adam
01-07-07, 11:18 AM
Traditional Journeys no:3
By Adam Greentree
It was a pain staking trip across the Nullabour from Perth. I’d already driven from work in the Pilbara (18hrs drive) to Perth, then Ben Chambers and myself headed off across the Nullabour to the great dividing ranges. I was pretty buggered to say the least but still I couldn’t manage to sleep when it was Ben’s time to drive, I was just so excited to be hunting my favorite animal, the fallow buck. We broke the trip up by stopping in at any place of interest, like The Great Australia Bight and Broken Hill. Most of the drive is full of breathe taking scenery, got to give thanks to a beautiful country.
Well over due for a coffee break I made a call in the outback New South Wales town of Cobar. There’s always a bowhunting pal close by in the Eastern States and new mates to be made. Our good friend Manuel Aguis who I contacted was more then welcoming over the phone, so we continued to his pad and hang out in his neat bowhunting shed, full of traditional goodness. Other local bowhunter Pedro Lever was at the pad as well, it had already been worth the trip to catch up with Manuel and meet Pedro. I can’t remember drinking to much of my coffee as I was to busy talking about past hunts and asking questions about Manuel’s bows and traditional crafts. We done trade on a few items which is a tradition between Manuel and me, I had lots of camouflage so I offered some as trade, and Manuel had a ton of beautiful arrows so a trade took place and we both were very happy. As well as the hand crafted arrows Manuel gave me a broadhead he had made up, it’s a 2 bladed head made from metal and look very deadly. After shooting all the traditional bows I could get my hands on we took a group photo to remember the good time we had, then Ben and myself headed towards our destination. But before arriving we’d call into Nyngan for dinner with good mate Dave Whiting. Dave’s a die hard traditional bowhunter that really enjoys all the aspects of traditional bowhunting and has been very generous to me over the years inviting me to hunts I thought I would only dream of. Our plan after dinner was to head to a mountainous hunting spot I’d had the pleasure to hunt on before. But Dave suggested we call into his hunting patch for the night as it was closer, we could get a good sleep and have a quick hunt in the morning if we like, we liked very much.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006020.jpg
So off we were again in our temporary accommodation (Nissan Navara), it was going to be good just to stretch out in the swag for a good nights sleep. Arriving at Dave’s moon lit camping grounds we made (I made) little work of cooking up a feed. Our tucker wouldn’t have hit the bottoms of our stomachs and we were both in bed. Seemed like two seconds later I was awoken by a Fallow Buck grunting only a couple of hundred meters from camp. I woke Ben up after letting him sleep a little longer and he soon picked up sight of the Buck. There outlined in the early morning light was a great big buck grunting his head off. Ben’s first deer hunt and what a glorious thing to awake to. I think we both kept our cool after seeing the big buck so close. We took our time to have some breakfast, sorted the four wheel drive out, Ha, like hell we did. We both skipped breakfast got into what camouflage we though best for the terrain, checked our broadheads and off we went.
We stalked up the river bed that runs past camp towards the grunting of the Buck, We had good cover all the way and although we could see the buck high on the hill above camp we could run into another, so best to take it easy the whole way. The Buck had slowly moved off into thick scrub towards an area I knew there was a good bed with all the trees around it rubbed out. This was the case the year before and most likely this big guy was the owner. But before we could reach the Bucks bedding area we came across a fox sitting besides a small dam, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity, but the stalk proved helpless and the fox disappeared. We reached the bedding area and snuck through there like we were fixing to steal something, but no buck could be seen or heard. We eventually gave up looking for the big buck and hiked deeper into the mountains.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006021.jpg
We seen plenty of deer throughout the morning most were heading into thick scrub and we just sat back and admired them. I seen it in Bens stare that he was now a Deer Hunter through and through, well Quantas will be happy. Getting into some of the higher peaks I picked up the smell of billy goat. Ben and myself crept over the lip of the peak looking down into the valley below, around 100meters away grazed a mob of around 15 goats. This would be a bit of a first for Ben, hunting goats in mountains, so I sat back on the video while Ben stalked in. He got to within a suitable shooting distance with his compound and waited for the larger of billys to turn broadside. At 20 meters Ben secured his first mountain goat. The rest of the mob grazed on not realizing what had just taken place so I decided to stalk one of the younger billys. Ben took over on the camera while I stepped out in front nocking an arrow. I got as close as I felt possible for the eyes that looked around in the mob and let loose, from 6 meters the arrow took out heart. The young billy covered little ground. A great start to our trip in some of the greatest country there is to hunt in my eyes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006025.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006028.jpg
Well that was our morning and now it was time to head to one of my old hunting grounds. It was 5 hours to the north and has good fox and goat numbers, plus a few deer and pigs. It’s something else sitting in the hut and looking out to the stars while foxes yelp to each other. The property owners are happy to let us hunt and stay in there hut which we appreciate, and every time we leave its cleaner then before.
It was the morning for it as I walked out the hut door. Bill the owner had been explaining that the foxes had been giving them a bit of trouble around the house. So that’s what we mainly targeted while hunting his block. Deep into the valley that runs towards the homestead would be a good start. From the first stand we whistled 3 foxes all mature and cunning as, too cunning for us it turned out. We crossed the creek in the valley when I spotted a super good Fallow buck, huge palms and looked in prime condition. The Buck had also seen us and bounded away. Continuing on we made a stance around some fallen trees and began to whistle for foxes again. I’d been whistle for 30 seconds when I caught a flash of red moving to my left side not 5 meters away. The fox appeared right in front of me and within a second I was at full draw with the fred bear recurve and loose. The arrow hitting the fox in the middle of the chest and down he went. Ben quickly congratulated me and we picked my fox up for photos and to remove the hide. We later filmed the fox’s hide being removed for a how to video we hope to produce for new comers down the track.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006039.jpg
I was determined to get another fox in for Ben now, so we once again made a stance around some breakup. Wasn’t long and another fox raced in, I gave a little growl at 10 meters to bring the fox to a holt. Ben at full draw released taking the fox front on and as expected from that angle the fox made little ground before going down. Dark was near on us so we headed back towards the four wheel drive.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006055.jpg
Sitting back in the hut we shared a few hunting yarns and viewed a few photos from the hunt thus far. It was decided that we’d have an early hunt in the morning then head back to hunt the fallow with a few mates. We’d been very fortunate to be invited to such a prime hunting spot and share camp with some of Australia’s keenest fulltime bowhunters.
Dave Whiting and Wayne Anderson helped kick start Trophy Takers back in the day and had been old school bowhunting partners for many a years. There passion for bowhunting is still there life style and they live and breathe bowhunting to this day. Manuel Aguis another old time bowhunter and founding member of trophy takers was in camp, along with Pete Rogers another passionate traditional bowhunter. A few other bowhunters would join camp later, Kev Daley, Paul and Ros Hardy, and Ben Rieth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006171.jpg
The first afternoon we scouted out some rubs and scraps, the fallow were in full rut and it looked as though our timing was spot on. In the morning around 2 hours before daybreak we were up and ready with our packs on and bows in hand. Ben chambers would be using his compound while I had the trusty Bear recurve with six razor tipped arrows in the bow quiver. We headed off for a dark out and return in the dark walk, a full days hunting in anyone’s books with plenty of steep country to trial us out.
The fallow bucks were grunting and for most of the morning it was very hectic, but no stalks panned out right. These animals are like the ghosts of the bush, they just disappear. They’ll feed right in your direction then for no apparent reason before they come into shooting distance they will venture off in a totally different direction, they’ll be grunting there heads off but before you can hone in on one they will go quiet making them impossible at times to find in timbered scrub. One particular buck and a good buck at that was very keen to get with some does, he chased them over the ridges for most of the morning and wouldn’t let them out of his sight. Ben Chambers and I finally got into a good position so the animals would walk past us. The does done just that passing our ambush position, but the buck after all his effort of gathering the does simple let them walk away and he went off in the opposite direction. They can be very frustrating but this is just early days so it never bothered us, it was just good to be seeing deer running wild.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006090.jpg
We were hunting the semi open country for the morning and it was proving quite difficult to stalk about as there were many a doe with watching eyes around the bucks. So we headed into some thicker scrub hoping to find some lone bucks. Pushing our way up a thick timbered ridge I spotted a young buck sleeping on the edge of the ridgeline. He was a fine animal in our books, certainly a great first deer harvest for Ben. I’ve been fortunate to take a few deer over the years so I was happy to let Ben stalk all the deer we uncounted till he harvested one, or we’d both do the big drive back to W.A deerless.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006075.jpg
The young menial buck was facing away from our position, and the wind was going the right way for a change. It was looking good as Ben closed the gap very quietly, and the young buck hardly lifted his head in regular checks as they sometimes do. He looked as if he’d had a hard night, most likely the bigger bucks that were holding girls (does) had given this spotted buck a hard time during the night. The buck had his head on the ground for most of the stalk, I was hoping Ben didn’t see it as an easy opportunity and rush in as the bucks senses would still be right up there with the best. I could clearly see his ears pricking with every bird flying over and eyes wide open at the sound of the faintest grunting off in the distance. Ben slowly snuck into his shooting position of 25meters a top effort in the leafy litter ground. I had the video camera rolling for the entire stalk and as Ben drew his bow I zoomed in on the buck. The angle was a tight facing away shot but Ben was confident and made the shot. The struck buck exploded from his bed but stumbled shortly after getting to his hoofs, not 15 meters from the hit the buck went down and was out. The arrow had entered behind the last rib and exited through the heart, a perfect shot from the angle the buck was laying. Ben was ecstatic with his first harvested deer and me not far off, it was great to see him grass a deer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006092.jpg
Now the real hard yards begin with the carry out. I capped the shoulder mount out which I hiked back to camp, while Ben carried all the meat we could salvage, basically the back end and the front legs boned out. It was a good 5 kilometers back to camp but we made it in one piece. This is what we love, slugging it out in the hills getting good exercise, fresh air and enjoying an age old way of life(hunting). You truly feel alive at moments like these. Back at camp there was congrats for Ben and his fine first buck. I headed back out in the last hour of light but the deer were very elusive for the afternoon and no opportunities arose.
The next morning I’d hunt with Ben Rieth, he was also a virgin deer slayer so I was happy to be following him around with the video camera and give him a little guidance if needed. We seen some good Fallow bucks during the morning and Ben done well to stalk a few bruiser bucks with does, but it wasn’t to be. I thoroughly enjoyed my hunt with the two Ben’s and although I never got a finger on the string in the last two days the walks with these guys were up there with the best I have encountered. The real beauty of hunting with different hunters is seeing how they produce game, what techniques they use to stalk game, how they go about spotting them, what they carry in there pack for snacks etc.
Around the camp that night Dave Whiting and myself had planned a large walk towards the far ridge on the property. We sharpened broadheads around the camp fire while we all talked bowhunting from the present day and from the past. Roasts and stews were dished up while everyone went over there plans for a large days walk. Plenty of good laughs echoed through the camp valley before we hit the swags and tents. I could hear bucks going ballistic grunting there heads off most of the night, three bucks sounded like they would be out in our direction for the mornings walk. Drifting off to sleep all I could see was fallow bucks, I know I should have been picturing my wife and young son at home but deer were all I could see, sorry love.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006072.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006071.jpg
The camp was alive well before first light and amid the keen bowhunters was Dave and myself gearing to go. We headed off as the first light of morning gently lit the ground that we walked. Not far out of camp we stalked the first deer for the day, a young white spiker. Dave closed the distance on the young fallow buck with grunting echoing down the valley from a mature buck in close proximity. The young white buck out feed Dave’s stalking and although the spiker was very quiet we decided to concentrate on the mature buck making all the noise. At the top of a small ridgeline stood a large buck with 1 antler an impressive antler at that. The buck had five does with him and was frantic on letting any bucks in the area know he was king of this ridge, he’s grunts were deep almost sounding like a tigers growl. The stalk on the one antlered buck came to an abrupt end when he spotted Dave crossing a small clearing. Pretty hard stalking with does in the mob, there ever watching eye’s in thick country is hard enough let alone semi and open country.
We continued towards the last ridge with little action after the one antlered buck. Now we were pushing through thick dense scrub heading up to the last ridge on the property. Breaching the top of the ridge I spotted a small gum tree shaking, I could only see the top of the sapling shaking as a small ridge covered the last meter or more. It could only be a buck thrashing it so I sat back on the camera while Dave stalked towards it with the wind in his favor. But the unseen animal had other plans and started to walk off, at this time we seen the animal shaking the bush. It was a prime menial fallow buck and he looked very impressive on foot. He headed off unaware of the two traditional bowhunters that were hunting him. He was moving towards very hard stalking country with thick scrub and dry leafs to make things difficult. Dave, twenty meters out in front of me let out a few grunts and the buck soon changed direction. He was very cautious and semi circled the sound of Dave’s grunting, but with every step the buck moved closer. I soon took over Dave’s grunting as the Buck moved closer to me and out of Dave’s sight. The buck came to 20meters of me but in the thick of it Dave couldn’t see the buck. The big menial buck was down low and while he wasn’t looking in my direction I signaled Dave over so he could get a clear shot. Dave creeping over the small rise between his self and I now had the deer at 23meters and in clear view. Dave drew back his 73pound perks Longbow and drive and arrow just above the brisket. The buck bolted down the ridge and looked in good health, and then a stumble and tail flicker gave it away. “Watch him” I murmured as I knew he was going down. He disappeared behind some bushes then reappeared sliding along the ground to a silent and still rest. The buck had only been on his feet for a few seconds but in that time had covered 70 meters.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006082.jpg
Dave was very happy with his harvest; it was his first deer with a longbow an 8 year saga accomplished and his second deer with a traditional bow. The shot had taken the buck through the heart. Dave’s menial buck was an old animal covered in fighting scares from past ruts and a few new scares from this rut. I congratulated Dave on his hard earned buck while we sat down for a rest before the long hike back to camp with his trophy deer. The buck later measured around 170 Douglas points a quality animal in our books. And is the first deer I have seen taken with a longbow in person. Paul and Ros Hardy called into camp for a few days, Paul had taken a buck from some hard country further south at a regular hunting ground we stomp. It was looking like a real good camp, plenty of venison to eat a few sets of trophy antlers as well as a bunch of top hunting mates to share experiences with.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006128.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006135.jpg
The next morning before daybreak I was off again hoping to be sitting in the semi cleared country below a few small ridgelines. This is my favorite hunting area were I took a few deer the year previous. I walked past hills and small valleys that had fallow grunting during the dark of morning and arrived at the semi cleared area as the first light of morning hit. Grunting could be heard in most directions and a huge light colored buck appeared trotting along a small grassy hill one hundred meters in front of me. He’d crossed my scent path or got wind of me and was off into heavy timber. It sounded like there were three bucks in close proximity to each other near a small plateau so I headed in that direction cautiously. I soon pin pointed the bucks with loud clear grunting in a small valley off to the side of the hill top flat. I closed the gap slowly with does grazing on the ridge. Two huge bucks circled each other in a stand off, both would have met the challenge I’m sure as they were in there prime. I got into 25 meters of the two bucks that still circled each other. Then a grunt from behind me sent shivers down my spine, fifty meters away grunted another buck aggressively as he held 7 does around him. I turned my attention back to the circling bucks but it was short lived when does crossed my scent path spooking the bucks. The one buck behind me was also on edge after hearing a doe bark as she spooked. He also left the scene with his does and never looked like stopping as he bolted through the hills.
I passed a few young bucks up over the next few kilometers before locating another hefty buck grunting his head off. I sat off this buck for around an hour and he never let up grunting for more then a minute. Off in the distance I could hear a few other bucks answering and over the next couple of hours while stalking, the bucks that were answering got closer. The buck I was after was a red menial colored beast also in his prime and by far the biggest fallow I have laid eyes on. The big red menial buck had 16 does in his herd and held them in a small clear in the valley floor. This big buck looked the king of these parts, prancing around his does with his tail up and letting out some amazing grunts with an aggressive tone. There I was just above the valley floor with the herd just 50 meters below me with at least two other bucks zoning in on the herd I was sitting off.
I was in a perfect position as I sat in the closest belt of saplings to the herd and there were bound to be satellites bucks to push the mob around me. I reach for my camera as the buck circled around his mob coming to the closest side of the mob to me. I should have kept my fingers on my recurve and left the camera in its pouch as the buck came to within twenty meters of my position. I snapped of some great photos of the big buck then as a grunt ringed out over the ridge he bolted meeting a large light colored buck at the ridge eighty meters from his mob. The large light colored buck didn’t dare stick around and ran before the big red menial could get an antler in him. Then it seemed there were medium bucks and spikers in all directions. They must have been watching from patches of timber in which I couldn’t see them and when they seen the big fella go after the light colored buck they moved in. One young stick head walk past me at 5 meters and headed straight through the does splitting them up into two groups. The large red menial seeing this ran straight at the stick head and smashed its rear quarter as it tried to get out of harms way. All the deer seemed to disappear into the lower valley and over the ridge lines. The grunting continued and I could easily tell the big fellas grunt over any other. I sat there for ten minutes listening to the grunting then the big red menial returned to the small clearing in the valley with 16 does; he’d rounded all his girls back up. I watch the herd for another 40 minutes before he moved back into range. I felt I had him on the wall but when I lifted the fred bear recurve to draw a doe caught sight of it and let out a bark scattering the mob. That was a real highlight to this trip being so close to that big red menial.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006142.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006150.jpg
I returned back to camp were Manuel Agius had a great little story to tell. He’d been cooking the lad’s breakfast when they spotted a young buck grazing on a hill side up behind camp. Manuel finished cooking the lads there bacon and egg breakfast then headed off with his Samick Hawkeye recurve towards the young buck. As Manuel stalked in it started to rain the buck laid down. It then started to poor down and Manuel used it to his advantage moving right in to well under his effective range. He put a shot in on the young buck and dropped him within 50 meters of full stride. A great traditional harvest and some top video footage that Ben chambers got of the whole stalk. The deer was fully utilized, skin, meat, antler, bone for primitive heads and the hoofs for bow racks.
I dreamt about deer all night and anytime I woke up I was thinking about the big fella and the area he was in. Morning came quickly and I was geared up, full of breakfast and off again. I hunted that small valley and the ridge for five days chasing that same big red menial. Every day I located him and stalked into shooting distance but one thing or another went in his favor. I was hooked up on him with a passion and every morning I’d head straight over to his range, but it was never meant to be. On the last day of the hunt I hiked back into his range at first light. I was making my way slowly up a trail running over the ridge that I’d seen him near the last three occasions when I spied him walking straight towards me. He’d lost his girls as he walked by himself with his nose to the ground smelling. We had to leave the next morning back to Western Australia so time was running thin and this was definitely my last chance at him for the year. I was stuck in a bare patch on the trail and there wasn’t time or cover to move, so I just got right down low as he walked straight towards me. There was a little rise seven meters in front of me and he disappeared behind it for a minute. He’d reappear just seven meters in front of me and it would be my only chance for a shot. Massive antlers tipped over the rise as the big red menial crested the lip in front of me. He still walked with his head down front on, presenting no reasonable shots. Then without stopping for a second the big fella sprung sideways and disappeared of the track into the thick. He’d come to within six meters but never let me think about shooting let alone draw my recurve. That was pretty heart breaking but such is bowhunting.
My legs were aching from the past weeks hunting and I was thinking it was time to head back to camp, but I powered on saying to myself “one more valley” then I’d walk that valley and it was “just one more ridge”. That one more ridge turned into three and I found myself surrounded by grunting fallow bucks. Looking in the direction of a few grunts I could see four bucks, three of them held does the fourth buck ran from mob to mob stirring the does up. I made my way towards the bucks hoping the stirring satellite buck would cross my path. He was a decent animal in my books with nice even antlers and a beautiful skin. I stalked in between two of the mobs and sat in an ambush position awaiting the satellite buck to cross my path. It never eventuated as some does scattered and the satellite buck got busy with them. A large buck bolted out herding his girls back up and the satellite buck retaliated. Two more does broke from the mob on there own accord and crossed a game trail eighty meters to my side. I could see the satellite buck sniffing there trail one hundred and fifty meters from the track the does crossed. I quickly stalked over to the trail they were traveling and got ready for the satellite buck to cross my path while following the girls up. Twelve meters he passed in full stride, I led him right as the arrow left the string of the bear recurve meeting the bucks hide and penetrating both lungs. He dropped 30 meters away and was totally unaware of the shot or the hit. He is my first traditional harvested deer and I couldn’t have been happier with him or myself.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006102.jpg
Hiking back to camp I paused to take some photos of the sun going down. Swarms of bugs hovered over the trees while I took the last photos for the trip. It was a real true moment for me. Standing there with my hard earned trophy strapped to my pack and my recurve standing against me. It’s hard to get enough.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006180.jpg
Enjoy the hunt like those before you.
Adam Greentree
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006105.jpg
By Adam Greentree
It was a pain staking trip across the Nullabour from Perth. I’d already driven from work in the Pilbara (18hrs drive) to Perth, then Ben Chambers and myself headed off across the Nullabour to the great dividing ranges. I was pretty buggered to say the least but still I couldn’t manage to sleep when it was Ben’s time to drive, I was just so excited to be hunting my favorite animal, the fallow buck. We broke the trip up by stopping in at any place of interest, like The Great Australia Bight and Broken Hill. Most of the drive is full of breathe taking scenery, got to give thanks to a beautiful country.
Well over due for a coffee break I made a call in the outback New South Wales town of Cobar. There’s always a bowhunting pal close by in the Eastern States and new mates to be made. Our good friend Manuel Aguis who I contacted was more then welcoming over the phone, so we continued to his pad and hang out in his neat bowhunting shed, full of traditional goodness. Other local bowhunter Pedro Lever was at the pad as well, it had already been worth the trip to catch up with Manuel and meet Pedro. I can’t remember drinking to much of my coffee as I was to busy talking about past hunts and asking questions about Manuel’s bows and traditional crafts. We done trade on a few items which is a tradition between Manuel and me, I had lots of camouflage so I offered some as trade, and Manuel had a ton of beautiful arrows so a trade took place and we both were very happy. As well as the hand crafted arrows Manuel gave me a broadhead he had made up, it’s a 2 bladed head made from metal and look very deadly. After shooting all the traditional bows I could get my hands on we took a group photo to remember the good time we had, then Ben and myself headed towards our destination. But before arriving we’d call into Nyngan for dinner with good mate Dave Whiting. Dave’s a die hard traditional bowhunter that really enjoys all the aspects of traditional bowhunting and has been very generous to me over the years inviting me to hunts I thought I would only dream of. Our plan after dinner was to head to a mountainous hunting spot I’d had the pleasure to hunt on before. But Dave suggested we call into his hunting patch for the night as it was closer, we could get a good sleep and have a quick hunt in the morning if we like, we liked very much.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006020.jpg
So off we were again in our temporary accommodation (Nissan Navara), it was going to be good just to stretch out in the swag for a good nights sleep. Arriving at Dave’s moon lit camping grounds we made (I made) little work of cooking up a feed. Our tucker wouldn’t have hit the bottoms of our stomachs and we were both in bed. Seemed like two seconds later I was awoken by a Fallow Buck grunting only a couple of hundred meters from camp. I woke Ben up after letting him sleep a little longer and he soon picked up sight of the Buck. There outlined in the early morning light was a great big buck grunting his head off. Ben’s first deer hunt and what a glorious thing to awake to. I think we both kept our cool after seeing the big buck so close. We took our time to have some breakfast, sorted the four wheel drive out, Ha, like hell we did. We both skipped breakfast got into what camouflage we though best for the terrain, checked our broadheads and off we went.
We stalked up the river bed that runs past camp towards the grunting of the Buck, We had good cover all the way and although we could see the buck high on the hill above camp we could run into another, so best to take it easy the whole way. The Buck had slowly moved off into thick scrub towards an area I knew there was a good bed with all the trees around it rubbed out. This was the case the year before and most likely this big guy was the owner. But before we could reach the Bucks bedding area we came across a fox sitting besides a small dam, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity, but the stalk proved helpless and the fox disappeared. We reached the bedding area and snuck through there like we were fixing to steal something, but no buck could be seen or heard. We eventually gave up looking for the big buck and hiked deeper into the mountains.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006021.jpg
We seen plenty of deer throughout the morning most were heading into thick scrub and we just sat back and admired them. I seen it in Bens stare that he was now a Deer Hunter through and through, well Quantas will be happy. Getting into some of the higher peaks I picked up the smell of billy goat. Ben and myself crept over the lip of the peak looking down into the valley below, around 100meters away grazed a mob of around 15 goats. This would be a bit of a first for Ben, hunting goats in mountains, so I sat back on the video while Ben stalked in. He got to within a suitable shooting distance with his compound and waited for the larger of billys to turn broadside. At 20 meters Ben secured his first mountain goat. The rest of the mob grazed on not realizing what had just taken place so I decided to stalk one of the younger billys. Ben took over on the camera while I stepped out in front nocking an arrow. I got as close as I felt possible for the eyes that looked around in the mob and let loose, from 6 meters the arrow took out heart. The young billy covered little ground. A great start to our trip in some of the greatest country there is to hunt in my eyes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006025.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006028.jpg
Well that was our morning and now it was time to head to one of my old hunting grounds. It was 5 hours to the north and has good fox and goat numbers, plus a few deer and pigs. It’s something else sitting in the hut and looking out to the stars while foxes yelp to each other. The property owners are happy to let us hunt and stay in there hut which we appreciate, and every time we leave its cleaner then before.
It was the morning for it as I walked out the hut door. Bill the owner had been explaining that the foxes had been giving them a bit of trouble around the house. So that’s what we mainly targeted while hunting his block. Deep into the valley that runs towards the homestead would be a good start. From the first stand we whistled 3 foxes all mature and cunning as, too cunning for us it turned out. We crossed the creek in the valley when I spotted a super good Fallow buck, huge palms and looked in prime condition. The Buck had also seen us and bounded away. Continuing on we made a stance around some fallen trees and began to whistle for foxes again. I’d been whistle for 30 seconds when I caught a flash of red moving to my left side not 5 meters away. The fox appeared right in front of me and within a second I was at full draw with the fred bear recurve and loose. The arrow hitting the fox in the middle of the chest and down he went. Ben quickly congratulated me and we picked my fox up for photos and to remove the hide. We later filmed the fox’s hide being removed for a how to video we hope to produce for new comers down the track.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006039.jpg
I was determined to get another fox in for Ben now, so we once again made a stance around some breakup. Wasn’t long and another fox raced in, I gave a little growl at 10 meters to bring the fox to a holt. Ben at full draw released taking the fox front on and as expected from that angle the fox made little ground before going down. Dark was near on us so we headed back towards the four wheel drive.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006055.jpg
Sitting back in the hut we shared a few hunting yarns and viewed a few photos from the hunt thus far. It was decided that we’d have an early hunt in the morning then head back to hunt the fallow with a few mates. We’d been very fortunate to be invited to such a prime hunting spot and share camp with some of Australia’s keenest fulltime bowhunters.
Dave Whiting and Wayne Anderson helped kick start Trophy Takers back in the day and had been old school bowhunting partners for many a years. There passion for bowhunting is still there life style and they live and breathe bowhunting to this day. Manuel Aguis another old time bowhunter and founding member of trophy takers was in camp, along with Pete Rogers another passionate traditional bowhunter. A few other bowhunters would join camp later, Kev Daley, Paul and Ros Hardy, and Ben Rieth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006171.jpg
The first afternoon we scouted out some rubs and scraps, the fallow were in full rut and it looked as though our timing was spot on. In the morning around 2 hours before daybreak we were up and ready with our packs on and bows in hand. Ben chambers would be using his compound while I had the trusty Bear recurve with six razor tipped arrows in the bow quiver. We headed off for a dark out and return in the dark walk, a full days hunting in anyone’s books with plenty of steep country to trial us out.
The fallow bucks were grunting and for most of the morning it was very hectic, but no stalks panned out right. These animals are like the ghosts of the bush, they just disappear. They’ll feed right in your direction then for no apparent reason before they come into shooting distance they will venture off in a totally different direction, they’ll be grunting there heads off but before you can hone in on one they will go quiet making them impossible at times to find in timbered scrub. One particular buck and a good buck at that was very keen to get with some does, he chased them over the ridges for most of the morning and wouldn’t let them out of his sight. Ben Chambers and I finally got into a good position so the animals would walk past us. The does done just that passing our ambush position, but the buck after all his effort of gathering the does simple let them walk away and he went off in the opposite direction. They can be very frustrating but this is just early days so it never bothered us, it was just good to be seeing deer running wild.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006090.jpg
We were hunting the semi open country for the morning and it was proving quite difficult to stalk about as there were many a doe with watching eyes around the bucks. So we headed into some thicker scrub hoping to find some lone bucks. Pushing our way up a thick timbered ridge I spotted a young buck sleeping on the edge of the ridgeline. He was a fine animal in our books, certainly a great first deer harvest for Ben. I’ve been fortunate to take a few deer over the years so I was happy to let Ben stalk all the deer we uncounted till he harvested one, or we’d both do the big drive back to W.A deerless.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006075.jpg
The young menial buck was facing away from our position, and the wind was going the right way for a change. It was looking good as Ben closed the gap very quietly, and the young buck hardly lifted his head in regular checks as they sometimes do. He looked as if he’d had a hard night, most likely the bigger bucks that were holding girls (does) had given this spotted buck a hard time during the night. The buck had his head on the ground for most of the stalk, I was hoping Ben didn’t see it as an easy opportunity and rush in as the bucks senses would still be right up there with the best. I could clearly see his ears pricking with every bird flying over and eyes wide open at the sound of the faintest grunting off in the distance. Ben slowly snuck into his shooting position of 25meters a top effort in the leafy litter ground. I had the video camera rolling for the entire stalk and as Ben drew his bow I zoomed in on the buck. The angle was a tight facing away shot but Ben was confident and made the shot. The struck buck exploded from his bed but stumbled shortly after getting to his hoofs, not 15 meters from the hit the buck went down and was out. The arrow had entered behind the last rib and exited through the heart, a perfect shot from the angle the buck was laying. Ben was ecstatic with his first harvested deer and me not far off, it was great to see him grass a deer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006092.jpg
Now the real hard yards begin with the carry out. I capped the shoulder mount out which I hiked back to camp, while Ben carried all the meat we could salvage, basically the back end and the front legs boned out. It was a good 5 kilometers back to camp but we made it in one piece. This is what we love, slugging it out in the hills getting good exercise, fresh air and enjoying an age old way of life(hunting). You truly feel alive at moments like these. Back at camp there was congrats for Ben and his fine first buck. I headed back out in the last hour of light but the deer were very elusive for the afternoon and no opportunities arose.
The next morning I’d hunt with Ben Rieth, he was also a virgin deer slayer so I was happy to be following him around with the video camera and give him a little guidance if needed. We seen some good Fallow bucks during the morning and Ben done well to stalk a few bruiser bucks with does, but it wasn’t to be. I thoroughly enjoyed my hunt with the two Ben’s and although I never got a finger on the string in the last two days the walks with these guys were up there with the best I have encountered. The real beauty of hunting with different hunters is seeing how they produce game, what techniques they use to stalk game, how they go about spotting them, what they carry in there pack for snacks etc.
Around the camp that night Dave Whiting and myself had planned a large walk towards the far ridge on the property. We sharpened broadheads around the camp fire while we all talked bowhunting from the present day and from the past. Roasts and stews were dished up while everyone went over there plans for a large days walk. Plenty of good laughs echoed through the camp valley before we hit the swags and tents. I could hear bucks going ballistic grunting there heads off most of the night, three bucks sounded like they would be out in our direction for the mornings walk. Drifting off to sleep all I could see was fallow bucks, I know I should have been picturing my wife and young son at home but deer were all I could see, sorry love.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006072.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006071.jpg
The camp was alive well before first light and amid the keen bowhunters was Dave and myself gearing to go. We headed off as the first light of morning gently lit the ground that we walked. Not far out of camp we stalked the first deer for the day, a young white spiker. Dave closed the distance on the young fallow buck with grunting echoing down the valley from a mature buck in close proximity. The young white buck out feed Dave’s stalking and although the spiker was very quiet we decided to concentrate on the mature buck making all the noise. At the top of a small ridgeline stood a large buck with 1 antler an impressive antler at that. The buck had five does with him and was frantic on letting any bucks in the area know he was king of this ridge, he’s grunts were deep almost sounding like a tigers growl. The stalk on the one antlered buck came to an abrupt end when he spotted Dave crossing a small clearing. Pretty hard stalking with does in the mob, there ever watching eye’s in thick country is hard enough let alone semi and open country.
We continued towards the last ridge with little action after the one antlered buck. Now we were pushing through thick dense scrub heading up to the last ridge on the property. Breaching the top of the ridge I spotted a small gum tree shaking, I could only see the top of the sapling shaking as a small ridge covered the last meter or more. It could only be a buck thrashing it so I sat back on the camera while Dave stalked towards it with the wind in his favor. But the unseen animal had other plans and started to walk off, at this time we seen the animal shaking the bush. It was a prime menial fallow buck and he looked very impressive on foot. He headed off unaware of the two traditional bowhunters that were hunting him. He was moving towards very hard stalking country with thick scrub and dry leafs to make things difficult. Dave, twenty meters out in front of me let out a few grunts and the buck soon changed direction. He was very cautious and semi circled the sound of Dave’s grunting, but with every step the buck moved closer. I soon took over Dave’s grunting as the Buck moved closer to me and out of Dave’s sight. The buck came to 20meters of me but in the thick of it Dave couldn’t see the buck. The big menial buck was down low and while he wasn’t looking in my direction I signaled Dave over so he could get a clear shot. Dave creeping over the small rise between his self and I now had the deer at 23meters and in clear view. Dave drew back his 73pound perks Longbow and drive and arrow just above the brisket. The buck bolted down the ridge and looked in good health, and then a stumble and tail flicker gave it away. “Watch him” I murmured as I knew he was going down. He disappeared behind some bushes then reappeared sliding along the ground to a silent and still rest. The buck had only been on his feet for a few seconds but in that time had covered 70 meters.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006082.jpg
Dave was very happy with his harvest; it was his first deer with a longbow an 8 year saga accomplished and his second deer with a traditional bow. The shot had taken the buck through the heart. Dave’s menial buck was an old animal covered in fighting scares from past ruts and a few new scares from this rut. I congratulated Dave on his hard earned buck while we sat down for a rest before the long hike back to camp with his trophy deer. The buck later measured around 170 Douglas points a quality animal in our books. And is the first deer I have seen taken with a longbow in person. Paul and Ros Hardy called into camp for a few days, Paul had taken a buck from some hard country further south at a regular hunting ground we stomp. It was looking like a real good camp, plenty of venison to eat a few sets of trophy antlers as well as a bunch of top hunting mates to share experiences with.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006128.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006135.jpg
The next morning before daybreak I was off again hoping to be sitting in the semi cleared country below a few small ridgelines. This is my favorite hunting area were I took a few deer the year previous. I walked past hills and small valleys that had fallow grunting during the dark of morning and arrived at the semi cleared area as the first light of morning hit. Grunting could be heard in most directions and a huge light colored buck appeared trotting along a small grassy hill one hundred meters in front of me. He’d crossed my scent path or got wind of me and was off into heavy timber. It sounded like there were three bucks in close proximity to each other near a small plateau so I headed in that direction cautiously. I soon pin pointed the bucks with loud clear grunting in a small valley off to the side of the hill top flat. I closed the gap slowly with does grazing on the ridge. Two huge bucks circled each other in a stand off, both would have met the challenge I’m sure as they were in there prime. I got into 25 meters of the two bucks that still circled each other. Then a grunt from behind me sent shivers down my spine, fifty meters away grunted another buck aggressively as he held 7 does around him. I turned my attention back to the circling bucks but it was short lived when does crossed my scent path spooking the bucks. The one buck behind me was also on edge after hearing a doe bark as she spooked. He also left the scene with his does and never looked like stopping as he bolted through the hills.
I passed a few young bucks up over the next few kilometers before locating another hefty buck grunting his head off. I sat off this buck for around an hour and he never let up grunting for more then a minute. Off in the distance I could hear a few other bucks answering and over the next couple of hours while stalking, the bucks that were answering got closer. The buck I was after was a red menial colored beast also in his prime and by far the biggest fallow I have laid eyes on. The big red menial buck had 16 does in his herd and held them in a small clear in the valley floor. This big buck looked the king of these parts, prancing around his does with his tail up and letting out some amazing grunts with an aggressive tone. There I was just above the valley floor with the herd just 50 meters below me with at least two other bucks zoning in on the herd I was sitting off.
I was in a perfect position as I sat in the closest belt of saplings to the herd and there were bound to be satellites bucks to push the mob around me. I reach for my camera as the buck circled around his mob coming to the closest side of the mob to me. I should have kept my fingers on my recurve and left the camera in its pouch as the buck came to within twenty meters of my position. I snapped of some great photos of the big buck then as a grunt ringed out over the ridge he bolted meeting a large light colored buck at the ridge eighty meters from his mob. The large light colored buck didn’t dare stick around and ran before the big red menial could get an antler in him. Then it seemed there were medium bucks and spikers in all directions. They must have been watching from patches of timber in which I couldn’t see them and when they seen the big fella go after the light colored buck they moved in. One young stick head walk past me at 5 meters and headed straight through the does splitting them up into two groups. The large red menial seeing this ran straight at the stick head and smashed its rear quarter as it tried to get out of harms way. All the deer seemed to disappear into the lower valley and over the ridge lines. The grunting continued and I could easily tell the big fellas grunt over any other. I sat there for ten minutes listening to the grunting then the big red menial returned to the small clearing in the valley with 16 does; he’d rounded all his girls back up. I watch the herd for another 40 minutes before he moved back into range. I felt I had him on the wall but when I lifted the fred bear recurve to draw a doe caught sight of it and let out a bark scattering the mob. That was a real highlight to this trip being so close to that big red menial.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006142.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006150.jpg
I returned back to camp were Manuel Agius had a great little story to tell. He’d been cooking the lad’s breakfast when they spotted a young buck grazing on a hill side up behind camp. Manuel finished cooking the lads there bacon and egg breakfast then headed off with his Samick Hawkeye recurve towards the young buck. As Manuel stalked in it started to rain the buck laid down. It then started to poor down and Manuel used it to his advantage moving right in to well under his effective range. He put a shot in on the young buck and dropped him within 50 meters of full stride. A great traditional harvest and some top video footage that Ben chambers got of the whole stalk. The deer was fully utilized, skin, meat, antler, bone for primitive heads and the hoofs for bow racks.
I dreamt about deer all night and anytime I woke up I was thinking about the big fella and the area he was in. Morning came quickly and I was geared up, full of breakfast and off again. I hunted that small valley and the ridge for five days chasing that same big red menial. Every day I located him and stalked into shooting distance but one thing or another went in his favor. I was hooked up on him with a passion and every morning I’d head straight over to his range, but it was never meant to be. On the last day of the hunt I hiked back into his range at first light. I was making my way slowly up a trail running over the ridge that I’d seen him near the last three occasions when I spied him walking straight towards me. He’d lost his girls as he walked by himself with his nose to the ground smelling. We had to leave the next morning back to Western Australia so time was running thin and this was definitely my last chance at him for the year. I was stuck in a bare patch on the trail and there wasn’t time or cover to move, so I just got right down low as he walked straight towards me. There was a little rise seven meters in front of me and he disappeared behind it for a minute. He’d reappear just seven meters in front of me and it would be my only chance for a shot. Massive antlers tipped over the rise as the big red menial crested the lip in front of me. He still walked with his head down front on, presenting no reasonable shots. Then without stopping for a second the big fella sprung sideways and disappeared of the track into the thick. He’d come to within six meters but never let me think about shooting let alone draw my recurve. That was pretty heart breaking but such is bowhunting.
My legs were aching from the past weeks hunting and I was thinking it was time to head back to camp, but I powered on saying to myself “one more valley” then I’d walk that valley and it was “just one more ridge”. That one more ridge turned into three and I found myself surrounded by grunting fallow bucks. Looking in the direction of a few grunts I could see four bucks, three of them held does the fourth buck ran from mob to mob stirring the does up. I made my way towards the bucks hoping the stirring satellite buck would cross my path. He was a decent animal in my books with nice even antlers and a beautiful skin. I stalked in between two of the mobs and sat in an ambush position awaiting the satellite buck to cross my path. It never eventuated as some does scattered and the satellite buck got busy with them. A large buck bolted out herding his girls back up and the satellite buck retaliated. Two more does broke from the mob on there own accord and crossed a game trail eighty meters to my side. I could see the satellite buck sniffing there trail one hundred and fifty meters from the track the does crossed. I quickly stalked over to the trail they were traveling and got ready for the satellite buck to cross my path while following the girls up. Twelve meters he passed in full stride, I led him right as the arrow left the string of the bear recurve meeting the bucks hide and penetrating both lungs. He dropped 30 meters away and was totally unaware of the shot or the hit. He is my first traditional harvested deer and I couldn’t have been happier with him or myself.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006102.jpg
Hiking back to camp I paused to take some photos of the sun going down. Swarms of bugs hovered over the trees while I took the last photos for the trip. It was a real true moment for me. Standing there with my hard earned trophy strapped to my pack and my recurve standing against me. It’s hard to get enough.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/vicdeerhunt2006180.jpg
Enjoy the hunt like those before you.
Adam Greentree
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/2vicdeerhunt2006105.jpg