It all started with me scoring a ballot block in the Molesworth for the 2022 Roar.
Being a newish hunter yet to shoot a deer I pondered the best plan of action and decided to open an offer to join me to the forum. I received good feedback and accepted Shearer and Moa Hunter to join me. Watching the weather in the run up to the bock dates it became clear that going in on opening day wasn’t going to be advisable with a Southerly front coming through on Thursday evening. The forecast was true to form for once.
Friday morning Shearer and I cruised the length of the block assessing access and wind directions eventually deciding on the Western end due to the ongoing but light Southerly still blowing. Returning to my place we loaded up the Nissan and headed off. Parking up we crossed the river and set off up the hillside, this was a bit of a grunt especially for me not having done much tramping lately due to other distractions like work getting in the way. An hour and a half later we drop packs and start scouting for somewhere to camp.
Almost immediately we hear a stag roar so start glassing for it, he is seen in a clearing roughly 4-500m away, Shearer lets out a roar with an immediate reply this lad is spoiling for a fight. Roaring away he starts to come closer while he is out of sight we sprint for a large bush between us and him, arriving just in time with me puffing like a steam train. Settling in behind the bush we cant see him and then at the last minute just as Shearer is crawling behind me the stag shows up on a slight rise 120m away still looking for a fight. I motion for Shearer to scoot around the other side of the bush while I try to control my thumping heart and heavy breathing. Within 30 seconds and with a heavy boom the 308 lefty has dropped the stag on the spot. Strike one to Shearer with a nice mature 10 pointer.
Attachment 193585
The obligatory congratulations and photos follow, with Shearer then removing meat and head which we struggle to carry back to our chosen campsite. We proceeded to set up camp and then start glassing the area with a couple of junior stags seen just on dark.
Saturday morning and up before first light to begin glassing, another mature stag is seen along with a couple of hinds disappearing into the bush from a small clearing. We return to camp for a some breakfast and to formalise a plan of attack choosing to try and circle around using the wind and try to entice him back out with some roaring. We set off and on the way refill water bottles there being no water at camp. Some roaring from us ensues but apart from a few grunts the big boy is staying put and not coming out to play. We eventually leave him alone and set off the explore the rest of the basin. Seeing no other animals we head back for some lunch, the weather is glorious, light winds and enough sun to be comfortable. I have a snooze in my tent while Shearer goes off to glass the area we had seen the big boy this morning. When I awake and not knowing where Shearer is I set up glassing from the bush edge right beside camp. I soon spy three hinds and then the big boy further away and right out in the open on the tussock, I watch them for around 20 minutes at which time Shearer arrives back at camp looking for me as he has seen a young stag in the clearing where we had seen the big boy and his girls this morning.
I flag him down and direct his gaze to the animals out on the tussock, soon the hinds start heading back to the bush followed closely by the stag. We hatch a plan to try and stalk in and roar him out as the wind is still in our favour. Leapfrogging each other to the patch where Shearer had shot his stag I sit down to wait for him to catch me up, when he arrives he says “did you see the other stag in the clearing?” Which I hadn’t. He isn’t roaring but is close and in the open as soon as he moves into a patch of bush we move Shearer first and me waiting until he gets into a patch of bush of our own I soon follow, suddenly he is out onto the clearing just across the gulley from us, each time he moves we move to get me into a better shooting position. I settle down with the intention of firing across the small gulley, Shearer is behind and slightly higher than I am, as I shoulder out of my pack and am trying to bring my rifle to bear Shearer lets out a mild roar. The stag stops head up and then drops down into the dead ground where I can’t see him, meanwhile I can hear behind me Shearer whispering get ready he is coming and sure enough this boy was coming and he was in a hurry. Shit I’m not ready when he pops up 15m in front of me struggling to get eye relief through the scope I can hear behind me, “shoot, just shoot”. Thankfully the stag seems to be confused and looking over me rather than at me and after what seemed like an age but actually wasn’t the mighty 22-250 gets its first deer, a nice young 10 pointer. Despite the elation of the moment Shearer got to see what my lovely wife calls my emotionless emotions.
Attachment 193586
Now its my time to try and butcher my first deer, with help and guidance I get the job done and we carry yet more meat back to camp. Dinner and an early night is in order as we are heading out in the morning. A Sunday lie in leads to skinning and boning out the meat, loading up packs with all the meat we set off down the hill, we drop the meat at the river and head back up, we grab a quick lunch pack down our campsite and head back down to the river. We ferry everything across the river and Shearer sets off to bring the truck up a bit closer, we load up and head off back down Jacks Pass to my place for showers and beers on the deck.
Attachment 193587
Attachment 193588
Monday morning Shearer is off back to St Arnaud and I process 30Kg of fresh, organic, free range venison. Some into the freezer, some to age in the fridge and some currently in the dehydrator becoming jerky, something I have never tried making before.
I wish to Thank @Shearer for his help, guidance and patience on the hill and for the delicious smoked trout he arrived at our place with Thursday afternoon and to Moa Hunter for his help and advice over the phone. All in all a great time with good company and stags that played the game.
