just returned from NZ [ with pics ...

[Friend]

The goat harvest just grand.

Fabulous pic of the Red Stag.

They are at the very top of my dream hunts.

Thank goodness, at least, turkeys are my second choice of which I am in the pre rut phase now.

Wonderful trip and I am so thankful you have shared it.

[redant 60/65]

What a beautiful place to be , thanks for sharing.  

[piggy]

Awesome Ben! NZ is one of the places I hope to hunt in the future, thanks for sharing

[mmisciag]

Now I have NZ envy...

Great story and pictures.

Martin

[koops4]

Thanks for the story and amazing pictures.

[JParanee]

Congrats on a great trip

[JParanee]

Congrats on a great trip

[JParanee]

Congrats on a great trip

[Bernie B.]

Congratulations on your hunt!  That's some very impressive looking country.  Thanks for sharing your story and pictures.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[sore fingers]

Great pics! Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing.

[twitchstick]

Thanks for sharing your trip it looks wonderful down there. My wife had a conference this year in NZ that we were going to spend an extra week playing. It got canceled and I am still sick over it. Congrats on the goat.

[Cherokee Scout]

You are a lucky person to have been able to go there. Great pictures.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Originally posted by JParanee:
Congrats on a great trip

stuttering fingers lol.    

Did you get any other stalks in or is this the end of an awesome story?

[Shedrock]

Great pics, beautiful country!

Thanks for sharing  

[Warden609]

Congrats on your hunt.

[Ben Maher]

Charlie ...
I chased some Merriams turkeys into 12 yards ... then missed ! They were a lot around and there eyesight is pretty good eh !

Later in the hunt , further down south after the lads had headed back to Oz i spent a couple of days chasing Reds . As there was only three  left of hunting and I could not bring any meat hoe nor knew anyone who would rtake it , it became more a game of "lets see how close I can get " rather than a concerted effort to drop the string... or so I tell myself
I managed on two occasions to "Roar " [ i sound like a sick shhep rather than a deer but it seemed to work ! lol ] some stags in ... and what a rush that is .

After glassing two hillsides , covered in what appeared to be low scrub I spotted a large stag not 400 yards off . He didn't seem to be moving anywhere and was , I think waiting for later in the day to feed . Finishing my coffee and worked a rough plan to approach the bedded stag , at the very least to get in and get some photo's .

After a good two hr detour uphill to approach with a crosswind , I began to notice that the ' low crub was deceptive as much of it was taller than me . It made great stalking country but also hid the deer from my view and as such "spot n stalk " now became a still hunt .... atop a steep mountainside where I often had to use hand holds to move .
After I become somewhat unsure as to my position on the mountain compared to where I had seen the deer I gave a few blows on the horn...waiting for a responce , like all children I became impatient and began to raise the horn to my lips for another , more aggressive 'roar ' when I heard my new friends responce . I figuerd he was within 100 yards but no further than 40 yards ... doesn't sound like much but in that country it could have meant a few hours more travel ...
Whilst I debated my options and indecision I heard another stronger responce , which seemed much closer than the first . The country was pretty unsure under foot and I was hesitant to draw an arrow in such terrain unless actually about to draw but needs must and a sharpened STOS 160 was now pointed in what was hopefully the right direction .
The afternoon had waned since i started up the hill and in the distanec I could hear other animals becoming active , including more roaring up the valley . However the wind had started to swril and time was now against me . Do I continue the stalk , aware that the only thing I could salvage would be antlers and perhaps a few choice cuts of meat ? approach more boldly but with the camera in hand ?

Perhaps , luckily the wind solved my dilemma for me . Ahead [ and much closer than I imagined ] I saw the tips of antlers rise and disappear above the shrubbery ... the sound of hooves dancing across rocks echoing past me as the stag made his way , much akin to how I would think an Ibex would travel down  such a steep shale covered mountainside ...

This my adventure , at the least with bow inhand had ended . Would , had the stag presented himself , I have loosed my arrow ? I like to think not ... but who knows ?

As I write I have maps of the same area , my notes and a financial budget ...ready for next year when hopefully I'll be lucky enough to hear the haunting guttural roar of those stags once more

[Friend]

I just had to view that that magnificent Red Stag pic again.

Dream..Dream... Dream!!!!