Wellington Unarmed Trampers Club gets Firepower

As you guys all know, myself and ebf are regular walkers around Wellington's surrounding bush. We've both been waiting for Christmas and this past week, Eebs beat me to it and took his 'russian b*tch' along for our walk. And it was one of the best yet!

Ebf is pretty much organising king - I just drive to where he tells me and he points me in a direction. This time it was a nice 'easy' walk...lovely flat! My gosh, that never happens. Anyway we bumbled along and caught up on the weeks events with Jet trotting happily in front of us. Jet is getting much better with his whislte commands and stopping at a distance from us. Hopefully we can see how he goes under a gun with a rabbit shoot or something. Anyway I digress, we walked and talked and enjoyed the five billion mini river crossings.

A few hours of strolling found us at a pretty spot along an established river. We stopped for a feed before crossing the deepest river yet and heading up a hill.

I am determined to get fit and know ebf well enough now that I don't hide my panting, my red cheeks or sweaty neck haha. I think that is saying something - he's a top notch dude. With the hill and the sun now peaking out through the clouds, it was getting hot. I decided it was time to give it all I had and powered up the hill. I'm happy with my progress...just a few weeks ago I was being left for dust at much smaller peaks!

We reached as far as we would go for the day and paused to check out the scenery.

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On the way back down we decided to poke our heads in for a look at a few jump throughs. My bush eye is getting better - with the help from some ground scenting from Jet and tips from 7mmsaum, I found where a pig vs dog chase had taken place. The group looked to have crashed down the hill and cross our hunter's track.

I also saw a plant that I had seen on the BOP Hunt and Fish that I have no idea what it is/does. It looks like hot green wax dripped onto exposed roots. It is definately a plant and not poison. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what this is?

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We wandered back down the hill, our legs now feeling it. I think this may be the furthest distance covered on our walks. With each week we get faster and more enthusiastic..and take less breaks. We got back down to the river we had lunch at and just as we were about to dip our toes in......Woah wait Eebs, check it out!!!! We couldn't believe it. In the two hours we had been up the hill, someone decided to come have a drink.

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So - not like there is money and pride riding on this or anything - I reckon this is a few different reds. Momma and baby, plus maybe last year's fawn? What do you guys think? We weren't expecting anything more than goats in this area and ebf has been in this area previously with no sign of any animals.

Anyway moral of the story is that maybe we need to keep taking rifles on our walks as we've seen the most sign when carrying the extra few kilos! :thumbsup:

Oh and after this walk, I was totally broken. I hobbled out of the car when I got home and proceeded to take a nap from 5pm until well after 9!! I haven't been for a serious walk since. Need to man up a bit I think ;)

Dougie, I would be taking Black Beauty up there if I were you.

Sign was found in the non-hunting area. I'll be taking her up there in Feb and maybe kip over night after finidng a good possie. Lots of bush bashing involved in the hunting area. It will feel kinda weird leaving the dog at home but I think it might be wise, it'll increase my chances!

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Originally Posted by Dougie

It will feel kinda weird leaving the dog at home but I think it might be wise, it'll increase my chances!

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Or potentially decrease them if he has a good nose Dougie.

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Originally Posted by Rushy

Or potentially decrease them if he has a good nose Dougie.

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He's no ninja, crashes around in the bush, I think he'd still chase anything if he saw it. Hunting for himself, not me!

The first picture in this thread is almost postcard material.

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Originally Posted by Ryan

The first picture in this thread is almost postcard material.

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Almost? Wait til ebf gets home and reads that, he won't want to be your friend anymore!

Dougie, the green plant is a liverwort or stonewort I think.

Is it possible the deer was using that pen??? its unusual to see one in the bush in such good nick!,It must of been sending a postcard to its south isl wapiti cuzzy's saying come up here mate there isnt much pressure:thumbsup::o

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Originally Posted by dogmatix

Dougie, the green plant is a liverwort or stonewort I think.

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Cool cheers. Can I do anything with it? (eat, medicine etc)

They are very primitive plants, I know some people in European countries do, but this Liverwort is a NZ species, so I don't know if it is useful.

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Originally Posted by Dougie

He's no ninja, crashes around in the bush, I think he'd still chase anything if he saw it. Hunting for himself, not me!

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Thats the reason we don't take our muts boating, any seagulls fly past us and they are over the side, no matter how fast we are going. Entertaining the first time, not so much the 10th time:):):)

Dougie .. have a look at what the trail cam for the NI is doing and poke it in there for a few days . This will give you a betted idea of what movements are going on in there

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Originally Posted by Twoshotkill

Dougie .. have a look at what the trail cam for the NI is doing and poke it in there for a few days . This will give you a betted idea of what movements are going on in there

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Awesome idea :)

Oh By the way .... Thanks for the Shampoo and tissues in the pack!!!!!! Im Picking you forgot to empty it before you sent it! simply because i dont have enough hair to warrent shampoo!

lmao whoops...there was shampoo in there??? I didn't even have a wash during that trip...... ;)

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Originally Posted by Ryan

The first picture in this thread is almost postcard material.

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Originally Posted by Dougie

Almost? Wait til ebf gets home and reads that, he won't want to be your friend anymore!

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:wtfsmilie: will just have to show more leg next time :P now where the hell did I put that blaze mankini ?

Got a pick of the track/s as opposed to just prints? Deer normally put their rear hoof in,on,near the print from front hoof when walking

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VC, the larger prints were about 10 to 15 cm behind the smaller prints. I know zip about NZ animal prints, not even sure if those were deer or goat :D

that looks way to big for a goat!

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Originally Posted by ebf

:wtfsmilie: will just have to show more leg next time

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Nah, more rifle would be sweet though :)

Cam track looked like calmly walking, down from the bush to the water's edge and then back the same way. Jet promptly f*cked everything up, trying to snuff up the bambi smell.

Look like deer prints to me but Im not standing there looking at them ! Could also be goat. Mature hind would be larger print than any goat,can't really make out the toe tip shape in the soft sand

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Hey dont get offended but mybe you wanna leave the hound at home when you go to suss those deer out next time??

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Originally Posted by Neckshot

Hey dont get offended but mybe you wanna leave the hound at home when you go to suss those deer out next time??

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Yep as I said to Rushy I think I will have much better chances without the pooch! ;) sorry Jetty!!!!

EDIT: Note that all our walks have been for fitness, not for hunting. Seeing sign is a bonus but our main purpose for getting out is to practice our bushcraft skills, inhale as much info about the bush as possible and of course getting the legs used to hills! Seeing these prints was a complete surprise and total bonus for us all.