Thread: A Visit from Canada

During winter we got a call from our son (Deereman) that the family had booked a trip to NZ arriving the 20th Nov. It took a while to arrive but finally we got to see the all the family together since 2008. Our grandsons were only 3 and 18 months last time, now they are 11 coming up 12 in March and 9 coming up 10 in June.
Boy have they grown since there last visit.
Within a couple of days of arrival my son and the boys and I headed up around the Whirinaki for an overnighter to see if we could pick up a deer for the oldest grandson Tyler. We checked all the old spots and found a good area with plenty of sign so we planned to check it out later in the evening.
After setting up camp we took the boys out to an area well away from our hunting spot to let them have a few shots with the 243 before the hunt.
First we set up a 2 liter milk bottle with water at 100 yards then at 200 yards, both boys scored hits at both ranges.
As evening neared we left camp and drove to our spot, Deereman took Hunter my youngest grandson and Tyler came with me to watch a bush edge on the edge of a clear cut.
It was around 6.30pm when we sneaked into position to find a deer out feeding already, quickly I got Tyler set up resting off a windrow and ranged the deer at 243 yards. The first spot was to uncomfortable so we moved to a better place to shoot careful to not spook the deer.
Once we were set up Tyler took the shot, the deer was hit hard and staggered then moved a few yards and was out of sight. A few minutes later a deer was seen in the gully which I thought was a different one but turned out to be Tyler's. I had a quick shot at it but missed and as the deer took off I seen it's front leg swinging , the bullet had hit the leg bone rather than the shoulder. We tracked the blood from the place Tyler had first shot then down to where I missed then up into the native, despite a search till almost dark and a further search the next day we couldn't find the deer. Had the shot been 3 -4 inches higher it would have gone down.
Deereman and I did a long day trip back up there several days later but no luck that time.
Back home we decided to take the boys for a night shoot to see if they could get there first possum each, we had a good night shooting 3 rabbits, 2 wallabies, 24 possums.
Both boys shot several each and had a ball especially Hunter.
The 2 1/2 week trip was over way to quick but they enjoyed good weather and plenty of fun, jet boating, blow carting , riding the lugu, and swimming amongst other activities
They arrived back in Vancouver today about 10 am our time and then drove the 3 hours back to the ranch to be greeted with -24 degree temp and snow. Pretty sure they would rather be here right now, I know the wife and I would rather them be here.Boys setting up tent.Boys with there milk bottle targets and the Bush edge where Tyler shot the deerNight shooting with the Boys Cool fun.