There were so many deer shot in the weekend's Whanganui hunting competition that the rail holding them made a spectacular collapse before the weigh-in was finished.
Hundreds of children and adults were at the army camp at Landguard Bluff ready for the Wilson's Whanganui "Take a Kid" Hunting Competition weigh-in on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
There were sambar, red and fallow stags hanging from a long rail, until it collapsed without warning. No one was hurt, and organisers had to decide what to do next.
It was the first time Mr Wilson, the owner of a Whanganui hunting and outdoor store, has held the competition. He used the same format as Aaron McCann, who held children's hunting competitions at Ohingaiti for seven years - with 496 entries to the biggest one.
Mr McCann leant Mr Wilson some gear, including the rack used for the deer. He said it was usually for goats, and the deer were too heavy for it.