Deer on my Doorstep

Originally published by A.H. & A.W. Reed, 1965, this is the first of a new series of books by The Halcyon Press, “Halcyon Hunting Classics.” Voted one of the best ten hunting books of the twentieth century, Halcyon have re-issued in a modern format this classic hunting tale. Set first in the Wairarapa Colin Davey set out to improve the quality of the deer he was hunting. He was disappointed in the trophy quality and wanted to hunt bigger and better trophies. Not content to just go and shoot any deer he set out to reduce the population and cull inferior animals and in the course of time over several years improved the health and trophy quality of the deer he was hunting, within a small area of the Wairarapa. At the time this book was published his ideas were regarded with some skepticism, and caused a minor sensation. The second part of the book is about Colin’s adventures in Fiordland. He returned to Fiordland many times, over his lifetime and voiced his concern about the decreasing trophy potential of the Wapiti herd, unless sound management was introduced. Again at the time the book was originally published his ideas were regarded as some sort of heresy. The book still resonates with the adventures and original thinking of a dedicated trophy hunter.