Im finally on the board.

**Sniper** · 05-04-2015, 09:47 PM

Got my first deer/stag today

A nice 5 pointer up Whakamarama.

I got up at 4.30am and hit the road. Arrived in the car park about 5am in complete darkness, put on the headlamp and hit the track. I got to the spot Ive been trying since November just as it was getting light enough to see without the lamp, and just as the light rain started. I knew there were deer in there, but I had never been in the right place at the right time.

I started off straight up the hill, walking slowly until I got to where it starts to clear up. On arriving I went into stalking mode. I keep an ear out for any roars but none were heard. The rain stopped after about an hour and I was just left with the sound of water dripping from the trees and the birds chirping.
A few more hours went by and it all of a sudden became really quiet. Next to no bird noise, and the leaves no longer had any water left to drop. I then went in ultra stalking mode

for the next hour, for some reason it just seemed right.

I had a rest for a bit and then gave out 2 roars just to see if anything was interested. Nothing. At this stage I was starting to get a little over it, but decided to carry on to the top as it wasn't too much further. When at the top I came across a small tree that had been given a hard time from a stag. I gave out a roar and almost straight away I heard an animal stand up just to the right of me, and start moving quickly from behind a tree. He was about 20m in front when he appeared. A nice looking animal with nice looking antlers. The next bit happened very quickly, but I felt relaxed. I flicked off the safety, shouldered the rifle and put the cross-hairs on his left shoulder. He was standing side on, looking towards me but off to my left. I pulled the trigger and watched as he lurched off and away from me about 10m. He stopped and looked back again. I had chambered another round by now and put the hairs on his lover neck, boom and down he fell. I didnt move and just watched as he lay there. My father in-law told me just to watch him for a little incase he took off again. After about a minute, I picked up my empty cartridges and wondered on down to him.

On arrival I took a few quick pics then started to gut him. As he fell he must of landed on his antlers as both of them were loose. On later inspection they had both cracked his skull. He was a wicked looking animal. I guess he weighed maybe 80kg ish. I had moved him around a little during gutting, but then decided I didnt have the strength to get him out by myself. I knew it was going to be a struggle so decided to take the hind quarters and back steaks. This got me a little down as I wanted to take all of it since it was my first. I spent a bit of time just chilling with it getting a feel of it all and taking it in. I must of said thank you and sorry to it about 10-15 times

The next hour and a bit was one hell of a mission as it was. I got back to the car, loaded up and headed off to clean it up and chill it off.

Its fair to say I was very stoked, not to mention my partner and in-laws.

Tim

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