Grunter
01-02-08, 10:11 PM
Well talked to the wife last night & asked if I could possibly go for a walk around a property today for a look at rolling a goat or maybe even a pig. I had the puppy dog eyes on & all. I was a taken back with the reply, “I guess so, you have not been out for a hunt this time home, so why break your tradition now dear” Well i was on the phone to a mate of dads who owns the place to see what was happening. Then he informed me that it was fairly quiet out there, he has only seen the odd goat & pig of late. Well I said I will still have a look if that’s alright & he said no dramas at all, so it was ye hah, off a hunting I will go!!!!
So straight up to the workshop in the shed to check over all the gear for the days hunt. For this day hunt I thought I would give some Tusker Spirits a run through the trusty old Mathews Outback set on 74 Lbs. Once I got all the hunting gear sorted for the day trip, it was then time to raid the pantry for todays snacks. So in the backpack went some chicken crimpy shapes, 5 muesli bars & into the fridge with a couple of apples & oranges. Then filled the 3 ltr camelback up with some very weak electrolyte drink & chucked it in the freezer. Then it was the hard part for the evening trying to get some sleep, I had a thumper of a head ache which was making it hard to get to sleep as I had only driven down to the Gold Coast that day & back. Note: They are crazy the way the drive down in that rat race.
Well morning had come early with a beep, beep, beep of the alarm clock at 03:15. So it was a quick toilet run then jug on the boil to fill up the thermos for the 2 hr drive. I think I must have been tired as the coffee that I had made myself in the thermos resembled more to mud than coffee, but down the hatch she went on the pleasant drive out to the property. Well it might have been only 2 hrs but it seemed like 20 hrs as I had not been out to this property for a while. It just seems to get further & further away each time I go hunting, must be just the adrenaline pumping. Then I seen my turn off to the place I was intending on hunting for the day then up the dry old dusty track that could certainly do with a few inches of the wet stuff. Well I got to the old homestead & meet up with the old cocky who owns the place & had a bit of a chin wag with him & he said that he can not chat long as he needs to duck into town for a service done on his old tojo. Which was fine by me really as I was keen as to get on the hills for a look. Love talking with the old boy, but !! There was some hunting to do.
So I drove down to some old cattle yards he has & parked the Patrol under one of the old lean to sheds. Then I donned my 3D suit, backpack, bow etc & was looking like I was ready for world war 3 with a bow in hand. So I used my little puffer bottle, checked the wind & I was off. I have hunted this place on & off over the last 15 or 16 years & pretty well now where I have the best chance of finding the game, so I was off. Well I had only walked for maybe 10 minutes up this half dry old creek bed when I heard that unmistakable bleating coming from the next gully over, so with about face 90° turn it was binos glued to the head, checking every little bush, twig or movement. Now I know that anyone who has chased any sort of game say the same thing to themselves. Where in the Hell are they!! It amazes me as to how goats in particular can be so hard to see at times & they are on this property mainly white. After about 15 mins I had enough of this bino deal, so it was stealth mode go straight towards the sound of the little blighters. Well wouldn’t you know it they stopped bleating, so I stopped & lisened for another 10 mins & glassing again but without any joy. Then the next thing, WTF here are the goats up on top of the sheer 100 foot rock face looking don on me. So after I seen that, I flipped them all the bird & said a few expletives. Well I thought ok, plan “B”. Go after them or keep going up the creek for a look.
Well I have been busy this time home so I decided on option number 2. Well I had walked for around 40 mins & thought to myself, “Dopey !! Should have chased the others up, would have rolled one by now!!” Then I had only walked maybe another 5 mins, bleeet, bleeet, bleeet. Ye hah !! Game on !! Boys & Girls. This time worked out a little better as I could see them this time & they where feeding straight to me. So I got the binos up again checking to see if there where any Billy’s at all. All I could see was 4 small goats coming my way, so I thought 2 for the tucker box, beautiful!! So I took up position behind this little shrub, half dead looking thing that those resident goats had given a canning. Well on the string went the Blackhawk Vapor tipped with a razor sharp Tusker Spirit. The first little billy walked up to around 18 yards of me & started to eat a little bush giving me a clear broadside shot at him. So I drew back & put the first pin straight on the heart. I slowly breathed in then out & sqweezed the release trigger, whack, bleeet, bleeet, nothing!! Woohoo!! 1 down another to go I thought to myself. Well with the noise of his mate the other little billy come over for a look at him to see why his mate was having a little rest. Then the same thing, whack, bleeet, bleeet, nothing!! Woohoo!! As I only wanted enough for some meat for the freezer I let the other 2 keep for another day. They were completely confused as to what this bushy looking thing was picking up their mates. So it was off with the backpack & out with the camera for a couple of happy snaps. So the captain Kodak moment over it was time to get some knife work happening, this is when the fun always stops on a hunt & the work begins.
Anyway here I am minding my own in the shade dressing up some young goat to take home for some table fare, when bleeet, bleeet. So I turned a little to have a look at the two mates returning for another look for their pals, hold on a minute!! One of them has grown real quick!! Here comes an old shaggy looking billy down the hill straight towards me in his own world. So I am thinking cool, show time!! Then it dawns on me, bow!! So here is the picture,
Billy coming down the hill, me standing 6’ away from my bow, knife in hand & 2 little billy’s hanging in a small tree being skinned & dressed. So the mind is racing & heart beat going into overdrive, what to do. Then old billy me mate stops dead in his tracks & turns the other way, damn I think to myself, busted. But no, wait here comes more goats that he is checking out. So this is my chance I think to grab the bow, whoosh, bow in hand, haha, now you’re in trouble. But wouldn’t/t you know it, no release aid!! WTF!! In my unrobing of the world war 3, 3D jacket I had also taken off my release aid. So then I was left with this sinking feeling in the bottom of the gut. Yeah I shoot trade with fingers, no dramas. But then my trad gear is not 31” ATA & 74 Lbs. Anyway I thought give her a go champ, you will get it. Amazed myself really as to how smooth the old Mathew Outback draws even with fingers. Now the billy at this point was starting to move again & was at around 40 yards coming towards me. Well he finally stopped coming & decided to have a little feed on a bush at around 35 yards. Then it was breath, whack, bleeet, bleeet, nothing!! Woohoo!! So now I have just drilled 3 goats with in 15-20 mins of each other. Anyway it was out with the camera for a couple more pics & continue with the dress out of the goats.
Old stinky was going to go done the hatch a treat, but not for the family but the family dog Skeet. After I finished the clean up & packed all the meat into the backpack. I thought why not have a dip in the small creek to freshen up & make my way home early for a change. So down the creek for a dip & wash then off back towards the car. I was making a bit of a bee line towards the car in my own little happy world as it was only 150 yards to go.
When WHOOOF !! this great thumping boar come flying out of the thick reeds a zillion miles an hour straight past me. Well the expletives where really flying this time as I love nothing more than drilling a good old boar. He would have been one of the better ones I have ever seen around this property, even though none of them really have any ivory as the ground is so rocky & they usually have them broken off or just real short thin hooks on them. Anyway got back to the car 7 loaded up & out, stopped at the cocky’s but he was not home, so left a note & thanked him for the day & let him now what I got. So there will have to be another box of beer sent out that way for the great day again. I have posted a couple of pics of the goats, not the best quality but this is the first time I have really used this camera.
Sorry to drag the story out so much, but I got carried away writing.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1063.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1064.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1065.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1067.jpg
So straight up to the workshop in the shed to check over all the gear for the days hunt. For this day hunt I thought I would give some Tusker Spirits a run through the trusty old Mathews Outback set on 74 Lbs. Once I got all the hunting gear sorted for the day trip, it was then time to raid the pantry for todays snacks. So in the backpack went some chicken crimpy shapes, 5 muesli bars & into the fridge with a couple of apples & oranges. Then filled the 3 ltr camelback up with some very weak electrolyte drink & chucked it in the freezer. Then it was the hard part for the evening trying to get some sleep, I had a thumper of a head ache which was making it hard to get to sleep as I had only driven down to the Gold Coast that day & back. Note: They are crazy the way the drive down in that rat race.
Well morning had come early with a beep, beep, beep of the alarm clock at 03:15. So it was a quick toilet run then jug on the boil to fill up the thermos for the 2 hr drive. I think I must have been tired as the coffee that I had made myself in the thermos resembled more to mud than coffee, but down the hatch she went on the pleasant drive out to the property. Well it might have been only 2 hrs but it seemed like 20 hrs as I had not been out to this property for a while. It just seems to get further & further away each time I go hunting, must be just the adrenaline pumping. Then I seen my turn off to the place I was intending on hunting for the day then up the dry old dusty track that could certainly do with a few inches of the wet stuff. Well I got to the old homestead & meet up with the old cocky who owns the place & had a bit of a chin wag with him & he said that he can not chat long as he needs to duck into town for a service done on his old tojo. Which was fine by me really as I was keen as to get on the hills for a look. Love talking with the old boy, but !! There was some hunting to do.
So I drove down to some old cattle yards he has & parked the Patrol under one of the old lean to sheds. Then I donned my 3D suit, backpack, bow etc & was looking like I was ready for world war 3 with a bow in hand. So I used my little puffer bottle, checked the wind & I was off. I have hunted this place on & off over the last 15 or 16 years & pretty well now where I have the best chance of finding the game, so I was off. Well I had only walked for maybe 10 minutes up this half dry old creek bed when I heard that unmistakable bleating coming from the next gully over, so with about face 90° turn it was binos glued to the head, checking every little bush, twig or movement. Now I know that anyone who has chased any sort of game say the same thing to themselves. Where in the Hell are they!! It amazes me as to how goats in particular can be so hard to see at times & they are on this property mainly white. After about 15 mins I had enough of this bino deal, so it was stealth mode go straight towards the sound of the little blighters. Well wouldn’t you know it they stopped bleating, so I stopped & lisened for another 10 mins & glassing again but without any joy. Then the next thing, WTF here are the goats up on top of the sheer 100 foot rock face looking don on me. So after I seen that, I flipped them all the bird & said a few expletives. Well I thought ok, plan “B”. Go after them or keep going up the creek for a look.
Well I have been busy this time home so I decided on option number 2. Well I had walked for around 40 mins & thought to myself, “Dopey !! Should have chased the others up, would have rolled one by now!!” Then I had only walked maybe another 5 mins, bleeet, bleeet, bleeet. Ye hah !! Game on !! Boys & Girls. This time worked out a little better as I could see them this time & they where feeding straight to me. So I got the binos up again checking to see if there where any Billy’s at all. All I could see was 4 small goats coming my way, so I thought 2 for the tucker box, beautiful!! So I took up position behind this little shrub, half dead looking thing that those resident goats had given a canning. Well on the string went the Blackhawk Vapor tipped with a razor sharp Tusker Spirit. The first little billy walked up to around 18 yards of me & started to eat a little bush giving me a clear broadside shot at him. So I drew back & put the first pin straight on the heart. I slowly breathed in then out & sqweezed the release trigger, whack, bleeet, bleeet, nothing!! Woohoo!! 1 down another to go I thought to myself. Well with the noise of his mate the other little billy come over for a look at him to see why his mate was having a little rest. Then the same thing, whack, bleeet, bleeet, nothing!! Woohoo!! As I only wanted enough for some meat for the freezer I let the other 2 keep for another day. They were completely confused as to what this bushy looking thing was picking up their mates. So it was off with the backpack & out with the camera for a couple of happy snaps. So the captain Kodak moment over it was time to get some knife work happening, this is when the fun always stops on a hunt & the work begins.
Anyway here I am minding my own in the shade dressing up some young goat to take home for some table fare, when bleeet, bleeet. So I turned a little to have a look at the two mates returning for another look for their pals, hold on a minute!! One of them has grown real quick!! Here comes an old shaggy looking billy down the hill straight towards me in his own world. So I am thinking cool, show time!! Then it dawns on me, bow!! So here is the picture,
Billy coming down the hill, me standing 6’ away from my bow, knife in hand & 2 little billy’s hanging in a small tree being skinned & dressed. So the mind is racing & heart beat going into overdrive, what to do. Then old billy me mate stops dead in his tracks & turns the other way, damn I think to myself, busted. But no, wait here comes more goats that he is checking out. So this is my chance I think to grab the bow, whoosh, bow in hand, haha, now you’re in trouble. But wouldn’t/t you know it, no release aid!! WTF!! In my unrobing of the world war 3, 3D jacket I had also taken off my release aid. So then I was left with this sinking feeling in the bottom of the gut. Yeah I shoot trade with fingers, no dramas. But then my trad gear is not 31” ATA & 74 Lbs. Anyway I thought give her a go champ, you will get it. Amazed myself really as to how smooth the old Mathew Outback draws even with fingers. Now the billy at this point was starting to move again & was at around 40 yards coming towards me. Well he finally stopped coming & decided to have a little feed on a bush at around 35 yards. Then it was breath, whack, bleeet, bleeet, nothing!! Woohoo!! So now I have just drilled 3 goats with in 15-20 mins of each other. Anyway it was out with the camera for a couple more pics & continue with the dress out of the goats.
Old stinky was going to go done the hatch a treat, but not for the family but the family dog Skeet. After I finished the clean up & packed all the meat into the backpack. I thought why not have a dip in the small creek to freshen up & make my way home early for a change. So down the creek for a dip & wash then off back towards the car. I was making a bit of a bee line towards the car in my own little happy world as it was only 150 yards to go.
When WHOOOF !! this great thumping boar come flying out of the thick reeds a zillion miles an hour straight past me. Well the expletives where really flying this time as I love nothing more than drilling a good old boar. He would have been one of the better ones I have ever seen around this property, even though none of them really have any ivory as the ground is so rocky & they usually have them broken off or just real short thin hooks on them. Anyway got back to the car 7 loaded up & out, stopped at the cocky’s but he was not home, so left a note & thanked him for the day & let him now what I got. So there will have to be another box of beer sent out that way for the great day again. I have posted a couple of pics of the goats, not the best quality but this is the first time I have really used this camera.
Sorry to drag the story out so much, but I got carried away writing.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1063.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1064.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1065.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/grunterhunter/DSCF1067.jpg