Thread: Fallow Shoot

Well away Sunday afternoon loaded to the gunnels with fencing for the bach. Up early Monday and after a coffee and some business deliveries in Taupo, was out to the range to check my T3 .223, using Hornady steel match 75 grain rounds and had it spot on quick fast.
First stop Taihape, Brown Sugar Cafe for lunch and look at the attached gun shop, kept my hands in my pocket. Picked up some food at Wanganui and out to the farm.
There's a lot of logging going on where we go and there 22K's of basically single lane dirt road to the hunting. Provided some interesting / scary moments when trucks come round the corners using all the road.
A quick unload of the ute and off for a late afternoon hunt down the flats, strong wind blowing in our face and walking directly into the sun. About 2 k in decided it was still a bit warm, so holed up on a good vantage point and sat glassing 360 degrees for about half an hour, saw absolutely nothing apart from rabbits and a couple of cats!
Decided to get going again, taking it very slowly and glassing as we went, one side is Manuka and the other short scrub and ferns, very hard on the naked eye to pick out anything.
We had gone about another 2k still nothing, but plenty of sign , damaged trees and scratching of the soil by the stags. We stopped and were both looking in the same area and bugger me there was a hind standing looking at me, I turned to Dan and we both said 'theres one"! Had little time and had to action the bolt to load, sling around arm and off shoulder standing, took a quick shot. Saw the deer go down in the scope, ranged at 128 metres. Over the fence through the creek and up the hill, it hadn't moved from the spot. shot was a little further back from what I'd like, but had taken a lobe off a lung and smashed the liver. Animal was in great condition.
Back on dark to the cottage for a feed of steak and veges, and some Black Duck Porter, real good beer, finished my first glass and mate reloaded but with red wine! didn't noticed until I had downed it, noted it tasted different? Slept well!
Mate was out at 6 next morning, walked the same area, but a bit further than me, saw about half a doz deer but all on the move, so came back empty handed.
Out by 11:30 am, dropped the fallow at Taupo for processing and home by 7:30pm. Good road trip and break from the grind