Helicopter-based hunting in Fiordland
Encyclopedia
Helicopter hunting of deer has occurred in the Fiordland
area of New Zealand
since the 1960s.
As long ago as the 1920s, introduced Europe
an deer plagued the Fiordland National Park
to the detriment of the native New Zealand
flora
and fauna
. The New Zealand 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 for several hunters to invest in helicopter
s, the better to travel through the rugged
landscape. Deer populations plummeted as a result, and competition among hunters grew more fierce. Accusations of sabotage and the flouting of rules became common in this unregulated industry
. Combined with a growing farm-raised deer industry, and the impact of New Zealand government's efforts to poison the wild deer population with 1080 poison, the helicopter hunting market declined steeply in . However, its legacy lives on, as former hunting helicopters carry tourists and hunters into the New Zealand wilderness.
deer involved flying beside the fleeing deer and casting a capture net over the deer. Immediately afterwards a crew member would jump from the helicopter and tie and place the deer into "livey bags" for carrying out to the waiting farmers.
into New Zealand and released them into the forests starting in the 1860s, along with many other introduced animals. The environment proved perfect for a population explosion, the result being widespread damage both to vegetation
and to farmers' grazing. The New Zealand government, in order to solve the problem, paid deer cullers a bounty per deer-tail in an attempt to control deer numbers, starting in the 1930s. Until the early 1950s, the sale of deer hides recovered by the government hunters supposedly financed the wildlife culling operations. This ceased when the market collapsed. Then Germany
began to purchase exported New Zealand venison
, and the deer market hunting industry commenced.
Within a few years the German market paid a good price for venison. This brought about an industry of commercial deer hunting in New Zealand.
Hunters used horses and jet boats to transport deer back to game depots for sale. The typical “kiwi
bloke
” “do-it-yourself
” identity created and developed this self-made industry. (Compare "Southern man
".)
The next stage of development saw the introduction of helicopters, used for carrying deer back to awaiting trucks positioned at remote road ends, for courier
ing to the venison-processing factories.
Within one year the technique of shooting deer from helicopters with doors removed became perfected with thanks to Rex Forrester
, a recognised New Zealand hunting and fishing specialist.
One thousand “aerial shot” deer counted as a highly productive month per helicopter. The price of each deer averaged NZ$150.
Hunters had their bases in remote wilderness areas, either in huts, or living on moored vessels in the Fiordland sounds, used as helicopter pad
s.
venison” from a pure environment, and dwindling population of wild deer, some deer hunters saw advantages in starting deer farm
ing.
Initially they captured fawns, hand-raised them and domesticated them: the dawn of deer farming occurred in New Zealand in the 1970s.
When compared to farming cattle or sheep, deer farming proved a more than viable operation - it had tax advantages too.
As the skills of the hunters increased, the deer became more elusive, the wild deer population declined, demand for breeding stock for deer farms grew, and live-deer prices rose to $3,500 per beast. 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 intervened through legislation
, policing and administration; the deer hunters considered this as harassment to their livelihood. There resulted in a difference in what the authorities and the deer hunters considered “fair play”. Changing tax laws, and deer farms breeding their own stock, bought about the end of this era.
The deer repopulate the forest.
Fiordland
Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the western-most third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and its ocean-flooded, steep western valleys...
area of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
since the 1960s.
As long ago as the 1920s, introduced Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an deer plagued the Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 12,500 km², and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...
to the detriment of the native New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
. The New Zealand government placed a bounty
Bounty (reward)
A bounty is a payment or reward often offered by a group as an incentive for the accomplishment of a task by someone usually not associated with the group. Bounties are most commonly issued for the capture or retrieval of a person or object. They are typically in the form of money...
on the deer, paying local hunters for each animal removed from the park. Combined with the market for venison
Venison
Venison is the meat of a game animal, especially a deer but also other animals such as antelope, wild boar, etc.-Etymology:The word derives from the Latin vēnor...
and deerskin, by the 1960s this had proved a lucrative enough business for several hunters to invest in helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s, the better to travel through the rugged
Rugged
Rugged may refer to:*Rugged Island*Rugged Lark*Rugged Mountain*Rugged computer...
landscape. Deer populations plummeted as a result, and competition among hunters grew more fierce. Accusations of sabotage and the flouting of rules became common in this unregulated industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
. Combined with a growing farm-raised deer industry, and the impact of New Zealand government's efforts to poison the wild deer population with 1080 poison, the helicopter hunting market declined steeply in . However, its legacy lives on, as former hunting helicopters carry tourists and hunters into the New Zealand wilderness.
Methods of capture
One method of capturing feralFeral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
deer involved flying beside the fleeing deer and casting a capture net over the deer. Immediately afterwards a crew member would jump from the helicopter and tie and place the deer into "livey bags" for carrying out to the waiting farmers.
History
European settlers imported red deerRed Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
into New Zealand and released them into the forests starting in the 1860s, along with many other introduced animals. The environment proved perfect for a population explosion, the result being widespread damage both to vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
and to farmers' grazing. The New Zealand government, in order to solve the problem, paid deer cullers a bounty per deer-tail in an attempt to control deer numbers, starting in the 1930s. Until the early 1950s, the sale of deer hides recovered by the government hunters supposedly financed the wildlife culling operations. This ceased when the market collapsed. Then Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
began to purchase exported New Zealand venison
Venison
Venison is the meat of a game animal, especially a deer but also other animals such as antelope, wild boar, etc.-Etymology:The word derives from the Latin vēnor...
, and the deer market hunting industry commenced.
Within a few years the German market paid a good price for venison. This brought about an industry of commercial deer hunting in New Zealand.
Hunters used horses and jet boats to transport deer back to game depots for sale. The typical “kiwi
Kiwi (people)
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
bloke
Bloke
Bloke is a slang term for a man. It is commonly used in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. It is however used in French speaking parts of Canada as a derogative term for the English speaking population.Bloke may also refer to:...
” “do-it-yourself
Do it yourself
Do it yourself is a term used to describe building, modifying, or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals...
” identity created and developed this self-made industry. (Compare "Southern man
Southern man
In New Zealand, the southern man is a stereotypical southern heterosexual male, well used to the solitude and conditions of open mountain or hill country, and completely out of his depth in the city....
".)
The next stage of development saw the introduction of helicopters, used for carrying deer back to awaiting trucks positioned at remote road ends, for courier
Courier
A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...
ing to the venison-processing factories.
Within one year the technique of shooting deer from helicopters with doors removed became perfected with thanks to Rex Forrester
Rex Forrester
Rex Forrester was a recognised New Zealand hunting and fishing specialist. He was known for his deer culling, helicopter hunting, live deer capture, pig hunting and trout fishing within New Zealand and Australia. He was also an outdoor sports author who published nine books.-Early life:Rex...
, a recognised New Zealand hunting and fishing specialist.
One thousand “aerial shot” deer counted as a highly productive month per helicopter. The price of each deer averaged NZ$150.
Methods of 'in air' transport
The crew of the “flying hunter” helicopter consisted of 3 men: pilot, shooter and knife hand. A larger helicopter would support this “flying hunter” helicopter: the bigger machine would transport the shot deer, suspended by a hook, under that helicopter; and also supply fuel to the remote-based hunter-unit.Hunters had their bases in remote wilderness areas, either in huts, or living on moored vessels in the Fiordland sounds, used as helicopter pad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
s.
The turn to deer farming
With the strong demand for “organicOrganic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
venison” from a pure environment, and dwindling population of wild deer, some deer hunters saw advantages in starting deer farm
Deer farm
A deer farm is a fenced piece of land suitable for grazing that is populated with deer raised for the purpose of hunting tourism or as livestock. Similar species such as elk, moose and even reindeer may be farmed in this method as well, sometimes on the same land...
ing.
Initially they captured fawns, hand-raised them and domesticated them: the dawn of deer farming occurred in New Zealand in the 1970s.
When compared to farming cattle or sheep, deer farming proved a more than viable operation - it had tax advantages too.
As the skills of the hunters increased, the deer became more elusive, the wild deer population declined, demand for breeding stock for deer farms grew, and live-deer prices rose to $3,500 per beast. 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 intervened through legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
, policing and administration; the deer hunters considered this as harassment to their livelihood. There resulted in a difference in what the authorities and the deer hunters considered “fair play”. Changing tax laws, and deer farms breeding their own stock, bought about the end of this era.
The deer repopulate the forest.