SECOND TIME LUCKY

After heading down south 12 months ago for the first time chasing thar this time chamios was going to be the target species,
Driving down sunday to catch the 2am ferry then a quick stop on the way down for breakfast then on to Ahaura to catch up with the pilot then another 45mins to the end of haupiri seen us fighting of sand flys in the paddock while waiting for pickup
Attachment 131989
After a short flight and a quick look at the chosen area we where drop of to what was going to be six days of hunting
Attachment 131990
Attachment 131991
With no time to waste base was set up and plan was hatch for the four of us to split our two ways. Plenty of water on the tops with running water 20m from camp.
First evening had us seeing our first animals at 650m then slowly making there way out to the 1000m mark , one had one horn and the other looking like a good buck
Attachment 131992
Attachment 131993
With evening starting to roll in we made our way back to camp and hatched a plan to come back in the morning. Next morning had us glassing the same face and within minutes two animals were located, unfortunately they had feed further along the face to the in possible. Dropping down into a saddle and pushing around the next face for the next few hours glassing as we went had us on a face above the main river.
Next few moments unfolded pretty quickly, mate in front was unaware of a chammy sitting down next to a rock gun of pack and range finder chuck to mate and first one horned chammy buck down. A quick de brief about what just happen and it was recovery time. What looked to be a easy shot. Turned out a dirty gut in between, dropping down couple hundred meters it was decided only i would go down, 30m rope tied to a bush and only camera, knife and epirb taken.
Attachment 131994
Attachment 131995
After a few photos and removing skin climbing back up that face sure put the shits up me. tied to the rope the last 10m up and mate on the other end just in case,
Now with the day getting on we headed back to camp for the late arvo. After a good feed a evening glass from camp was on the cards. After a hour or so 3 chamios broke cover down in the main gully from camp. A quick 50m dash to camp grabbing mate and gun seen us dropping down to get in shooting distance.
Closing the distance had us down to 450m. Mates turn to shoot, while he was getting ready i dropped down to the next little terrace. I only just got down when boom, a quick look around still had three chammy on the move, finally finding them in the scope i well placed shoot had tail end chammy doing a couple back flips on to what we had named the bully track. Mate didn't know what had gone wrong with his shot and while i was waiting for a second shot from him he was waiting for me.
Next day was a recovery mission down to the valley floor, just to the left of the smudge in picture
Attachment 131997
Attachment 131998
By the time we got back to camp it was early arvo. A Quick evening hunt seen the same animals. Getting back to camp and with a heavy rain warning of 200mm we message the pilot for morning pick up. As the night went on the wind picked up and not much sleep. The next morning seen wind gust with low cloud coming and going but getting worse , 9am pickup come and went and conditions getting worse by the minute. after 45min wait we were glad to see that chopper, after a few attempts to land it was a very quick chuck the gear in and out, Back at the car park was like a whole another world.
Over all it was a good trip with good mates, There weren't big numbers in there for a the amount glassing and area covered but enjoyed by all
A few random pics
Attachment 131999Attachment 132000Attachment 132001Attachment 132002Attachment 132003Attachment 132004Attachment 132005

Mint looking country. Lucky you! 😀

Those wide open spaces sure look appealing, good hunt well done.

those tents look a long long walk away..... thats two ticked off the list for you.personally chammy are way up the desired list than thar.....they are just neat wee critters to watch,and eat.

Wow that first pic looks so nice:) then read your opening lines about fighting off the sand flys:XD: Thanks for posting:thumbsup:

No sand flys up high just at the car park, id say all the way up the rivers

Nice bit on country to hunt it.

Great write up. Awesome country it's been awhile since I walked up the Haupiri no Gloriavale then!

Big trip down from Gizzy. Well done and a great report.

Had to go back to work today, sleep well tonight