NZ 07

[ds]

Recently returned from South Westland chassing the Chammy. Struggled with bad weather (nothing new for the Westcoast), lost well over half the trip. :cry:
We still managed some time on the hill, enough oppurtunity to batter the body senseless. :D

Anyhows here are some pictures.
(Dial up user beware)

Our wheels for the trip.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeofourwheelsforthetrip.jpg
Rock bivy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeofrockbivy.jpg
Tony negotiating a tricky decent.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/ResizeofTonydecendingsteepcreek.jpg
Young beast.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeof07031400491.jpg
All clagged up.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeof07031300241.jpg
Family group.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeofchamoisgroup.jpg
Clear Skies. :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/ResizeofscottcrkMtSefton.jpg
The valley.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeof07032000821.jpg
Kea.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeof07032000791.jpg
Older beast.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/dstoj1/NZ/Resizeof07031500891.jpg

[HOOD]

Top pics DS and congrats on the Chamie.
thought you'd be use to the crap weather from melbourne :wink: :lol:

[bowhunting4eva]

jeez that place looks fantastic. waking up in the morning to that would have been fantastic. thanks for taking the time to post the pics and congrats on the Chamois
do you eat the Chamois, if so what do they taste like
john

[Piggy]

Some awesome pics there Ds and well done ont the Chamois

[adam]

Sweet mate just sweet.

Pretty cold but Im sure some sweat hit the surface all the same.

Adam

[Urbanhunter]

thats sweet man hope i can do something like that soon

[ds]

Thank guys, yeah NZ sure is a special place.
Chamois is OK table fare & as for Melbourne's weather well you would think I would have been well prepared. :D
On a serious note that place can turn into a hell hole real quick :!:

[adam]

I imagine it would have been a bit of a worry once it came over bad mate.

Adam

[XTfreak]

Great pictures, thankyou for sharing them...
Bill

[Antarcher]

Nice pics there mate and very well done on nailing the Chamois. The second one looks like a biggun. How did he score?

[timbo]

Congratulation on your chammie. Great pictures.

Tim

[Al Kidner]

Well done mate on the Chammie. I just got back myself from the Eastcoast (Seaward Kiakoura's) hunting Reds. Was Chammie in the area but we were mainly after a stag or two. We had super weather for 95% of the trip, that being ten days hunting, and only had to put on my Stoney Creek sika top once in ten days.... but you needed it that once.

Your dead right with how quick the weather changes. In one hour it went from not a cloud in the sky to not seeing 20m to you front. Just glad I was not up the mountain that day!

Again mate, well done. Now for Thar

[jindydiver]

Great pics, and great game taken :)

I love those NZ mountains :D

[Hoyt_Trykon]

bloody awesome!!!!

From what i hear, chamois are a reall challenge to take with a bow also. Congrats mate. I take my hat of to you. :wink:

[Brent]

that place looks sweet great work ds

[Dongles]

fantastic photo of the larger chamois.

You are starting to produce the goods on the chamois on a regualr basis, congratulations.

[Piggy]

Ds I and I'm sure many others would love to hear how you go about preparing for a trip like that and what you take etc.
Not that I plan on doing a hunt like it I just think that the preperation work would be and interesting and large part of the hunt.

Cheers


Paul

[rory]

:shock: :shock: :shock:

That is awsome dude, well done :!: :!: 8) :D

[horses r cool]

TSC

Aleesha

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[ozzyshane]

Great stuff Doug ,have u dried out yet Thanks Shane

[ds]

Thanks for the kind words fellas, I 'm glad you find this sort of stuff as interesting as I do.:D
Ds I and I'm sure many others would love to hear how you go about preparing for a trip like that and what you take etc.
Not that I plan on doing a hunt like it I just think that the preperation work would be and interesting and large part of the hunt.

Cheers


Paul

Hey Piggy, you are right sound preparation is a crucial part of making such a trip an enjoyable one.

Our trips to NZ have all been unguided & generally require a fair degree of physical prep work as we have only ever backpacked into the mountains. Some walk-ins may only be a few hours though seldom simple, while others can turn into real tests of physical & psychological endurance that have taken 2 + days with heavy laden packs, they are rarely walks in the park. Depending on where, the duration of the walk and how many days worth of food you intend on carrying will usually dictate how you will pull up after the walk in. This is crucial because being pulled for having acute pain in the legs usually means biting into precious hunting time. It pays to break yourself in with a heavy pack.

Because we don’t typically climb year round we are usually confronted with a fairly intense training program. We are fortunate to have some hills close to home that have a few steep tramping tracks. We have found its best to try and simulate your training to be as close as it can be to the real thing, basically 3-4 months prior to a trip we begin climbing with a heavy pack. In days gone by we used to torture our selves with 30 odd kilo packs, but have since found such mayhem isn’t necessary. These days we incorporate intense climbing with 20 kilos packs 2-3 times a week combined with 50 odd klms rides on a stationary bike on the days you are not climbing. Those mountains will take their toll on you if you are not prepared and even with proper preparation you can come undone. Generally speaking to get the most out of your experience in alpine conditions it pays to be physically adept.

As far as gear goes we try and take the bare minimum because you will also be your own mule for the trip you soon learn to take what is absolutely necessary. Food is always a difficult one especially if you are a healthy eater, it takes time to find that right combination and even now I feel compelled to take more than I require. Those inevitable days tent bound waiting for the rain to stop can have you looking in your food bag in unfashionable ways.
Having the proper clothing to suit the conditions is self explanatory; you can be in for a miserable time without the right gear. We now only use polyester garments from thermals to the thick layers with a quality Gortex outer layer this stuff especially the polyester is priceless and as long as it’s kept away from a naked flame will last decades. Probably one of the most important items I believe are a pair of quality boots especially when laboring a heavy pack into the mountains. My steel shanked La Sportiva Makalus @ $500 are worth their wait in gold in that environment and the suckers weigh a tonne. Having the confidence to jam your boot in any possible place and at most angles is a trait you will bless when boulder hopping and bush-bashing. Only a top end boot will handle such extremes.
These trips become as much a relationship with the mountains as the do with the animals. Though hunting is our primary goal there are easier ways to tackle them mountains with helicopters and the like. Different strokes for different folks I suppose, though while the legs are still willing we will keep walking in.


Well done mate on the Chammie. I just got back myself from the Eastcoast (Seaward Kiakoura's) hunting Reds. Was Chammie in the area but we were mainly after a stag or two. We had super weather for 95% of the trip, that being ten days hunting, and only had to put on my Stoney Creek sika top once in ten days.... but you needed it that once.

Your dead right with how quick the weather changes. In one hour it went from not a cloud in the sky to not seeing 20m to you front. Just glad I was not up the mountain that day!

Again mate, well done. Now for Thar


Great to hear the Kiakoura's were kind to you, 95 % fine weather, man I wish. You should try Westland someday, it will put a stop to that in a hurry. :)
How did you guys fair?
As for the Tahr, mate there are few better things than having a mature bull at ones feet, the sweet smell of Tahr will live with me forever.
I had a serious confrontation with an epic bull on this hunt, though it was not to be. :cry: There is always next year.


Great stuff Doug ,have u dried out yet Thanks Shane

Dried enough to get me out on the Fallow. :D
You stay safe in them big hills Shane, look forward to your return. :D

[interceptor]

Nice work DS,

Some really great pics there, and a very successful trip by the looks of things, thanks for posting the pics.

Cheers Noel

[Piggy]

Thanks for the detail there Ds sounds like a lot of hard work, but to be in those mountains alone would make it worth it let alone to secure some quality game.



Cheers

Paul

[Kenny]

Unreal ds, what an awsome place...the photos are just like on the post cards 8)
KY

[Al Kidner]

G'day DS,

mate we faired good. We both shot meat deer each as the big fellas were still a ways back hidden in the thick Beech forests. Also goats above the tree line (practice for Chammie.. :wink:) a boat load of rabbits and one very large hare.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/IMG_0895.jpg

This was my first (Of many yet to come) trip to the south island of NZ. A bit of a "Shake out" trip to see just what and how things are done. My next trip will be better I'm sure. Would love the mountain double with stick and string.

Oh and your right about the hills. I've not humped mountains like that for some time. The highlands of East Timor in fact.

Again mate well done.

[ds]

Thanks for the detail there Ds sounds like a lot of hard work, but to be in those mountains alone would make it worth it let alone to secure some quality game.



Cheers

Paul
Sure its a bit of work though its worth the effort.
You sound pretty keen to me mate, you should give it a go oneday


This was my first (Of many yet to come) trip to the south island of NZ. A bit of a "Shake out" trip to see just what and how things are done. My next trip will be better I'm sure. Would love the mountain double with stick and string.
Al Kidner
Welldone Al, that is a great effort.
Hope many more NZ sojourns come your way.

[maxy]

Hey DS,

Great pics mate, looks like an awesome place.

I'm just back from two weeks hunting some steep country (Aussie steep that is) in North NSW and we incorporated some hike hunting. I can hardly walk today - cant imagine how i'd feel after a NZ sojern. Funny how the legs seem to come good once a good critter hits the deck!

Maxy

[Mozza]

absolutely awesome photos Doug
and that chamois looks like a monster, well done :)