So Friday came and the weather gods were going to be good to us for the weekend with light winds and fine weather. Being a little unfamiliar with the place I stuck to common hunting areas and ventured off the track in the hope of finding a deer or pig. I purposely chose areas where my mate could flick a fly or two at the trout, while i ventured off for a few hours.
First spot of the morning had nice flat clearings over a river. The mist was down low and and the sun still hours away from breaking through. With nothing sighted on the flats, I decided a gentle climb from 100m to 300m had to be made. Half way up I lost sight of the valley bellow and found myself engulfed in the most scruby stuff I have ever hunted in.
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Some places I was on fours and I started to wonder what I had got myself into. The signs were good though, with fresh pig rooting (one hole big enough for me to sleep in) every where, and deer sign.
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I checked my progress on the GPS and decided I wasn't going to be able to make the hike over the ridge and drop into a valley I had intended on. So I decided to double back a bit and drop down another side of the ridge I had climbed. Suddenly on my decent movement of several animals caught my attention 15m away, but try as I might I could not make eye contact in the scrub. My mate had no luck on the trout with none sighted so it was time to head back, have lunch, and go to our avo destination.
This river may be familiar to you all. Its where powerade comes from! ;) I had a chat to a local (Christian) who lived on the river and gave me some pointers and had a good chat about the Bruno gun he and I both had. I said my good byes and began my few hour walk along the river. It was great to admire the scenery on my walk and just take my time. I came across a bloody patch on the track and determined a deer had been taken that day or the previous. Day light was fading, and I made the turn back to the car. No deer were seen on this walk either, but my mate had scored two Rainbows much to his delight.
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The next day dawned, and crays were on the agenda. A drive down the coast to Te kaha was made, and the crays were relatively easy to get as usual. Driving by the hills on return back to Opotiki thinking there must be deer in them hills, two men came down towards the road with one dragging a spiker. Yep, deer in them hills alright.
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The avo with only 2 hours to spare meant I was limited to where I could go. I went on the edge of a scenic reserve from the road and just looked over at clearings. Ten minutes went by when my mate said he had heard something 20m below us in the bush. I listened carefully, and sure enough the noise was getting louder and an animal was making its way towards us quickly. Not having gun in hand, but 10m away at car I tippy toed as quietly as you can on gravel and put a round in the chamber. On return, my mate said it had stopped. Then a bellbird decided to start making a racket in a tree next to us, and as time went on I knew this animal (deer, pig, goat?) had wised up to us and was not going to come closer. Tucker time was calling so home for a few beers over the fire, venison, whitebait, trout, crays, what more could you ask really for a weekend away from the smoke.
