Well, I just have to post a copy of an e-mail that my 14 year old son has sent to the DOC. I'm impressed and as proud as punch.

He's mad keen on hunting in NZ. We were over there in December for a family holiday, no hunting. And spent 2 days in the Mt Cook National Park. My son, Monty, drove the DOC staff near mad with his enquiries. And I must say the DOC staff were very good in answering his many questions.

Anyway my 14 year old has done his part. What about the rest of us?

Here is the text of his e-mail that he sent in December 2009.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you to express my concern about a proposal to allow “Heli-Hunting” for tahr in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

I understand that DOC need to be able to control if not eradicate tahr in certain areas of the Park. However, I believe that if heli-hunting is allowed in the national park, even in restricted areas, it will have a negative effect on the Communities image of DOC, legitimate recreational hunters and most importantly on Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

I can understand the need for aerial culling, such as is now conducted by DOC. I can appreciate and understand the recreational hunting of game within the national park, especially when such hunting is conducted by tradition and fair chase methods. However I am unable to understand the appeal to some of “Heli-Hunting” a practice this is no more than joy riders, in expensive toys, killing animals for pleasure.

If I as a hunter am perplexed by this practice then I dread to fear what the general public would think of such an activity, and of those who condone and participate.

I firmly believe that “Heli-Hunting” of tahr and/or other species of game animal should not be legal in New Zealand, especially on public land. Tahr might be a pest but how can we treat an animal, with so little respect?

By allowing helicopter based shooting for the pleasure of only a few, traditional hunters will lose, the public will lose and so will DOC!

Thank-you for your time and I eagerly await your reply.

Regards

Monty Williams