I went for an overnighter on Sunday into the Haurangis.
Long story short I saw a few animals, and shot a couple of deer.
I had an early start on the Monday morning and headed up a creek in the dark with my headlamp intent of getting opposite a big grassy slip by sunrise. I made it in plenty of time, but nothing was on it so I crossed the creek and headed up the side of the slip for the top. That took an hour, and once on the top I picked my way along a main ridge glassing when I could, and hunting gully heads when I couldn't.
I had just got around the top of this big gully (pic) when I glassed back and spotted a deer in the direction I had come from.
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The range finder told me it was 246 yards so I glassed it for a while, decided that it was definitely made of yummy meat, and settled in for a shot. I had my 270wsm. At the shot the deer poleaxed, but another one (a hind) appeared looking to be acting pretty strangely by leaping around but thinking nothing of it I fired a quick shot at her too. She disappeared. Maybe got 2 I thought to myself.
Where the first deer was standing when I fired at it(circle).
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So Tilly and I backtracked and cut down the ridge to where they were and soon enough we found the first one. But no 2nd one, so I sent Tilly off and seconds later I heard her scruffing something up. It was a very much alive hind, but with damaged back wheels. So I dispatched her with a neck shot and had a closer look to see what had happened. No bullet hole, but a couple of fragment marks on her hip and spine. It turned out that a couple of petals from the Hammer Hunter projectile had sliced through the yearling and into Mum (they are designed to shed like that).
Here's where the petals hit (arrow on the hind, and the bit of blood by the knife).
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What I thought had happened was confirmed when I skinned back the legs and hip and found the slice marks from the petals. I found a petal too when boning her out. I had obviously missed with my hurried 2nd shot.
Here's the yearling.
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Meat hanging off the bone cooling.
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A pack full of meat ready for the trip back to camp (pic). These packs have nylon frames and can take various sorts of pack bags. I have a small pack on mine so there is room for a good load under the meat sleeve. They are very versatile and the pack bag can come off so I can use the whole frame for meat and then attach the pack bag over that. Or use the pack bag by itself without the frame. Made by Outdoorsman in the States (but quite speedy now)
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That afternoon I headed in a different direction, saw 4 deer but let them be.
Quite an interesting trip. Ive shot 2 pigs before with one shot (it was on purpose) but never 2 deer. Had to wait 71 years to do that.
That last day was quite a big one for an old bugger. My 'phone said I walked 10.9 km, and even today (Wednesday) my body still believes it.
