My boy's first Stag

Just been in the Whirinaki for a few nights. The plan was to get him his first roar stag.
We heard a couple roaring on the way in so thii were looking promising. We had a bit of a sleep in the next morning, but I heard at least 4 stags during the night so there were a few around. We went for a look up the ridge behind our camp and saw heaps of fresh stag sign. After an hour we heard a roar. Game on.
He was replying to our roars and we began to close in. We got real close to him and could hear him thrashing bushes. Jed was starting to get excited and whiny. So Oliver snuck forward to try and get a look. He could see the stag but it was obscured by bushes so he couldn't get a clean shot. The stag turned and eyeballed Oliver for an age and then turned and bolted.
Bugger.
No more action that day so we resolved to get out of bed earlier the next morning.
Early next morning we were heading up another ridge. We got a bit of height and heard a stag roar from a ridge across from us.
We got onto the ridge and made our way down. He was roaring but sporadically. Then he went quiet. O didn't think he had winded us so maybe he was stashing his hinds somewhere.
We sat down for a while and waited and had some lunch. After that I gave another roar and he replied. Sweet!!.
We snuck down the ridge with Oliver just in front. He took up position next to a big tree and waited. A hind appeared and he thought about whacking it but it's fawn appeared and he left them. Shortly after the stag came into view and he smacked it. It was hit a bit far back and must have run 100 metres down an open gut. There was no blood and Oliver was a bit worried and thought he might have fluffed it. Jed was on hand though, and quickly found him. So he was forgiven for whining.
It's was a nice stag.
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He did the hard yards carrying his share out too.
A very proud Dad moment.

Mean effort! Good work team. Bet Oliver's looking forward to school on Monday.

Hard to tell who looks more stoked in the 2nd photo, the woofer or the son!

Way to go Oliver.

Awesome mate, good trip alright.

Congratulations to the young fella.

Well done Dad, Oliver and Jed. Jed looks mighty pleased with the outcome

Great job Oliver, nice Whirinaki stag , good to hear the old stamping ground is producing good animals. Wel Done .

Great effort, another area where I have great memories from yesteryear.

Awesome stag for there be hard to beat now

Top effort; well done Olliver! Those close-in Stags sure get the adrenalin going

Excellent!:cool:

Awesome result, well done mate :thumbsup:

Great stuff, nice stag

Meat sandwiches for school lunches this month aye?? Good to see : )

awesome stag, awesome memories that will no dought secure the hunting bug, even more awesome hair cut :thumbsup:

awesome to see young fella on board with a stag.....and thats a great set of antlers too,will look good on bedroom wall.
hit bit far back...yeah nah...it died soon enough and you managed to find and retrieve it.not every shot goes perfectly to plan,next time you will smash them shoulder bones,putting him down on spot. you did good young fella,very good indeed.

heck yeah!

Mean

Love the Jandels on his pack…. A man’s feet should always be comfortable

Well done ,Yea the boys! (dog included)

Awesome, well done to all.

Really great for both of you. Also that head is very good for that area. :)

Well done Oliver and Dad. What awesome memories and time together in the bush.
He will be hooked for life now!

Well done. Awesome stag, got to be over the moon with a day like that