Relief as aggressive deer back in captivity

A love-crazed 22-point stag roamed Masterton over Easter weekend after vandals cut two large holes in its enclosure at Masterton Deer Park.

Despite an extensive search, in part by helicopter, the deer eluded its captors until it decided to wander home about 6.30am yesterday.

Wairarapa Deerstalkers president Martin Amos said having the deer back in its enclosure was a relief.

‘‘It’s the roar, so it’s a big relief to have him back where he belongs,’’ he said. (The roar is a four-week mating season, during which stags bellow to attract hinds and become aggressive.)

‘‘It looks like he’s been cruising up and down the Ruama¯hanga River, around 3 kilometres in either direction.

He wandered back into the park this morning and we were able to coax him back through the gate.’’

Five deer originally escaped, but the stag was the only one that wasn’t quickly rounded up.

Searchers descended on the area but, despite a few sightings, were unable to trap it.

Ray Wallis, who feeds the park’s deer, said he turned up this morning to find the deer back outside its enclosure.

It was in a fiery mood, snorting and attacking the gate. It was lucky the stag decided to cooperate, Wallis said.

‘‘You can see why people were worried. It was very aggressive,’’ he said.

It wasn’t the first time deer have escaped from the enclosure.

This is the fourth time the fence had been cut in 10 years.

Amos said Wairarapa Deerstalkers was working closely with the Masterton District Council to install additional security measures at the enclosure.