Luke
13-02-06, 09:13 PM
This is my second attempt at a bowhunting story...I assure you, I don't waffle as much now ;) (I hope :oops: ) :lol:
Return to The Southland…A Reunion of Mates
Luke’s version of a hunting trip taken in the 2003 Christmas school holidays with Adam Greentree, Mathew Bestwick and brother Clint.
Getting there…
It had been 9 months since I had been down south for the group hunt during Easter of 2002 and I had gotten restless to head back to fallow country. The syndrome of itchy feet had become amplified by the fact that my best hunting mate Adam Greentree had told me that the plans he and his new wife had made to move to Perth after their honey moon were not to go ahead. Ecstatic about this news I said “right, let’s make the most of it and go hunting” (as you do ;)). So after much to-and-fro-ing over where and when we’d hit the hills together it was finally decided…the 14th to the 20th of January at Wyangala Dam.
So Monday afternoon rocked around and I packed all my gear into the Carolla and headed off. I was to go from Moura (Central Queensland – 2 hours west of Gladstone) to Bundaberg that night (approximately 4 hours driving). I would stay at my brother’s place. I was staying there as my brother (Clint) was going to accompany me on the trip. This was to be his first ever bow hunting experience so we were both hyped up with anticipation. The trip was uneventful and not long after arriving we set about packing our gear into his four-wheel drive. Now when I say four-wheel drive I mean a Dihatzu Feroza…so as you can imagine we had to employ some very interesting tactics to squeeze in all the gear we needed for 5 days of camping and hunting. That done we headed down town…fuelled up…returned home and hit the bed…at about midnight. We would only get a few hours sleep as we planned to be up at 4 am to hit the road by 4:30 am.
It was a very restless night’s sleep to say the least. I woke well before my alarm and decided to get up and get moving. We hit the road at 20 past 4 and settled in for the marathon journey ahead. Fortunately we had some good excuses to stop along the way to break up the enormous trip. We had arranged to call in to my good friends Steve and Sue Wallace at Pomona (near Gympie) to pick up the bow cover that Sue had kindly donated to the story competition prize pool. We rolled in at about 6:30 am ish and were very glad to accept the offer of a hot cuppa. Steve passed on the news that Glenn Newell (whom we were originally to meet a few hours down the road) had rung to say he’d be coming to Steve and Sue’s place instead. While we waited for Glenn, Steve showed us his workroom where he makes his Wallace Woods. We observed some of his trade secrets and were sworn to never reveal them for the threat of death over our heads. Sue showed us the sewing room where she makes her bow covers as well. We also put a few arrows through Steve’s bow (a Defiant Longbow from Newell Bows). This I enjoyed tremendously.
After some time Glenn arrived and gave me the recurve that he had made and donated as the major prize for the story competition. It was better than I imagined. I was going to take the bow and the bow cover down to give to Adam so he could pass them on to ‘The Czech’ whom had won them. We chatted for a while and put some arrows through the recurve (couldn’t help myself) but soon we had to be hitting the road again. We still had a loooong way to go. Saying our good byes and thanks for everything we headed off.
A very long and mostly uneventful trip passed slowly in time but quickly to us as we were getting more excited as our destination neared. We finally met up with Adam at 10:30pm (Qld time). It had taken us 17 and a half hours to get there. Damn, we were glad to get out of the car! That night we stayed at Matt Bestwick’s place. Adam couldn’t help but to show us some of his personal video footage and a few of the plethora of gadgets he’d picked up whilst on his honeymoon in the US. We decided to hit the bed and get up early for the rest of the trip in the morning. We still had some travelling time to go before getting to our final destination.
We were up before dark and hit the road early. Rolling into what would be home for the next 5 days, we decided to set up camp prior to hunting. This done, we geared up and headed off…
Day One
Matt opted to stay in camp for a snooze. We drove for a while and as we were pulling up to stop Adam spied a loner goat down in a dried-out creek bed. It was only a small billy but as it was the first of the trip I said…”yeah I’ll give it a go, what have I got to lose?”. So I jumped out and grabbed my gear on. Checking the wind, I cursed as it was spoiling the only cover I had to approach the goat by… “Blow it” I thought to myself, “I’ll get into the creek bed and run along”…I was hoping to out run my scent. I got into good position and peered over the rise that I was using for cover, only to see the young billy looking straight back. Ah crap! Oh well. I slowly lowered myself from sight and drew back. Rising up again to get a sight picture, I saw the goat heading in the opposite direction. So instead of using my pins I opted for an instinctive shot…which arched nicely over his back and into the dry mud of the creek bank. Oh well, better luck next time.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/walkingaway.jpg
I headed back to the boys and we decided to walk further around the dam to see what was about. We had walked all of 200 or so metres when we saw a small mob ahead. “Righto Clint, it’s your turn mate” said Adam. So with a few quick pointers, Clint was off. It was a slim chance as he had to close a good 300 metres between himself and the mob before getting to shooting range, but it was worth a go. Moving well, Clint got to within 50 metres before the cover ran out and the mob spooked. No success but a top effort nonetheless.
We pulled the binos out and glassed the dam up ahead. We could see a mob of 20 – 30 goats up ahead, but we were on the wrong side of the dam. Walking further up past where that mob was we decided to split up. Adam would go one way and Clint and I would go up another dry creek bed. Not far from the entrance I was given a start by a 6 foot brown snake…thankfully heading in the other direction but a “check the jocks” moment all the same. The top of the gully proved to be fruitless but looked exceptionally promising for deer…it seemed very isolated and remote, not to mention rugged.
Over the walky-talky Adam told us that he had moved close to a mob of 40 or so goats…so we hot-footed it back. We got there too late and they had moved off. The rest of the afternoon we walked up the creek…had a snooze, spooked a fox, a wedge tail eagle and two small billies. On our way back to the dam we were nearing the mouth of the creek when we spooked a doe and fawn in the edge of the tree line. I was pumped! As we rounded the next corner, Adam spied a mob of goats and another doe! Sweet. “Ad’s you go in mate, you’re more likely to get the deer than either of us, we’ll just stuff it up”. So he was off. Moving like a ghost; freezing when required to and slipping along quickly when given the opportunity. He was within shooting range before we knew it and drawing back to take the shot…it was a little forward of the mark and glanced off the brisket of the animal. Uninjured it bolted up the hill to safety. Another missed opportunity by hey, at least we were seeing game…it’s better to have stalked and shot than not to have stalked at all.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/silence-of-the-bow.jpg
It was getting late and we were running out of water. We decided to head back to the car and on to camp. As we arrived at the car, Adam decided to put his scouting camera up on a tree in the dry creek bed where I’d missed the loner earlier that day. Looking up the creek he announced “There’s goats up there…who wants ‘em?”. I turned to Clint… “nah” he said, “I’m stuffed, you go”. “OK” I replied. So I was off. I ran up the creek (despite large blisters on the back of each of my heels) as I was out of site of said goats and this time the wind was in my favour. I rounded the corner to be presented with a sentry nanny perched on an outcrop of rocks. She was looking the other way. I crept forward to see what was around the corner. Tinkle! Bugger, I had turned a rock over with my toe. The nanny leapt up and with a defiant snort, ran off. I had seen a small billy on top of the right bank so I decided to quietly head up to see if he was still about. I crested the rise…sweet…he was still there and had no idea that I was about to introduce his insides to daylight. I closed the gap to 10 metres…I drew back and settled the top pin on the back point of his shoulder. Whack! Complete pass-through…perfect shot. I was stoked! Seconds later, he was dead. As tired as I was, I now had a surge of adrenaline so I ran back to the car and told Clint to bring the camera. Finally I had officially christened my Bowtech ESD. It had taken me almost twelve months! After the photos we headed back to camp.
Day Two
Day two dawned bright and clear. Clint and I were going to hunt together today. We set off in the ‘Roza and parked at a point where we could glass a good area. As we were glassing we spied two young billies ambling over a gentle ridgeline about 500 metres away. We were off.
(Quickly moving down the hill to get to the gully between us and the goats was tricky as I’d opted to hunt in my ‘slip on thong things’ due to the blisters on my heels from the day before. Surprisingly enough they were superbly quiet and comfortable, all they lacked was toe protection and ‘anti-roll bars’.) Never the less we got to within 60 meters of the goats before Clint commenced his stalk. Moving in to 30 metres or so, Clint finally ran out of cover. Although and inexperienced hunter, he knew enough not to take a shot that he was not certain of. So attempting to move closer it was unfortunate when the goats spooked. They ran up to the right, presenting a 25 metre up hill (40 degrees) shot. Clint drew and released as smoothly as a ‘masters’ shooter. The arrow traveled between the bow and the goat as if sliding on rails…the flight of the arrow is a most mesmerizing thing…but unluckily was about 6 inches low. If this had not been the case that billy would have fallen victim to a perfect shot…man it was nice! Oh well, let’s grab the arrow and keep going over the hill.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/_luke.billy.wyangela.dam3.jpg
We crested the hill and Clint spotted a mob below us some 450 metres. We’d swing around them and drop in from the east. We moved east and down the hill making our way as silently as possible. As it goes we missed this mob. They must have taken a different line to where we thought they’d go. Oh well, let’s have some tucker. So we pulled up for lunch…nearing the end of our feed we heard goats bleating down the gully we were on… “Quick let’s go”. We stuffed our gear together and were off. We walked down the gully… “Damn I can’t hear them, I’ll go up the bank on the right to see if they’re up there”. As I did this there was movement on the left bank… “Bugger I’m exposed, I can’t move or neither of us will get a shot” I realised. So I indicated to Clint where the goats were and he moved along the creek to get into position but got busted by a nanny. He did the right thing and froze. He stood dead still for 10 minutes. I was very impressed, as most novices would have given up and moved, giving themselves away. Clint out waited the nanny until she lost interest and went back to feeding. This presented him with a shot. As he drew back I did likewise incase an opportunity presented itself. This was to prove good thinking. Clint’s shot was again beautiful but unlucky, however it did scatter a small nanny into a lane of sight for me. (I was using my Dad’s bow, a Martin Wart Hog timber compound purchased in 1985 and flinging 650 grain P.O.C. shafts tipped with Davies Javelin’s. I would dearly love to get a kill with it.) I let fly…the arrow (as if guided by divine intervention) avoided all the twigs and trees between myself and the goat, taking it perfectly. I was again ecstatic to have another kill! We took photos and moved on down the creek.
We had not gone 40 metres when “Holey Crap! There’s two massive billies heading this way”. They were about 30 and 35 inches in spread and we had spied them, before they us, so we opted to wait until they fed past us up the gully. We found a nook behind a rocky outcrop and settled in for the wait. If they kept on the trail they were on, they’d pass within 5 metres of us and we’d be able to nail one each! Time was dragging and our hearts were racing! Hurry up damn it! Now, this is where I made a mistake that cost us the billies. It was hot and I was thirsty so I took a suck on my drink tube. Thinking Clint may be thirsty too I offered him a drink. Craning his neck around he took a sip. The angle of his throat caused him to choke on the water making him cough. Doing very well, he stifled it so not to startle the billies but the birds were onto us and this spooked the goats to head up out of the gully in the other direction. We took the chance and began to stalk them. We got to shooting distance and Clint took the first shot. Again, good shot with nice form but unlucky. This signaled the goats to bolt. Oh well, that’s hunting and a lesson I’ll not soon forget.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/_adam.2nd.2003.trip.jpg
Day Three
I awoke to find both Adam and Matt already out hunting. Knowing that it’s better to wake a sleeping dog than my brother, I geared up for a solo hunt and walked out of camp to check the adjacent area. I took a trail up a hill that led me to a good spot for glassing the surrounding hills. I sat for about 20 minutes without spying a thing. The only movement was from the birds in the trees. “Blow this I thought”. Adam had radioed me to say it was going to hit 40 degrees that day and I didn’t feel like sitting there cooking whilst doing nothing more than bird watching, so I decided to head back to camp for some lunch and a cold drink.
I had gotten no further than 100 metres down the road when I saw a small mob of goats about 150 metres below me in the gully. I had some good cover from the fur trees and the wind was drifting up the hill in my favour. I was off. I got to 50 metres and propped for a look through the binos. I could see a mob of 10-12 goats, all nannies and kids. I picked out the one I wanted; a larger size nanny with a very nice pelt that was lying in the shade facing away from me. I carefully closed the gap to 20 metres. As I knelt down to get a shot under the branches of the fur trees I spooked a smaller nanny near by. I thought the game was up however my ASAT Vanish Pro 3D™ suit again performed superbly concealing my true identity. I drew back on my chosen animal. As the nanny was quartering on I settled the 20 metre pin above the left shoulder and released. It was quick, it was smooth and it was perfect. The fletches appeared where my pin had been and then disappeared as they passed right through the goat to exit the right hip. I had taken out something vital as the nanny only scrambled 15 metres before it expired. I was again stoked with the result! I headed back to camp for that drink, pleased that I now had earned it.
After some lunchtime discussion we decided that we’d head to where Adam and Matt had been the day before. It sounded like a ‘hot-spot’ and I was keen to get a look at the area. We piled into the 4x4’s and set off. Adam and Matt were going to the spot where we’d seen the few deer the other day so we parted ways mid trip with plans to reunite at camp that evening. This turned out to be a mistake. The only goats I saw that arvo were a small mob of nannies and kids. Any other goats were on the other side of the water and safe from the point of my Ribteks. Adam and Matt, I later learned, had gotten amongst some 400 plus goats and done themselves proud taking a number of magnificent trophies.
Upon returning to camp we bumped into the property owner and he informed us that he was trying to get in touch with Adam. His wife, Kim had been trying to phone us to get Adam home due to the fires in Canberra. I tried to radio Adam but to no avail. So we went back to camp to wait for him to come back and the property owner headed off to continue to look for him. Ads got back and said that he needed to use the phone. He called home, all was well with his household but we’d have to cut our trip short and he’d head home the next day.
Day Four
Sunday morning dawned, we rose early and broke camp. After a much-welcomed shower at Matt’s place we said our good byes and set off for the massive return journey. It was very late when we rolled into Bundy that night and we were very glad to be home.
We’d had a great trip. In three and a half days, Adam took 8 goats, Matt 5 and myself 3. Clint was unfortunate to miss out but enjoyed the experience and proved that with a little practice he’ll be a top bowhunter. My return journey south of the border had proven to be far more successful than the trip at Easter 2002 which saw me as the one returning home game-less. We all immensely enjoyed one another’s company and all look forward to the day we can hunt together again.
Good hunting and good mateship,
Luke Griffin
Return to The Southland…A Reunion of Mates
Luke’s version of a hunting trip taken in the 2003 Christmas school holidays with Adam Greentree, Mathew Bestwick and brother Clint.
Getting there…
It had been 9 months since I had been down south for the group hunt during Easter of 2002 and I had gotten restless to head back to fallow country. The syndrome of itchy feet had become amplified by the fact that my best hunting mate Adam Greentree had told me that the plans he and his new wife had made to move to Perth after their honey moon were not to go ahead. Ecstatic about this news I said “right, let’s make the most of it and go hunting” (as you do ;)). So after much to-and-fro-ing over where and when we’d hit the hills together it was finally decided…the 14th to the 20th of January at Wyangala Dam.
So Monday afternoon rocked around and I packed all my gear into the Carolla and headed off. I was to go from Moura (Central Queensland – 2 hours west of Gladstone) to Bundaberg that night (approximately 4 hours driving). I would stay at my brother’s place. I was staying there as my brother (Clint) was going to accompany me on the trip. This was to be his first ever bow hunting experience so we were both hyped up with anticipation. The trip was uneventful and not long after arriving we set about packing our gear into his four-wheel drive. Now when I say four-wheel drive I mean a Dihatzu Feroza…so as you can imagine we had to employ some very interesting tactics to squeeze in all the gear we needed for 5 days of camping and hunting. That done we headed down town…fuelled up…returned home and hit the bed…at about midnight. We would only get a few hours sleep as we planned to be up at 4 am to hit the road by 4:30 am.
It was a very restless night’s sleep to say the least. I woke well before my alarm and decided to get up and get moving. We hit the road at 20 past 4 and settled in for the marathon journey ahead. Fortunately we had some good excuses to stop along the way to break up the enormous trip. We had arranged to call in to my good friends Steve and Sue Wallace at Pomona (near Gympie) to pick up the bow cover that Sue had kindly donated to the story competition prize pool. We rolled in at about 6:30 am ish and were very glad to accept the offer of a hot cuppa. Steve passed on the news that Glenn Newell (whom we were originally to meet a few hours down the road) had rung to say he’d be coming to Steve and Sue’s place instead. While we waited for Glenn, Steve showed us his workroom where he makes his Wallace Woods. We observed some of his trade secrets and were sworn to never reveal them for the threat of death over our heads. Sue showed us the sewing room where she makes her bow covers as well. We also put a few arrows through Steve’s bow (a Defiant Longbow from Newell Bows). This I enjoyed tremendously.
After some time Glenn arrived and gave me the recurve that he had made and donated as the major prize for the story competition. It was better than I imagined. I was going to take the bow and the bow cover down to give to Adam so he could pass them on to ‘The Czech’ whom had won them. We chatted for a while and put some arrows through the recurve (couldn’t help myself) but soon we had to be hitting the road again. We still had a loooong way to go. Saying our good byes and thanks for everything we headed off.
A very long and mostly uneventful trip passed slowly in time but quickly to us as we were getting more excited as our destination neared. We finally met up with Adam at 10:30pm (Qld time). It had taken us 17 and a half hours to get there. Damn, we were glad to get out of the car! That night we stayed at Matt Bestwick’s place. Adam couldn’t help but to show us some of his personal video footage and a few of the plethora of gadgets he’d picked up whilst on his honeymoon in the US. We decided to hit the bed and get up early for the rest of the trip in the morning. We still had some travelling time to go before getting to our final destination.
We were up before dark and hit the road early. Rolling into what would be home for the next 5 days, we decided to set up camp prior to hunting. This done, we geared up and headed off…
Day One
Matt opted to stay in camp for a snooze. We drove for a while and as we were pulling up to stop Adam spied a loner goat down in a dried-out creek bed. It was only a small billy but as it was the first of the trip I said…”yeah I’ll give it a go, what have I got to lose?”. So I jumped out and grabbed my gear on. Checking the wind, I cursed as it was spoiling the only cover I had to approach the goat by… “Blow it” I thought to myself, “I’ll get into the creek bed and run along”…I was hoping to out run my scent. I got into good position and peered over the rise that I was using for cover, only to see the young billy looking straight back. Ah crap! Oh well. I slowly lowered myself from sight and drew back. Rising up again to get a sight picture, I saw the goat heading in the opposite direction. So instead of using my pins I opted for an instinctive shot…which arched nicely over his back and into the dry mud of the creek bank. Oh well, better luck next time.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/walkingaway.jpg
I headed back to the boys and we decided to walk further around the dam to see what was about. We had walked all of 200 or so metres when we saw a small mob ahead. “Righto Clint, it’s your turn mate” said Adam. So with a few quick pointers, Clint was off. It was a slim chance as he had to close a good 300 metres between himself and the mob before getting to shooting range, but it was worth a go. Moving well, Clint got to within 50 metres before the cover ran out and the mob spooked. No success but a top effort nonetheless.
We pulled the binos out and glassed the dam up ahead. We could see a mob of 20 – 30 goats up ahead, but we were on the wrong side of the dam. Walking further up past where that mob was we decided to split up. Adam would go one way and Clint and I would go up another dry creek bed. Not far from the entrance I was given a start by a 6 foot brown snake…thankfully heading in the other direction but a “check the jocks” moment all the same. The top of the gully proved to be fruitless but looked exceptionally promising for deer…it seemed very isolated and remote, not to mention rugged.
Over the walky-talky Adam told us that he had moved close to a mob of 40 or so goats…so we hot-footed it back. We got there too late and they had moved off. The rest of the afternoon we walked up the creek…had a snooze, spooked a fox, a wedge tail eagle and two small billies. On our way back to the dam we were nearing the mouth of the creek when we spooked a doe and fawn in the edge of the tree line. I was pumped! As we rounded the next corner, Adam spied a mob of goats and another doe! Sweet. “Ad’s you go in mate, you’re more likely to get the deer than either of us, we’ll just stuff it up”. So he was off. Moving like a ghost; freezing when required to and slipping along quickly when given the opportunity. He was within shooting range before we knew it and drawing back to take the shot…it was a little forward of the mark and glanced off the brisket of the animal. Uninjured it bolted up the hill to safety. Another missed opportunity by hey, at least we were seeing game…it’s better to have stalked and shot than not to have stalked at all.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/silence-of-the-bow.jpg
It was getting late and we were running out of water. We decided to head back to the car and on to camp. As we arrived at the car, Adam decided to put his scouting camera up on a tree in the dry creek bed where I’d missed the loner earlier that day. Looking up the creek he announced “There’s goats up there…who wants ‘em?”. I turned to Clint… “nah” he said, “I’m stuffed, you go”. “OK” I replied. So I was off. I ran up the creek (despite large blisters on the back of each of my heels) as I was out of site of said goats and this time the wind was in my favour. I rounded the corner to be presented with a sentry nanny perched on an outcrop of rocks. She was looking the other way. I crept forward to see what was around the corner. Tinkle! Bugger, I had turned a rock over with my toe. The nanny leapt up and with a defiant snort, ran off. I had seen a small billy on top of the right bank so I decided to quietly head up to see if he was still about. I crested the rise…sweet…he was still there and had no idea that I was about to introduce his insides to daylight. I closed the gap to 10 metres…I drew back and settled the top pin on the back point of his shoulder. Whack! Complete pass-through…perfect shot. I was stoked! Seconds later, he was dead. As tired as I was, I now had a surge of adrenaline so I ran back to the car and told Clint to bring the camera. Finally I had officially christened my Bowtech ESD. It had taken me almost twelve months! After the photos we headed back to camp.
Day Two
Day two dawned bright and clear. Clint and I were going to hunt together today. We set off in the ‘Roza and parked at a point where we could glass a good area. As we were glassing we spied two young billies ambling over a gentle ridgeline about 500 metres away. We were off.
(Quickly moving down the hill to get to the gully between us and the goats was tricky as I’d opted to hunt in my ‘slip on thong things’ due to the blisters on my heels from the day before. Surprisingly enough they were superbly quiet and comfortable, all they lacked was toe protection and ‘anti-roll bars’.) Never the less we got to within 60 meters of the goats before Clint commenced his stalk. Moving in to 30 metres or so, Clint finally ran out of cover. Although and inexperienced hunter, he knew enough not to take a shot that he was not certain of. So attempting to move closer it was unfortunate when the goats spooked. They ran up to the right, presenting a 25 metre up hill (40 degrees) shot. Clint drew and released as smoothly as a ‘masters’ shooter. The arrow traveled between the bow and the goat as if sliding on rails…the flight of the arrow is a most mesmerizing thing…but unluckily was about 6 inches low. If this had not been the case that billy would have fallen victim to a perfect shot…man it was nice! Oh well, let’s grab the arrow and keep going over the hill.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/_luke.billy.wyangela.dam3.jpg
We crested the hill and Clint spotted a mob below us some 450 metres. We’d swing around them and drop in from the east. We moved east and down the hill making our way as silently as possible. As it goes we missed this mob. They must have taken a different line to where we thought they’d go. Oh well, let’s have some tucker. So we pulled up for lunch…nearing the end of our feed we heard goats bleating down the gully we were on… “Quick let’s go”. We stuffed our gear together and were off. We walked down the gully… “Damn I can’t hear them, I’ll go up the bank on the right to see if they’re up there”. As I did this there was movement on the left bank… “Bugger I’m exposed, I can’t move or neither of us will get a shot” I realised. So I indicated to Clint where the goats were and he moved along the creek to get into position but got busted by a nanny. He did the right thing and froze. He stood dead still for 10 minutes. I was very impressed, as most novices would have given up and moved, giving themselves away. Clint out waited the nanny until she lost interest and went back to feeding. This presented him with a shot. As he drew back I did likewise incase an opportunity presented itself. This was to prove good thinking. Clint’s shot was again beautiful but unlucky, however it did scatter a small nanny into a lane of sight for me. (I was using my Dad’s bow, a Martin Wart Hog timber compound purchased in 1985 and flinging 650 grain P.O.C. shafts tipped with Davies Javelin’s. I would dearly love to get a kill with it.) I let fly…the arrow (as if guided by divine intervention) avoided all the twigs and trees between myself and the goat, taking it perfectly. I was again ecstatic to have another kill! We took photos and moved on down the creek.
We had not gone 40 metres when “Holey Crap! There’s two massive billies heading this way”. They were about 30 and 35 inches in spread and we had spied them, before they us, so we opted to wait until they fed past us up the gully. We found a nook behind a rocky outcrop and settled in for the wait. If they kept on the trail they were on, they’d pass within 5 metres of us and we’d be able to nail one each! Time was dragging and our hearts were racing! Hurry up damn it! Now, this is where I made a mistake that cost us the billies. It was hot and I was thirsty so I took a suck on my drink tube. Thinking Clint may be thirsty too I offered him a drink. Craning his neck around he took a sip. The angle of his throat caused him to choke on the water making him cough. Doing very well, he stifled it so not to startle the billies but the birds were onto us and this spooked the goats to head up out of the gully in the other direction. We took the chance and began to stalk them. We got to shooting distance and Clint took the first shot. Again, good shot with nice form but unlucky. This signaled the goats to bolt. Oh well, that’s hunting and a lesson I’ll not soon forget.
http://www.aussiebowhunter.com/images/grouphunts/_adam.2nd.2003.trip.jpg
Day Three
I awoke to find both Adam and Matt already out hunting. Knowing that it’s better to wake a sleeping dog than my brother, I geared up for a solo hunt and walked out of camp to check the adjacent area. I took a trail up a hill that led me to a good spot for glassing the surrounding hills. I sat for about 20 minutes without spying a thing. The only movement was from the birds in the trees. “Blow this I thought”. Adam had radioed me to say it was going to hit 40 degrees that day and I didn’t feel like sitting there cooking whilst doing nothing more than bird watching, so I decided to head back to camp for some lunch and a cold drink.
I had gotten no further than 100 metres down the road when I saw a small mob of goats about 150 metres below me in the gully. I had some good cover from the fur trees and the wind was drifting up the hill in my favour. I was off. I got to 50 metres and propped for a look through the binos. I could see a mob of 10-12 goats, all nannies and kids. I picked out the one I wanted; a larger size nanny with a very nice pelt that was lying in the shade facing away from me. I carefully closed the gap to 20 metres. As I knelt down to get a shot under the branches of the fur trees I spooked a smaller nanny near by. I thought the game was up however my ASAT Vanish Pro 3D™ suit again performed superbly concealing my true identity. I drew back on my chosen animal. As the nanny was quartering on I settled the 20 metre pin above the left shoulder and released. It was quick, it was smooth and it was perfect. The fletches appeared where my pin had been and then disappeared as they passed right through the goat to exit the right hip. I had taken out something vital as the nanny only scrambled 15 metres before it expired. I was again stoked with the result! I headed back to camp for that drink, pleased that I now had earned it.
After some lunchtime discussion we decided that we’d head to where Adam and Matt had been the day before. It sounded like a ‘hot-spot’ and I was keen to get a look at the area. We piled into the 4x4’s and set off. Adam and Matt were going to the spot where we’d seen the few deer the other day so we parted ways mid trip with plans to reunite at camp that evening. This turned out to be a mistake. The only goats I saw that arvo were a small mob of nannies and kids. Any other goats were on the other side of the water and safe from the point of my Ribteks. Adam and Matt, I later learned, had gotten amongst some 400 plus goats and done themselves proud taking a number of magnificent trophies.
Upon returning to camp we bumped into the property owner and he informed us that he was trying to get in touch with Adam. His wife, Kim had been trying to phone us to get Adam home due to the fires in Canberra. I tried to radio Adam but to no avail. So we went back to camp to wait for him to come back and the property owner headed off to continue to look for him. Ads got back and said that he needed to use the phone. He called home, all was well with his household but we’d have to cut our trip short and he’d head home the next day.
Day Four
Sunday morning dawned, we rose early and broke camp. After a much-welcomed shower at Matt’s place we said our good byes and set off for the massive return journey. It was very late when we rolled into Bundy that night and we were very glad to be home.
We’d had a great trip. In three and a half days, Adam took 8 goats, Matt 5 and myself 3. Clint was unfortunate to miss out but enjoyed the experience and proved that with a little practice he’ll be a top bowhunter. My return journey south of the border had proven to be far more successful than the trip at Easter 2002 which saw me as the one returning home game-less. We all immensely enjoyed one another’s company and all look forward to the day we can hunt together again.
Good hunting and good mateship,
Luke Griffin