Yesterday was my first outing with ARDave’s 7mm08. First stop, home from work to pack the gear. The other half was given a quick brief and he organised a workmate to come along too. Talk about pressure! I explained to both guys that I am a new to hunting large game and new to the area as well so be prepared for walking, lots of staring at maps and possibly following trails to a big fat nothing…
Anyway the supermarket was the next stop to get some munchies (did you know that New World have brought back chocolate covered coffee beans???!) and then pointed the ship towards the great Wainuiomata to collect the boom stick from Pistol Pete. Needless to say I was greeted with a huge smile and hand shake. Pete had something cool looking laid out on the lounge floor but I dare not ask. He handed over Dave’s beast and gave me a few tidbits of advice about good access and safety. One more stop to uplift the third musketeer and then we would be on our way.
We rocked up to the muddy carpark up Marchant Road at 1530. The carpark should have been a warning! We headed up the track with smiles all round as the light misty rain cooled our sweaty brows. The 1080 signs confirmed to keep Jet on the lead and I really wished I had gotten my new muzzle in the post before the hunt. The boys stayed very quiet and whispered ahead to me from now and then, make sure you tell us if you see anything and we’ll hang back and keep the dog quiet. Like buggery we’d see anything on this track, I knew that much! I nodded anyway and enjoyed the quiet behind my huffing as we trekked up the hill. Silence didn’t last long – we broke into the dense silver beech forest and the boys started nattering away. An hour passed and the talking stopped as the wind along the tops was too loud. With mud up to our ankles (my knees) we met a tramper and inquired about the distance to the first hut. This was to be a good spot as I had read in a few places. Friendly tramper laughed and told us that it was a five hour walk until we would see any clearings. He happily slogged on down the hill as we took a break for water and coffee treats and figured out the plan of attack.
I figured it was time to cut our losses and head somewhere else. The entire afternoon we had not heard one Tui peep or any other bird for that matter. There was no sign of anything other than human or dog walking these trails. Still yacking away with no stealth whatsoever, the boys took up the rear again as I steamed ahead with Jet. I was very impressed with him tracking the exact footprints of the now long gone tramper. If nothing else, I enjoyed watching him track and sway his giveaway ‘I’m smelling stuffs’ tail.
Back at the car and photo op time.
We loaded up the mighty wee Mazda wags somewhat like a circus act and bowled on down to the Rimutaka Incline from the Upper Hutt side. I was surprised at the good reactions from people when they saw us with firearms. I think we were just lucky though to catch only the sensible people out and about – after all, it was the very end of the long weekend and most of the holiday makers passed us the other way on the motorway earlier on. As you may have read on here, I have been to the incline once before but from the Featherston side. Until yesterday I didn’t know that there was a NZDA range right off the track! Apparently I motored ahead when I heard the first gunshot….only to be disappointed to reach the range signage around the next corner.
Long story short: not a lot of sign (one really old goat shit and a bit of what I thought was goats nibbling on new shoots), not a lot of direction (I didn’t really know where to go/what to look for) and not a lot of rifle action. Okay, no rifle action. I figured we weren’t going to see anything so started to look for a good, safe range but with no avail. I lead the group down to a river in search of a bank I could kill but nothing was suitable. We turned around and headed back to the car as the sun was going down. I flicked out the phone and looked for some advice from my best bud Cam and was promptly told off for not trying hard enough and not bashing enough bush! So I left the boys and headed up to a bit of chopped forest that looked similar to the landscape cam got me my first smelly.
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Once again, I enjoyed working behind the dog, but that was about it. I had grumbled to the boys before leaving them that ‘you can come with me up this hill but you have shut up, otherwise meet me back at the car’. Of course they were too busy talking to hear me! So when Jet and I arrived ready for a drink and a snack and to be lugged home, boys were nowhere to be seen. I best bet was that they were dragging the chain so backtracked up the trail. We found them in the end, right where we left them! Give me the keys to the car please darling, I want to get out of this retched, empty place!!
I think the dog picked up on my disappointment as we both slumped into the back of the car a half hour later. We delivered our companion back to his family and then headed back to Wainui to put the 7mm to bed. I couldn’t think of better people to end the day with; Pete and Mrs Pete were very encouraging and didn’t bat and eyelid at my empty handedness. We chatted in front of the lovely fire and the stories shared of first kills and other hunts cheered me up a bit. All hope was not lost and a few encouraging texts had me feeling better about the sore legs.
Moral of the story, I think I need to read up a bit better before heading out – both about the nature of the elusive deer and about the country side that is my back yard. I’m still a 7mm virgin so I think a trip to the range soon may be in order.
I'd like to say a big thanks to Pistol Pete, ARDave, VietnamCam, BaldBob and 7mmsaum for all the help, stuff and encouragement. And as my closing note, screw you 1080. You killed my favourite birds.
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