Maintaining Relationships

Nope not marriage advice.

Recently got talking to an older chap who I've known for a sometime while I was cooking the bbq at my son's school, and I know he has a farm which backs onto the kaimais and he doesn't let anyone up there so I eased the subject of venison steaks into the conversation. He said "no one ever offers me any". So a bit more chit chat and then I casually threw it out there did he want me to shoot one for him no strings attached I'd arrange the butcher etc. He duly replied with sure that would be great.

Bout a week later and I rung to see if he was still keen and we arranged a meet up and tour of the farm, I took along a salami as a show of good faith. His wife was also keen to see an end to the hares as they'd dealt to her new hedge. Got the sharemilkers number to check the stock situation when I went up later in the week.

First morning I went up there was a misunderstanding with the sharemilker and he wasn't to happy when I turned up after I spent the morning looking for deer then denting the hare population on the way back. Kept my cool as I was pretty close to giving it straight back but accepted he may not have understood what I'd said. Just didn't like his delivery but swallowed it anyway.

After getting the no go due to stock a couple of times I made it up there but lost a deer despite searching in the dark including coming back the next morning to search again with no joy. Was feeling pretty shit and then had a lecture from the non hunting sharemilker. WOW that was hard to take. But I swallowed it anyway. Went to the owner and filled him in to keep him in the loop and he was understandable. Promised I'd get him one before Christmas.

Fast forward to a couple of nights ago and I went up just before dark and could here a couple crashing around on a face above me but decided to shoot down to the back corner where he'd said they've been in the past, right on dark I was almost to the back paddock and I could hear something moving around to my right on the edge of the native with patchy blackberry in front. Stopped to wait and listen, now this is where I went wrong because I was standing sideways looking over my shoulder with my gun at my waist, sure enough a deer walks past a gap stops 5m away, if I move to shoot it will bolt. So we stand off for about 5 seconds and then it bolts with a hell of a racket. Runs straight up the bushline with another one hot up its arse. First one cuts into the bush then the 2nd stops for that final glance to see what I was and give me 1 last chance at glory and I duly obliged with a 130g interlock. It did 2 circles on the spot then fell over. A win for the 270 gang
Attachment 156732


Luckily I had my paracord in the bag as I must have cut through the foreleg a bit thin and snapped the hide soon as I stood up to carry it home. Gave it a boy scout knot and was good to go again.

ATTACH]156733[/ATTACH]

Had the pleasure of ringing the owner and giving him the good news and arrange the cuts. He was pretty bloody happy. Said to make sure I get some too. Told him to give me a call when he needs another one. I think I can expect a call soon.

I think its important to build the relationship and then maintain it, even if you have to eat a shit sandwich along the way.

Good result in the end mate. Good write up cheers

Yeah that's the way mate. There's gotta be give and take in any relationship.

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

Can be damn hard holding your tongue and pride but often will give you the better outcome. Good stuff

farm hands can be like that especially if they or someone they know hunts there. but I believe the land owner can do as he pleases, all be it letting the worker know for saftey etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bully

farm hands can be like that especially if they or someone they know hunts there. but I believe the land owner can do as he pleases, all be it letting the worker know for saftey etc.

---

Bit of a difference between a farm hand a sharemilker. The sharemilker is running HIS business on the property so people coming and going have a direct affect on him. Most sharemilking/managers contracts will have a section about rights of access as at the end of the day its them that are most likely to take the rap for anything that happens on the property. In this case I would assume that the farm owner had run it past the sharemilker before granting access. I'm a bit miffed to be honest about the part where the op says that he had been out looking for a deer and then shooting hares etc and the sharemilker wasn't even notified that he was there.

Over the years l have found one of the great benefits of making your own Sausages ,Salami etc is it is a great gift to give to farmers etc as a show of appreciation & ice breaker .Good one mate :thumbsup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Bit of a difference between a farm hand a sharemilker. The sharemilker is running HIS business on the property so people coming and going have a direct affect on him. Most sharemilking/managers contracts will have a section about rights of access as at the end of the day its them that are most likely to take the rap for anything that happens on the property. In this case I would assume that the farm owner had run it past the sharemilker before granting access. I'm a bit miffed to be honest about the part where the op says that he had been out looking for a deer and then shooting hares etc and the sharemilker wasn't even notified that he was there.

---

He knew I was there @Ryan_Songhurst the misunderstanding was where I was going to be. Yep the owner had told him to expect my call and My first contact is always the sharemilker not the owner

Good shot placement in the circumstances, what projectile ?

Well done with the farm owner,maybe give the share milker a couple of packets of saugages too.He might learn to appreciate you being there better too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Good shot placement in the circumstances, what projectile ?

---

Yeah didn't want it getting away, in terms of meat recovery a neck shot would have been better but given the failing light I just wanted it on the ground. Just using factory Hornady Whitetail. Had the intention of reloading for my 270(have all the gear) but I don't know if I get through enough with it and it's not suppressed so wouldn't exactly say it's a delight to shoot. When the money tree is flush I'll knock a couple inches off and throw a can on and start playing with some loads.

A wise man once told me “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar”

Dunno why he wanted to catch flies but...

Good stuff Charliehorse!

keep the relationship sweet....MAYBE make point of sending Christmas good cheer to sharemilker tomorrow..... it cant hurt.

what i was thinking Trout. good work all round charliehorse.

MAYBE the share milker not too keen on noise factor...I know shooting hares with 270 is darn effective and great fun,but possibly using 22lr with subs will make life smoother for you.....posibly an offer to come and spotlight them and ask if staff or kids want to help out,come too might break ice for you???

Always a possibility I guess

Good work Mate . Many farmers do not like shooting as they think it will worry the stock which can be true . More so with young stock . I can shoot right in around our stock with the shot gun no problems but they have been conditioned to it .
As for private land hunting it is a fair bit of work keeping everyone happy and most places already have people hunting them . Me myself have no private land deer hunting spots as I Just hunt doc land. as I get older I might have to work on some private land spots tho .
Get a suppressor when you can and you might find he is a bit more at ease with you shooting .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by charliehorse

Yeah didn't want it getting away, in terms of meat recovery a neck shot would have been better but given the failing light I just wanted it on the ground. Just using factory Hornady Whitetail. Had the intention of reloading for my 270(have all the gear) but I don't know if I get through enough with it and it's not suppressed so wouldn't exactly say it's a delight to shoot. When the money tree is flush I'll knock a couple inches off and throw a can on and start playing with some loads.

---

I am a bit anal about meat damage and measure trim into a bucket from each carcase for a comparison of projectiles. The damage trim on your animal is not as bad as some bullets but is at a guess about 6 litres. The same shot with an Accubond would result in about 3 litres of trim.
I see Ammo Direct have 130 gr AB's in loaded ammo. These would be a much better choice for a big stag than the 130 Hornady IMO

any update on the ongoing relationship?????

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by charliehorse

He knew I was there @Ryan_Songhurst the misunderstanding was where I was going to be. Yep the owner had told him to expect my call and My first contact is always the sharemilker not the owner

---

Misunderstandings happen, and right now anyone in farming business is under a hell of a lot of stress- as are many others too. My suggestion would be, and maybe you have done it all ready? Drop the sharmilker off some of those salamis, or some beers/wine each time you head up and just keep telling him you appreciate being there. The other one that does wonders, is ask him if you can help with some weed control or something like that. I have guys do that, they will ring me and say they want to go for an evening hunt and can they help me on the farm in the morning. Its greatly appreciated.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

any update on the ongoing relationship?????

---

The owner passed on some of the steaks to the sharemilker and I asked the sharemilker if he'd recieved them the last time I was talking to him. He said thanks and was quite helpful the last time we spoke.

The owner was very happy to receive the vac packed steaks and invited me back anytime I like. Still mindful of not going up every other week. The current plan communicated to the owner and sharemilker is to shoot a 2nd one to boost up the kg's for sausies and salamis and then I'll pass them on also.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Misunderstandings happen, and right now anyone in farming business is under a hell of a lot of stress- as are many others too. My suggestion would be, and maybe you have done it all ready? Drop the sharmilker off some of those salamis, or some beers/wine each time you head up and just keep telling him you appreciate being there. The other one that does wonders, is ask him if you can help with some weed control or something like that. I have guys do that, they will ring me and say they want to go for an evening hunt and can they help me on the farm in the morning. Its greatly appreciated.

---

My parents live down your way, next time I'm down I'll keep that in mind, I only work office hours though :thumbsup:

now that is PLURRY AWESOME outcome......thanks for update.

So got a text from the sharemilker the other day asking if I was still hunting......yep definately I replied, always happy to put some meat in "our" freezers I said. Turns out the deer have been giving one of his paddocks a good tune up. An annual that he has planted has been quite inviting to them apparently. So went up that night then the next morning to no avail. Sent him a message that I'd be back in 2 nights time due to the weather.

Sort some advice from an Old hand and went up a bit later this time. Wind was all over the place when I got there and I was seriously considering turning around. Everytime I flicked the lighter it was blowing a different way. Went with the gut instinct and stalked in to about 230m from the bushline, wind in my favour thankfully. Flicked the light on and there was 2 sets of eyes right where I had the light pointed, hit the deck, lined up on what I thought was a hind and sent it straight through the front wheels.
Attachment 169979
Attachment 169980
Attachment 169981
Will be investing in a new light so I can tell the difference between a stag and a hind. When I asked him today if he wants me to come back for another crack he said there's more up there. But I'll run that past the owner, dont want him thinking I'm raping it

If the cockies are noticing pasture loss, there’s more deer than they realise and come November a whole bunch more if they don’t hammer them hard. It’s a very mild winter so far in the Kaimais and the pasture will be very attractive to deer. Here in the north end of the range we are seeing deer in places we haven’t seen them for years.

A thermal spotter or good NV with a camera is often necessary to educate cockies on what they’ve really got going on in their backblocks. I have yet to meet a cockie that can see in pitch black darkness, and it’s very revealing for them if you can show them what’s out there. See if you can borrow some gear maybe - long shot I know - but it is a gamechanger.

My recommendation is to set things up so you get out there more… No offence but raping the place is what the cockie probably needs, at least in the short-term to get control of the situation.

02h00 onwards is when you need to be out there doing some surveillance.

And day trips to suss out how much deer shit is lying around, where, and specifically how far from the bushline. That’s very good info to have.

Good stuff Charliehorse!! Flyblowns right, I had a farmer mate that thought he had One or two deer coming out on his farm at night, took the thermal down and showed him 11 in one mob ..... NV setup has been getting a workout since then and his families freezers are now chocka and the newly planted trees are doing better haha
If your ever out Huntly way your welcome to borrow a thermal, they really are next level

Maintaining relationships will always pay off. Keeping your cool when its not going your way is bloody hard to do. Good on ya.