Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

Alpine DPT


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7
Like Tree27Likes
  • 24 Post By Delphus
  • 2 Post By 30.06king
  • 1 Post By craigc

Thread: The ones that got away

  1. #1
    Member Delphus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    South Canterbury
    Posts
    1,608

    The ones that got away

    My family and I were invited to do an overnight tramp with another family to Kahikitea Lodge just south of Oamaru. It was nestled in the middle of a hunting block I haven’t yet explored, so I gained permission from the wife to leave her looking after the kids that evening while I went for a cheeky hunt.

    The weather was not playing ball that evening, with low cloud and a decent Southerly. Nonetheless I headed out and climbed up the adjacent hill. Some beautiful country up there. Lots of very likely deer spots with thick bush bordering on tussock tops.

    Name:  IMG_4758.jpeg
Views: 426
Size:  2.38 MB

    Visibility was coming and going, which gave me some opportunity to explore properly. The wind however made it pretty impossible to sit and glass comfortably. I got pretty wet in the long tussock, and found staying warm a struggle.

    Name:  IMG_4763.jpeg
Views: 424
Size:  3.61 MB

    I headed back down towards the hut via a different route, and into some eerie Manuka forest. Undergrowth was sparse, and there were very clear animal tracks leading up to the tops.
    This bit of bush was about 100m from the hut and completely out of the wind, and the silence was deafening.

    I started to creep through the trees when I heard the distinct sounds of hooves departing ahead. I had bumped something, but not scared it off. I went into complete stealth mode and began to creep forward. I have to admit it was exhilarating. Every sense I had was on extremely high alert. I am normally a tops hunter where sound management is Important, but being out in the wilderness masks lots of the sounds you make. Not so in the bush!

    I crept forward until I could see the deer through a gap in the trees. I could see its whole back and the beginning of the creases going to the legs, but I couldn’t tell which was front and which was back. As I was waiting willingly it to take a step either way, my wife let the kids out of the hut for a last energy burn off before bed, their yells and general noise seemed extremely loud! The deer bolted and I missed my shot. No deer down, but I will never forget that feeling of high alert, willing myself to quiet as I stalked in!

    The next day dawned bright and clear. I woke about 6am and just pinged awake. The rest of the cabin was sound asleep, so I crept out and headed back into the hills.

    I had not gotten clearance to head out for a morning hunt, so was definitely pushing my luck with my wife. It was just too good an opportunity to pass up though!

    I headed back up the hill to where I was the night before. I got the sunrise from the top and it was stunning.

    Name:  IMG_4766.jpeg
Views: 423
Size:  2.78 MB

    I had a look at the country I saw last night, but nothing. I tried the other side, walking over to a nice rocky outcrop. There two ridges away slowly feeding its way down the hill was a nice young stag. A small crown of velvet on his head.

    Name:  IMG_4768.jpeg
Views: 427
Size:  4.01 MB

    I ranged him, 380m. Doable now I have the CDS set up. I had all the time in the world and a decent rest, but the wind was still too strong. The ridge between us was 180m. If I could get down to that ridge without him seeing me he was toast.

    It was 0800 by this stage, and I was feeling the pull back down to my wife and kids, as I wasn’t supposed to be out at all this morning. But there was a deer! To get to the shooting ridge would be at least half an hour as I had to go up and over and be sneaky. To get to the downed deer and searching for it in the long tussock another half an hour. An hour to bone it out, then half an hour back to where I’m I first saw it. It would have been at least 11am by the time I was back at the hut, provided nothing went wrong.

    I wanted to remain in the good books and make sure my wife supported me for future hunts. I made the agonising decision to let it go. I watched it for 10 mins, then headed back down to the family to help get ready for the walk out.

    I will definitely be heading back there again in the future, next time with more time to explore!

    Name:  IMG_4772.jpeg
Views: 424
Size:  3.62 MB
    Tahr, madjon_, Trout and 21 others like this.

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Invervegas
    Posts
    5,257
    Fantastic story man. Well done to consider your "important people" and your reward will come!

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2022
    Location
    Pukekohe
    Posts
    1,001
    Tell wifey your story. Might convince ( reconvince ) her of your dedication to her feelings and wellbeing. She could well reciprocate in encouraging your next outing, hopefully with more time to achieve a result. If you do score next time it will be just that much sweeter.
    Wll written story too. Thanks.
    Micky Duck and MP270 like this.

  4. #4
    Member littlemorepork's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2023
    Location
    Munich
    Posts
    111
    I totally enjoyed this story! You can look forward to successful raid in the near future! This is awesome!

  5. #5
    Member craigc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Upper Hutt
    Posts
    2,240
    Ah the balancing act of life! Great story, well told/written.
    The great thing is those kids become you hunting mates eventually. Although there are some frustrating times ahead training them to be quiet! 😀
    Barry the hunter likes this.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2022
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    3,355
    Quote Originally Posted by craigc View Post
    Ah the balancing act of life! Great story, well told/written.
    The great thing is those kids become you hunting mates eventually. Although there are some frustrating times ahead training them to be quiet! 
    not just kids took my older brother out he wanted to shoot a deer - well he coughed and coughed despite glares and shhhh did not stop my kids were a hell of a lot easier

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2022
    Location
    Whanganui
    Posts
    1,187
    A successful hunter is a hero in your kids eyes, get more fit and you could of jogged up, whipped the meat off and been back in no time.

 

 

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!