Thread: Hunting and that bastard Murphy ...

First time in a new area, gullies a plenty and razor back ridges. shit loads of fern fronds and Rewarewa leaves. some gullies deep others waist deep. This is steep country no flats just gully after gully. The area was covered in mud after the Tarawera eruption then the rain formed lots of gullies in the mud. It was the day after rain so slippery. I was on some new hoof prints but only seeing them occasionally as the fronds and leaf litter left no prints. Slowly up a couple of steps look then repeat. Fresh shit the odd print slowly slowly. The gully I was in around chest height split no prints showing. The left fork had vegetation mostly Rangiora so I went right over the fronds. About 4 meters the gully was steeper and as slippery as a butchers penis. The rifle was half cocked and it was so steep and slippery I removed the round from the spout and closed the bolt on a empty chamber. Hands and knees up the gully for about 10 meters then on a small flatter area in the bottom of the gully I stood straight up. Looking straight at me in the gully next to me was a young hind close like around 5 meters away. We just stared at each other for what seemed like forever but enough time only for me too pull the bolt slowly back. Then it was off and there was 2 hinds but I only was focused on one. I gave a calf call but no gone. It took many more trips to that place before I had one on the deck. I often think about that day. to get so close to a animal was pretty cool but should of had it.