In mid-July, New Zealand’s Minister for Hunting and Fishing designated two deer populations in the country as Herds of Special Interest (HOSI). They are the wapiti population in Fiordland in the South Island and the sika population in the Central North Island. These designations came as the New Zealand Government looks to review conservation management in the country.
The designations were announced by Minister for Hunting and Fishing Hon James Meager and marked a new chapter in the management of these highly valued game herds.
The HOSI designation recognises the importance of wapiti and sika to local and international hunters and provides a future-focused framework for practical and responsible hunter-led deer management.
The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and the Sika Foundation have actively managed the two herds for many years through adaptive deer management and research, conservation initiatives, and community meat donation programmes. The HOSI designation provides an opportunity to build on this work.
Achieving HOSI designation was an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. Ongoing monitoring and research will continue to inform adaptive management, helping to better understand and care for these resources and their environment over time.
The knowledge and evidence collected will be openly shared with hunters, conservation groups and the wider community, ensuring that future management remains transparent, collaborative and evidence based.
The new designation was achieved through collaboration between the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and the Sika Foundation, the New Zealand Game Animal Council, the New Zealand Department of Conservation, Mana Whenua, hunters and the wider community to make sure these animals are cared for in a way that it supports cultural values, healthy forests, thriving wildlife, and quality recreational hunting opportunities.
For the Wapiti HOSI, the Minister for Hunting and Fishing retains management, with the Department of Conservation supporting implementation on behalf of the Minister. Operational delivery will be undertaken by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation under arrangements with the Department of Conservation.
For the Sika HOSI, the Minister for Hunting and Fishing delegated management to the Game Animal Council. Operational delivery will be undertaken by the Sika Foundation under arrangements with the Game Animal Council. The Department of Conservation retains lead responsibility for ecological monitoring.
Learn more about HOSI at www.nzgac.org.nz/hosi
UNDER THE WIRE
Brisbane branch member Rob Harvey captured this series of photographs of a mature rusa stag heading back into the safety of the thick lantana nearby. “He had no problems going under and through the barbed wire fencing…the photos show how he sorted it out. I like his antler formation, a nice trophy in my books”, says Rob.
CAST AWAY
According to Rob Volpe the best part of hunting isn’t always the harvest; it’s sharing the experience. “I had a great day in the bush with my wife and son, and found a sambar cast antler to cap it off. Memories made, lessons learned, and another adventure in the books. Days like these are hard to beat.”
SNACK PACK
Rob Volpe sent in this trail camera photo of a wedge-tailed eagle swooping in for its venison dinner. “It’s not something you see every day”, says Rob. “Every now and then game cameras give you a front-row seat to the wild side of the bush.”
SAMBAR SUCCESS
Baden Nicholls has been out and about lately, finding success on this great sambar stag from public land.
TAKE THE KIDS!
Reggie was on hand after the hunt in which his dad harvested this mature hind off the hounds.
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