ricochet
25-06-08, 07:32 PM
THE CONTINUATION-
FROM NEW ZEALAND TO FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND-
(From the wall to the cape)-::)
It all transpired in New Zealand last year, Mick Baker and myself spent some time with Steve Thomasen in New Zealand in June 2007,we were on a hunting trip, and Steve looked after us both for those two weeks, and it was during this time that we were discussing organising a trip to The Wall then onto the Cape, after we got back to Australia the phone calls went back and forth between the three of us for a few months , and it was finally decided that we would organise June 2008 as our hunting trip with Mick Baker (Trophybowhunts),now Mick explained to us that June would not be the best time to Hunt the Cape, but this was the only time that suited Steve, and we were working around Steve’s commitments, ( Steve is a share dairyfarmer) with the cows being dried of during May/June we worked on this timing.
After many phone calls back and forth, airfares were booked, and dates set with Trophybowhunts,all there was to do now was for the days to roll on.
SATURDAY 31/05/2008-:
Loaded all my gear and bags into the car and headed for the Melbourne airport, ( about a 2 hours drive),there was a delay in the flight leaving for Brisbane, and on arrival at Brisbane I only got of the plane and then had to run for the next plane to Townsville, there was a call over the PA, requesting passenger O’Neill for boarding the Townsville flight ,finally arrive at Townsville airport around 4.00pm, Steve had arrived earlier from New Zealand, I was picked up from the airport by Mick Baker, we then headed back to his place.
Sunday morning we headed out for 6 days hunting Chital around the Charters Towers area, finally arriving at the property we unpacked our gear, Mick then took us to the various tree stands that he had in place, we logged these into our GPS, then back to camp for tea, on Monday both Steve and I head to a tree stand each for the morning hunt, Steve put in some great stalks during the afternoon, only to be busted by the sound, which was to become the familiar sound for the next few days, now Steve had never heard the Chital alarm call before, but by the time we had finished our hunt he new the sound off by heart, Tuesday much of the same, but Steve missed the chance on a nice size pig during an afternoon stroll back to the camp.
CHITAL DOWN-:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CharterstowersRicksChital2.jpg
After a morning walk and stalk we came across some chital bedded down, it was my turn for a stalk, I had a hind in sight and stalked in towards her, now while I was doing all this, both Steve and Mick were wondering what I was up to, as they both had a stag in sight, which I had not seen, ( talk about focus) I got to about 30 metres from the Hind, she was feeding side on to me(right to left), so I drew the bow and lined the 30 metre pin on her, just as I released, the deer quartered away, the arrow hit her in front of the left side back leg and
Passed completely through her, coming out on an angle through her chest on the right side, the deer only went 20 metres, after photos we took the skin and the meat from the deer, I then packed all this back to the car, and then I took the meat back to camp and hung the legs etc in the coolroom, after completing this I then headed back with the car to the planned pick up spot to meet up with Steve and Mick, when we all met up, it was then that I was told that Steve had hit a spiker, but could not locate the deer, Steve was very down at this stage, they both had looked for the deer for a few hours but could not locate him, we then headed back to camp for a good shower and some tea.
The next morning (Thursday) we were up and heading out to the area where we both had hit our deer. We hoped to have a good look around to try and locate the deer that Steve had hit the day before, we located my deer , the dingos and crows had a good go at the carcass, we then kept a look out for more crow activity hoping to find Steve’s downed deer, at the same time both Steve and I saw something in the grass,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CharterstowersChital004-1.jpg
Steve yelled “it’s my deer”, we both had seen the white spots, boy was Steve one happy camper, the deer was found only about 100 metres from where my deer was, I was sure glad we did go for a good look around, Steve’s deer had travelled a fair distance from where he first hit the deer, and it was great that we had found the deer, unfortunately we could not save the skin( hair slip) or meat from the deer, but we managed to have one happy hunter, and many good photos were taken. We headed back to camp for Lunch, then headed out again in the afternoon, Steve managed to get a pig, and a dingo,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/StevesDingo.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CharterstowersPIG.jpg
we had a look around the “Basalt wall” area,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/comingoffthewall-1.jpg
We also had some more stalks on chital, then back to camp. That night we did a quick look around for some rabbits, Steve hit two just on dusk, so for first part of our trip Steve had taken a chital spiker,2 rabbits,1 pig and the dingo, for me only one shot for the trip BUT one chital hind.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/StevesRabbit.jpg
Friday we pack up the gear, give the huts a clean out, and then head back to Charters Towers, where we are to get Mick’s new quad bike serviced at 11.00am, the service does not go to plan so we have to leave the quad there, and then head off back to Townsville,
SATURDAY 07/06/2008-:
Saturday is the shopping day for our supplies for our trip to the “Cape”, after the shopping we pack the gear into the cruiser and the “old’ quad into the trailer, we north around 2.30pm in the afternoon, only stopping for a sleep at 10.45pm,next morning we are up early and head towards Hann river roadhouse for breakfast, arriving around 8.00am, we meet up with the property owner here at Hann River Roadhouse, he is heading out to the property for a few days with the roadtrain ,it is good to have a chat over breakfast.We arrive at the main homestead around 10.45am,on leaving the homestead we have about 15 pigs run across our path, both Steve and Mick get out and try and catch some, more like the “keystone cops”. Now here is a nice pig that was quietly feeding in a lagoon beside the road, you guessed it no one had bows at the ready, so photos were taken,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/Capeyorkjune2008-1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CapeYorkjune2008-2.jpg
Now all this activity had Steve and I all keyed up for the coming days hunts, it took us over two hours to travel the 60 k’s to our camp destination arriving at out camp spot, we do a tidy up and unload our gear, get the water going, and put the battery on charge so we can use the hilux ute for driving around the property, we head out to a lagoon and put in some nets for “RED CLAW”, which we have for tea that night. Now Mick has forgotten to put in the mossie nets, but he is ok, he has his special swag with mossie net attached.
Monday we head out in the hilux, with the quad on the back, Mick’s words were “just in case the hilux cracks up”, we head down along a fence line, the track is nearly all washed away, if nothing is done this year, then when the wet hits next year I feel the fence will go next, we go for a walk, checking on some lagoons etc, when Steve spots about 8 pigs, Steve stalks in and hits a sow and then another one, but we only find the sow, we head back to camp for some lunch. It is then that we have a visitor, the resident goanna comes into camp for a feed, now over the next week this goanna comes for a visit every day, for a free feed, this goanna ( larry) was a bit forward, rushing in at you when he thought a meal was on offer, Steve has now the world record for the 10 metre backwards run, I did not know kiwis could move so fast.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/LARRY1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/LARRY2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/LARRY3.jpg
We check out some more lagoons, we find most have fresh water crocodiles in them, the pigs are hard to locate, we find major sign every where, but cannot find pigs, there is water aplenty in the sand hills, and most swamps have water, the grass is chest high in parts, so we keep working at finding the elusive pigs, it is back to camp for tea.
The next day we are up and away by 7.30am, we head out to a different area, we take the Quad of the hilux, and Mick and I head of on that, with Steve going for a walk along the sand ridges, we cover good distance on the quad, but only come across one lone boar, now he does not stay around and heads for the scrub, Mick and I head back to the car, but on the way Mick tips over the quad in a wash out, at this stage the video camera goes missing, we think it is at the bottom of the mud and sand where Mick tipped the quad over, back at the car we find Steve waiting, now Steve has not seen any pigs for the morning, so we head back to camp for some lunch, and also to feed Larry, after lunch Mick decides to take the Quad and back track to see if he can locate the video camera, with Steve and I heading out in the Hilux, after checking out some great looking areas we spot a lone pig in a lagoon, so we both work our way around to have the wind right, then we see the pig heading into the trees, so we slowly follow into the trees, but we lose sight of the pig at this time, but after slowly stalking, I spot the pig in the dry creek bed, slowly I creep closer, and let rip an arrow, followed quickly by another, and the pig is down , so my first pig in the Cape ( a sow),
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/SOW-1.jpg
It is then back to camp for tea, and find that Mick has not been able to locate the video camera.
On Wednesday we head out to the Main homestead, we have to do some minor welding repairs to the hilux, I manage to get a boar on the way in, one that Mick calls a “ Cape York Rattler”,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CAPEYORKRATTLER.jpg
After arriving at the main homestead we tend to the welding on the hilux , we then have a cuppa and a chat with the station owner, after this we cook tea for all there, and then watch the “state of origin”, one worker is a cockroach, he was happy before the start of the game but not so happy after the finish. 30 nil , what a drubbing. The swags are then placed out on the lawn for the night.
The next morning we are up and head back to out hunting area, we spot some good numbers of pigs on the way back. Steve manages to hit a boar, but only a “TAG”, Steve has a stalk in on a brumby, but was thwarted by the wind, we finally get back to our camp at 10.30am, Unload our gear and then cook up a bacon and eggs lunch, feed Larry again, after lunch head out again, we see a couple boars, but no luck with them.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/BRUMBIES.jpg
Friday
We set out again taking the Hilux and quad, we put in a couple red claw nets, and also leave some gear at the lagoon, then check out some more area , we spot about 15 pigs feeding in a lagoon, and I stalk in hoping to nail one, I had a boar come to 15 metres, broadside to me, I put the first arrow over his back, he just looked up, then kept walking, and I then proceeded to put the next arrow again over his back, at this stage he was out of there. I was not a happy chappy at this stage, we headed back to our day camp spot for some lunch, Steve was already back there, he had not seen any pigs on his walk, after lunch we checked out some more swamps, plenty of pig sign, but no pigs to be found, on the way back to the main camp we checked out a carcass that was near a water hole, we spied about 10 pigs around the carcass, Steve had a good stalk close into the feeding pigs and managed to drop a nice saddle back boar, we then continued onto camp, arriving after dark.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/STEVESSADDLEBACK.jpg
On the Saturday we again head out to check out the where the carcass is, we see about 10 pigs before we get to the carcass, but they did not want to stay around, there had been no pigs back at the carcass, so we continued on, ending up back at camp for some lunch, after lunch we head out to some swamps close to the camp, after a good 7 k walk, we come across a lone boar, sleeping beside a water hole,I take my boots and sox of, and start to stalk in, only to have the wind change, the pigs was out of there, we continued on and came across two good boars, but I again stuffed it up, I was still thinking about the two shots I had the day before on the boar at 15 metres, after missing these two boars I was feeling very down, but with a Kiwi and a Queenslander walking beside you, there is not time to feel sorry for ones self, with comments like, “gee what happened Rick”, “ricomiss at it again”, and the like ,“ what trying to tag them are we Rick”- Damn Cape York Fever I say.
Sunday morning we again head out for another hunt, walked about 7 k’s, and came across 4 pigs in the middle of some scrub cattle, Steve puts in a stalk, and manages to hit one, to which Mick says, “still tagging them are we Steve”, we finally locate the pigs again, with Steve again stalking in, with myself SLOWLY, QUIETLY walking in towards the pigs I could see Steve at full draw, then the pigs all took of, I was then blamed for making to much noise, but hey if Steve had hit the pig better in the first place there would be no problems aye, we head back to camp for lunch, then head out again in the afternoon for a look at the carcass again, again no pigs have been back there, so we head back to camp, just on dark 6 pigs run across in front of the hilux, but it is getting to dark to follow them up we head back to camp for a roast lamb tea, with pancakes for dessert.
Monday16/06/2008-:
On the Monday morning we spot a lone boar feeding in a swamp, Mick says “ I will start to day off right here fellas”, Mick proceeds to stalk in, and slowly closes the gap, we see Mick come to full draw, then we hear “WAACK”, only to see the pig run away, we then see Mick breaking off a tree branch to reclaim his arrow, a GOOD start for the morning, PIG =nil, TROPHY PAPER BARK= 1, I proceeded to ask Mick, how does one measure a paper bark, and is it a trophy class branch.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/TROPHYPAPERBARK.jpg
We proceeded on from here, and Steve despatches a Boar from the “Cheap seat , this was one silly boar, this boar just kept walking straight into us, he never even looked up.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/STEVEPIG.jpg
Further on we check out some more swamps. With no luck until Steve puts in a stalk on a lone feeding boar, only to have the cattle ruin this stalk, we then head back to camp for a late lunch at 3.00pm.
After lunch Steve and I head out to a spot where we have seen this lone boar feeding, we have seen this fella most days, but he has beaten us every time, we find him again feeding in a swamp, I stalk into 20 metres, every thing looks good ,just waiting for the boar to come clear of some branches, when the wind changes and he is out of there, only stopping about 40 metres on to look back, “not happy Jan”, we check out some more area, but no pigs, so we head back to camp.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/STALKONPIG.jpg
Tuesday 17/06/2008-:
In the morning Steve and I head out to a spot about 10 k’s from camp, we do about a 6-10 k walk from the car. Checking on swamps and water holes in that area, no contact with any pigs, but we come across a few brumbies and a lone goanna, after getting back to the road, we contact Mick by radio and get him to come and pick us up, we then head back to camp for lunch, and also to feed Larry.After lunch Steve and I again head out , we again come across that lone boar, but he has done us again, we head out further to where there are some carcasses down, to find about 15 pigs feeding on these, both Steve and I try to stalk in close, but once again that fickle wind does us again, the pigs are out of there.
We head back to camp for tea, and start to pack some of the gear up, as we will be on the way in the morning.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/MICKANDSSTEVE.jpg
Photo of some crocs-:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CROCS.jpg
Wednesday 18/06/2008
WE are packed and ready to roll by 8.20am, ready for the 2 hour journey to the main homestead, then onto The Hann River roadhouse for Lunch.
One the way out from the property Steve manages to take another boar, we stop at the main homestead for a quick shower, then we head for the roadhouse.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/OntheRoadagain2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/ONTHEROADAGAIN.jpg
All up we did manage to see 150 pigs, there was massive amounts of pig sign about, did manage to see about 20 brumbies and about 12 crocs, but Mick did say that June would not be the best time to Hunt the Cape, all in all a good time was had by us, hopefully we can do this all again next year. WE had the opportunity to take more pigs, but human failure and the fickle wind did us both.
Steve managed to take the following-:
Charters Towers-:
1 x Dingo
1x Pig
2 x Rabbits
1 x Chital Spiker
THE Cape-:
3 x Boars
1x Sow
I happened to take the following-:
Charters Towers-:
1 x Chital Hind
The Cape-:
1 x Boar
1 x Sow
I was on fire early, one shot one chital, two shots two pigs, gee this is easy, then 8 shots no pigs, stuffed stalks and lost the plot completely, but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip up North, some great company great scenery and excellent cooking by Mick Baker.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/VIEWOFTOWNSVILLE.jpg
Steve and I spent two days in Townsville before we both flew out on Sunday 22nd,we were both well looked after by Mick and his family, with some excellent meals prepared by Mary Baker,(now this is where Mick must get his cooking skills from), even the humble sandwich prepared by Mary is a treat.
If you are thinking about a trip after the chital and the cape hogs, can I suggest you contact Mick Baker at TROPHYBOWHUNTS, I know Mick is heavily booked for the coming season, but I am sure there can be a trip planned for you, just contact Mick-:
mrbaker@bigpond.net.au (mrbaker@bigpond.net.au)
http://www.trophybowhunts.com.au/
WHAT WE WILL BE CHASING THE NEXT TRIP-:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/THISISWHATWEAREAFTER-1.jpg
FROM NEW ZEALAND TO FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND-
(From the wall to the cape)-::)
It all transpired in New Zealand last year, Mick Baker and myself spent some time with Steve Thomasen in New Zealand in June 2007,we were on a hunting trip, and Steve looked after us both for those two weeks, and it was during this time that we were discussing organising a trip to The Wall then onto the Cape, after we got back to Australia the phone calls went back and forth between the three of us for a few months , and it was finally decided that we would organise June 2008 as our hunting trip with Mick Baker (Trophybowhunts),now Mick explained to us that June would not be the best time to Hunt the Cape, but this was the only time that suited Steve, and we were working around Steve’s commitments, ( Steve is a share dairyfarmer) with the cows being dried of during May/June we worked on this timing.
After many phone calls back and forth, airfares were booked, and dates set with Trophybowhunts,all there was to do now was for the days to roll on.
SATURDAY 31/05/2008-:
Loaded all my gear and bags into the car and headed for the Melbourne airport, ( about a 2 hours drive),there was a delay in the flight leaving for Brisbane, and on arrival at Brisbane I only got of the plane and then had to run for the next plane to Townsville, there was a call over the PA, requesting passenger O’Neill for boarding the Townsville flight ,finally arrive at Townsville airport around 4.00pm, Steve had arrived earlier from New Zealand, I was picked up from the airport by Mick Baker, we then headed back to his place.
Sunday morning we headed out for 6 days hunting Chital around the Charters Towers area, finally arriving at the property we unpacked our gear, Mick then took us to the various tree stands that he had in place, we logged these into our GPS, then back to camp for tea, on Monday both Steve and I head to a tree stand each for the morning hunt, Steve put in some great stalks during the afternoon, only to be busted by the sound, which was to become the familiar sound for the next few days, now Steve had never heard the Chital alarm call before, but by the time we had finished our hunt he new the sound off by heart, Tuesday much of the same, but Steve missed the chance on a nice size pig during an afternoon stroll back to the camp.
CHITAL DOWN-:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CharterstowersRicksChital2.jpg
After a morning walk and stalk we came across some chital bedded down, it was my turn for a stalk, I had a hind in sight and stalked in towards her, now while I was doing all this, both Steve and Mick were wondering what I was up to, as they both had a stag in sight, which I had not seen, ( talk about focus) I got to about 30 metres from the Hind, she was feeding side on to me(right to left), so I drew the bow and lined the 30 metre pin on her, just as I released, the deer quartered away, the arrow hit her in front of the left side back leg and
Passed completely through her, coming out on an angle through her chest on the right side, the deer only went 20 metres, after photos we took the skin and the meat from the deer, I then packed all this back to the car, and then I took the meat back to camp and hung the legs etc in the coolroom, after completing this I then headed back with the car to the planned pick up spot to meet up with Steve and Mick, when we all met up, it was then that I was told that Steve had hit a spiker, but could not locate the deer, Steve was very down at this stage, they both had looked for the deer for a few hours but could not locate him, we then headed back to camp for a good shower and some tea.
The next morning (Thursday) we were up and heading out to the area where we both had hit our deer. We hoped to have a good look around to try and locate the deer that Steve had hit the day before, we located my deer , the dingos and crows had a good go at the carcass, we then kept a look out for more crow activity hoping to find Steve’s downed deer, at the same time both Steve and I saw something in the grass,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CharterstowersChital004-1.jpg
Steve yelled “it’s my deer”, we both had seen the white spots, boy was Steve one happy camper, the deer was found only about 100 metres from where my deer was, I was sure glad we did go for a good look around, Steve’s deer had travelled a fair distance from where he first hit the deer, and it was great that we had found the deer, unfortunately we could not save the skin( hair slip) or meat from the deer, but we managed to have one happy hunter, and many good photos were taken. We headed back to camp for Lunch, then headed out again in the afternoon, Steve managed to get a pig, and a dingo,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/StevesDingo.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CharterstowersPIG.jpg
we had a look around the “Basalt wall” area,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/comingoffthewall-1.jpg
We also had some more stalks on chital, then back to camp. That night we did a quick look around for some rabbits, Steve hit two just on dusk, so for first part of our trip Steve had taken a chital spiker,2 rabbits,1 pig and the dingo, for me only one shot for the trip BUT one chital hind.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/StevesRabbit.jpg
Friday we pack up the gear, give the huts a clean out, and then head back to Charters Towers, where we are to get Mick’s new quad bike serviced at 11.00am, the service does not go to plan so we have to leave the quad there, and then head off back to Townsville,
SATURDAY 07/06/2008-:
Saturday is the shopping day for our supplies for our trip to the “Cape”, after the shopping we pack the gear into the cruiser and the “old’ quad into the trailer, we north around 2.30pm in the afternoon, only stopping for a sleep at 10.45pm,next morning we are up early and head towards Hann river roadhouse for breakfast, arriving around 8.00am, we meet up with the property owner here at Hann River Roadhouse, he is heading out to the property for a few days with the roadtrain ,it is good to have a chat over breakfast.We arrive at the main homestead around 10.45am,on leaving the homestead we have about 15 pigs run across our path, both Steve and Mick get out and try and catch some, more like the “keystone cops”. Now here is a nice pig that was quietly feeding in a lagoon beside the road, you guessed it no one had bows at the ready, so photos were taken,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/Capeyorkjune2008-1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CapeYorkjune2008-2.jpg
Now all this activity had Steve and I all keyed up for the coming days hunts, it took us over two hours to travel the 60 k’s to our camp destination arriving at out camp spot, we do a tidy up and unload our gear, get the water going, and put the battery on charge so we can use the hilux ute for driving around the property, we head out to a lagoon and put in some nets for “RED CLAW”, which we have for tea that night. Now Mick has forgotten to put in the mossie nets, but he is ok, he has his special swag with mossie net attached.
Monday we head out in the hilux, with the quad on the back, Mick’s words were “just in case the hilux cracks up”, we head down along a fence line, the track is nearly all washed away, if nothing is done this year, then when the wet hits next year I feel the fence will go next, we go for a walk, checking on some lagoons etc, when Steve spots about 8 pigs, Steve stalks in and hits a sow and then another one, but we only find the sow, we head back to camp for some lunch. It is then that we have a visitor, the resident goanna comes into camp for a feed, now over the next week this goanna comes for a visit every day, for a free feed, this goanna ( larry) was a bit forward, rushing in at you when he thought a meal was on offer, Steve has now the world record for the 10 metre backwards run, I did not know kiwis could move so fast.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/LARRY1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/LARRY2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/LARRY3.jpg
We check out some more lagoons, we find most have fresh water crocodiles in them, the pigs are hard to locate, we find major sign every where, but cannot find pigs, there is water aplenty in the sand hills, and most swamps have water, the grass is chest high in parts, so we keep working at finding the elusive pigs, it is back to camp for tea.
The next day we are up and away by 7.30am, we head out to a different area, we take the Quad of the hilux, and Mick and I head of on that, with Steve going for a walk along the sand ridges, we cover good distance on the quad, but only come across one lone boar, now he does not stay around and heads for the scrub, Mick and I head back to the car, but on the way Mick tips over the quad in a wash out, at this stage the video camera goes missing, we think it is at the bottom of the mud and sand where Mick tipped the quad over, back at the car we find Steve waiting, now Steve has not seen any pigs for the morning, so we head back to camp for some lunch, and also to feed Larry, after lunch Mick decides to take the Quad and back track to see if he can locate the video camera, with Steve and I heading out in the Hilux, after checking out some great looking areas we spot a lone pig in a lagoon, so we both work our way around to have the wind right, then we see the pig heading into the trees, so we slowly follow into the trees, but we lose sight of the pig at this time, but after slowly stalking, I spot the pig in the dry creek bed, slowly I creep closer, and let rip an arrow, followed quickly by another, and the pig is down , so my first pig in the Cape ( a sow),
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/SOW-1.jpg
It is then back to camp for tea, and find that Mick has not been able to locate the video camera.
On Wednesday we head out to the Main homestead, we have to do some minor welding repairs to the hilux, I manage to get a boar on the way in, one that Mick calls a “ Cape York Rattler”,
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CAPEYORKRATTLER.jpg
After arriving at the main homestead we tend to the welding on the hilux , we then have a cuppa and a chat with the station owner, after this we cook tea for all there, and then watch the “state of origin”, one worker is a cockroach, he was happy before the start of the game but not so happy after the finish. 30 nil , what a drubbing. The swags are then placed out on the lawn for the night.
The next morning we are up and head back to out hunting area, we spot some good numbers of pigs on the way back. Steve manages to hit a boar, but only a “TAG”, Steve has a stalk in on a brumby, but was thwarted by the wind, we finally get back to our camp at 10.30am, Unload our gear and then cook up a bacon and eggs lunch, feed Larry again, after lunch head out again, we see a couple boars, but no luck with them.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/BRUMBIES.jpg
Friday
We set out again taking the Hilux and quad, we put in a couple red claw nets, and also leave some gear at the lagoon, then check out some more area , we spot about 15 pigs feeding in a lagoon, and I stalk in hoping to nail one, I had a boar come to 15 metres, broadside to me, I put the first arrow over his back, he just looked up, then kept walking, and I then proceeded to put the next arrow again over his back, at this stage he was out of there. I was not a happy chappy at this stage, we headed back to our day camp spot for some lunch, Steve was already back there, he had not seen any pigs on his walk, after lunch we checked out some more swamps, plenty of pig sign, but no pigs to be found, on the way back to the main camp we checked out a carcass that was near a water hole, we spied about 10 pigs around the carcass, Steve had a good stalk close into the feeding pigs and managed to drop a nice saddle back boar, we then continued onto camp, arriving after dark.
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On the Saturday we again head out to check out the where the carcass is, we see about 10 pigs before we get to the carcass, but they did not want to stay around, there had been no pigs back at the carcass, so we continued on, ending up back at camp for some lunch, after lunch we head out to some swamps close to the camp, after a good 7 k walk, we come across a lone boar, sleeping beside a water hole,I take my boots and sox of, and start to stalk in, only to have the wind change, the pigs was out of there, we continued on and came across two good boars, but I again stuffed it up, I was still thinking about the two shots I had the day before on the boar at 15 metres, after missing these two boars I was feeling very down, but with a Kiwi and a Queenslander walking beside you, there is not time to feel sorry for ones self, with comments like, “gee what happened Rick”, “ricomiss at it again”, and the like ,“ what trying to tag them are we Rick”- Damn Cape York Fever I say.
Sunday morning we again head out for another hunt, walked about 7 k’s, and came across 4 pigs in the middle of some scrub cattle, Steve puts in a stalk, and manages to hit one, to which Mick says, “still tagging them are we Steve”, we finally locate the pigs again, with Steve again stalking in, with myself SLOWLY, QUIETLY walking in towards the pigs I could see Steve at full draw, then the pigs all took of, I was then blamed for making to much noise, but hey if Steve had hit the pig better in the first place there would be no problems aye, we head back to camp for lunch, then head out again in the afternoon for a look at the carcass again, again no pigs have been back there, so we head back to camp, just on dark 6 pigs run across in front of the hilux, but it is getting to dark to follow them up we head back to camp for a roast lamb tea, with pancakes for dessert.
Monday16/06/2008-:
On the Monday morning we spot a lone boar feeding in a swamp, Mick says “ I will start to day off right here fellas”, Mick proceeds to stalk in, and slowly closes the gap, we see Mick come to full draw, then we hear “WAACK”, only to see the pig run away, we then see Mick breaking off a tree branch to reclaim his arrow, a GOOD start for the morning, PIG =nil, TROPHY PAPER BARK= 1, I proceeded to ask Mick, how does one measure a paper bark, and is it a trophy class branch.
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We proceeded on from here, and Steve despatches a Boar from the “Cheap seat , this was one silly boar, this boar just kept walking straight into us, he never even looked up.
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Further on we check out some more swamps. With no luck until Steve puts in a stalk on a lone feeding boar, only to have the cattle ruin this stalk, we then head back to camp for a late lunch at 3.00pm.
After lunch Steve and I head out to a spot where we have seen this lone boar feeding, we have seen this fella most days, but he has beaten us every time, we find him again feeding in a swamp, I stalk into 20 metres, every thing looks good ,just waiting for the boar to come clear of some branches, when the wind changes and he is out of there, only stopping about 40 metres on to look back, “not happy Jan”, we check out some more area, but no pigs, so we head back to camp.
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Tuesday 17/06/2008-:
In the morning Steve and I head out to a spot about 10 k’s from camp, we do about a 6-10 k walk from the car. Checking on swamps and water holes in that area, no contact with any pigs, but we come across a few brumbies and a lone goanna, after getting back to the road, we contact Mick by radio and get him to come and pick us up, we then head back to camp for lunch, and also to feed Larry.After lunch Steve and I again head out , we again come across that lone boar, but he has done us again, we head out further to where there are some carcasses down, to find about 15 pigs feeding on these, both Steve and I try to stalk in close, but once again that fickle wind does us again, the pigs are out of there.
We head back to camp for tea, and start to pack some of the gear up, as we will be on the way in the morning.
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Photo of some crocs-:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/ricochetrabbit/CROCS.jpg
Wednesday 18/06/2008
WE are packed and ready to roll by 8.20am, ready for the 2 hour journey to the main homestead, then onto The Hann River roadhouse for Lunch.
One the way out from the property Steve manages to take another boar, we stop at the main homestead for a quick shower, then we head for the roadhouse.
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All up we did manage to see 150 pigs, there was massive amounts of pig sign about, did manage to see about 20 brumbies and about 12 crocs, but Mick did say that June would not be the best time to Hunt the Cape, all in all a good time was had by us, hopefully we can do this all again next year. WE had the opportunity to take more pigs, but human failure and the fickle wind did us both.
Steve managed to take the following-:
Charters Towers-:
1 x Dingo
1x Pig
2 x Rabbits
1 x Chital Spiker
THE Cape-:
3 x Boars
1x Sow
I happened to take the following-:
Charters Towers-:
1 x Chital Hind
The Cape-:
1 x Boar
1 x Sow
I was on fire early, one shot one chital, two shots two pigs, gee this is easy, then 8 shots no pigs, stuffed stalks and lost the plot completely, but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip up North, some great company great scenery and excellent cooking by Mick Baker.
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Steve and I spent two days in Townsville before we both flew out on Sunday 22nd,we were both well looked after by Mick and his family, with some excellent meals prepared by Mary Baker,(now this is where Mick must get his cooking skills from), even the humble sandwich prepared by Mary is a treat.
If you are thinking about a trip after the chital and the cape hogs, can I suggest you contact Mick Baker at TROPHYBOWHUNTS, I know Mick is heavily booked for the coming season, but I am sure there can be a trip planned for you, just contact Mick-:
mrbaker@bigpond.net.au (mrbaker@bigpond.net.au)
http://www.trophybowhunts.com.au/
WHAT WE WILL BE CHASING THE NEXT TRIP-:
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