheep, deer farming was a more than viable option. Secondly, money invested in deer farming had tax advantages. As the skills of the hunters increased and the deer becoming more elusive and the wild deer population declining, and the high level demand for breeding stock from these deer hunters, for the deer farms, resulted in live deer prices rising to $3500. This live deer hunting industry, unique to New Zealand, became a way of life and a specialised culture. Accidents, injuries, helicopter crashes and sadly fatalities became common. Many speculative men became involved in this deer hunting industry resulting in many disasters. The New Zealand government’s intervention through legislation, policing and administration, was considered by the deer hunters as harassment to their livelihood. This resulted in a difference of what was considered “fair play” between authorities and the deer hunters. With changing tax laws and deer farms breeding their own stock bought about the end of this era. The deer now repopulate in the forest RECORDED HISTORY Self taught artist Gordon Kane of Te Anau , New Zealand was one of the founding members of the live deer capture industry. his life is dedicated to historically record the history of that industry thro his paintings. Each painting is a record of a factual event. He is internationally recognized as New Zealands historian, autobiographial artist of the live deer captureing industry. His gallery on the lakefront of Lake Te Anau is dedicated to displaying the history of the live deer capture industry. EXTERNAL LINK |
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