Have been learning a new hunting area since getting a house in Fairlie, and over a couple of months, discovered an odd friendship, was on a well used game trail trying to get close to a couple of Fallow when from behind me I hear a slow thump, thump, thump (think one thousand, two thousand three thousand tempo) I look around and fuck me, a great big grey Wallaby comes thumping down the trail past me like I am invisible, within 3 meters just goes thumping on past like he's got all day and nowhere to be!, literally could have dive tacked him (could have made for an interesting minute or so....) Left him alone as I was after Bambi, later turns out that was good karma.
Over the next few weeks I bumped into the same Wallaby a few more times, He was hanging out with a 10 point Red stag that was real good at hiding in the matagouri (lots of poachers and hunting pressure had made him smart and cautious) The wallaby would lead the way into open areas and the stag would lag behind waiting to see if it was clear, and then follow him about. Over a few searches of the area ( not taking the occasional half chance he offered) I worked out his main living quarters and planned my ambush.
Mid morning yesterday, as the sun warmed up the sheltered gut that was home, I was sitting tight to a big matagouri lump above the gut watching his general area waiting to see if he would come out as he had been, and sure enough the Wallaby suddenly came bopping along out of the heavy cover, but not from where I was expecting, quick switch of focus and wait out - A few seconds later the stag pushes out his head and has a bit of a look, and then strolls out into the open, and then turns to go back into cover up the hill where the Wallaby went, I wasn't in the best position for a downhill shot, jammed elbows into knees and sent an 85gn Sierra Hp Gameking into the engine room through the top of his shoulder, he collapsed at the shot rolled over backward and rolled down the hill. 267 yards and the wee .243 flattened him with authority :thumbsup:
The carry out was not fun, about 14k to the road end, thank fuck some of it was station/doc easement track, was on my chin strap by the time I made the truck. The wife likes the head so much that she is going to pay for getting it mounted and wants to put it on the wall:thumbsup: was going it stick it in a bucket full of dirt and let nature clean it up and put it on the wall in the garage.
Thought I was in the crap for being late home when we were supposed to be leaving Fairlie for home at 5pm, and I didn't get back untill 6, and needed food, brews and a shower, and get my gear through the wash - didn't leave before 8.30 but no grief at all, man some days life is good!
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