05:30 and we were on our way up the hill to some DOC land we'd visited the week before.
There had been plenty of sign, but we hadn't seen any animals on that windy evening, so it had been decided to return for an early morning hunt.
After a bit of a bush bash and a march up the hill we hit the tops, the grass still wet from rain in the night.
The new spring grass was starting to push through and there was plenty of sign about from both pigs and deer...some of the sign very fresh, which made us optimistic.
We continued along the bush edge stopping occasionally to glass the large clearings, the breeze was light but head on and taking any scent away from any animals up ahead.
Stopping at the top of a rise to glass with some inquisitive cows watching us from the fence line, Steve spots a deer...then two, and they are ranged at just over 400 yards.
We decide to close the gap and head off along the bush line out of sight of the deer, however one of the cows decides he's had enough of us and heads off at pace straight towards the deer, who are not amused and spook.
We watch as they get nervous, stop feeding and group up...two deer now become 4!
As they start moving off towards cover, Steve and I realise its now or never and drop down hill out of sight. We cover some quick yards and get to the next rise where we can see the deer heading up the hill.
Steve ranges them at about 300 yards to the nearest deer and he's down to take first shot with me following up but with the deer still heading away.
Steve drops the first with a high heart shot.
I take a second with a neck shot as it wont stand broadside.
We both put a round into a 3rd at just over 400 yards which goes down too and look at each other as Steve suggests 3 might be enough to carry out!
07:30 and 3 deer on the ground!
Attachment 4544
It took until 17:00 to carry the 3 deer out to the truck with the gear but was worth the effort!
20:00 and work is done for the day!
Attachment 4545
One of my 130 grain .270 Federal bullets which weighed 115 grains after recovery.
Attachment 4546
Did exactly what it was supposed to do and was recovered just under the skin on the far side of the rib cage.
