Thread: And finally............

No not a clip from a Monty Python show, but finally I have managed to go out on an actual real life in the bush hunt!

Arrived at Napier Deerstalkers on Friday at 1745 ready for the 1800 departure, time ticked by and no-one showed. Had it been called off due to the weather and no-one thought to let the new guy know? A Landcruiser appears out of the darkness and out steps John B the hunts convenor, I confirm its on and load my gear into his vehicle. A short goodbye to the wife and kids and then we waited for the rest to show.

Soon joined by Mike and Geoff we considered our options, weather forecast for the Ureweras wasn't great but the decision was made to head off.

Arriving at camp I managed to put up my tent in the dark (knew I should have practised before I left) and after a session of stimulating intellectual debate I crawled into my sleeping bag and waited for morning.

Fog, thick thick fog, greeted me as I poked my had out into the crisp morning air. Breakfast was brief and after a gear check I headed off with JB on my first great adventure. Along the way I was introduced to the area and shown some signs of deer, what to look for an how to pick a walk line along a ridge. I had never seen the damage that a wild pig could do to pasture but the bulldozer tracks across the top corner of a paddock confirmed that they too would be added to the meat list!

We tramped on into the bush, me with all my shiny new toys and rifle and JB leading the way, like a mountain goat on a mission. I decided that I wasn't going to be able to keep up with him and we parted ways. He headed up to the top of the ridge and I decided to follow the gully. A quick check on my compass and map to confirm the way home and I set off.

Time wasn't an issue, I was enjoying the hike (well almost). Stopping every now and then to watch and listen I was treated to the chorus of wild birds, a visit from a Kereru (they are big buggers) and the never ending movement of the fog. Lifting then being replaced by a new front. I could hear the roar of the wind and the first spits of rain dropping through the canopy. I made the decision to turn back and crossed the gully, without getting wet feet, and made my way up the other side and started the trek home.

I settled down just above a small clearing, hoping that beginners luck would send a deer my way. As I watched the rain approach a noise to my right snapped me back to the main task, MEAT! I stood up and turned around slowly, ïdentify your target, don't shoot unless you are sure, ran through my head. I raised my rifle, and used the scope to peer towards the noise. There he was my first stag, a huge monster (well being the first I had seen he was going to be) I checked again that it was a deer and then slowly pushed the bolt forward. Breath man, you cant shoot if you are dead! I aimed once more, side on to me, I remembered Greg Duleys voice from the Adventure show, telling his new protege where to shoot. I leaned forward and crack. In the dampest of conditions my new boots found the only dry branch for miles. A quick look from the stag and he was gone! If I find the idiot that left that branch I will have his head mounted instead!

And so exhilarated and deflated I moved off, the rain pouring misery on my missed opportunity. I came out of the bush on a ridge about 1k from our camp and stopped to put on my rain jacket. I sat and had a drink and mars bar and as I sat there contemplating life and the universe, it didn't matter that it was wet, nor that I had missed my first deer. What mattered was that at 51 I had finally ticked a box on my bucket list (added to when I arrived in NZ) I had been hunting in the bush!

A small yellow finch flew past then turned around and sat in front of me, as the rain poured down, I swear he chirped "what the hell are you doing out here you idiot, even I am going home" then he flew off.

Shortly after I arrived back so did JB and as he was the more experienced the decision was made to pack up and head home due to the weather.

When is my next trip out, I don't know but it cant come soon enough!

Big thanks to John for his knowledge and to Mike and Geoff for their company.