Thread: MEB's 2012 Red Roar - Part 1

I have my hunting kit planned out, what I'm taking, what I'll need. A hectic week of work leading up to the Roar, as always it seems. Then I get my kit sorted. Can't find my blaze vest, my sling and my inflatable bed mat won't stay inflated. I fill the bath and check for leaks but can't find any. So I inflate it fully and sleep on it. It's half flat at 3am. Bugger. This is my first chopper flight into DOC land to hunt in the Roar. It's the culmination of being introduced to hunting 4 bird seasons ago. I am not missing this and I know how important a good nights sleep is. A quick email and I get two offers. I plump for the kathmandu bed roll offered by my good friend and hunting Guru Chris. It needs to be returned after I return as his lad Harley needs it for his stint of Chris's 23 days straight hunting the Roar - Reds and Sika. I ready my kit. Print and laminate some area maps. My sling surfaces from the same pocket as my blaze vest does. My pack hadn't been completely emptied from my last trip. So fully equipped my kit gets stuffed into my pack, daypack and Coleman Igloo for the journey south. I have 15 rounds of Federal 140gr soft point. My Winchester Model 70 chambered in .275 Wigby on which sits a Leupold VX1 3-9 x 40 sorts out the shooting side of things.

31/3/2012
I leave the sunny climes of Tutukaka and follow my Navman in car GPS uneventfully to arrive at Greendogs(Blair) at pretty much 6pm as planned. He arrives minutes later to inform me we are moving some cows. So we move cows. Have a good feed and a quick 'have you got everything' and we hit the scratcher.
1/4/2012
Early start and we head off to pick up Bambislammer(Malc). Another short stop to meet up with Phil and we arrive at the Galatea Airstrip shortly after 10am.



Gear gets sorted and weighed.




Blair and Malc take first ride in while Phil and I talk and get ready.

Soon It's my turn in the chopper. It's a Hughes 500 and has 3 front seats. So kit gets stuffed in back and we jump in front. It's an exhilarating ride and I love every second.