Todays walk

[Piggy]

I took the longbow out for another walk this afternoon; the changing weather and good wind had my hopes high of locating a Sambar. Heading into the first valley I immediately pick up some very fresh spoor that of a hind and calf, the grass in the spoor was still leaning over and trying to straighten back up. Oddly they were travelling with the wind and as I’m not interested in a hind especially with a calf at foot I headed into the wind in my search for some game.

Following the game trail but about 10m below it so I could see both the nice green creek flats and up to the ridge above, I SLOWWWLY inched my way along with one arrow knocked and the other held in my bow hand with my bow after my experience with my back quiver last week it now stays at home when hunting.
As I approached a slight bend in the creek below I spotted the back of a deer at about 20m away moving up the hill from the creek just below me. As the deer was just over the rise in front of me and its head not visible I immediately squatted and turned to face the game trail about 10m above me. With the deer now to my right I watched him out the corner of my eye when his head came up, a young stag with antlers about 14” to 16” in length as he continued up towards the game trail where upon reaching it he turned to travel along it. Shocked he had still not picked me up as he was now facing me a less than 20m he continued to travel straight to me getting closer with every step, his nose down to the ground I can only assume he was following the hind and calf. As he walked behind 3 small gums I drew my Howard Hill longbow and as he stepped out from behind the trees he was now full broadside at what was later paced out at 8m. I held my draw totally focused on my point of aim I knew I could have this deer you don’t often get such good shot opportunities as this.

Knowing beyond doubt that this deer could be taken my task was done and not being able to hold my draw much longer I slowly let down the string with the deer catching my movement and instantly letting out that Freight train “HONK” before bounding behind the nearest. Now on my left side out of view I slowly turned to have a face off
with him at around 20m before he bolted into the next valley.
Mate my heart started thumping I love getting this close to game!
Having an idea as to where he might go I hightailed it over to a nice little secluded spot in the thicker country and while making my way over there we met again but this time he spotted me first Honked and as usual I caught a fleeting glance.


Cheers

Paul

[maxy]

Sounds like fun piggy!

I take it your holding out for a bigun then? Showed great self control not to let er rip from that distance - Let him go, let him grow

Well done

Maxy

[XTfreak]

Wow Piggy I dont know if I have that much self control.
Sounds like it wont be long before you put his Daddy on the ground.
Good luck to you...
Bill

[Piggy]

I would rather not take a deer just for the sake of shooting it, there are much larger deer in the areas I hunt so I will wait until I get my chance, although I have had them and missed my oppertunities.
I don't need the meat so I'm happy in the knowledge I gain from every encounter and being able to draw on him is just a bonus to a late afternoon walk.

Cheers

Paul

[Antarcher]

That is an excellent effort there piggy. It is not always the kill that brings the satisfaction. Very nice control in the situation.

[HOOD]

Great read and well done on getting so close.

[rory]

That stag will come hey :) Nice!!

[Piggy]

As most here would know I go out for a hunt almost every Monday or Tuesday afternoon so I thought I would have a post where I enter my hunt every week regardless of weather I see and game or not.

Today 7/8/07 I went out again and after my last two trips I thought I would once again take my Longbow, as it appears to be lucky at the moment.
It was a windy afternoon and sunny day so I checked out a few gullies without luck but plenty of sign sighted. About an hour before sunset I headed up into the right hand gully above Blue dam, stalking just inside the timber country I approached the first pile of blackberries and after checking the wind started to stalk around when I spotted the rear section of a deer walking out of sight around the blackberries. With a fence running through the blackberries and me on the wrong side I stood looking for the deer when a ripper set of antlers long and white popped up on the other side of the blackberries. After the other day I decided this stag about 26” to 28” was a taker and not being able to get through the fence I felt I had to contour around the blackberries which are about 15m wide and 25m long.
Before moving off I watched the stag feed and he started to travel up the hill a few meters. I was thinking to myself is he heading out to the paddocks 30m away? My gut feeling was that it was still way to light for him to venture out into the open and he would mill around the blackberries for a while, I kept telling my self to get into position and WAIT.
My impatient got the better of me an I SLOWWWLY started to sneak my way around, not wanting to blow it I stopped to try to locate the stag again to see if he went out to feed or not. On all fours I took a peek around the bush I was using for cover when I just about soiled myself. The stag was walking towards me at about 5m absolute max when he picked me up and stopped instantly with his front hoofs sliding to a Holt.
The stag had his front legs extended out in front of him at about 45 degrees with his head held low just above his knees his hind quarters still fully upright we stared at each other for a few moments before he just about did a back flip and jumped behind the nearest tree.
He stamped his feet a few times before walking away still not knowing what I was.
I’m still paying out on myself for not trusting my gut feeling as I should have known better but it never pays to be impatient when hunting.

To say my little long bow is my LUCKY bow is an understatement!

[Jeffro]

:DGreat reading Paul

[Rob H]

With the luck you've been having with that bow mate it's only time before you grass the big one:D

Thanks for sharing,

Rob

[Dale Furze]

Although an awesome feeling being so close, it is very daunting when you are crouched and you look at them eye to eye. They aren't your average little critter.

Good luck with them Paul.

[stu]

nice work in getting so close, great read

[Piggy]

I purchased a new video camera on Monday and thought I would take it out for a walk today.
I managed to locate a young calf and I immediately went for the new video, while trying to get it out It's mother walked out across my path about 18m infront of me and immediately stopped mid stride and turned to look my way. I'm still trying to get the video going only to realise I can't fit my hand in the strap with my shooting glove on, so some carefull adjustments and I'v got my hand in only to realise I have left the lenz cap closed (Tool). With the hind and calf both staring at me and the Hind stamping her foot I managed to open the lens cover and start the video ( pretty lucky really).
While filming I thought I should get some stills to post so I selected the still shot option and took some stills ( pretty poor quality) and went back to filming until I started to shake and cramp from squatting so with my left hand I knocked an arrow as the long bow on the ground next to me, picked up the bow put the video down drew the bow then as I was letting down she finally decided to bark and bolt.
Didn't have the heart to shoot her with a such a young calf.
I also found out lated that when I went to still shot I never pushed the record button to video again so I have some video and some stills.

Oh well at least I learnt the hard way

When I figure out how to get the image from the video to here I will post a pic although it not that good a picture.

Cheers

Paul
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/2piggy/2-10-07002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/2piggy/2-10-07003.jpg

[hunt or be hunted]

pretty luck to get the camera out i reckon, you were bloody close 18m! not bad mate and although the pic's are blury IMO it doesnt really matter as long as you get the picture.

dan.

[jindydiver]

Great stuff Paul :D

Did you speak to Errol about that other thing? He had the deer workshop on the w/e and i was going to go and catch up but in the end didn't :(

[fallowhunter]

Nice pics Paul, they sure have big ears

I use to take video/stills the same way until I read the manual booklet and found that I can take stills while in the video mode, and even during filming, maybe your`s is the same?

Cheers Steve

[Piggy]

Yes Mick spoke to Errol thanks.
Fallow hunter I will see if I can do that also, I only got the camera after work the day before so I didn't get a chance to play with it much (the camera that is).

Cheers

Paul

[jindydiver]

so I didn't get a chance to play with it much (the camera that is).






Glad you cleared that up http://www.madmick3006.com/Gif_pics/forum_fun/lmao2.gif

Next tuesday's effort will all be on tape then?

[Aimstix]

mate, great action pics there!!!!

[Piggy]

Mate it's a tough call between taking pictures or trying to nail the big fella.
The day I set out fully prepared for pictures you can bet I get my chance on him again and miss the opertunity.

Such is hunting hey

I also got some video of another hind about 1h later and when I work out how to get a still off the video I will post a pic of her also she was about 25 to 30m away.

Cheers

Paul

[Paul R]

Very cool mate.
It looks like there's a lot of dense scrub they're hanging out in, I hope when you finally have a shot at the big fella, it dosn't get in the way.
Good luck mate and keep sharing the story, I'm enjoying it.:D

[Antarcher]

Another fine outing there Paul with excellent reults. The hunt does not always have to be successful with a dead animal on the ground in my opinion also.