Thread: Possuming 2019

Hello,

I wanted to get back to you about my hunting trip as you were kind to offer advice.
First day, April 2 went to my friends secret spot. 2 Stags were really going at it, 1 was a monster, the other at decent 10 point. My friend shot the 10 point before I had a chance at the monster. Packed the meat out, went back the next day and shot a stag who had snapped off both of his antlers. He might have been a 10 or 12 point had he retained his antlers
Got the meat all packed out and in my friends freezer.
My friend and I rode mountain bikes from Lake Taylor to the Hurunui swing bridge in 2.5 hours. We made the mistake of dragging the bikes across the bridge but they weren't that useful on the other side as there are only cow trails to ride on.
We camped on Mackenzie stream and first day went to the tops in 4 hours. Did not see any deer up there but weather was a bit off-sleet. Came down the steep side back to Mackenzie stream. Sat and watched a long meadow for an hour and shot small 8 point. He had 3 hinds with him. Heard several roaring but when we moved in their direction they shut up.
Use the bike to pack all the meat back out to Lake Taylor and back in one day, 10 long hours.
Headed out the next day, got the meat in my friends freezer near Christ Church.
Went to the Hopkins for tahr ..Everyone else was going up the Huxley for deer. Was a long day up to Dassler Bivvy That "trail" is for mountain climber's only. 2.5 hours up to the hut. Saw 3 groups of tahr and only one small bull. Climbed to 6060 feet elevation at the base of the Dassler pinnacles. Shot him on a nice flat spot but he managed to go off a cliff anyway and could not find him.
Tried the Cameron for tahr, saw nothing. Improved the trail alot sawing through the matagori for 1.5 hours.
Went back to my friends place and flew home the next day. Brought about 90% of the meat home, probably 130 pounds of nice prime venison. I think I like it better than elk.
I think you had noted that the stags would be in the upper one third of the Bush but we found it to be the opposite, they were in the lower one third of the Bush with heavy deer sign.
Planning to return in August, would really like to get a nice bull tahr. Thinking about the Growler hut. Any advice? We found the mountain bikes useful On 4 Wheel Dr. roads but are pretty difficult to get across rivers more than knee deep.