Bruce Hunts Aotearoa: Solo Hunter
July had rolled around quickly and after last weekend's Tahr hunt providing only photos I decided to head back to some familiar ground. With Tom and MJ busy for the weekend I headed bush by myself in search of some venison.
Although I love the stories that come from heading bush with mates, a couple of days Solo Hunting is a great way to really get away from all the riff raff.
Some of the essential gear I carry, From top left; Billy, Bivvy bag, Tripod, Raincoat, Sleeping mat, Gopro, Cup, Pouch ( PLB, knife, lighter...) Dark Energy Poseidon (charges camera, phone, gps etc) GPS, Range finder, Headlight, Rifle, Spotting scope, Binos, Phone Skope, First aid kit, Camera, Knife, Gloves.
Bags packed, I got to the road end a half hour before dark and started the 9km hike to camp. By the time I reached camp it had been drizzling for about 2 hours, I was sweating a storm up and everything was wet. I quickly set up my fly and tucked into the bivvy bag for some much needed rest.
I woke to a light dusting of snow and clear skies. After a quick cuppa to warm me up I headed to a nearby lookout. This was an ideal spot to see deer feeding in the morning sun, north facing with scattered scrub and a lot of good feed. I was hoping to see a good stag as I had missed out during the roar with my bow, but anything to fill the freezer was good to me.
Camp on Sunday morning, still bloody cold.
Armed with my browning which, because of the bow, had spent a lot of time in the safe this year. I was keen on a good feed and didn’t want to miss an opportunity this weekend.
Warmth was hard to find on Sunday morning.
Endless glassing from the shaded side of the hill left me my fingers cold and eager to find something quickly. A couple hours passed and I contemplated moving somewhere warmer, it was then that I spotted a young hind sunning herself about 300 yards below me. This was my chance to move somewhere warm, I figured if I could shoot her on the spot I would spend the rest of the morning butchering in the sun.
This hind was enjoying the morning sun when spotted her from above.
I set the spotter up with my phone scope and started filming. The range finder read 305 and I lined up the second reticle on her head. Whack! And with that she shook her head and stood up. Amazed at how I missed, I sent the second into the middle of her shoulder and down she sat.
Baffled at what had happened I looked at the footage from the phone-scope. I had clipped her head. I hadn't allowed for the downward angle of the shot subsequently shooting slightly high. Amateur move.
I spent the next couple of hours enjoying the sun and boning out the meat.
Your flatmates pillow cases make great meat bags.
With a full pack and a short climb ahead I saddled up and headed back to camp for a hot cuppa and a feed of fresh eye fillet.
Last trip we carried in and stashed a frying pan for these sorts of occasions.
The sun started to get lower in the sky so I geared up and headed up valley for the evening. While this short venture provided splendid photos, there were no deer to be seen and it wasn’t long before the sun dropped behind the skyline and I was walking the familiar track back to camp.
An absolute pearler of a day in South Canterbury.
A stunning sunset made the lack of deer seem ok.
This was possibly the coldest night I've spent in the bush and having a good sleeping bag and the extra warmth of my down jacket were luxuries I would have struggled to live without. Sunday morning came as cold as the day before but with more deer. I spotted yearling and a couple of hinds on a far away face and watched them for an hour. Sometimes it can be very interesting watching these animals go about their day.
Two Red Hinds wandering through the tussock and scrub
It was soon 10am and I had a long walk ahead of me. As I packed my camp away and wandered down the trail back to the truck I wondered when Ill be back up here, back in the bush chasing red-skins solo.