Opening Weekend - Bugger the ducks, lets go deer hunting

**GWH** · 05-05-2015, 03:12 PM

Over the last couple of years both myself and my good mate Grunter's excitement of duck shooting has been diminishing, so much so for Grunter that he has even sold his shottie!

So with opening weekend fast approaching and Grant being keen to get his twin 9 year old boys into the hill with him looking for a deer, we hatched the plan to drag them out over opening weekend and hopefully have the hills to ourselves while all you other duck crazy buggers were sitting around dams with ya makeup on.

So a location was selected that wouldn't be too much of a mission for the lads, and plans were finalised. The forecast was looking primo with a big high set to be over the country for the weekend, you bloody beauty! (Feeling really good about chasing deer instead of the ducks now).

I headed in on Friday afternoon, and Grant and the boys came in on Saturday morning. Well I got to the carpark and started cursing the weather man as i was greeted by a much unexpected strong wind.

After a quick set up of my Huntech bivvy and a hot brew, i was off to start glassing some clearings and slips. More cursing of the weather man as the wind picked up, clouds rolled in and it proceeded to piss down and eventually clag right in, couldnt see a dam thing by 5pm. My hopes of getting something on the ground on Friday night before Grant and the lads came in were well and truly dashed. Back to the shelter of camp for a much needed hot dinner and brew. All done and dusted by 7pm (even washed the dishes) what to do now when ya on ya own, might as well hit the sack, bed at 7 pm just doesn't sound right. Well after dropping in and out of consciousness and seeming like i had been lying there for an age "time check, oh god only 8.45pm, Jesus its going to be a loooonng night". Oh well off to sleep praying for the weather to improve for the morning.

Morning came and it had improved slightly, but the cold wind remained. Up before the sun i rugged up and started to glass a face i have seen deer on before at first light. I spied a hind a bit after 7pm, but she was on a mission to get back to the cover of the bush and out of the cold wind, by the time i had confirmed the range and angle she was far too quick for me to get a shot away. I kept glassing the surrounding area for another hour with nothing seen, i was the only dumb arse to be out in the open on this cold windy morning. So i ventured the 40 meters back to camp to make some breckie and a cuppa.

Once the porridge was made i took it back to my lookout spot to eat it while keeping an eye on the faces and clearings. Well bugger me, as soon as i sat down, before i even had one spoonful of my porridge i spot a deer feed out onto an sheltered clearing, action stations! A very quick set up of the camera on the tripod (should have done it prior, you'll see why soon), hit record, check the range, angle and dial in a touch for elevation adjustment, lay down behind the rifle and while taking note that the hind was slightly quartering away and adjust my point of aim slightly rearward, i touch the very light trigger on my 7mm SAUM. She reacts and instantly bolts, shit what just happened there i'm thinking, a few seconds later her fawn (decent size for 5-6 months old) comes out onto the clearing, and since we were on a freezer filling trip, i didnt hesitate in thumbing in another round and letting her have one too! The beauty of the suppressor is that i saw her react too rearing up onto hind legs and taking a couple of jumps, and hearing a good solid whack back she was hit too.

I had a bit of a walk around to the other side of the gully, but not before nailing the now luke warm porridge. Knowing that Grant and the boys would be arriving any minute, i left a uhf radio in the pre-arranged spot, and ventured off to find the hopefully two deer.

As i was sidling around the other side of the gully i spot the bright blue tops of the boys so pull out the radio to fill them in on what i'm up to, Grant with two very excited boys all venture around to help with the recovery.

After dropping down to the right clearing i quickly find the young deer that hadn't gone far at all, i left Grant to deal with that while i went to look for the hind, i found a well used trail heading steeply down off the clearing in the direction she was last spotted, so i kept dropping down there until i eventually spotted her come to rest up against a tree, a fairly quick and easy find (without a dog) awesome!

The lads were quite fascinated with the whole butchering process, and after packs were made heavy we trudged back up the spur and around to camp.

Grant and the lads and myself went separate directions for an afternoon hunt in pretty average weather once again with no animals being seen. Returning to camp to watch some handy faces for last light, cold again, but the boys had the good gears including hooded down jackets and gloves and didn't moan about being cold once.

Another early morning glass on Sunday (still with a cold wind) with nothing being seen. We had to be back to town fairly early, so broke camp and packed up and headed for the car park.

All in all a great weekend was had by all, the boys had a blast, and on the walk out were heard saying "can we do this again soon Dad" you cant ask for much more than that!