Thread: Deer numbers

Is it just me or is there a heap of deer around at the moment ? It’s the best I can remember it in the last 20 years. This is my fourth trip into this spot. I went in March , May, October and last night. I picked it off a topo map because it looked deery. It’s on DOC land and 2 1/2 hours from the road end.
Left the truck last night and hoofed it in with an overnight pack. Got up into where I wanted to be and started stalking into the wind. Third slip and there’s a familiar shape. Sure enough a quick check through the scope confirmed a hind feeding. Took my pack off lined her up and drilled her. Suddenly there’s a spiker running around not sure what’s going on. Bang - miss. Bang - mmmm did I get it?
Wandered over to the first deer and got my pack off and knife out.

Went over to look for the spiker kind of hoping I had missed. But no here he was and the poor bugger needed a finishing shot. I tried to cut his throat and got a hefty kick in the upper thigh for my troubles. Dragged them together and got the knife to work.

I butchered all the meat and packed up. It was only 8:30 pm. Bear in mind it’s not dark here til 10pm at the moment. Having an extra 30 kegs on board slowed me down. Contemplated walking out but didn’t feel up for it in the dark. As I headed back down river I could have shot another two deer. Lucky for them and me I only took 4 rounds in. Any way I had a flycamp set up by 10pm with the meat cooling properly.


Woke up at first light and saw another deer from camp. Packed up and began the trudge out. Home by 12. There’s adventures still out there.