4 Attachment(s)
Giving the knee and stumpy 284 a field test
With a primo high pressure system over the central North Island and my knee feeling pretty good enough for a decent walk, i decided to get in a full day up the Kaweka Ranges.
Id tried to rope in a mate to join me but he was tied up, so a solo mission it was too be. Quite good really, as with not being that hill fit currently and still somewhat nursing the dodgy knee, i could set my own pace without feeling like i was holding anyone back.
I always enjoy rising early when heading off for a hunt, thinking about what the day will bring.
Attachment 64559
With all the packing done the night before i had time for a quick coffee and make some lunch.
Attachment 64560Attachment 64561
Point the old truck in the direction of the Kawekas and away we go
Attachment 64562
Arrived at the road end before light had broken, yeh no other cars in the car park. Started the walk in with the headlight and by the time i got to where i wanted to turn off to explore some new country dawn arrived, perfect timing.
I was expecting a nice clear sunny morning, but that wasnt what i got.
Attachment 64563
It was clagged in the majority of the day, with the sun only breaking thru briefly for an hour or so mid afternoon. Upon nearing the top of the first climb, i looked up above me to see a stag materialize in the fog not more than 100 yards from me, i shouldered the rifle and drew a bead on him, a very wobbly bead as i was puffing a little too hard from the climb. He was a big bodied Jap, with plenty of length to his antlers but due to my poor view of him thru the fog i didnt get a decent look at his rack, but i don't think he had double tops, anyway he ended up trotting off without a shot being fired.
Fired up by that i continued to cover ground, glassing all the slips and clay pans that came into view, encouraged by plenty of sign and animal marks. I stopped at a good vantage point to sit and glass while having some lunch and a much needed rest.
Attachment 64577
After lunch, i decided i was well far enough away from the car and the leg was complaining a little, so started slowly making my way back, stopping to glass quite often. I spotted some colour with the naked eye, and a quick look thru the binos confirmed the target species, a bright orange sika sitting atop
a flax bush crewing its cud.
Attachment 64575
I watched and videoed her for quite some time, sending pics to my wife/kids and a mate while getting the footage, i thought she was a yearling and didnt appear to be a fawn about, so i decided id shoot her, she was only 245 yards away as was in a reasonably easy spot to get too and after not hunting for a few months the tasty sika venison would be most welcome.
Attachment 64576
So i cranked a 162 Amax into the short barreled 284win, and settled my crosshair on her. She wasnt in the greatest position for a shot, so i gave her a gentle mew which got her attention and she stretched out her head and neck just enough to drive a shot into where i wanted. The shot was good and found its mark. I could see thru the scope she was down.
Took me a little while to find her, i'd gone a little too high round the face and was only 3 meters above her final resting place, but once in that scrubby shit you cannot see anything.
Attachment 64578
After a few pics and butchering her out the pack was reloaded and i was on my way. I still had a big decent and another climb ahead of me, with tired legs already the trudge began. It soon clagged over again and light rain started falling, which was quite welcome. Id used up the last of my water, and as i was making the last climb i was so dry that i started sucking the water off the flax bushes and broadleaf leaves.
I reached the truck a very wet, tired but happy hunter some 13 hours after i left it. The knee did better than expected and i was very happy with the stumpy T3 284.
Heres a short video of the shot https://youtu.be/ajT6LWCGcEQ
