Thread: Its still pre-roar

3 of us spent 4 days last week chasing wallaby (we shot 242). It took a few days to recover from that but yesterday I trooped off up north for a hunt and especially to hear some roaring stags.

I had shot a stag a few days before the wallaby hunt and he wasn't rutted up which I was surprised by. He was a really odd looking little 11 pointer. Craig and I were stalking down a scrubby ridge towards a stag we had seen when I glanced into the creek and spotted a splash of red. I hauled Craig back (Dad's can do that) and he set up his camera while I found somewhere to shoot from-neither of us could find a decent spot but I at least wasn't shaking as much as the camera man (see the vid). I was using my little 7-08 and the 140 SST did a reasonable job, but I must stop lung shooting them (its a habit from using the .223).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uif3vAMgOLY





Looking down the creek I shot him in (on my way out with the load).



So as mentioned last night I was back in the same area, having recovered from the wallaby trip. Tilly was indicating strongly into a gully so we dropped down for a better look and soon 3 stags appeared. All feeding together and playing nicely.



They were all 8 pointers so I selected the smallest one at 187 yards and lung shot (again) him with the 7-08. There was no sign of a hit but I was confident so I waited 20 mins before I worked my way around to where they disappeared. There was no blood in the immediate area but Tilly wanted to take me across a creek so I followed her and after 100 yard there he was. Quite dead. Good lung shot.





I took my time boning him out because it was only 6pm, and relaxed while the meat cooled.



I stayed out until dark and didn't hear any roars, and going by how the stags are behaving it looks like the roar in the Nth Wairarapa is a wee way off yet. Im picking at least a week. About then I will be back.

awesome photos and write up as usual ,

Good to see

Nice going Bruce, nephew just got back from Ruahines , got onto a couple roaring well, shot a nice 10 pointer that walked out onto a slip after he gave a roar.

@Tahr, well done, now I’m sure I’ve asked this before but can’t remember, what do you use for writing/doing your drops on the stock (Pen/tape)

I’m off Sat and can’t wait, feel like a kid at Xmas after missing last year.

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

@Tahr, well done, now I’m sure I’ve asked this before but can’t remember, what do you use for writing/doing your drops on the stock (Pen/tape)

I’m off Sat and can’t wait, feel like a kid at Xmas after missing last year.

@outdoorlad I use a strip of duct tape and write onto that with a fine permanent marker, and then put packing sellotape (its a little wider than duct tape) over that. I extend the sellotape longer on both ends than the duct tape by about an inch.

That's a pretty looking animal at the back from 1.50 on - thanks for the video.

It's pre roar up the Urchin currently too, I walked over it yesterday afternoon and nothing other than a few Sika whistling down in the gullies.

Nice one

Nice one, those wallabys sound like fun

Been going well for at least a week in Nelson going by all the messenger and txts I have had from mates and family.
But then we have had an exceptional feed year since last roar, wet mild winter, wet warm spring and just wet enough mild summer with only a couple of weeks plus 30deg.
Typically there is a bit of a late second roar of sorts in one of my spots as the odd late cycling hinds come on.
Hopefully I can get out for that.

Nice write up. Again Interested in why you remonstrate yourself for lung shooting with the SST? I'm currently using factory loaded interbonds (superformance) but now discontinued so about to stock up on SST for my 308. Currently the 165gr groups better than the 150gr so hoping that the slightly lower velocity will work with the SST projectile. Sorry for hijacking your thread

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Originally Posted by Ned

Nice write up. Again Interested in why you remonstrate yourself for lung shooting with the SST? I'm currently using factory loaded interbonds (superformance) but now discontinued so about to stock up on SST for my 308. Currently the 165gr groups better than the 150gr so hoping that the slightly lower velocity will work with the SST projectile. Sorry for hijacking your thread

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@Ned No problem. I think a higher more central shoulder shot would stop these big bodied stags quicker. With any bullet really.
But nothing wrong with the SST.

This was the inside of the shoulder (entry side) on last nights stag. And it went through and exited. So it was well terminal.

Cheers thats helpful. Thanks.

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Great write up and pics as always Tahr . Those wallaby hunts sound like fun but something I have never had an opportunity to do .
Off to hanmer myself tomorrow for hopefully 4 days in the hills with a mate so all going well I might even have a story to tell myself for a change....fingers crossed eh...

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Great write up and pics as always Tahr . Those wallaby hunts sound like fun but something I have never had an opportunity to do .
Off to hanmer myself tomorrow for hopefully 4 days in the hills with a mate so all going well I might even have a story to tell myself for a change....fingers crossed eh...

Wasn't much roaring on Monday just a few croaks, mate shot a big bodied 9 pointer Monday night over the back.