Thread: 12 days/11 nights in the Kawekas

Enjoyed that - never been there but it looks really nice country.

About knees - was on a 'farm hunt' probably four years ago and stepped in a grass covered hole that toppled me. Next day my knee was swollen and while I could walk uphill without much trouble, downhill was really painful.
That still flares from time to time - lady up the road reckons I tore the meniscus .......... which I thought was around my brain ...............?

A couple more photos I captured from some video I took:
Back Ridge biv

Looking across to the face where I shot the deer, from where I took the shot. A few forum members should recognise this spot.
The dog is a bit confused, she's used to the deer or it's scent only being about 25m away after a shot

Hi Cigar
Great write up and good photos, especially of the Otutu area. I have done many trips to Otutu over the years and have shot 4 deer in the gully you got yours according to my records. That area seems to hold young deer as all of mine were yearlings, however being close to reasonable feed and cover is always attractive to sika. Just behind and to the east of the hut is an old slip that goes all the way down to the Manson Creek and that has also held plenty of deer with cover and grass being too attractive for them to resist. It was a shame your family couldn't get in for the last few days, I am going to treat mine to that trip in the future so they understand why I need to go back! Have a great xmas and hot barrels.
Ruger7mm

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking my deer was a two year old.
As it fed it looked older than a yearling (the one I saw a few days earlier was obviously a yearling), but I changed my mind when I got to it due to the size (though I haven't seen many sika). But it had bony little nubs, so I change my mind again assuming it was a spiker last season, and about to grow it's 2nd year of velvet.
Thoughts?

Cool mission, enjoyed the read & great pics!

There is chapter two from a couple of weeks ago I should write up too...

Nexted rainy day by the fire good for key board writing.

Originally Posted by Cigar

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking my deer was a two year old.
As it fed it looked older than a yearling (the one I saw a few days earlier was obviously a yearling), but I changed my mind when I got to it due to the size (though I haven't seen many sika). But it had bony little nubs, so I change my mind again assuming it was a spiker last season, and about to grow it's 2nd year of velvet.
Thoughts?
Attachment 212728

@Moa Hunter

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

@Moa Hunter

Yep, already asked him, and he said yearling (no pedicles) as far as he can tell from photo.

I did consider getting the jaw on my return trip, but turns out I'm too lazy

I've posted part two...
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-twotwo-91334/

Originally Posted by Cigar

Yep, already asked him, and he said yearling (no pedicles) as far as he can tell from photo.

I did consider getting the jaw on my return trip, but turns out I'm too lazy

Actually, no Coronets. It has pedicles but will only form a coronet once the spikes are fully formed. The coronet forms the suture that joins the coronet to the pedicle - the point the antler is cast from and from which the new one grows.
In the case of this spiker, he has damaged the top of his developing spike by splitting the skin ( velvet skin) exposing the centre, this top has dried and hardened and the skin on the spike below has healed