Thread: Yessssssssssssss......8 point heaven.......

Hi everyone, I would like to dedicate my first wild deer, shot on DOC land to the Forum, without the help of all the good buggers on here I would be well of the mark!!!!!!

Whirinaki forest Saturday around 1pm, I called in a roaring stag, no caller or horn, just my cupped hand and a (quite frankly) ‘dodgy roar’…….

We had heard (3 of us) a roaring stag way off in the distance from camp at night, each taking turns to practice our roars on a cut-off traffic cone!!!!!
I’d already had two eventful days hunting, missed a shot at a spiker from 200+ mtrs, offhand shot, and two hinds that were just too fast to get a steady shot off!

I was making my way back to camp, you will know the area well Rushy (and the OPCz) coming up the DOC possum track trail, when I heard a strong roar…..
Thinking it was my two hunting mates back at camp before me I thought little of it except that their roaring had improved!!!!!

My rifle at this time was unloaded and over my shoulder after id reapplied my sling!!!!....roar came back, I roared again expecting to see two grinning faces at any moment!!

This went on for about 5 mins as I had sat down for a breather on this steep spur, the roaring got closer but more to my right, for the first time I thought “shit, this could be a stag!!!!”….then I heard the deepest, semi growl/bellow that I have ever heard, the hairs stood up on the back on neck….’that’s no bellend blowing a plastic cone, that’s a STAG’…..just went into complete ‘hunt mode’, chambered a round, sling off, tightened my back pack, checked the wind, “brilliant, right in my face” (you beauty) and started to make my way over, giving a call every 5 mins or so, I finally cleared two guts, and I could hear him really close over the other side of a punga filled ridge…

Another quick roar from me, and it was on, I got a quick flash of dark brown as the bush & pungas started to get crashed through like a scene from Jurassic park, (velociraptors went through my adrenalin filled brain) in half excitement / half shitting myself, suddenly he was there, he moved so fast I was still in shock, he stood staring about 5 mtrs away, I lifted my scope into the long haired neck and went for the hilar area, the ‘Remuera Mocha 7-08’ (Howa 1500 U/L) sang its ‘dirge of death’ and he dropped like a stone!!!!!!!.......i was shaking like a “shitting dog”…….
Went over he was still kicking so I fired another into his neck, it was over, I had finally shot my first wild deer, I can finally call myself a ‘HUNTER’…..

He has 8 points, almost symmetrical, but he will live on in my memory for the rest of my days, first deer, first stag, first ‘roared in’ stag……still cant believe it was me!!!!!

Took a few pics on camera & phone, and went to work, backstraps first, then the head, as I knew camp was only 10 mins away (took me 20) I went back to drop off my spoils,
He was in great condition, as the roar is still early, so we went back for the four legs!!!!

I have a load of people to thank for the advice & encouragement they have given me, but I would really like to thank Rushy for introducing the Whirinaki forest and giving me my first ‘bush hunting’ experience and also ‘Sako 75’ who has PM me loads of advice, spots and encouragement when I thought id never get there!!!!! HUGE thanks guys

Now I wonder if @Dundee, will do me another photo favour?