Thread: Waipakihi June 2016

Hi all,

Just thought I'd share my trip from Queens birthday weekend.
The weather forecast was mint so took the Friday off to make it a worthwhile trip.
On the way we had to stop at Hunting and fishing Taupo to grab a few things and was a little disheartened to hear from the staff that lots of animals have been seen but not shot up the river recently, oh well not to worry.
Arrived at the car park and no other vehicles! Excellent!

On the way in and about an hour from camp we thought we would let at a call not hoping for much....carried on noisily until my mate yells DEER! Fuck! I dont see it and it runs back in the bush.....

We arrived at camp not long before dark. To my disgust there was a ton of rubbish left behind from the previous party, really fucking disappointing that people are still doing that shit! Sort it out guys! We dont need to give the authority's reasons to keep us out of the bush!

Next morning it was cold! Water bottle outside had frozen, camel back was frozen!

Left camp at a leisurely 9:00 am and spooked our first deer within 20mins! Good start, sort of....
Less than an hour later my mate had let out a call, we had both stopped watching in different directions....all of a sudden BOOMFA! I swung around and looked at my mate and thought what the fuck are you up too? Little did I know I silly stag had come cruising down the hill within a minute of the call! First deer down early on the first day!
Gutted the animal and decided to carry on and get in on the way back. After another hour or so my mate thought we were starting to get too far from his animal and went back to drag it back to camp, I decided to carry on...

Half an hour later I found my self in a good vantage point with lots of open Beech in front, found a good rest and let out a call, less than two minutes and another silly stag pops over the hill in full view 50m away,he goes out of site giving me time to get set, 30 seconds later he pops back out broadside and looks in my way...BOOMFA! He crashes off down the hill and I'm pretty sure hes hit but not certain.

Radio me mate, he's heard the shot, and let him know whats going on. I sit for ten minutes then wonder over to where he was.... blood and I find him 20m away dead as! Its around lunch time and two on the ground! Stoked!

Rest of the days spent carving them up and getting our wet firewood ready. We roast the whole carcass that evening and pick at the good bits.

Next morning and we try somewhere further down river but almost no sign at all, bugger.
We are due to stay another night but reckon that one animal each is already guna make the walk a killer and decide to walk out that night.

4 hours later were back at the truck and on the way home with some meat!

Awesome weekend!