Thread: Got too be philosophical!

Last year at about this time my brother and I noticed an uptick in deer movement through one of the valleys in the area mentioned in this thread, with a number of deer sightings.
Part of learning an area is going back and checking to see if there is any rhythm, and so yesterday afternoon after work, we headed in there to check it out again.

Mike had a new rifle to break in, so he took lead and I asked him to shoot the first deer he saw for the pup, as she has been working hard for little reward recently. 20 minutes in and we noticed a weak indication from her. Mike took a couple more steps and I saw him raise his rifle, and you just know the difference between a look through the scope to check something out, and an intense aim, so I wasn't surprised a few nanoseconds later when the rifle spoke.

Just a weaner, but man was the dog wrapt! and she got some good pats and praise.




After dressing the deer, we hung it too cool and then carried on for another hour or two before returning to pick it up. We spotted another spiker towards dark but I had to make too much movement stepping forward and down to shoot under a tree, and could not get decently onto it before it presented its butt too us and was off. No stress as a successful evening already.

That looks tasty, and not too bad to carry out! Do you have a training regimen for your hunting dogs? I've only ever used dogs for hunting birds, never large game. Is the process very different?

Not really. Im not a great dog trainer. All my dogs are expected to learn while doing, whatever their role is. Stock, birds, Deer.

@whanahuia, Nice looking pooch, how old? Blueprint training or your own method?

Coming up two years, But haven't had it since a pup. We take on prison dogs that need a new home because they failed some part of their training. This one was apparently over exuberant, and they re-homed her too a household that couldnt cope, So asked us to take her on due to having a lot of space and our past history with prison dogs. Im not a great trainer really, and My style is working with what the dog naturally has and wants to give me. If its got lots of drive and willing to learn then its easy. If not then it won't last long with me.

my camp oven is quivering put some of that in me so we can feed you yum

Well I needed to get the pup back out again. Im trying to get here on at least one hunt a week. My Brother told me that he had somehow lost his steel, and that the only place he could think of was where we shot the deer last week, so that decided me on where I would head. This time though I wanted to try see where the deer we were seeing in this gully were coming from.
I arrived at the carcase and sure enough, there was the steel, so a win for the morning, then started to sidle west and down towards a large tributary. Its got some steep bluffs shown on the map, and also some good river flats, so I was keen top see if that's where the deer were feeding from. Typical West Coast bush with a lot of shit and a few areas of good hunting. A couple of gulls I saddled through looked really great hunting, but It was discouraging the amount of sign.
Anyway, I always work on the fact that one deer changes the day, and you only need that one chance, so onwards I stalked. I found the stream bluff, and made my way along, looking across and down. Good vis and maybe Id pick up a deer on the other side etc.
Nothing for a good two hours. I suddenly saw the only fresh stag rub id seen all day, at the head of a path down onto the river flats proper, so made my way down the trail, and sign picked up immediately. Not great amounts, but better than what id seen so far. Plus the bush down here was way better vis and if there was a deer within 60 meters, Id see it. Back into low gear and another hour with nothing seen and I was trying everything, I hunted close to the stream in case there was animals ushering that area, then cut left and hunted along the base of the hill looking into the gutters etc. Nothing really working, so sat down for a drink and a look at the Topo.
The map showed some nice areas of terrace across the stream, so I cut over and as I crossed the stream, noticed the first real fresh prints and shit for the morning.
The other side was nice flats leading up to steep faces and Id see and shoot a deer here is there was one, but still nothing.
Soon I found a dry, open flood course with sand and rock that slowly made its way back too the steam, and more fresh prints, so I followed. As dog and I made our way up, it started to open into almost clearing and there was a belt of young beach on my left and the edges were lined with Toitoi and other edibles. It screamed deer so I really took my time.
I then noticed that floor had dropped back and stopped casting about. She almost never walks behind me. We walked on a bit further and she just stopped and stood looking ahead, face quivering a bit. I watched her and felt it was an indication, not a blatant one, but it was something. She wouldn't move, so I took a few more steps forward, and suddenly a young hind broke across in front of me from right too left at about 10 meters. It was only a 20 meter gap and No time for precise shooting, so I swung through like I was using a shotgun and fired just as she entered the trees again.
At the shot an identical looking deer broke from about the same spot the deer had disappeared, and raced left to right across infant of me. There was no time to think really, but as I was loading I was wondering if Id missed, and so I took another snapshot again at about 10 meters. This one went straight down on the bush edge, shot through the low neck.
Of course I then found the other one not far away.

I really couldnt say I was that worried about it. It had been some good fast shooting, and good work from the pup, and either was a huge deer, both 18 month hinds.




After photos and big pats etc, I set about taking off the legs and back steaks, and hung them up for a bit to cool while I had lunch.





Which consisted of left over roast Chamois and veges from last night. Not a bad meal to sit back and chill with on a stream in the middle of no where.



Knowing my body would pay for it tomorrow, I hoisted the load and made my way up through the bluffs and the 3 or so K back too the car.

Epic

Got to apologise for the massive amount of spelling mistakes in that post. I need a new secretary, and Didn't get back too it before the edit option disappeared.

Love endings like that.
For me it's usually late in the day with the walk back to camp in the dark.

Good story thanks Whanahuia.

Wicked reading, cheers Whanahuia!
Inspiring to read

Enjoyed that, great ending. Good times!
Thanks Whanahuia.