Education - the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation sees this as paramount to the future of the Wapiti herd. Without it hunters can make the wrong choice, shooting animals that are essential for the future of the herd.

The Wapiti are not exactly few and far between at the moment but they are not over run with quality either. They are on the comeback, but if we don't start making and continue to make the right choices then all our management will be in vein. As Cam speedy said at the Wapiti briefing this year, every time you pull the trigger you are making a management choice, so make the right one. Remember this is a long term project and we are all here for the long haul.

Running up to the 2010 Wapiti Bugle, we hope to increase every ones knowledge with a series of photos outlining a few key identification points. We encourage people to ask questions about anything relating to wapiti and we will endeavour to do our best to answer them.

Lets start with the distinctive features of the bull Wapiti verses the Red stag:

Remember, colouration can change depending on the percentage of red deer blood present in the animal. The rump patch can vary in size and colour as can the neck and head. You will see every variation between the two extremes at times.

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