HOOD
16-03-07, 11:30 PM
Well after several attempts to write a story I gave up.
First time computer crashed (was 2/3 way through writing it)
Second attempt Bella pulled the power plug (was finished and about to hit save and the screen went blank)
Third attempt photo bucket decided to shut down for maintenance while I was part way through up loading images. the the thing timed out after typing the story again.
So you'll get the short and sweet run down.
Spent 3 great days with Nortcom and his lovely family in the temporary farm house while theirs was being renovated, then a day out bowfishing with his brother Matt.
Day One
Nort and I went looking for some goats.
After Nort took me through some thick scrub up a nearly vertical climb and some of the spikeiest bush's I've ever been through. We spotted some goats and a couple of nice Billies about 300m away. After glassing them for a short time we found a lone Billy up on the side of the hill another 100m away from teh others. he was a nice size with a big shaggy white coat on him. My guess was that he was about the 28-30" mark.
So we planned to cut the Vline to get to him. Keeping an eye on him and the others we got to about 200m from him when we lost sight of him. So we continued in the general direction that we thought he was at.
Checking around and through the scrub we couldn't find him. Steve moved up the hill 15-20m above me to see if he could locate him and bang Steve dropped to the ground like a brick. And with mini sign language being used he told me he was just coming out of the bushes around the bush I was behind.
With an arrow already knocked up I moved towards Steve and paused for a moment to make sure he was still there. The whole time the billy was staring at Steve laying there in camo trying to work out why that tall bush suddenly dropped to the ground. Stoopid me didn't check with Steve as to which way he was looking and slowly moved around the bush to be greated with the billies eyes not 10m away standing chest onto us. Then like a ballerina he turned on the spot and bolted away like a freight train before I even had a chance to lift my bow for a quick shot. "GAME OVER" he was gone off into the next postcode only stopping once he was on the next ridge and stood there for ages staring at us as if to say "Not today boys"
Oh well that was that and we had to return so Steve could milk the cows.
Sorry no picks didn't have time.
Later that afternoon Steve told me where the carp were at in the nearby river about 10km or so from his farm. So I headed there on my own as Steve had work to do.
Ended up bagging 11 nice size Koi carp.
This one would have been easy 19# (didn't have the scales) big female full of eegs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3234.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3232.jpg
After I returned to the farm
That afternoon while steve was milking i went for a walk to see I'f I could find some hares (quite a few on his block) Managed one good stalk into 10m on a nice size hare but he caught my movement drawing the bow and was outta there like a shot. Just couldn't get close to any others as there was next to no cover besides fence posts.
Day 2
Steve came out bowfising with me this time. This time I could have some pics with me in them as yesterday there was no way I could have set up the camera for a selftimed pic.
Had another good morning shooting. got another 8-10 carp with one going 17.5# (took the scales this time) And this one was smaller then the one sho the previous day.
We had decided to head back when i say one last fish that had to be had. So after climbing through some thick over growth and climbing a fallen tree i got into position only to have him see me and move out into the middle of the river some 15m away (only had 10m of line. STEVE) anyway as I headed back ove rthe fallen tree and nearly falling int he drink myself we stood there for a second watching this Koi swim at the surface in the middle of the river. he swam for 15-20m up the middle then just turned and swam straight at us. So I said no second chances around here mate draw the bow and traced him as he made his way back to the bank. When he was at about 5m I let him have it.
After some pics and washing hands we were about to head back to the car when i found a fresh as fresh can be fallow deer print in the mud, that fresh that the sharp edge on the print hadn't even began to dry out. :( Always te way out with bowfishing bow and find that. Would have made for a near impossible stalk as the grass was anywhere from knee to shoulder high and thick as it comes.
Later that night Steve took me out after some possums Managed to shoot one on the ground but lost him in the trees after the shot. Did get my arrow back which was good.
We then took the spot light and looked in the creek for some eels. The very first spot we looked Steve spotted a little one and said here have a go see if you can get it. I looked into the water to where he had the light shone. With out even thionking about it drew the bow and whack he was scewered. All steve could say was "you got him...you actually got him" :P
The eel
We finaly got back home at about 2am and Steve had to be milking the cows at 5am or something like that.
He ended up falling asleep on the quad rounding up the cows. 3/4 of an hour later he wakes up on the quad motor still running and the cows waiting at the milking shed to be milked :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/c8.jpg
The 17.5#der
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/mick.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/c7.jpg
Day 3
I headed off after the goats again.
Found them not far from where they were the previous day. With one huge problem. All the nice Billies were on the top of this hill with the sides and base of the hill covered with nanies and kids everywhere which made for a near impossible stalk on the billies.
So I opted for a nice kid for the pot. picked my victim and made for a stalk. Kept all other eyes hidden by bushes or rocks. And got to 10m of the kid that had jsut gotten up from his bed and turned broadside I lined him up and let my nice wood shaft tipped with a 160gr ribbie fly, but as I let the arrow go he jumped over a small mound of dirt and the arrow missed the spot I aimed for. Instead smashed straight through both his hips and shattered his pelvis. I quickly nocked another arrow and put it through the top of his heart and lungs. he then layed down for good. After the first arrow hit him he screamed like I've never heard a goat scream before and the rest of the mob took off.
So I left the kid in the shade to follow up on the bigger billies but with no luck. Upon returning to the kid some 20min later i was horrified to find him totaly covered with blow flies and maggots every where. So didn't take any pics. But still I was happy with my first goat with the recurve.
later that afternoon as i was getting ready to leave for Matts place in Rotarua I spotted a small feral kitten out the back in the grass.
So pickeup the curve and let him have a hunter tiped carbon from the curve straight through his chest. but the bugger still managed to get under the house with my arrow :x (Steve you got it out yeat?)
Packed up and headed to Matts.
Day 4
Went out in the boat with Matt and his mate in Tararounga (SP) harbour bow fishing for rays (yes I know others dont' think much of this but hey)
I shot a huge 89kg black ray and a smaller 15kg eagle ray.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3244.jpg
This is the view from Steve's back door of the temp house they are staying in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3235.jpg
This is Matt with a nice rack his mate shot (rifle) matt was robbed of this stag with the bow but thats a whole other story.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3225.jpg
So all in all I had a great time and can't thank Steve his family and Matt and his wife enough for the hospitality.
This is a pick of Bella(left) and Steves two kids marcus(right) and (forgive the spelling Steve) Mecayla? 9middle)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/c10.jpg
Mmm did I say I'd give you the short version :lol:
First time computer crashed (was 2/3 way through writing it)
Second attempt Bella pulled the power plug (was finished and about to hit save and the screen went blank)
Third attempt photo bucket decided to shut down for maintenance while I was part way through up loading images. the the thing timed out after typing the story again.
So you'll get the short and sweet run down.
Spent 3 great days with Nortcom and his lovely family in the temporary farm house while theirs was being renovated, then a day out bowfishing with his brother Matt.
Day One
Nort and I went looking for some goats.
After Nort took me through some thick scrub up a nearly vertical climb and some of the spikeiest bush's I've ever been through. We spotted some goats and a couple of nice Billies about 300m away. After glassing them for a short time we found a lone Billy up on the side of the hill another 100m away from teh others. he was a nice size with a big shaggy white coat on him. My guess was that he was about the 28-30" mark.
So we planned to cut the Vline to get to him. Keeping an eye on him and the others we got to about 200m from him when we lost sight of him. So we continued in the general direction that we thought he was at.
Checking around and through the scrub we couldn't find him. Steve moved up the hill 15-20m above me to see if he could locate him and bang Steve dropped to the ground like a brick. And with mini sign language being used he told me he was just coming out of the bushes around the bush I was behind.
With an arrow already knocked up I moved towards Steve and paused for a moment to make sure he was still there. The whole time the billy was staring at Steve laying there in camo trying to work out why that tall bush suddenly dropped to the ground. Stoopid me didn't check with Steve as to which way he was looking and slowly moved around the bush to be greated with the billies eyes not 10m away standing chest onto us. Then like a ballerina he turned on the spot and bolted away like a freight train before I even had a chance to lift my bow for a quick shot. "GAME OVER" he was gone off into the next postcode only stopping once he was on the next ridge and stood there for ages staring at us as if to say "Not today boys"
Oh well that was that and we had to return so Steve could milk the cows.
Sorry no picks didn't have time.
Later that afternoon Steve told me where the carp were at in the nearby river about 10km or so from his farm. So I headed there on my own as Steve had work to do.
Ended up bagging 11 nice size Koi carp.
This one would have been easy 19# (didn't have the scales) big female full of eegs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3234.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3232.jpg
After I returned to the farm
That afternoon while steve was milking i went for a walk to see I'f I could find some hares (quite a few on his block) Managed one good stalk into 10m on a nice size hare but he caught my movement drawing the bow and was outta there like a shot. Just couldn't get close to any others as there was next to no cover besides fence posts.
Day 2
Steve came out bowfising with me this time. This time I could have some pics with me in them as yesterday there was no way I could have set up the camera for a selftimed pic.
Had another good morning shooting. got another 8-10 carp with one going 17.5# (took the scales this time) And this one was smaller then the one sho the previous day.
We had decided to head back when i say one last fish that had to be had. So after climbing through some thick over growth and climbing a fallen tree i got into position only to have him see me and move out into the middle of the river some 15m away (only had 10m of line. STEVE) anyway as I headed back ove rthe fallen tree and nearly falling int he drink myself we stood there for a second watching this Koi swim at the surface in the middle of the river. he swam for 15-20m up the middle then just turned and swam straight at us. So I said no second chances around here mate draw the bow and traced him as he made his way back to the bank. When he was at about 5m I let him have it.
After some pics and washing hands we were about to head back to the car when i found a fresh as fresh can be fallow deer print in the mud, that fresh that the sharp edge on the print hadn't even began to dry out. :( Always te way out with bowfishing bow and find that. Would have made for a near impossible stalk as the grass was anywhere from knee to shoulder high and thick as it comes.
Later that night Steve took me out after some possums Managed to shoot one on the ground but lost him in the trees after the shot. Did get my arrow back which was good.
We then took the spot light and looked in the creek for some eels. The very first spot we looked Steve spotted a little one and said here have a go see if you can get it. I looked into the water to where he had the light shone. With out even thionking about it drew the bow and whack he was scewered. All steve could say was "you got him...you actually got him" :P
The eel
We finaly got back home at about 2am and Steve had to be milking the cows at 5am or something like that.
He ended up falling asleep on the quad rounding up the cows. 3/4 of an hour later he wakes up on the quad motor still running and the cows waiting at the milking shed to be milked :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/c8.jpg
The 17.5#der
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/mick.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/c7.jpg
Day 3
I headed off after the goats again.
Found them not far from where they were the previous day. With one huge problem. All the nice Billies were on the top of this hill with the sides and base of the hill covered with nanies and kids everywhere which made for a near impossible stalk on the billies.
So I opted for a nice kid for the pot. picked my victim and made for a stalk. Kept all other eyes hidden by bushes or rocks. And got to 10m of the kid that had jsut gotten up from his bed and turned broadside I lined him up and let my nice wood shaft tipped with a 160gr ribbie fly, but as I let the arrow go he jumped over a small mound of dirt and the arrow missed the spot I aimed for. Instead smashed straight through both his hips and shattered his pelvis. I quickly nocked another arrow and put it through the top of his heart and lungs. he then layed down for good. After the first arrow hit him he screamed like I've never heard a goat scream before and the rest of the mob took off.
So I left the kid in the shade to follow up on the bigger billies but with no luck. Upon returning to the kid some 20min later i was horrified to find him totaly covered with blow flies and maggots every where. So didn't take any pics. But still I was happy with my first goat with the recurve.
later that afternoon as i was getting ready to leave for Matts place in Rotarua I spotted a small feral kitten out the back in the grass.
So pickeup the curve and let him have a hunter tiped carbon from the curve straight through his chest. but the bugger still managed to get under the house with my arrow :x (Steve you got it out yeat?)
Packed up and headed to Matts.
Day 4
Went out in the boat with Matt and his mate in Tararounga (SP) harbour bow fishing for rays (yes I know others dont' think much of this but hey)
I shot a huge 89kg black ray and a smaller 15kg eagle ray.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3244.jpg
This is the view from Steve's back door of the temp house they are staying in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3235.jpg
This is Matt with a nice rack his mate shot (rifle) matt was robbed of this stag with the bow but thats a whole other story.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/IMG_3225.jpg
So all in all I had a great time and can't thank Steve his family and Matt and his wife enough for the hospitality.
This is a pick of Bella(left) and Steves two kids marcus(right) and (forgive the spelling Steve) Mecayla? 9middle)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/NotquiteRHood/c10.jpg
Mmm did I say I'd give you the short version :lol: