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Farming
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Huntin’ and fishin’ in the good ol’ I was driving back from a trip to the upper Rangitata looking for salmon. We hadn’t found any, but it had been a great sunny afternoon in the solitude that you get when fishing up river. Just you and the sun and the rushing water. We were talking about hunting on the way back. “I am a bit disillusioned with deer stalking out the back here,” I said gesturing to the country behind us. “I don’t know what has happened. In 2008 there were stags everywhere.” And that had been right. Our first roar hunt had resulted in a 12 pointer shot within sight of the car. It wasn’t even 7.30am, and we had nearly missed him as we were standing at the top of the terrace admiring the moon setting over the divide. Then my rifle had jammed on the load, and the ‘clink’ when I unjammed the action had got the stag spooked. He’d stopped and stood there looking in our direction, alarmed, front-on and over 200 yards away across the tussock. I’d managed to get my rifle reloaded and looked at him
Greg Martin
BRASS AND FEATHERS
through the misting scope. Things were not steady. I gave the shot to my buddy. A crack, and I saw the monarch flinch. He made a dash to the right. A second shot went over his shoulder into the bank behind him, but it wasn’t needed. The first had hit him chest-centre. He dropped and didn’t move again. Ecstasy. First stag. 12 pointer. Awesome shooting. After butchering him we carried the meat and head off the terrace, and down to the car. It was hard work, but who cared. We were on the way home, mission accomplished. One hunt, one stag. Unbelievable. A drink, and then we were driving, picking our way along the track through the gorse back to the road. continued over page
The good old days happen when you are out there PHOTOS SUPPLIED looking for new experiences.
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