The antlers adorned the fence line opposite where Phil Payne lives. He had slowly built up a collection of antlers over the past decade.
Many a passerby has stopped to take a photo of the fence. It has been a very popular attraction in the area, Mr Payne said.
However, last week the three best antlers, including one with a Douglas Score of 387, were stolen, leaving Mr Payne "gutted".
When the Waikaia retiree put the first set of antlers up on the fence about 12 years ago, he bolted them to a fence post and wired them on as well, to protect them from the wind.
Last Friday, the bolts were missing, the wires were cut, and the antlers missing, leaving him distraught.
Mr Payne said the theft was probably not a spur-of-the-moment bit of mischief, but rather the result of some effort.
"It had to be [premeditated]. People don’t just run around with wire cutters. They’ve come prepared, cut the wires, wrenched off the bolts.
"They’ve targeted the three best heads on the fence," he said.
It was something which Mr Payne said was not expected in the Southland town, and hoped it was not a sign of more thefts to come.
"We’re a nice, quiet community here. If they’re prepared to steal that, right outside my house, what else are they prepared to steal around town?"
Mr Payne contacted police, and has offered a $300 reward for all the antlers, and $1000 if information leading to the prosecution of the thieves is included.
Mr Payne said it might not be too late to negotiate.
"If it’s a prank that’s backfiring on them, something can be worked out. If it’s a one-off, they feel a bit guilty, they can contact me, maybe we can arrange something.
"If someone wanted antlers, I could have given some to them. But to target the best three, it’s a bit low down," he said.
