Originally Posted by
GrumpyKiwi
These days I never shoot for anything other than meat. So I bone it all out and take the heart, liver and kidneys as well. I then ensure the gut, skin etc are not too close to walking tracks, huts etc to avoid negatively impacting others in the area with mess, smell or flies.
These days I take a lot of photos. Just like shooting, a few really good shots among many average shots. The bonus has been that taking the extra time to watch the animals has taught me more about them and now the meat hunts a quicker and cleaner.
In or around 2010, I had two scares about a month apart. I had a very nice 14pt red on private land in the Onga onga area, adjacent to the Ruahine national park. Someone put a round into the dead head (carried upside down) on my back. It nicked the raw neck area and caused me to colour in my jockeys. In the same area about a month later I was carrying a rolled-up skin as I had promised one to a young fella who was wheelchair bound. Again a very similar near miss. Thing is, I was wearing a blaze orange camo head to foot! It was about an hour before dark and the sun had dropped below the horizon so it was in the twilight zone went the Blaze can look distinctly brownish.
Now I use blue, not orange over any animal parts I am carrying. Think about how far away you can see those bloody blue warehouse tarps left all over the bush. They are unmistakable. I noticed this with blue UN helmets and markings in Africa. It was always the thing you saw first. I also noted in Iraq that the embedded journos wore blue. That was like a neon sign to the insurgents, lighting up the unit position. Some found out it was far from insurance against being shot. Anyhow, Blue is extremely visible in all lights.
What annoys me is people who waste meat needlessly and people who can't be effed taking time to ensure they do not leave putrefying animal parts near waterways, huts and tracks etc. It is every hunters responsibility to show consideration to all others who may be in the area or use it after them.
Sorry for being bit ranty but this topic is a real own goal earner for hunters and it is so easy to present to a good image.
