Thread: The birthday rifle

My 10 year old was given a Tikka M55 in .243 for his birthday back in June. He lives and breathes deer stalking and has shot 6 to date . Fair play to him he doesn't want to shoot " easy farm deer" . Everything comes from the DOC estate . Due to circumstances he has missed a few trips with me lately and was peaking to get out . I made his last day of school Friday , Picked him up at 3pm and we were off.
He carries his own pack and gear and goes alright. The camps I use are generally a good 4-6 hour walk from the road end and he does it with no complaints . I picked up an easy hind on the way in and Charlie had an opportunity but missed his .

Saturday was spent mooching around butchering deer and drinking Billy tea until the shadows started to lengthen . Not far from camp we spotted our first deer a big bodied stag . We began stalking towards him but he was continually moving away and we lost him. We spotted several other deer feeding at various points of the compass. We hatched a plan and cut up through the bush to a leading ridge which would bring us around behind the deer in the open with the wind in our face. I instructed Charlie to load his rifle and keep it on half bolt and pay attention. Following closely behind just to the left we just crested the ridge when i noticed the stag standing there looking straight at us 10 meters away . Hissing I got his attention and pointed. Like a pro he slowly raised the rifle whilst closing the bolt. Craaack , It dropped like a stone catching a 100gn slug through the base of the neck . Was he stoked. First deer with his own rifle .

I took some photos and removed the mammoth backstraps before carrying on . It was only 7pm and we still had three hours of light. Half an hour on we spied another deer moving through the bush below us about 80m away. It was moving slowly browsing . When a shot presented itself another well placed shot dispatched that .

More backstraps and on our way back to camp. Not to be outdone I shot another an hour before last light not far from camp( that's another story). Having 6 backstraps and the boned out hind I had more than enough to carry home. We were supposed to be away three nights but called it after two. It took me a leg shaking 6 hours out to the car last night. That's the way we hunt . Pack on back . Open fires . No huts . Living the dream .

and thats what kids should be doing with their dads. you sir are a damn good bugga

Just look at that mini-me! Growing up so fast.
Thats a neat camp site. Thats the first time I have ever seen a deer cut down like that in the bush - great for cooling.
Some other pedantic will say, so I will - that rifle doesn't look like a M55?

Well done you two.

Well done Charlie, good shooting! And well done to Dad for making it all happen. Nice rifles, those older Tikka's, a rifle for a lifetime.

What a great trip, the smile says it all

Great Report, thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Tahr

Just look at that mini-me! Growing up so fast.
Thats a neat camp site. Thats the first time I have ever seen a deer cut down like that in the bush - great for cooling.
Some other pedantic will say, so I will - that rifle doesn't look like a M55?

Well done you two.

La55?? It’s wood blued and weighs a ton but doesn’t slow him down

Originally Posted by Nathan F

La55?? It’s wood blued and weighs a ton but doesn’t slow him down

Was just thinking, jeez he's doing well lugging that weight around all day!

Great report! Young fellas going to become one hell of a hunter that way.

Just excellent. Congrats to your lad and well done Dad. Thankyou for your story and keep up that fine hunting.

M590 or M595, heavier than an M55/LSA55

What a great hunt for both you, Charlie sure looks proud as he should be as should you for making it happen, such good memories being made, keep it up.

Blardy awesome!

Good effort, both of you. And oh.... that billy

I've had 3 of those early LSA55's, and they all had different stocks to Charlies ??
But one thing in common.... they were all tack drivers.

Legend! That's awesome.

Great camp site. What knife you brought up there then cut the deer in half.