Thread: Trophies Memories and photos (heavy)

I thought I would share a couple of memories, I like to keep things brief, I'm not a natural writer or story teller and generally a man of few words.

So whats a Trophy? what do you value as something your'e really proud of. I only have three sets of antlers inside my house, My first stag, my first South Island Fallow Buck, and an 8 pointer from the Tararua's I shot on a trip with a hunting mate. All three mean more to me than bigger heads I have shot, and deserve place on my wall where I can proudly display them. My kids have swiped a couple of sets of antlers off me, the rest I have kept are in the carport.
I have shot 12 and 13 point stags in soft velvet, is that a shit thing to do, I don't know, possibly?. I've never considered myself a trophy hunter, I hunt for meat and good times. If I shoot a decent head then yeah I will keep it of course, there has also been a few small heads left behind with the gut bag.

I remember my first red stag I shot well over 20 years ago, I can recall what happened down to the finest detail, He started roaring at about 6am, I bagged him at around 10:30am. When I finally got close enough for a remote chance at a shot he was still grunting and thrashing in a Toitoi bush no more than 20m from me, but I couldn't see him due to how thick the scrub was. What a rush when I got the first look as he walked broadside to me, all I could see was the top of his antlers, then his body came into view, he took about 3 steps, turned and then stepped again to walk towards me. One shot through the shoulders and he slumped down, he was still trying to get up but was buggered, I can still see him looking at me as he collapsed on the ground. I must have counted his points about a dozen times as I was sitting there catching my breath. He was a very young 10 pointer but beautifully even, and mine.

I remember pig hunts I have had with my dogs, it was never about the biggest boar, but how well the dogs worked, pups swinging off a gnarly pig for the first time. or that mad bastard dog who would hold by himself and die in the process if that's what it took.
One of my most memorable pig hunts was only a 120 lb boar, but he was a fighter, three dogs got dealt to but they never let go, one week later they were all hunting again. I'm glad I don't have pig dogs anymore, the work required is too much these days, but looking through old photos I sure do miss them a lot.

As strange as it may sound, one of my favorite things to do is bush hunt goats, it reminds me of when I was a kid learning to hunt, no expectations, nothing to write about or brag about to anyone, its just good honest fun nothing more.

Anyone have photos of their first stag/boar/goat whatever? feel free to share.

My first stag, accompanied by my first pig dog.




North Canterbury Fallow Buck


Mad dogs and angry pigs









120lb scrapper



A decent billy goat just shy of 40 inches.