Well it took a couple of weeks, between shiftwork and norwesters (the area we were going does not hunt well when it's a nor wester), but a couple of weeks back @Moa Hunter and I finally managed to go on an evening hunt.
Nothing much really on some of the clearings on the way in but hopeful of something better when we got to the proper target spots.
Snuck out onto the first main clearing and had a quick glass. Nothing about initially but had a quick look down the back and then had another squiz.
Just as reference the sun was dipping behind the hills and maybe 1/2 hour from dark so a little gloomy.
MH says there's one. Couldnt see him at all but once he pointed it out I could just make him out in the scope.
He was back in the scrub a few feet making him quite tricky to spot. Just make out head and neck
Looking at aiming as low as I could towards the chest
Loaded up and tried to get a steady shot while sitting down but was making hard work of it even with the pack as a rest. Need a bit of practice at that obviously.
I seemed to finally get it better although not brilliant and let the 8x57 loose
. It was either going to complete miss or an animal on the deck.
MH was looking through the binos and confident i got him.
Raced over there and there was a small stag, maybe last years spiker (nubs where his antlers were just healing over).
I'd hit him a bit up in the neck and the 185gr softpoint had done the job.
Gutting and pack-up finished under the head torch and then the job of packing him out.
MH took the lead as he is just fitter and stronger than me and he had the initial job of getting it down the start of the hill which was quite steep.
I took over the last 1/3 which was on a track hut still some downhill and steps.
Definitely glad to see the Paj.
I was interested to see how these softpoint went on my second deer using them but hitting the neck sidnt really do them justice.
I will say though after skinning him and finding 2 small bruises on the deers right side that didnt go more than several mm into the meat were a bit puzzled.
Must have been bits of bullet or bone.
Later on I did recall seeing a cut on the shoulder through the skin but dismissed it as it getting it slugging it over the rocks to get it out on the flat to process might have done it it but in reality it was part of the bullets impact.
After chilling for the week it was 40kg.
Not a massive animal but good to get nonetheless
Initial cook up of the eye fillets and a bit of back steak was very positive.
On a very mild night, we had a couple of leisurely stops on the way down overlooking Canterbury and were back at MHs by midnight, quickly hang the deer up and by the time I was home, had a shower and a beer it it was 2am when I hit the sack
Old school mauser 98 spotter 8x57 is now 2 from 3 animals although I did nick a pig with it so it so far has hit everything I've shot at lol
Thanks for showing me some new country MH
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