An early knock off on a Friday afternoon, it doesn't get much better. Especially when your heading off hunting. The weather forecast looks average, and shes going to be a cold one. Arriving at the bach for Friday night, the sun sets over the snowy mountains out the back door step. Mates are already at the bach so it makes a nice change walking in with the fire already lit, a roast lamb on for dinner and a couple of quiets in the chilly bin outside. Mint, it really doesn't get much better.
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Out the gate before daylight, we head for Wanganui. A bit of drizzle as we head out. "Ah, this looks like the beginning of the average weather thats forecast for the day."
By the time we've been driving for an hour there is nothing but clear, starry skies to our suprise. As the sun breaks over the neighboring hills, we unpack the ute, get geared up and set off for what would become a majorly entertaining day.
Within 20 minutes we spook a mob of 20 or so deer out in the open. After following them down to one of the native blocks we put on a stalk for a couple of hours or so. The wind kicks up, and anywhere we seem to go the wind is up our arse. Bugger. We get on to the same mob again and spot a stag lurking at the back. Both him and I are too unsettled to get a shot away so we have to just watch him this time.
After popping out of the native block, we decide to change approach and head over to the back of the station where old mate has told us hes been seeing mobs chilling out frequently. We glass the gully as the sun begins to hit the face hoping to catch one out trying to warm up. You're just as shocked as we are, squinting with the sun, it's supposed to be hosing!!
After sitting, waiting, watching for a half hour or so we gather ourselves up to move off to our next spot, when suddenly one of the guys starts trying to shout but whisper quietly (you know, that panicked flailing of arms and pointing) saying hes spotted a deer. A nice little eater out on her own in the open in the sun. The .243 came up, the deer went down. Mint, success. Shot down to where it was, gutted it and all that bizzo, carried it out.
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There was some more action later on in the day with mobs of deer popping up in all the places we least expected them to be. A few Red hinds made an appearance but were long gone by the time we could hatch a plan. We saw another stag later on but same situation as earlier. It was these boys lucky day alright! As we head out we snatch another hind for the freezer with the cheering of the fencing crew up along the ridge behind us giving us a good laugh, aswell as a bit of a fright.
After loading up the ute to head off, I take a last look around at this awesome place. "Until next time".
I'm at home in the high country and the bush. There is no better place, especially when you can share it with some genuine good bastards. We had a day of laughs and adventure, success and a couple of fails. And not even a spit of rain.
Hilary
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