THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
with which he returns but by the number of victims he can boast that 
he has slain. Unfortunately this vice seems to have affected some of 
those who like to label themselves big game hunters because they have 
made a short trip from England in quest of game. Travel is so easy nowa- 
days that every nouveau riche snob and retired tradesman, by the expendi- 
ture of a few hundred pounds (for, indeed, a much smaller sum than he 
need expend on a Scottish deer-forest), can have a shooting expedition 
arranged and fill his walls with heads which formerly were regarded as 
the well-earned rewards of personal hardships and a manly love of adven- 
ture. The recent exploits of some of those who have been out to East Africa 
are enough to disgust any decent thinking man with the very name of 
sport. Too many visiting “ sportsmen,” though it is a relief to think that 
among their numbers Englishmen are, happily, rare, seem to consider 
that unless they have killed the limit of game allowed on their licences 
they have not had a successful trip. Nowadays, the word “ sportsman ” 
in its true sense (to quote a recent writer and big game hunter in the 
“ Field ”) “is becoming obsolete.” Only too often does a running herd of 
game tempt those who should know better to empty their magazines, 
regardless of the range, and in consequence many a poor wounded beast, 
left to die in agony, must be entered by the Recording Angel to their 
account. I have wandered from my subject, but the matter is one on 
which I feel very strongly. 
From what I have said it will be seen that those who wish, on visiting 
New Zealand, to stalk in the Wairarapa, should make inquiries beforehand 
as to their plans. New Zealanders are proverbially hospitable, and the 
bona fide sportsman, as distinct from the slaughterer, should have no 
difficulty in getting permission to shoot on the ground of some large 
runholder. So far as I know there is no Government ground at present 
available in this district where the stalker is likely to kill good heads.* 
The licence costs £1, which entitles the holder to five stags of not less than 
ten points. The stalking takes place during the rutting season, in March, 
probably opening early in the month, but it is liable to alteration. 
THE NELSON HERD. 
The Nelson herd is situated geographically between the Wairarapa and 
Otago herds, the country which they inhabit not being so densely wooded 
as the former district. 
* According to Mr Donne the Haurange Forest Government Reserve is open for a limited amount of stalking. 
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