Author(s): John Royle

Hunting

A great number of books have been written about the good old days of deer culling. Not many have dealt with more recent times. John Royle started work with the Forest Service on the Heaphy Track, and moved into wild animal control around the same time as the formation of the Department of Conservation. Working for a new department and with changing priorities made for a challenging work environment, although mostly it was the hunting and lifestyle that kept John involved. Moving around he enjoyed a hunting experience most would envy, even though this was at a time of historically low animal numbers, but goats and pigs became the focus with deer numbers down. Forays into possums and rabbits kept him in the wild animal control business as he looked to his future.??