One of those days...

Can just about bring myself to post this. Spent 8 hours in the bush yesterday. Saw nothing, no fresh sign until right at the end of my walk, then came face-to-face with a young goat. I got tangled in the bush and it trotted off. That was it until I was almost back at the car and spooked two little pigs which were within 10 metres distance from me. Got the rifle on to one of them, it was running fast. I didn't pull the trigger and that was that. Game over. First pigs I've ever seen on DOC land.

Don't think I did anything particularly wrong, just a bit of bad luck. I was pretty buggered by the time I came across the pigs, so wasn't at the top of my game. A few seconds in my favour and it would have been a different story!

Always good to get on to animals even if you miss out.

Have done similar when hunting. Get to a point where you've had enough and drop your guard on walk out making too much noise etc only to spook an animal that would have been a sitter had you been paying attention.

Your not alone.

Sounds like every time we go out on doc land. Its good just to be out there.

Too many Pigs & Goats in some of my trapping blocks, all Doc land, easy hunting. PM if you want details.

Can relate to how your day went, i only last a couple of hours bush stalking and my concentration levels drop big time, i stop and have a bar and a break and after about 4 hours i am heading back to vehicle, give me the open tops any day of the week.

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Originally Posted by Say yer prayers varmint!

Too many Pigs & Goats in some of my trapping blocks, all Doc land, easy hunting. PM if you want details.

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That's bloody kind of ya. MB is a good sort.

Wouldn't be too hard on yaself MB. Just seeing some animals is something.
Not sure where you were but the tangis have had a hammering recently.

Think we all have days like that, next time it could all go your way.

Try Northern Houto - Pigs are demolishing the place, trails and trails of smash up Kauri Snails, farmer on the boundary is in love with pigs and lets them eat his lambs and wont let anyone near the place to control numbers - Iv shot plenty on the ridge lines midday sunning and dust bathing. The strong hold is up in the top of the Nikau basin and saw a large batch of fresh bacon seeds on the right hand side in the puriris (I’m sick of these little fuckers)

Kiwi numbers are on the rise, Iv pulled at least 30 stoats off the main ridge loop track, 4-5 hour loop with some of the best views in the area from the trig, well marked and maintained ;)

EDIT: no big pigs tho, gets dogged pretty hard

I'd say not pulling the trigger on a running animal in tight bush close to the vehicle actually shows bloody good control after a long, knackering day.

Last time I went bush hunting, same thing. After about 6hrs, I had given up hope, crashing my way back to the track and instead of quietly going around supplejack I bashed through it. Got a bit tangled up just as a hind trotted off from 20m in front of me, then stopped in the middle of a wide open clearing for about 10-15 seconds to look back at me thrashing about like a fly in a spiders web trying to get my rifle out. Must have been bloody funny to watch.

All part of the fun.

Thanks to all for the words of encouragement. Only hunters/fishermen seem to know what it's like to miss out on an animal/fish!

Say yer prayers varmint - bloody awesome, PM inbound!

From my experience, that's my usual experience!! I've spent plenty of time out looking, seen plenty of sign but no animals....only to hear/see one crashing off out of it when the Franchi is on my back.....
.......I assumed that's normal......isn't it?

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Originally Posted by Zedrex

From my experience, that's my usual experience!! I've spent plenty of time out looking, seen plenty of sign but no animals....only to hear/see one crashing off out of it when the Franchi is on my back.....
.......I assumed that's normal......isn't it?

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I normally do OK, but only hunting goats in the bush most of the time.

Those experiences enhance the richness of outdoor life and are very normal. Over time a hunter or fisherman will accumulate conciously or even unconciously an association of time, food sources, weather, season, moon and other creatures. Such experiences allow leanings of effort towards lukely positive associations while leaning away from the handicaps. Some people I have known have a remarkable ability and adaptation in these respects of hunting and fishing for food. The very best though are the creatures themselves.

If it makes you feel any better I once spent about eight fruitless hours in the Fiordland bush only to get back to my vehicle to see two spikers standing about 20m from the truck watching me come out of the bush before departing.

even when we were culling we had days like that - towards end of targeting block for our 3 month stint in scrub we could get down to one or two goats or deer in a week - a lot of days carefully bush stalking for bugger all - very important that you take breaks from the concentration needed - sit down and think about something else then when you can concentrate again get up and go again - and keep that bloody rifle in your hands not slung over your shoulder - ya just asking to see a deer gallop off - we never used one culling for that reason not one of us in my crews

Dont worry MB i had a really morning last Tuesday,missed 3 deer (full view top to toe)inside 200yds,broad side and no wind.All about a hr apart each,not the same deer.All three i aimed in center of the sholder,nothing fancy.Inside 200yds easy shooting to me i thort.Couldnt believe it,nothing loose on the rifle,il be going to the range in the next calm evening.

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Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

even when we were culling we had days like that - towards end of targeting block for our 3 month stint in scrub we could get down to one or two goats or deer in a week - a lot of days carefully bush stalking for bugger all - very important that you take breaks from the concentration needed - sit down and think about something else then when you can concentrate again get up and go again - and keep that bloody rifle in your hands not slung over your shoulder - ya just asking to see a deer gallop off - we never used one culling for that reason not one of us in my crews

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@Barry the hunter, Hum, the thought did occur after a full day in the bush and stuffing up an absolute sitter... "gee what a culler I'd be". @MB great write up. Failure is how we learn (I hate this saying)

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Originally Posted by Snoppernator

@Barry the hunter, Hum, the thought did occur after a full day in the bush and stuffing up an absolute sitter... "gee what a culler I'd be". @MB great write up. Failure is how we learn (I hate this saying)

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yah likely be a good one - it was not all about hunting - cooking was a huge plus - you were 3 months in camp with two or three others ya had to be able to cook - every two three days it was your turn -we could always handle someone who was learning to hunt but a shit cook - nah that was ya gut ruled - a shit cook got the message long before someone learning to hunt

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Originally Posted by Snoppernator

@ MB great write up.

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Not really. If I got one of those piggies, I would have written four times as much and there would have been photos, plus a medal that I would have awarded to myself!

Never underestimate the ability of you game you hunt , further more never underestimate a well tuned hunter . With years of hunting experience we still make stupid mistakes .

So went for a walk on Friday with the idea to site a camera and check a couple of spots I've found before that I thought had promise.
Carried the rifle cause it's nearly been 12 months since the dog and I got our first genuine bush deer.
Finally got to general area of a secluded bench I'd been looking for, requires negotiating a steep decent to access it only to realise I'm not quite where I thought I was.....@#$%...
Sigh, oh well, back up we go.. crash thump smash wallop... 2 young stags are suddenly standing in front of me but only for long enough to get my rifle half way up to my shoulder.
Dog and I look at each still trying to process what just happened, I walk the 20 yards to where they were only to realise I am actually on the bench I was looking for only on it's true right instead of it's true left.
Bugger! So I go setup my camera and several hours later am at home putting my feet up with a cuppa only to realise I haven't turned the f..... camera on.
So Saturday morning finds me back trying to locate said bench to turn the f... camera on.
I thought I might as well take some photos and video of the area cause people are often asking what's it like in the bush.
As I'm panning round I become aware that a stag is photo bombing my video!!?#@$% I drop the phone, pick up my rifle but I never see him again:oh noes:
Attachment 245053
When I reviewed the video I can see the dog turn to the noise of him coming through and the above is the best screen shot of him.
I keep finding new ways to cock it up:(