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The 45-70 gets a work out.
With a week off work and the kids still at school, I had a green light for an overnight hunt into an area I had always wanted to check out but had never got around to it. Arriving at the carpark It was perfect weather, so I shouldered my pack and proceeded to walk the 12km into the hut. Following along the river there were a huge number of goats however they were off the cards at this stage due to the DOC boundaries and the fact that I was trying for some Fallow or a pig. Arriving at the hut after 3.5 walking it was time to have a brew and check out the clearings and hopefully pull something off them.
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The sign around the clearings for Fallow and pig would be described as low however, that wasn't too surprising as DOC had said that as well. There was plenty of goat sign though and a few mobs that I let go in favour of the other species. Waiting on the final clearing until last light produced nothing so back to the hut for a feed and a sleep, ready for tomorrows hunt.
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The mornings hunt pretty much mirror imaged the evenings but I also stalked up a large clearing up the back of the hut that was quite a steep wee climb. No fallow or Pigs sighted and with the amount of goats around they were now on the cards. As I came around the corner and onto one of the clearings there was a mob of 8 goats feeding away. I waited until they were all more or less in the open and worked my way from the outside in, 5 shots 5 goats down and an extra finishing shot as I hadn't quite given enough lead on one of them. Gotta love the lever action and red dot sight for fast reloads and target acquisition :thumbsup:. The 45-70 throwing 300gr projectiles at 2105fps hits with authority!
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I decided to head back up the ridge track to the top clearing as the sun was out and it was later in the morning perfect goat time. Sure enough There were three on it one of which was a big billy, they were getting out there at 136yds especially for a 5moa red dot. I set up on the Billy and fired dropping him on the spot, the other two nannys ran towards the bush edge I was in and stopped not knowing where the shot came from. Three more shots and they were both down (I missed the first shot) :O_O:. Certainly no shortage of goat meat for the freezer and some for the dog too!
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Back at the hut it was time to pack up and walk back to the car, the body was a bit tired and the pack a bit heavier so it took 4 hours this time arriving at 1800. A great little trip and somewhere I would definitely go back to especially with the Kids when they could walk that distance, as there are plenty of opportunities for them.
Stay safe out there
James
