Thread: Wallaby

3 of us just spent 6 days hunting in the Mackenzie/Hunter Hills. Got home on Saturday. We do this probably 3 times a year.
Mix of weather with 2 good snow falls. It was pretty cold.
We were mostly hunting by about 1pm and that gave us 7-8 hours on the hill each day.

Our method is not dissimilar to deer stalking. Spot and stalk - and a lot of walking. We would get a few through to about 4pm and then they would become a bit more visible as they came out of cover. The further we walked and the more inaccessible the terrain the more we got.

Average range is about 150-200 yards with some longer shots mixed in. All .223.

So we got 448 wallaby, 2 Fallow and 6 pigs.

Here's a bunch of pics and some comments.

First day out was a lean area that gets a lot of 1080. Only got a couple of wallaby but did get a Fallow spiker (and later Brian shot one too). All of the meat was gifted around Tekapo village.







The next day we got a good snow fall that clipped our wings for a day and half.



After another lean day Rod joined Brian and I and we shifted camp to a hut in the Hunter Hills. Our tallies jumped immediately.

This pic is looking straight down from the hut and to a face on which I shot one at 460 yards from the hut. We hunted into all of this country.



I saw a couple of Reds one day. Here's a spiker tucked in below the rocks. Saw about 30 deer in total.



This is fairly typical of the country.



I got 46 one evening down the bottom left of this gully.



Brian and I use these Outdoorsman frame packs 'cos they are great for shooting off in the tussock and on steep slopes (and for carrying deer on).



The lads eating. Always eating.



Nice



Deaded



Sidling through the scrub. I got a lot on the green patches. Shooting across the creek was 2-300 yards.



Rod brought his bike - he said it was good to get around on but pretty cold. Didn't use it much.



Why I put on weight. Rod was in charge of breakfasts.



Brian the snowman. We all got caught out in this storm.



The next morning.



The lads packing for home (someones' hard case sense of humour with the tanker sign).



PS: Big weeks are not for the faint hearted. Im only 42.

What an awesome trip.
It's on my list of things to do.

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That's awesome. Such great country to hunt. I like the forend notch in the pack frame
Did you use thermal at all for spotting. Would have been good conditions for it.

Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey…

That was my grandfather’s favourite expression. And here’s another bunch of grandpas showing the young fellas how it’s done. Bloody good photos and very descriptive.

I would be interested to know what layering system you were using Bruce. I imagine that you’d get quite a sweat on during the day with the real prospect of getting very cold from sitting in a good shooting spot for a period of time. What were you wearing?

looks like you fellas had a ball. shooting the wee hoppers just has to rate up there as one of the most fun things a fella can do with his pants on.

Or off, if I'm right you could shoot them from the toilet in that hut.

Good effort young fallows.

Thats a lot of Wallaby meat!, great effort!!

Originally Posted by Jhon

Thats a lot of Wallaby meat!, great effort!!

the local piggies will do well LOL.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey…

That was my grandfather’s favourite expression. And here’s another bunch of grandpas showing the young fellas how it’s done. Bloody good photos and very descriptive.

I would be interested to know what layering system you were using Bruce. I imagine that you’d get quite a sweat on during the day with the real prospect of getting very cold from sitting in a good shooting spot for a period of time. What were you wearing?

Fleecy stretch trou from Ali express (https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32838...d=jBr23RD0QL4j) . Merino old mans singlet. Sitka mid layer top. Heavier fleece top https://betacraftworkwear.com/collec...40123435679879. Rain coat in pack https://betacraftworkwear.com/collec...40123435253895. Around the hut a down jacket.

Thanks. That Betacraft gear looks like very good value.

Is that a private hut @Tahr ?

Looks bloody well equipt and comfy, even got the lounge chairs

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

Is that a private hut @Tahr ?

Looks bloody well equipt and comfy, even got the lounge chairs

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Yes, private.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Thanks. That Betacraft gear looks like very good value.

Its excellent stuff.
Based in Pahiatua.

Jeez - I'm a heck of a good eater (especially breakfasts) - would that qualify me for selection to the team?