Not long ago spend a month back in the old country, (New Zealand),
I didn't get in much hunting, due to dad having had a heart operation, but did get out to south Taranaki, Patea area for an explore of sum new country, Parking the Suv and deciding i would go for a walk up the old power transmission line, now deeply over grown, with a massive tangle of scrub and vines, I took the little rifle (6x45) and debated taking the suppressor, deciding it was very steep and dense country, and the shorter rifle would be more suited, didn't really expect to get anything, so just a few rounds, a knife and small belt pouch, (big mistake), a couple hours of bush bashing, in steep country, I come across, the first area of clear, scrub with grass undergrowth, bumped a couple animals', suspected goats, it was terrible steep with razor back ridges, falling away at 40-50 deg, ten minutes from the open patch scrub, I came across the first slip, a far bit of growth in ferns and grass, and obvious sign of feeding, it dropped away steeply for about 200m, watched for a little bit, but nothing seen, moved on finally making the last transmission trig, after a hot sweety 3.5 hour climb, a drink of water and a orange, and started back, now mid afternoon and almost 30 deg, i approached the slip, glanced down, nothing and moved across the 10M top, a second glance down, and a fallow doe appeared, in the middle of the slip, she was walking quickly across 100m below, that do me, up with the boom stick, on the shoulder and fired, and down, a little buck was behind her, and ran across and stood in the trees, I could see his tail and ass, but nothing suitable for a shot, he moved off after a few minutes.
I studied the slip, trying to work the best root down, due to the Papa (limestone) being very slippery i wished to avoid walking down the middle, climbing down threw a thicket of manuka scrub to the side, part way down this i spotted movement below me, stopped and it became apparent, the little buck was coming back, about 200m below, bush very thick, and much rubbish in the way, so trying to get a shot threw the small windows of clear, about 120 m below me he stepped down into a hollow with his front, almost directly below me, with a shot available, from the top of the shoulders down into the chest, I knew the bullet would make it to chest vitals, and so took the shot, he collapsed into the hollow,
Feeling pretty chuffed, with a couple meat animals down, worked my way down, dragged both to suitable spot to break down, at this point I was thinking a back pack would sure be nice, managed to stuff one pr back steaks into the belt pouch, hung the second set threw the belt, and roped two rear quarters together and threw over the shoulder, cut a slit for a grab handle on the hock to knee, on the other two quarters, and started the brutal climb back up to the ridge, I was drenched in sweat and blood by the time i made it back to the car, legs and arms burning with effort, a a quick swim in the lake, and a clean tee shirt and shorts, a big drink water feeling better, (always amazes me how much exliration you feel after pushing your self for a few hours) packed the meat away in a bin. kept in the car for such events.
Reflection on the way home, having shot thousands of deer and goats while culling, i had never shot an animal, down threw the spine into the chest, this was a pretty good result, considering how dense bush was, new area I hadnt been into.
The trip out was on dusk and I seen at least another 30-40 deer in Farm fields and clearings in the bush,
Broke the deer down at home, vacuum packed and divided it up with family.
I didn't get in much hunting, due to dad having had a heart operation, but did get out to south Taranaki, Patea area for an explore of sum new country, Parking the Suv and deciding i would go for a walk up the old power transmission line, now deeply over grown, with a massive tangle of scrub and vines, I took the little rifle (6x45) and debated taking the suppressor, deciding it was very steep and dense country, and the shorter rifle would be more suited, didn't really expect to get anything, so just a few rounds, a knife and small belt pouch, (big mistake), a couple hours of bush bashing, in steep country, I come across, the first area of clear, scrub with grass undergrowth, bumped a couple animals', suspected goats, it was terrible steep with razor back ridges, falling away at 40-50 deg, ten minutes from the open patch scrub, I came across the first slip, a far bit of growth in ferns and grass, and obvious sign of feeding, it dropped away steeply for about 200m, watched for a little bit, but nothing seen, moved on finally making the last transmission trig, after a hot sweety 3.5 hour climb, a drink of water and a orange, and started back, now mid afternoon and almost 30 deg, i approached the slip, glanced down, nothing and moved across the 10M top, a second glance down, and a fallow doe appeared, in the middle of the slip, she was walking quickly across 100m below, that do me, up with the boom stick, on the shoulder and fired, and down, a little buck was behind her, and ran across and stood in the trees, I could see his tail and ass, but nothing suitable for a shot, he moved off after a few minutes.
I studied the slip, trying to work the best root down, due to the Papa (limestone) being very slippery i wished to avoid walking down the middle, climbing down threw a thicket of manuka scrub to the side, part way down this i spotted movement below me, stopped and it became apparent, the little buck was coming back, about 200m below, bush very thick, and much rubbish in the way, so trying to get a shot threw the small windows of clear, about 120 m below me he stepped down into a hollow with his front, almost directly below me, with a shot available, from the top of the shoulders down into the chest, I knew the bullet would make it to chest vitals, and so took the shot, he collapsed into the hollow,
Feeling pretty chuffed, with a couple meat animals down, worked my way down, dragged both to suitable spot to break down, at this point I was thinking a back pack would sure be nice, managed to stuff one pr back steaks into the belt pouch, hung the second set threw the belt, and roped two rear quarters together and threw over the shoulder, cut a slit for a grab handle on the hock to knee, on the other two quarters, and started the brutal climb back up to the ridge, I was drenched in sweat and blood by the time i made it back to the car, legs and arms burning with effort, a a quick swim in the lake, and a clean tee shirt and shorts, a big drink water feeling better, (always amazes me how much exliration you feel after pushing your self for a few hours) packed the meat away in a bin. kept in the car for such events.
Reflection on the way home, having shot thousands of deer and goats while culling, i had never shot an animal, down threw the spine into the chest, this was a pretty good result, considering how dense bush was, new area I hadnt been into.
The trip out was on dusk and I seen at least another 30-40 deer in Farm fields and clearings in the bush,
Broke the deer down at home, vacuum packed and divided it up with family.
