Just in time for summer!
The region was just getting over deluge of rain. In excess of 300 millimetres (or 12 inches) had fallen over 3 days causing rivers to spill over flooding roads, swamping farmers recently sown crops and causing land to slip. The Sunday was the first fine day to follow and I knew that hungry deer would be out early making up for lost time. A bit of inside information into where a mob of reds had been seen and a near empty freezer with summer upon us an afternoon hunt was called for.
Teamed up with Mitchell and we headed off late afternoon. The area had been good to me in the past with pigs and deer shot. We had often visited the spot with friends and sticking to the stag only policy, watched hinds grazing. After a half hour uphill hike we were to be rewarded. We had only just stopped to scope the area, soon spotting a good size white boar grazing in the middle of a small clearing. The back end of a mate could be seen strolling into the safety of the manuka bush.
Mitchell was keen to bowl over a boar. It took a bit of convincing that we were there to get venison not pork. Just as well. Half a dozen steps on and I froze in my stride. There over 600 yards down hill from us were three deer grazing. The dominant hind standing on guard with her head in the air looking our way. The wind was in our favor. We slowly sunk to our knees and out of sight. Taking the time to allow Mitchell the opportunity to view the animals through the binoculars added to his already overflowing excitement.
The stalk took nearly an hour bypassing grazing cattle and trying to avoid squawking paradise ducks, the curse of any expectant hunter. With light fading we finally got to where the deer had been grazing. Nothing! They had moved on. We were now in under tall scattered manuka scrub where a split second lack of concentration could ruin everything. Quietly we crept on finally popping out onto a small spur. Taking small steps and constantly scouring every shadow I was pleased to finally rest my eyes on a deer. I sunk down and informed Mitchell. We positioned ourselves and crawled along on our bellies to a spot where we could clearly see our game. Rising slowly I was pleasantly surprised as I began to spot more and more deer. The three had now turned into thirteen. It was mob of hinds and fawns or rising yearlings. No older stags were seen.
Making sure Mitchell could see the animals I rested the cross hairs of my Leupold on a yearling stag. The Remington .308 barked. The stag was hit but not fatally. Admittedly not one of my best shots the bullet hitting a little back from the shoulder. The characteristic circle run indicated that he was going nowhere. With the tranquility disturbed the other animals mobbed up and nervously looked our direction. This delay allowed me time to chamber another round and shoot my second deer. This time there was no doubt as the young hind slumped to the ground where she stood. Another opportunity presented itself but two deer was enough.
We slowly moved forward covering the 200 yards to the animals. As we approached the first animal presented itself and was put on the ground with my third shot. High fives all around and then the photo session. We quickly gutted the animals and then the hour long hike back to the truck. A long day for my young 6 year old hunting enthusiast. Another successful family outing.
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Hunters Paradise
