Thread: My First Hunt

Today!

Was offered the opportunity to go on a goat hunt earlier in the week, needless to say,
I told the boss I wouldn't be at work, had better things to do.

And it was a success, my first hunt ever, STOKED!

(quick bit of info about me, had a stroke a couple years ago, never really got back to 100%, lack of feeling on right side, fatigue etc)

so another BIG THANKS to Simon @stretch thanks for inviting me, and waiting up for me.

The day started of round 9am, with a quick drive to the top secret location,
arrived there around 10am, followed by a quick sight in of my 300blk AR

then we went bush, saw (was shown) a bit of sign...
we then encountered out first goat, which was missed due to not being able to see it from where i was standing,

so continued on our walk, and saw nothing more, at this point it was decided we would back track and hope that we might encounter the first goat again,

which we did, Simon gave me another chance and this time i didn't blow it, lung shot,
Simon butchered the goat, and it was added to my pack,

we walked back and tried a different path, this was a bit harder/steeper, but still kept going and Simon still was happy to wait up,
and wait round for me to suck down some air,

at this point we encountered our 2nd goat, a nanny just sitting in the middle of our "Road" soaking up some sunlight,
Simon quickly disposed of it, butchered and skinned this one, hung it up in a tree to be picked up on the way back,

stopped for a break at this stage, round 2pm? had a quick lunch,

back to it...

continued on our way, and we came up on a clearing at the boundary of our hunting area,
where we encountered a small family of 4 goats, we took out 2, the other 2 got away,
another quick butchery session, by which time a curious goat decided to come have a look at what we were doing,
needless to say this turned into the 5th and final goat (killed) of the day

saw another nanny while number 5 was being butchered, but we let this one be as it had a young kid...
and we want some to shoot next time,

at this point it was time to get out the bush,
got out just before dark round 5pm,

needless to say, I'm stuffed, but very happy

That's the stuff! I like stories like that. Keep em coming ...


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Good one

It WAS a good day. Thanks for the company @Glycerine. I've only just finished trimming/scraping the meat and fat off the hide. Wife and kids were well impressed with me bringing home a fluffy goat hide. Hopefully it turns out alright - I've never done one before.

Also, creepy demon-eyes in the last photo!

Well done, some good meat there !

Excellent stuff guys. Big ups to stretch for passing on the flame and the skills.

Good onya Stretch. Very generous gesture.

Originally Posted by tiroatedson

That's the stuff! I like stories like that. Keep em coming ...


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Couldn't agree more and great to see another forum member going the extra mile!!

Originally Posted by Maca49

Couldn't agree more and great to see another forum member going the extra mile!!

Lucky man, Glycerine. good onya Stretch. It'd be great to have someone get me on like that. I had a hipjoint replacement last June, which became infected and had to be disassembled, washed out and reassembled. Took 4 months to sot it out with some heavy duty antibiotics which knocked me about abit. Was just starrting to feel okay again when I had a stroke in November. It didn't mess me up as badly as yours, Mate, but put a dent in my self-confidence. Bought myself a new rifle in January and have been ought to a mat's property where he has a few Fallow deer running around. Haven't got one yet, but the real purpose was to get back some strength and some bush-conditioning. sneaking around with a rifle and a knife and a daypack with not TOOOO much weight in it. I haven't seen a deer out there yet, but they're definitely there and I WILL get one or 3 of the little buggers. I used to see hundreds of goats when driving the truck from Wairoa to Napier sometimes had to slow down a bit when a mob would be crossing the road. I've thought about going down there a knocking on a few farmers' doors but have been told that a lot of them like to catch and sell them on, rather than let people in to shoot them. I'd be rapt to have someone get me onto a couple for the table and the brother's dogs. As mentioned before a goat leg roast is lovely eating if done right, and unbeatable in a real curry. My Indian former employer has said he'll get his wife to make me one if I get him the goat. So if there's anyone who could and would take the time to get me onto some, it would be very much appreciated. And while it's not my place to promise anything, I will do my best to get you on to a Fallow at my mate's place. He's a bit protective of his place and "his" deer, but he's a good man and I think I can sort something out with him. Anyway, My body is not so fucked up now, and I'm doing plenty of walking and physio, so getting stronger by the minute, so won't slow you down too much in the bush or on the hill If anyone is interested, flick me a PM and we'll sort something out. Cheers,
Ken

Well done guys, 5 goats is a score....

Great efforts there. Good to see hearing protection as per photo. Trying to work out your height based on the size of the trees and the dead goat. I'm guessing you are over 2m tall? About 6'6" at least in old language?

Took the skin from this goat, because it was nice and fluffy, and looks kinda like a Belted Galloway cow. Trimmed the meat and fat off the skin that night, rolled it up and chucked it in the freezer. Last night I pulled it out, and today Miss 3 y.o. helped me salt it. Will be interesting to see how it goes, as this is my first attempt at curing a hide.

Lucky to have such excellent assistance, Stretch. After my earlier post in this thread, I got a PM from @sometimes, Inviting me to go with him on an armed tramp in Bay Of Plenty - and what a tramp it turned out to be. We parked at a spot and were in the bush just before 7a.m. What a country we live in! After a walk up a track we turned off into a gully. I didn't even think of taking photo's, sorry, but it's a beautiful place. Quite open bush, but with much thicker scrub along the sides. I found I had overestimated my fitness, and by the time @sometimes announced we had walked 11 kms, I was fucked. The body was starting to scream abuse. All the muscles and ligaments around my new hip were really hurting and the other leg, fhe one without the foot didn't want to play any more. @sometimes, being the good bugger he is, saw I was in strife and insisted on taking my pack, weighty with bacon&egg pie, sandwiches, thermos of coffee and a couple of bottles of water; along with his own. The man's a legend. We covered about 18kms all up, according to the GPS, and it was both a good hike and a dose of reality that I needed. And a great place to be. We didn't see anything to shoot but we did see a bit of fresh sign, so we know they are there. I've got a bit of work yet to do on my fitness and conditioning. Maybe up & down One Tree Hill a few times with a heavy pack will help. In the meantime, I'm kicking back with a couple of Nurofen and a coldy, and remembering a day out in the bush with a bloody good bloke. @sometimes, I'm definitely on for another go as soon as I reckon (again) that I'm fit enough. And thank you again.