Thread: The Winchester Rifle :Part 7

The .222 rem has an iconic spot in the history of nz deer hunting.
In the 60s and 70s it became a favourite amongst many meat hunters and nzfs cullers alike for its accuracy and light recoil.

I had always wanted to join the ranks of those who had hunted and shot a red deer in NZ using this fascinating little cartridge.
So when the opportunity arose to purchase a Winchester model 70 xtr in .222, I was without delay in the car for the long journey to collect my seventh Winchester.
The rifle came with 60 rounds of ammo and I didn’t need to use many before I had it sighted in at 75 yards,basically making it bang on out to 150 yards.

It was soon after that I was very fortunate to have gained access to a local Pine forest block. The tree fellers (fellas) had been noticing a few deer crossing the road from the planted trees, into the mature trees early in the mornings. With that information on board I was eager to get out there.

It was a public holiday and there would be no one working on site for the day.The strong westerly wind was forecast to drop away on evening so it seemed like the perfect situation.
I called a regular hunting mate and we made our way out to the block. Weaving around the dusty gravel roads in the old hilux our conversation focused on the classic feeling of the .222 rifle, the evenings possibilities and how cool it is to be finally getting out for a hunt with this classic rifle and cartridge.

On arriving at the block we parked at the first skid site. We got our gear ready and had a good glass over the recent planting of pine trees.

“I suspect this is what the deer eat.”
I said as we looked over the tangle of old dead branches and bare earth. Neither of us had had much experience hunting pine forests.
“I guess we just have to snoop around until we see one !”

We walked on slowly towards the next skid site,the wind completely up our backs and the sound of gravel crunching under our feet. It wasn’t ideal, anything within a few miles we thought would be well aware of our presence. We pushed on regardless, keen to see what lay ahead for us around the next corner.

As we approached the next skid site we could feel a shift in the wind,slightly left to right. We sat down to glass the long straight gravel track in front of us. Immediately a deer walked out, followed by another, then another.
We looked at each other in disbelief as it was all happening exactly as we were told by the forestry workers.

The deer stopped to feed on the lush grass on the tracks edge, they were 300 yards away. It seemed a bit far for a confident shot so a quick plan was made to stalk in closer.

The deer by now had moved off further along the track, out of sight, making it ideal to cross the open ground before cover could be sought in the towering pine trees that lined the tracks edge.

Inside the cover of the trees was a natural trench that gave easy travel to damn near where the deer should by now be grazing.
I snuck along until I was near where I thought the deer would be, then sneaking up the rise I could see all 3 deer staring in my direction.
Using a pine tree for concealment I got to where I could make the shot. 35 yards.

I knew which one I wanted. I lifted the rifle, aimed and squeezed off. In a flurry of movement I saw the spiker fall, the other 2 stags took a few quick leaps before they disappeared into the forest,as if it was well rehearsed.

The spiker remained motionless on the grass verge. It hadn’t taken a step!.

Everything had gone to plan. The wind change, the deer sighting, the stalk and the shot, it was a feeling of jubilation to be approaching the deer lying still in the grass.

I can now say I have hunted, and shot, a wild NZ Red Deer with the fascinating little .222 .

Lovely rifle in a great cartridge.enjoy the venison.

Your both look extremely smiley

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We sure were !
First time out in weeks due to the blasted wind lol

Great work, those triple 2’s are deadly within there range limitations. That spider should be excellent eating this time of year.