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 .
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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 .
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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 .
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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!

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by Nathan F

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

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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 :thumbsup:

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.

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Legend! That's awesome.

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

Nice work Team Southland.
@Black Rabbit I’d say he used that saw against the tree to do it, like how we cut up sheep on the farm.

Well done.

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Originally Posted by outdoorlad

Nice work Team Southland.
@Black Rabbit I’d say he used that saw against the tree to do it, like how we cut up sheep on the farm.

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@Black Rabbit what he said. That’s a saw job mate

Awesome trip report and photos......well done both of you

Thanks for an great report and inspiration. The best kind of education. My young fella ( similar age ) has been after my winny featherweight in 243.
Soon enough it'll be his.

I wish you were my dad! What an introduction to hunting for a young fulla! Top notch.
You shot as many deer in one trip as I've seen in the bush in my whole (2 year) hunting career!

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That young lad will appreciate his father for the rest of his life.

Well done team,living the dream.

What an awesome write up you are a great Dad showing him all the highs and lows of hunting.
Great to see him doing the hard yards

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Awesome hunt well done! Interesting that the deer were not spooked by the smoke from your fire .

Wicked report. I grew up down south, still hunt down there from time to time. I’ve got a few spots that could use a deer or two shot out of them if you want some other options. Flick us a PM

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Originally Posted by trooper90

Awesome hunt well done! Interesting that the deer were not spooked by the smoke from your fire .

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And that's a sign of a man that's perfectly at home in the bush and knows his stuff. Young Charlie has a good mentor ;)

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

And that's a sign of a man that's perfectly at home in the bush and knows his stuff. Young Charlie has a good mentor ;)

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Ha thx rod. I don’t read much into the smoke thing. Three weeks ago I had the fire roaring at lunchtime. Lots of green wood and smoke. I thought I’d poke my head out onto the clearing 50 meters away for a look with the Binos and there was a hind out feeding. Had to sneak back and get the rifle :thumbsup:

Used to happen all the time in the Urewera's on hut clearings :)

shit yeah these trips away will stick with the young fella , great job

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Originally Posted by Nathan F

@Black Rabbit what he said. That’s a saw job mate

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@Nathan F Oh, I missed that saw from the picture.:P Good place, good hunt, good deer...thanks for sharing.

Excellent. Well done, making memories right there.

Great yarn Nathan. Looks like the young fella is turning into a great hunter, with a dad like you I’m not surprised.
Sons are great company aye, mine announced recently, ‘I’m going to head shoot that stag at 260 yards with the 300 RUM’. I thought that was a bit unnecessary, but he did it anyway! I shot its mate through the shoulder. Seemed like the right thing to do. :-)

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Originally Posted by craigc

Great yarn Nathan. Looks like the young fella is turning into a great hunter, with a dad like you I’m not surprised.
Sons are great company aye, mine announced recently, ‘I’m going to head shoot that stag at 260 yards with the 300 RUM’. I thought that was a bit unnecessary, but he did it anyway! I shot its mate through the shoulder. Seemed like the right thing to do. :-)

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You've got a sharp shooter on your hands @craigc ! I cant wait til mines a bit older . He is going to be massive around 6"5 so he can start lugging loads !

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Originally Posted by Nathan F

You've got a sharp shooter on your hands @craigc ! I cant wait til mines a bit older . He is going to be massive around 6"5 so he can start lugging loads !

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Craig's lad (My GS) is pest contracting so on a rifle most of the time, so he should be able to shoot. God I wish I was still 19 and as fit as he is. Better still to be your lad's age with everything in front of him. Lucky boy having a Dad nudging him in the right direction... you are doing good work.

It sure is good when they get older my boy is now 6'6 and 36 year old I had to call him for help last time out I had shot 5 and was totally buggered and needed some young legs.
I keep thinking I'm 30 again.

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Nathan, you are doing a fantastic job of raising/ teaching your son about hunting and the outdoors. It’s working well keep doing it. Full kudos to you.

Best post here in a while.

Mean write up. So good you can get your son out there, and probably his mates in future - such a great way to spend time together through his teen years. He will always remember the time spent with you. Well done!