Back from New Zealand!

[DEERSLAM]

Well my Dad and I just got back from New Zealand. We had a FANTASTIC hunt and experience on the South Island with Leithen Valley Trophy Hunts. Everything from the accommodations and Kiwi hospitality to the actual hunting experience was top notch.

Things did start off a little rough when we arrived in Auckland to find that our rifles made it but our luggage, which contained all of my clothes as well as Dad's, did not. Ouch! Lucky for us we had decided to pack our boots in our carry ons. After getting to the Lodge it was time to try and scrounge up some clothes.
Here I am in my borrowed Kiwi huntin gear.

This is the main Lodge

These are the guest quarters

 

[Arrowslinger]

I've seen the end result of this hunt and it's good...make that great!

 

[Glass eye]

 

[DEERSLAM]

The first evening, after checking the zeros on our rifles, we took a drive around a small portion of the ranch. We saw some beautiful country, lots of Red Deer and lots of Fallow Deer. We were warned not to even load our rifles because we would be temped to end our hunt on the first evening. They were right! Dad saw a Red Stag that he want and wanted BAD! We all told him to take it easy and I put his rifle in the back of the truck and moved on.
The hardest part of this hunt was seeing some MONSTER Stags and knowing that we couldn't hunt them. I, like most of you are used to hunting for the biggest critter we can find. Not the case here, unless you have some major funds available.

Some of the country

 

[Glass eye]

 

[DEERSLAM]

Well the second day went about the same as the first, well for me anyways. I saw a lot of Stags and was in no rush to pull the trigger. The country was breathtaking and the animals were spectacular. My Dad and his guide found the Stag that he had been talked out of the day before and put a stalk on. After cutting the distance to about 100yds and getting a good look at the 8x9 it was decided that this Stag was too narrow and short in the main beam so they passed. Later that morning Dad and his guide found a great looking Silver Medal Stag and the stalk was on. They got within 250yds and Dad made the shot.

Dad's 7x7 Silver Medal Stag

On the third morning my guide and I bumped a great looking Silver Medal Stag and the chase was on. We saw the Stag and his little buddy head up a draw and we headed after them only to find that the smart deer doubled back on us. I spotted the two deer on the ridge to our right and they were off to the races. We watched these two put some serious distance between us. After crossing a valley and heading almost to the top of the next hill they slowed and started to feed. We watched till they bedded, the big guy in the bush and his little 5x5 buddy in the open looking our way. This made for a tough stalk but with some luck and skill we closed the distance.

The Stag was in the top right of this pic.

My guide ranged the 5x5 at 249yds and I set up for the shot.

After about a 30 min. wait the big guy got up and I took the shot. My guide called it a good hit and I reloaded as the Stag ran to the left about 15yds, stopped and I shot again. The Stag went down hard at the shot and the back slappin started. Both shots hit the shoulder 2 1/2" apart.

My 8x9 Silver Medal Stag.

 

[DEERSLAM]

Sorry but I have to get ready for work so the rest of the story, and trust me it gets even better, will continue tomorrow.

 

[Glass eye]

Don't know how it could get better, but I'll check back.

 

[DonaldCMartin]

Great stuff! Keep it coming!

 

[Bulleye]

WTG!!!

 

[DEERSLAM]

On day four it was decided that I would go out to the public forest, where deer season is open year round with no limits, and hunt for a Hind (female Red Deer) for camp meat and dog food. Yep, their many ranch dogs eat deer meat as there main staple.
Talk about spooky! These deer don't hang around for a second look. First thing in the morning I passed on a head shot at about 125yds. We then made a long stalk and set up for a 350yd shot on a Hind when she caught some slight movement and was gone in a flash. We then spotted a hind about 600yds away in some thick forest. We put on a stalk and could get no closer than 425yds. I set up for the shot and the wary hind spotted movement and took off. A couple of loud whistles from my guide stopped her and I let one fly. At 425yds she took a 130gr Nosler through the top of her heart and went about 20yds. The celebration was on.

Here she is.

That evening we went out to collect some Paradise ducks and I got a couple of pairs.

While we were out driving around on the fourth evening we spotted a huge Stag that had some how escaped onto public land....

 

[DEERSLAM]

Oh I forgot...our luggage did show up on the evening of the third day.

Well day five started off with a BIG surprise. When I came up for breakfast the Outfitter told me that he did not want a poacher or someone to get that big stag that I had spotted the night before and gave me the green light to go get him if we could find him. GAME ON!
My guide and I headed for the area that we had seen the big boy the night before. We did some glassing but it was pretty windy that morning and it didn't seem like anything was out. We hiked up into the area and glassed from every angle into the thick bush but couldn't find him. We thought about my guide pushin some bush to see if the big guy would come out but after debating for quite awhile it was decide we would back out and come back in the evening to see if he would feed out. While taking a different route back to the truck my guide suddenly hit the ground and signaled me to do the same. I crawled up to him and he told me he could see tines above the bush below us. I crawled forward and set up but there was no shot. I kept moving to my right trying to get a better angle and also hoping the Stag might move slightly. Finally he had had enough and started to move off though the bush. I had a small opening at about 90yds and put a shot through his neck. The shot didn't hit bone and he ran to the left about 50yds and stopped in a small opening where I placed a shot through his shoulder and down he went. Major celebration time!! When we walked up on him I couldn't believe the size of him. Huge in the body and horn. He was estimated to be 8-9yrs old.

Here he is...Gold Medal

 

[DonaldCMartin]

Free range, gold medal stag!

You've got to be $%@#%@ kidding me!

Way to go, that's a crusher! Congratulations!!!

 

[One Track]

Wow! Phenomenal animals! Being able to hunt with your dad in such an awesome place must have been an incredible experience.

 

[DEERSLAM]

I don't no why that last pic is sideways...it's not like that in my photobucket account. If anyone can fix it, go for it.

Well as far as Dads last day...he didn't do too bad himself!!

We had a "Hunt of a Lifetime", as much as I don't really care for that term.
Thanks for lookin.

Dad's Gold Medal Stag

 

[Bulleye]

Thats amazing. You guys slayed them! How does red stag compare to blacktail or elk. Congrats again on a great hunt.

 

[jhuhtala]

Holy smokes fellas, those are fantastic. Nice Work!!

 

[Hitechhunter]

Wow, what an opportunity! Great job!

 

[Arrowslinger]

INCREDIBLE!!

 

[MJB]

NICE!!!!!

What cal. were you shooting?