Jo (jojiyo) is a new hunter who asked nicely to go for a hunt with me next time I go in the Ruahines.The time and location were set up and This morning we met up in Big bad Dannevages.We jumped into my wagon just before 0600hrs the stars were shinning brightly hinting of the day ahead.
The location for this mornings hunt was a ruggerd little spot known as the Rokai! to the locals,the wind was playing the game nicely when we hoped out of the car we kitted up with the red sky dawning behind us we moved off.We started to climb to gain a bit of altitude by then the the light was good enough to start trying to be ninjas in the bush,rested myself and Jo started to sidle along the game trials keeping our eyes ears and noses peeled after about and hour we came into a clearing were we were able to view a slip on the opposite side of the ridge we are on.
I spotted three Deer eating and sunning themselves two spikers and probably a yearling hind, everytime I tried to show Jo they would duck in behind some trees typicle.We made the decision to get in closer two ridges along as we were around 400yds away at that point......after some bush bashing and onga onga dodging and bluff avoidance we managed to get to within 320yds.we watched them for a bit then decided it was time to snag one before they disappear of the slips,I got Jo in behind my rifle dialled it in for 320 yds there a was a slight breeze blowing at full value r to l and to be fare to Jo I probably underestimated the wind which resulted in a very close miss by Jo.The two deer bolted out of site then a silly spiker as usual ran into were all the trouble took place and to his demise stood around to long he was slightly down hill and looking backwards I took the shot aiming straight for the engine room he must of moved because his Neck got in the way and he got drilled and rolled down the slip out of view.
with the easy job done we headed down into the creek Jo decided to rest up at the bottom of the scree slope which was under the slip while I went up to find and dress out the Spiker.The sun was straight on me I clmberd up the slope and started to head to were I thought he would be lying it was steep country and little waterfalls were in my all the way up to the spiker after 25mins I found him.
I thanked him for being a dumbs and proceded to dress him out and head back down with gravity behind me and some steep little waterfalls which the pics don't do justice
Jo met me halfway up the top and we stoped for a pic and admired the view from were we shot from which we couldn't take a pic of because the sun was screaming in on us.Probably an hour or more after we bowled the spiker I was back on the bottem by the creek ready for the big walk out
Suck that guts in jase.We boned the animal out to test my new meet bag out loaded up and started the walk out the weather was spectacular and it was a glorious walk out we stopped a few time's for a rest break on the way,the cool water from this creek at the high point of our walk was a nice relief
almost at the end the sicadas were defening but we mde it out by lunch and the Ruahines on this occasion was beaten(dosnt happen often)
we stopped at my good mates to chill and hang the meat in his chiller, next sun Jo will be back to bone out his share.Jo was a bloody nice guy and it was great to have him along next time I will get him a close in shot in the bush once he has recuoperated from this hunt I hope he had a good time even if the hills were at sometimes steep but that's the Ruahines........... you generally work like a slave to get a feed out of there.But its good for the soul
Bookmarks