Reed, 1976. Some shelf wear and fading. Fading and scratches to DW.
Peter Harker, still in his mid-thirties, has had what most people would reckon to be a lifetime’s experience in the horrendous bush-and-mountains country of South Westland. It was the hunting that drew him there in the first instance, but the Lands & Survey Department were quick to enlist the help of a man with an unparalleled knowledge of the remote and virtually uninhabited mountain terrain; overseas manufacturers of hunting weapons and equipment induced him to field-test their products under the uniquely adverse conditions of the Coast; but meat-hunting, safari work and live game capture were his primary occupations until he decided that at thirty a man was getting too old for the rigours of the life - fulltime. He still goes back whenever he gets the chance. Peter’s time in meat-hunting is of particular interest, for it coincided with the rise of decline of shooting from helicopters, a topic of bitter controversy among the trophy men, the conservation enthusiasts, and those who believe that alost anything can be justified if it fosters a profitable export industry. His views are typically individual, clearcut and logical, understanding of the other fellows’ right to their opinions.
The pros and cons of meat-hunting are only one small facet of this book; another of immense practical value to any hunter who is tempted to take on the special hazards of South Westland is the appendix of “Harker’s Handy Hints” — shrewd advice distilled from years of adaptation to the fickle climate, the treacherous rivers, and the savage mountain terrain. But the main body of this book is the recall of the field years - shooting, flying, climbing, photography, guiding, survey work, live-game capture, the comedies and near-tragedies, the fun and companionship of young men pitted against the wildest environment of all New Zealand. The 124 photographs and the cover picture are all from Peter Harker’s cameras. They vividly complement a hunting record of unequalled interest and appeal...