I had started to wonder if I had jumped the gun on taking my annual leave, first week of April and the only deer on my mind were Sika.
Today was the third trip this week to the same spot.
The first trip I was hearing Territory calls (from my ute) they continued all day but the stags were on the move..no single calls and I was bumping animals on scraps.
Trip two a day or so later, new plan, ambush. Sat above where a stag had been calling and let out a mew. BUSTED a really big hind came straight up to me and then proceeded to tell the whole river bed danger was there.
Left them calling with my tail between my legs.
This morning I jumped in the truck once more and made the 2.5 hour drive to 'my spot'
Arriving I could tell my time was limited, drizzle, fog and a breeze from the opposite direction from where I wanted it.
I heard two stags territory calling but down wind, cant fool these guys so put my face into the wind and trudged off.
I thought I heard a single call, paused and waited on the track.
"Meeeaaaawwww"
Awesome, he was up wind from me in some really thick scrub.
As I moved through the Kanuka, I became a little wary of the roars. I was sure they were not a hunter but there was a real variation at times, and it seemed to be moving back and fourth very quickly.
On approach there was some decent areas that had been thrashed.
After an hour of sneaking I felt I was about 25m away, I could hear really soft mews, and a real decent single call, and then another..I had found a small group of vocal stags.
Crouching down I found a nice place to wait, I lasted about 20 seconds before an animal walked past about 10m away and crashed off. It hadn't winded me but was a matter of time.
I let out a mew and straight away there was more movement, this time an arrogant stride and a flash of white antler.
Out of sight but only meters away I could hear him breathing I raised my rifle and mewed again. In an instant he stepped out and we locked eyes.
I was either going to take him or he was going to spook the other, I aimed.on his throat and decided to pull the trigger.
The 308 spoke and silence.
"MEEEEAAAWWWWWWW"
The big boy kept roaring!
I roared back this time and he trotted in, but stayed obscured enough that a safe shot could not be taken.
He then ghosted off.
Elated I walked to my stag laying in steam suppressed by the bush canopy.
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I was pretty happy with him, most certainly a sattelite stag but I learnt a shit load today about hunting Sika.
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Short wet walk back to the truck, and home to plan my next trip for the big guy.
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