Two brothers, 2500ks, one week
What started off with a well planned two week hunting trip, turned into seven days of unplanned, do what we like trip.
It was 5pm on Friday the 2nd, after finishing work the organised chaos of packing started. Check and re check what gear was needed. We wrote a list of what we needed to get for the trip, then somehow make all the gear fit into the borrowed van (thanks boss). We managed to load the van with everything we needed, it was time to get some sleep for the ferry ride and long drive down to Christchurch in the morning.
4:30 am, we woke to the alarm clock. Time to crawl out of bed and hit the road. Suprise surprise the ferry was running late :thumbsup: after a quick 4ish hour calm sailing, we hit Picton and started the drive heading for our first stop of the trip, a house warming in Christchurch.
Sunday is here, the plan had been to meet up with a local forum member @Munsey for a nice Sunday stroll but the weather put an end to these ideas. Instead my brother thought it might be a good idea to hit one of the local mountain bike tracks, in the cold southerly rain, that felt like needles on my skin, not a smart idea. Attachment 70394
After the ride, there was a few phone calls back and forth with @Munsey and a new plan had been hatched.
Monday 5th of June, Queen's birthday. Weather looked marginal, but good bastard @Munsey was keen to take some North Island boys out for a walk. @Munsey went out of his way, good southern hospitality. 430am rocked around and the good fella @Munsey turned up, in nothing else but a MIGHTY HILUX! As we head towards a spot @Munsey had hunted years ago, it was good to just get out on the hill with a new mate in a new area and explore. As we pull into the car park, as the sun rose slowly over the horizon, we decided to head up the ridge and climb high. After walking for a short time, chatting the whole way up, it was turning out to be an awesome day. We glassed for a short time and took photos and crept up the hill at a good pace. We get to a small saddle with an amazing view of a small basin, we glassed for a short time and when we were just about to continue the walk, out of nowhere my brother spots a chamois. Like 3 ladies running to a SALE, I grab the rifle, Justin ranges the target, @Munsey keeps eyes on the buck. We all settle into our positions and I slowly squeeze off on the trigger and send a 143gr eld-x his way. A solid whack returns and the buck drops on the spot.Attachment 70395Attachment 70396Attachment 70397
A quick photo session later, we get stuck into removing the hind quarters and back steaks. The weather had started to change, we could not have timed it any better if we had tried. The walk back to the truck was full of laughs and high praises. Especially when @Munsey thinks he is walking his dog and it turns out to be bushes Attachment 70401 this was funny to watch and made Justin's day. We get back to the truck in short time and enjoy the drive back to Christchurch and reflect on what was an awesome plan B.
6th of June turns up nice and early. The plan had been to head to Mt Cook, for what was meant to be a chopper ride into the back block. After a call to heli-line, low fog and high snow levels put a end to that idea. So a short overnight hunt was put in place to kill some time and make the best of the weather in South Canterbury. Turning up to a doc carpark, bags packed for the walk to the hutt, we knew it would be cold but were surprised with just how cold it was! We round the corner to see the hutt, the foot deep snow was a nice surprise. After a short glass a nice fellow was spotted just a small distance from the hutt, it was Justin's turn to have a shot so he grabbed the .260 Sako and headed in the direction. With an easy 10 minute stalk, the fellow hit the deck with another 143gr eld-x, he was down. Quick work was made of boning the meat. That night we were both happy with the last two days and couldn't have asked for a better start to a well planed-unplanned trip. That night it got so cold the boots froze in the hutt and the bottle of water turned into an ice-block, the morning couldn't have come soon enough! Quick breakfast we started the walk back to the van, right on the edge of the doc block I spotted a small mob of pigs, Justin grabbed the rifle and squeezed off another round, this time it went right over its head :wtfsmilie: this was a good lesson in making sure you return the scope back to zero after each shot. Back at the van, it's always a welcome sign to see it still there and with all its windows Attachment 70408Attachment 70409
That afternoon the plan was to head for the west coast in chance of finding a chamois or tahr to up the tally. The five plus hours drive was over and done with in no time and the spot on the side of the road was picked between Fox and Franz to sleep in the van. We were discussing what side creek to head into in the morning.
7th of June. a late start of 7am just as the sun started to peer over the ridge. Justin and I start the walk up the creek bed, no sign was spotted but we were both still keen to carry on up. We came to a fork in the creek and both decided to head in different directions with a plan to meet back at the split at 10am. After a few hours no sign was spotted and started the walk back to the meeting place, Justin had no luck either but the country was amazing to see and was still well worth the effort. After meeting back up we start the walk back to the van. We decided to hit the road again but first a stop in Hokitika for a late lunch. We hit Arthurs Pass and head back to Canterbury to try our luck on a small day hunt where Justin and I both shot our first tahr in previous years. Attachment 70414Attachment 70415Attachment 70416Attachment 70418
The silence was shattered as the sound of the alarm rings out, its the morning of the 8th. We peel ourselves out of bed and start gearing up, boots frozen. The crisp cold morning air brings a sign of blue skies and pleasant weather for the day to come. We enter into a well hunted area with expectations not set too high but only with the enjoyment of just being out and casting our eyes into the head valleys above. We picked a spur to begin the arduous climb up, stopping, glassing. From the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of two nannies feeding, not having a care in the world. Slowly we exit this area to leave them at peace as we head into the next catchment. We reach a small saddle in time to watch the sun slowly bring life to the valley, first the warm glow lights the very tops while continuing to stretch lower and lower. We noticed what appeared to be, in the distance, one very large, almost bear like shape slowly make its way around the tussock and snow covered face. While still very far off we knew we needed to close the distance. Heading out of sight we start the climb higher. Pushing up we crest the final outcrop of rocks hoping this animal was worth all the sweat. We peer over the ridge, with the welcomed sign of one very large bull tahr only 457 yards away. Standing well out in the open and staring down into the valley below with the staunch look as to say "i'm king''. I set the rifle up and calm my breathing down, feeding the 230gr 300 norma magnum into the chamber, I close the bolt and squeeze the trigger. Not even a sign of life as the monster crumbled into a heap. We made our way over to him with unsure expectations of what this bull would look like up close. We weren't disappointed! He is only just shy of 13 inches, well worth the stalk, he's going on the wall.
This wrapped up one very eventful week into the South Island. We couldn't have asked for anything better. Good company, great weather, animals to match.
