Thread: First DOC animals seen..........

So after my last trip I went back to the maps to see if I could locate some more DOC land to check out. I found what looked like a pretty good spot and organised an afternoon / evening hunt. While climbing to the tops I was surprised by a couple of chamois that ran down off a ridge and stood in front of me about 20m away. My rifle was strapped to my back and by the time I got it off and loaded up they'd gone. I went up through the bush where they had come down and there was another chamois up the hill from me about 100m away. I loaded up and found a decent rest. It fed its way over the ridge without stopping for a shot so once it had totally disappeared made my way around below it. I didn't feel that I'd taken too long to get around to where it should have been but next thing it was almost out of sight up the mountain. Unfortunately I didn't see it again. I had a feeling that the wind wrecked my chances as it often swirled. After about 7 trips to this spot I've seen chamois, deer and pigs AND a lot of sign. At some stage on every trip the wind has ruined my chances and often the animals I've seen are clearing off fast, no doubt having smelt me. There aren't massive pockets of bush, as you'll see from the photos so I feel that the animals that are there are spread over a fair distance, however maybe move around a bit. I've hunted it in every season now but have decided there are no doubt 'easier' places to find less pressured animals. It was bloody good to see animals on Doc land, it had taken a while. I will give it another crack there one day I'm sure!