Author(s): Ross Curtis

Hunting

Ross Curtis shot his first deer at the age of 8, by the age of 12 he was keeping his family in meat by hunting and doing his schooling by correspondence. Naturally as soon as he was old enough he became a Government deer-culler. This book covers an era of deer control under the direction of the Internal Affairs Dept when foot shooters were employed to shoot deer and recover the skins of the deer they shot. Throughout the book Murphy's Law is entwined. Like most of his contemporaries Ross always looked for the lighter side of an otherwise grim situation. His observations on the flora and fauna show his deep love of the mountains and the outdoor life. From early beginnings in the Buller Gorge, through training camp where the skills of a professional hunter were taught and to the first hunting block in Marlborough and later Canterbury, Ross weaves a very readable and enjoyable tale. Inevitably, Murphy has the last word!