Thread: How do they do it?

Have been hunting the Kaimanawas for quite a few years now. And I am always stunned how some animals can do so well in what is pretty harsh unpalatable terrain. And at 1200 plus metres above sea level. Spring really only turns up mid November here, so for this boy to have managed to coat his entire body in half an inch of fat, more around the kidneys and back end in only a couple of months, is truly impressive.



He's going to be great eating. The meat completely filled the 30L fridge running in the back of the truck. Burgers and back steaks here we come

A shout out to @Ross Nolan, that's deer #3 without sharpening that handy little knife.

That’s a fantastic animal


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Great condition that’s for sure

I was wondering what the knife was....should be great eating.

maybe he wintered on Poronui top dressed pasture yuk yuk

His guts were 75% full of alpine tutu. Its obviously highly nutritious, unlike its lowland cousin.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

maybe he wintered on Poronui top dressed pasture yuk yuk

He's about as far away as a Sika can get from Porinui, whilst still being in the Kaimanawas.

I was being flippant whilst also checking proximity

Nice stag - Looks tasty

There's a trophy hunter somewhere howling at the moon and crying about those antlers.

I'm looking forward to the burgers.

Originally Posted by Ross Nolan

There's a trophy hunter somewhere howling at the moon and crying about those antlers.

I'm looking forward to the burgers.

Classic.

There’s 3 nice Sika velvetys up Ihaka spur in the Kaweka front country at the moment, it’s going to be a great year for the deer with this much food about

I know numerous people who carry more condition than that and they swear it's not from overeating.
So I guess all species have "good doers".

That's and interesting head

Believe it or not, that's how he came to rest. I didn't set that photo up. He had a yearling feeding up on an exposed face above him that saw me and he squealed a warning. Old mate was down in a gut at the buffet table and came trotting up to see what had spooked the lookout. He stopped briefly, I pinged him in the boiler room at 150m with a bog standard PMC bronze in .223. he trotted 10m and expired against that shrub.

Only due to @Ross Nolan 's pestering I went all the way back in to recover the head this morning, so I will now have the jaw aged. Any guesses???

I'll skin the head to check out the skull suture shortly.