Thread: Kaimanawas 2016 walk

Well I had another crack at the Sika last week over 4 nights. By all accounts nothing hit the deck, but man I had a lot of fun chasing them bush ninjas. I've started to build up a bit of knowledge now on how they operate through trial and error. I'd love to read a book on Sika that explains feeding habits, areas they prefer, what they do each season if someone can recommend one. This summer there seemed to be enough feed in the bush so countless hours glassing the bush edges on the tops was fruitless. Even in the bush they weren't moving.

Any way, saw 4 sika in total with another 6 spooked. Classic moment when I was walking down a stream and came to a waterfall. Doubled back a bit and decided to sidle around it which involved a pull up onto a ledge. The rifle was first placed on top so that i could pull myself up. On poking my head above the rise 2 sika bedded down 10m away stood up and we both gazed into each others now saucer like eyes until they decided it would be polite to leave before grabbing the rifle.

Second encounter involved a hind on a lookout while walking a ridge line. She spotted me before I did her and gave everyone a nice whistle that I was coming. A sika stag some 40m above her started making some noise and had no idea where the danger was coming from and it was stale mate for a bit as trying to climb to him would give me away. I then sat and waited out his calls for about a minute hoping he would come my way, then I got thinking what would I do if I was him. Obviously heading downwind would be the most logical sense as danger most likely came from upwind (which it didn't . So I decided to sidle around this knob to try intercept him but he went quiet and was on the move ahead of me as I heard him crash down the hill. I checked out the tops where he had been and found a bit of scrapes on some moss. Waited out the evening on this ridge and went to go home as light was fading and got whistled at from the opposing ridge. My eyes locked onto a hind standing side on but she wasn't sticking around to say hi. There was a lot of sweat and hills climbed on this trip, and was my first trip in with Heli Sika which I must say was a nice change to the long walks.

Pics to sum up the rest.