Thread: Hunting Pureora. Suggestions and Warnings please

Hi Chris,
Have to say that we got luck both ways. ended up getting access to a farm bordering the park on the western side.
Good deer numbers. Mate got a large fat hind on Saturday night just before dusk (they saw about 5). Wind from the NW did not help. Lots of pig sign so went for a spot light walk after dinner. Saw a nice you stag but no pigs. Did not shoot anything.
Next morning it was bucketing down. Waited a little for some more light them started walking. Saw what we thought was a Stag on a grass valley floor bordering DOC. But by the time we got down and closer to confirm he had disappeared. (we were only taking meat animals).
Followed around the DOC bush boundary for a fair way until we got the wind into our face. Saw a mob on a grassy headland out of the bush. was about 600 mtr away. so we ended up getting closer to 300 mtr OK but was concerned about the wind and rain so decided to risk dropping down the little valley and climbing up the grassy hill to the mob. Stopped about 100 mtr short and dropped our packs and loaded up. Managed to get to about 30 meters away from a rubbish stag and a large hind that were grazing at about 9am in the rain. Could not get a prone shot due to long grass and the rising ground between us and the animals. I popped up and took a kneeling shot and was rewarded with with the sound of a good solid hit. Then another 10 smaller hinds raced of across in front of us. My mate tried for another shot but had another miss fire. (his second of the weekend).
Unfortunately we did not recover my large hind. They where only a few meters from the bush edge which dropped steeply down to a river. The 2 of us spent some time following the game trails through the bush but could not find her.
Dropped back down to a small water course, crossed it and climbed back up through the scrub to the farm land and back to the cabin for a late breakfast about 10 am.
Zane