Deer heads speared on tree branches at Vinegar Hill
‘‘As you go through the [entrance] it's all there right in plain view for anyone who uses the toilets or is camping.’’ Kevin Westwood
Three deer heads have been speared on the end of tree branches and their guts and hooves left in a pile near the entrance of a popular Rangitikei camping spot.
The gruesome discovery was made by resident Kevin Westwood while walking his dog along the Rangitikei River at Vinegar Hill, near Hunterville, on Monday morning.
While the deer were unlikely to have been shot at the reserve, near State Highway 1, Westwood suspects they were killed at a nearby farm or forest and transported to the camping reserve for gutting on Sunday night.
He said there was no attempt by the hunters to hide or discard the remains, instead leaving them for display in the open.
Since 1977 the campground has been a popular camping spot for the LGBT community over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Two campervans were parked near the river mouth and one more arrived at the time Westwood found the leftover parts.
It wasn’t the image he wanted the area to portray.
‘‘I think it’s just disgusting. As you go through the [entrance] it’s all there right in plain view for anyone who uses the toilets or is camping.
‘‘I’m into hunting, but you’ve got to be respectful.’’
Manawatu District Council spokesman Paul Stein said it was an offence under the council’s bylaws to butcher an animal and leave the remains in a public place.
If the offender was found they were liable for prosecution or infringement notices up to $400.
The deer were assumed to be wild as no ear tags were identified.
He noticed a small herd of wild fallow deer that had jumped into a nearby paddock last week, although the three found near the river were red deer and much larger.
The incident comes three weeks after Westwood spotted a deer skin lying in the reserve, also while walking his dog. Although, that time there was no head or other parts on display.
Apart from those two occasions, he had never seen animal remains in his 21 years living in the area.
Westwood was also disappointed that new toilets, built at the southern end last summer, had also been severely damaged.
The block, which homes several unisex toilets and lockable showers, cost the council $117,000. Following their installation, the basin was ripped from the wall and toilet seats detached, costing $1500 to repair.