A few days away.

The week before was a two day trip to a lake area and no deer seen on this trip, but a couple of fish caught.
This was a trip with my youngest Son and kiwiinSeattle! who had invited us. My son has had a few trips after deer with dad but no success.
So after this last effort! I thought to have another go at it, as I know the hills are getting to high, but funny where you end up carrying a bang stick or how far you managed to go for that matter.
This time was rewarding and he managed to get his first deer at 242 yards, it went down in some thick cover, He marked about where it roughly was and off he went to find it as he got into the area a yearling broke cover and ran off, I was yelling out against the wind and it took him a bit to respond, but by that time it was hidden by the deep vegetation.
But being a yearling it broke cover again and he nailed it with a standing shot as it turned to look back, well that's the easy bit done! late afternoon a little wet and two deer down in a gully.
I am a lot slower now! when it comes to knife work, but I got there with the first one and turned it into a pack and sent him on his way up the hill with the yearling! while I started on the second one, which was a good size hine, when he returned he said I don't think I can carry it! I said twenty yards and then another twenty yards is how I use to face the problem of packing out. Well all credit to him, I struggle to help him get it on his back, but off he went and we hadn't even a day bag with us! so a couple of bread bags for hearts, livers and kidneys was my effort plus rifle a shooting stick.
At least the truck was on the down side of the hill and drag we did. It was late by the time we hit camp and I was ready for a feed and so was my Son. I think the excitement and adrenaline made the difference of getting the deer out, because after a meal we went back out and shot hares to 1am and after another bread bag full of hare back straps we called it a day.
Second day started slower at 7am and by the time we had breakfast the morning was moving on. The area we thought to go to was blocked with farm stock work and so not wanting to travel through the muster and upset the program, we headed to some other part of the station to get access to the forest area and with day light for looking for something that could be productive, this was helped by just happening on the owner of the station and he pointed us to where we more than likely get something, but I was still recovering from yesterday and I think the young fellow was as well. This being the case, I wanted to get the truck closer to the area than yesterday and having time to look! it turned into a mission but not impossible. The short version is I am glade we had day light, also it took several walks looking for way in and found where we could come back to for the evening hunt or shot whatever way it was going to be. So we went back to camp by away we hadn't travelled before adding to the adventure, at camp we had a feed and I had plenty of coffee and then a little bit of shooting of some feral pigeons and then it was time to go out again.
This time we went up hill! but not over, making recovery easier, a couple of hours ticked on and we parked up and waited but the wind changed and swirls around for a bit, light was starting fade and at 8pm we saw the first deer! as we sat watching another, then another then there was seven feeding in a little open area with scrub and a steep cut to a small creek.
With light starting to fade, I said pick the best one and three shots rang out and three deer were hit. We made our way to the area and located two of the three, we both looked for a bit but with light going and gutting still to be done! I had to get things underway while he searched on.
As said not that fast on the knife and it took awhile and strength to pull out gut bags isn't what it was, but at least its a down hill drag tonight this is the best it could be. We both looked again knowing rain was coming in tomorrow and it would be impossible to get the truck in to where we need to go, but darkness had hidden the deer from us and this was disappointing as it was a solid hit. By the time we got back to camp it was 11 ish feed wash and bed. Today was a much slower start 9am and the decision was made to try and find the deer it had started raining and the tracks wasn't to bad at this stage so we set off. On arrival I took the cut with the creek as the little area they were on she could of slid down into the creek there was a lot of looking, but my son found it ten feet from where it was shot hidden by scrub, it was rewarding to find it although it had taken a heavy shot and opened the gut bag a bit so not that pleasant, but recovery was made and bone out when home saved a good deal of it. Just a bit early for the stags yet, but it won't be far away not roaring yet but not long now and those hinds will have a mate looking over them, this for another time may be.
So in conclusion at very successful outcome for his first deer ending couple of days with five deer and a memory of a lifetime.
For me happy I was with him and to be part of his development in hunting and shooting.

KH