Poachers

We used to call people who took pigs and deer from the forest without permit 'poachers'. They were never really poachers as such because after all the animals needed controlling and they had no real effect on populations anyway.

I'm really talking about local young men, who's recreation was to go out into the hills, bag a deer or pig and later have a few beers.
Nig Gloag though was more of a professional as his income came largely from the land. Possum hunting and selling deer or pigs. His Landrover was well known and I remember he took it down a ridge on the South Block right onto the river bed. Showed exceptional driving skills!
This track was the old pack horse track to Dunback that Moeraki Station used. Old Gib Green used to take pack horses over there. [That's why you find broom there]. It might have been the main road to Central Otago but the Pig Root turned out to be an easier route.

They were mainly young guys from Hampden. We used to try to keep them out of the forest, but they were resourceful and always found a way in - mainly by lifting a gate from its hinges. Never damaging things or stealing anything - more it was a game between them and me. I knew them well.

Bill Pile was a fisherman who used to help muster sheep and cattle - he had dogs and used them to find pigs on his expeditions. He would on occasion give me some blue cod or crayfish because he enjoyed pig hunting and was not looking for trouble. Bill took us out to a drilling rig once to deliver fresh vegetables to the workers - just as a friendly gesture and enjoyable boat trip for me.
Sorty Hyland also had sheep dogs and a Landrover which allowed him to use the forest effectively for his pig hunting. He been used to hunting when Bert Fraser owned the South Block and essentially kept going. Shorty purchased a trawler and operated out of Moeraki and Colin & I went fishing with him a number of times. As a fisherman, it was good to go hunting when the weather made to sea to rough to go out.
Andy Patterson lived at the end of Mile Flat Road farming there. He had quality trial dogs [and the trophies] and would use them for pig hunting. He had a lame leg and his friends called him 'Hoppy' - not unkindly. Famous for the phrase 'no lollies for naughty boys' when he was warned off for being too frisky with his wife after drinking a little too much. Andy left the others to kill and carry out game - just commanded his dogs by whistling instructions to them.
Nobby Jameson was also among these guys and they particularly liked to go out spotlighting at night. Some people would ring me because they saw the light, and perhaps some were a little jealous that someone else was taking their sport. I never went out chasing spotlighters as I know myself, I could go out there and nobody could catch me.

Things a different these days and we have all moved on. Those guys [as well as me] are doing different things, but when we do meet up, it is just like meeting up with old friends.