Helicopter-based hunting in Fiordland facts for kids

Helicopter hunting in New Zealand started in the 1960s. It happened mostly in the beautiful Fiordland area. Before this, in the 1920s, deer brought from Europe were causing big problems. They were eating too much of New Zealand's special native plants (flora) and harming its animals (fauna).

To fix this, the New Zealand government offered a reward to hunters. They paid for every deer removed from places like Fiordland National Park. By the 1960s, selling deer meat (venison) and deerskin became very profitable. This led some hunters to buy helicopters. Helicopters helped them move quickly through the tough mountains and forests.

Because of this intense hunting, the number of wild deer dropped a lot. This made hunters compete fiercely. The helicopter hunting business eventually slowed down. This was partly because deer farming began, and also due to other ways of controlling deer, like using 1080 poison. Today, many of these old hunting helicopters now take tourists and hunters on adventures into the New Zealand wilderness.

Why Deer Were a Problem

European settlers brought red deer to New Zealand. They released them into the forests starting in 1851. Many other animals were also brought in. New Zealand's environment was perfect for these deer. Their numbers grew very fast.

This caused a lot of damage. The deer ate many native plants. They also ate grass meant for farmers' animals. To solve this, the New Zealand government started paying deer cullers. A "culler" is someone who reduces animal numbers. In the 1930s, hunters were paid for each deer tail. This was to control the deer population.

From Hides to Helicopters

Until the early 1950s, the government sold deer hides. This money was supposed to pay for the deer culling. But then the market for hides crashed. Later, Germany started buying deer meat (venison) from New Zealand. This created a new market. It led to the start of the deer hunting industry.

At first, hunters used horses and jet boats. They carried the deer back to special depots. From there, the deer were sold. This industry grew with a "do-it-yourself" spirit. Hunters found clever ways to get the deer out.

The next big step was using helicopters. Helicopters could carry deer from remote areas. They took them to trucks waiting at road ends. From there, the deer went to factories to be processed. Tim Wallis was a pioneer in this in 1965. The skill of shooting deer from helicopters was perfected. This was thanks to experts like Rex Forrester.

The Helicopter Wars

By 1970, over sixty helicopters were used for deer hunting. A very good day could mean killing 200 deer. This was worth about $17,000. Most crews caught around 100 deer a day. In 1973, venison prices went even higher. This led to more hunting, sometimes in ways that broke rules. There were reports of fierce competition and conflicts among hunters.

The RNZAF even sent two Iroquois helicopters. Their job was to stop illegal hunting and trespassing. This time became known as the "Helicopter Wars" or "Deer Wars."

How Deer Were Transported by Air

A "flying hunter" helicopter usually had three people. There was the pilot, a shooter, and a "knife hand." The knife hand helped prepare the deer. A larger helicopter would support this hunting team. The bigger helicopter would carry the shot deer. The deer were hung by a hook underneath the helicopter. This larger helicopter also supplied fuel to the smaller hunting helicopter.

Hunters often set up their bases in remote wilderness areas. They might live in huts. Or they lived on boats anchored in the Fiordland sounds. These boats could also be used as helicopter pads.

The Rise of Deer Farming

People wanted "organic venison" from a clean environment. At the same time, the number of wild deer was going down. Some deer hunters saw a new opportunity. They decided to start deer farming.

They began by catching young deer (fawns). They raised them by hand and made them tame (domesticated). This was the start of deer farming in New Zealand in the 1970s. Deer farming turned out to be very successful. It was often more profitable than farming cattle or sheep. It also had tax benefits.

As hunters became more skilled, the wild deer became harder to find. The wild deer population kept shrinking. But the demand for deer to start farms grew. This made the price of live deer go up. A single live deer could be worth $3,500. This live deer hunting industry was unique to New Zealand. It became a special way of life and culture.

The work was very dangerous. There were many accidents, injuries, and helicopter crashes. Hunters were often not fully trained with firearms or tranquilizers. But the high profits kept them going despite the risks.

Eventually, the New Zealand government stepped in. They brought in new laws and rules. Hunters felt this was unfair to their way of life. There were disagreements about what was "fair play." Changes in tax laws and deer farms breeding their own animals also helped end this era. Today, wild deer numbers have grown again in the forests.