What's a saltie guide do when faced with 20 kt southerlies when his mate is coming up from Dunedin? Looks for freshie options. I'm jealous, they have 4 or 5 days chasing spottie mud fish on the East Cape region.
On the other hand, here's what the weather is forcing them to miss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjy5o2Z0MhA
20 odd kg of kingi on fly. Yeah.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Walking Access Commission
In case you've not tried the mapping system, have a look here:
http://www.arahikoi.org.nz/
You'll need to register to have a play with the BETA version. It's quite good... except... I reckon that lots of land owners who always thought some sort of right of way such as Queen's Chain existed on their property, may suddenly realise that it doesn't. Will attitudes towards recreational users change as a result? I guess we wait and see....
http://www.arahikoi.org.nz/
You'll need to register to have a play with the BETA version. It's quite good... except... I reckon that lots of land owners who always thought some sort of right of way such as Queen's Chain existed on their property, may suddenly realise that it doesn't. Will attitudes towards recreational users change as a result? I guess we wait and see....
Opening day
Ok, I've had time to lick my wounds, but I'm not quite ready to look at the dilapidated state of my fly box just yet. Met up with Milo at the appointed time and place, stuck my head over the bank and sheesh, the best bet of them all was running high & murky. Stikll, we popped in and said hi to the land owner before nipping down the confluence and fishing our way up. Milo with a big pink glo bug, me with a more sedate mix of hot bead UV inveigled nymphs. Nothing bit in the first run, or second, nor third... in fact nothing bit in the whole beat. I caught trees, rocks, snags and lost a bunch of flies. All with an outward good grace that I really wasn't feeling. We upped sticks and bolted over the hill to another spring creek, in similar order. Milo redeemed himself in the lower reaches, a skinny rainbow munching his glo bug. I lost a peewhacker. And a bunch of flies, fark I was out of practice.... we moved upstream and stopped in to see the farmer before hitting some better reaches. The water was clearing fast and the rain had stopped. Things were looking up.... we fished some holding water that had coughed up fish so many times in the past. By now we were fishing apart, leap-frog style... and still wondering where the pet fish were. Coming to a farm track I looked up as a bloke on a mule came across the stream above me. He had a sour look on his face and asked what I was doing on his land, and who had given permssion. I told I was fishing, was on Queen';s Chain and stuck out my hand. Told him that the bloke downstream had given permission to access the water, but this guy was having a bad day and asked me to head back from where I'd come. We parted ways and I wandered up to find Milo. As I told him about the exchange I'd had, he hooked into a nice 'bow and played it ashore. He was pretty pissed, in 15 years of fishing this water it was the first negative we'd ever had. So we moved back down to talk with the guy who had given us permission and his advice was to "tell the prick to f*ck off!". Probably not the best move really. I had to hit the road so Milo sought out Mr. Grumpy and set him straight on who had right of way. Some semblance of an agreement was reached for future occassions. Ok outcome I suppose.
The day really did remind me of past high water rain sodden openings. Roll on summer when the flies hatch, the fish sip from the surface... and my casting is up to scratch! At least Milo caught fish.
The day really did remind me of past high water rain sodden openings. Roll on summer when the flies hatch, the fish sip from the surface... and my casting is up to scratch! At least Milo caught fish.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Goose problems
The problem with geese is that they provide a focal point to polarize people. Last week I had a conversation with a guy up north (far north) who has taken to laying into the geese with a .308. I opined that shooting at geese in paddocks showed a complete disregard for safety; however he was quick to point out that:
1. He's in the arse end of nowhere, on his own land and knows who is there (no one)
2. He's sharing his own land and his spring grass, with 350 ravenous parries and 150 geese
3. F&G's gas guns scare geese for approx 2 days, after which they ignore them.
4. He hasn't got time, or money, to go about trying to move geese on with dispersal methods more agreeable to the average sportsman.
You have to feel sympathy for a guy who is watching his livelihood get turned into goose and parrie shit. The goose is divisive, isn't it?
1. He's in the arse end of nowhere, on his own land and knows who is there (no one)
2. He's sharing his own land and his spring grass, with 350 ravenous parries and 150 geese
3. F&G's gas guns scare geese for approx 2 days, after which they ignore them.
4. He hasn't got time, or money, to go about trying to move geese on with dispersal methods more agreeable to the average sportsman.
You have to feel sympathy for a guy who is watching his livelihood get turned into goose and parrie shit. The goose is divisive, isn't it?
What do you get for $360,000?
$360k could buy you many things. F&G's Eastern Whangamarino block has swallowed that much already, with only 3 ponds and the car park completed. The next round of funding from Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust (WCEET http://www.wceet.org.nz/wceet-funding-update/) is due to be contested soon. With 16 ponds and a car park area to be funded, there is a feeling of being on the knife edge - if funding is not forthcoming we're pretty stuck. I say "we" because like it or not, any enduring or legacy business from old council is now ours.
Here's a link to progress http://vimeo.com/9199873
I'm not against this type of project at all, and in fact congratulate councilor Cocks and ex councilor Williamson on their resolute and unwavering ambition to get this done. I really hope that mistakes of the past have been learned from. Stuffing ponds in for the sake of stuffing ponds in, in turn stuffs the ducks. A gun per 3-4 hectares = bye bye ducks.
But, I really am feeling a bit mystified about where the funds have gone. For $1,800 we (our party) got a day's machine & driver time. By my calcs that would be 200 working days under the WCEET funding. 200 working days is more than 3 ponds worth. Ok, gotta acknowledge the crushing and clearing that happens prior to a sod being turned... but still, I'm uneasy with the dollar amount expended for the return.
If we follow the normal model of cost recovery at pond ballot time, then shooters winning the ballot ought to be ready to shell out (to date) $22,500 per pond. But whoops, there's more to come. I know I'm being glib, it is after all granted monies. But still this is worth more than a passing thought.
Here's a link to progress http://vimeo.com/9199873
I'm not against this type of project at all, and in fact congratulate councilor Cocks and ex councilor Williamson on their resolute and unwavering ambition to get this done. I really hope that mistakes of the past have been learned from. Stuffing ponds in for the sake of stuffing ponds in, in turn stuffs the ducks. A gun per 3-4 hectares = bye bye ducks.
But, I really am feeling a bit mystified about where the funds have gone. For $1,800 we (our party) got a day's machine & driver time. By my calcs that would be 200 working days under the WCEET funding. 200 working days is more than 3 ponds worth. Ok, gotta acknowledge the crushing and clearing that happens prior to a sod being turned... but still, I'm uneasy with the dollar amount expended for the return.
If we follow the normal model of cost recovery at pond ballot time, then shooters winning the ballot ought to be ready to shell out (to date) $22,500 per pond. But whoops, there's more to come. I know I'm being glib, it is after all granted monies. But still this is worth more than a passing thought.
Monday, September 20, 2010
TT Madness
Tt asked me if I wanted to fish the National Pairs Competition at Lake Rotoaira in November. He's done it before, saying its a great way to learn from the best in the land. I must admit that I'm uncertain about it, getting my ass whipped by the best in the land is possibly someone's idea of sport (God's maybe?) hmmmm
There's nothing like getting in some practice, but again referring to the biggest baddest storm that we've seen for some time, you would think its somewhere between plain farkin crazy and absolute madness to set oneslf adrift on a sit on kayak and go fishing at the competition venue - wouldn't you??!! I mean we were getting blown over only 100 odd km away from the lake!
Check this out TT & Mate go fishing
Banana 1 (B1) was TT, I bet that B2 was that man-fish Nick Hannam. Practice makes perfect and I suppose that kayaks are sometimes intended for white water, but I really can't imagine casting in the wind that we had.
Maybe Rotoaira was more protected, but I also bet that it was a damn sight chillier up there too. At least they got some fish.
There's nothing like getting in some practice, but again referring to the biggest baddest storm that we've seen for some time, you would think its somewhere between plain farkin crazy and absolute madness to set oneslf adrift on a sit on kayak and go fishing at the competition venue - wouldn't you??!! I mean we were getting blown over only 100 odd km away from the lake!
Check this out TT & Mate go fishing
Banana 1 (B1) was TT, I bet that B2 was that man-fish Nick Hannam. Practice makes perfect and I suppose that kayaks are sometimes intended for white water, but I really can't imagine casting in the wind that we had.
Maybe Rotoaira was more protected, but I also bet that it was a damn sight chillier up there too. At least they got some fish.
PPPP - Working Bee, Getting Stuck In
Let's set the scene a tad - the biggest storm in absolute ages in terms of sheer size (2500 KM squre) decided to come along and test the mettle of "The Men". This very same storm has created carnage from the top of North Island to the bottom of the south Waaaboooomfah
What would make sane people go out in gale conditions with darn near sideways rain storms? Well, there was work that needed doing. Work involving the rearing of next year's pheasants. Vital work. Sanity saving work.
Shanks did the hard yards last year with the rearing pen, using as much existing infrastructure as possible. And what a mighty result he got. This year our brief was to expand the width of the pen, to take advantage of higher ground and hopefully avoid the lower part of the pen becoming boggy. We organised roughly 150m square of Rolawn roll out grassed turf, and Aunty, Cleaky and his young fellah had the job of transporting it. Thanks to Hislop & Barley for the use of the trailer, a big double axle flat bed. They rocked up to Dickie's on Friday afternoon, got loaded and set off into the teeth of the gale. When I spoke to Cleaky at about 5 they were about to be enveloped in a big black cloud... happy to say that they arrived safe and well. Then Aunty promptly turned around and drove home, apparently wires got crossed as a result of the forecast but anyway that was a hell of a big job to have out of the way. Thanks Simon!
When I drove past the top farm, (lets use real names for now), Craig, Tim and Quinn were hauling a load of top soil on the back of a trailer. I setltled in with a coffee and waited for them to arrive. Craig dumped the soil and then delivered the tractor back.
When he got back, Mick & Mitch rocked up, so after a coffee we picked up the tools and set off. Mitch got to work pulling down the materials on the outside of the old pen; given that we were expanding laterally everything had to come off. The rest of us set about spreading the topsoil, this is where our new turf (Rolawn, thanks to our kind sponsor) would be laid.
We then needed to dig a drain around the pen - and now for an amazing fact. This place receives 3-5 m of rain per annum. Consequently it is the home of mud. Thick mud. Some of the mud is yellow-orange. Other types of mud include grey treacle and pure slop. Some is slush. Some is puggy. Some has animal poo hues. If you want mud then you've come to the right place. Forgetting mud for a second (only a second mind you, it is an enduring and somewhat central theme and "stays with you" long after you've gone home) - it's what's underneath that is really interesting. As we dug we hit rotten rock, possibly old metal spread for the race but maybe not. More likely substrate. This was under a couple inches of mud and sludge and it was dry. It was crumbly and friable.So all that rain just hits, sinks in a bit, and then rolls off. Amazing.
Digging the drain took a while, but we got there. Meanwhile Mitch was in deconstruction mode and (remember this is in a gale) we began to dig out the old corrugated iron sides of the pen, which were well dug in to stop rats and pests getting in. We then began to lay the turf, and this was time consuming as we butted up the edges, mostly laid the 'grain' in the same direction ;) and got it bedded. Sooner than you'd believe, it was lunch time. The skinnies (Craig, Mitch & Tim) needed refueling. Mick and me were all good, for we knew that real men carry lunch with them. My lunch is bigger than Mick's I think. With all the beer I'm drinking lately, I will soon have the biggest lunch in the world!!!
After an hour's break with food and coffees we headed back down. Mick, Craig and Mitch began to dig in the new corner posts, while Tim and I began to shift a wall inside the rearing area to allow better airflow and more light. (UV kills all sorts of bad bugs). Things were going well and all to plan - normally this is the precursor to a major cluster, but not this time. We didn't get a vehicle stuck. No one got their leg chopped off (Craig's chainsaw is by far the biggest I ever used, bar is something like 40") and the good karma stayed with us. The boys were going hard at the new posts, and Tim and I got the new wall up (hope no one leans on it) and then laid a new plywood floor, all the better for cleaning as the existing pitted concreate held poo like a blanket holds poo. We finished rolling the rest of the turf and then before we knew it, it was 5pm. Down tools.
Still a power of work needs to be done (prolly not in this order):
- Build new outer walls around the pen (dig in corru. iron)
- Biuld up the walls with chicken mesh
- Lay shade cloth over the top (like 140m of the stuff)
- Brace outer posts
- Lay wires for cloth to sit on
- Plant lupin seeds in boggy spots
- Go hard on the trapping
- Fix up feeders
I can see another working bee before long.
We all went back up to the house and had a big meal of sausages (goose & duck), pasta, onions and mashed spuds and a few coldies before heading back out into the relentless weather to see if we could bag a piggie. We stopped at Pig Crossing, disgorged from the Prado (knew 8 seats would come in handy one day, even if only 6 of us aboard) and while Craig took Mick & Mitch on a walk, Tim his boy and I went cross country to the top baits. Walking around in howling wind and rain with only slight moon was GREAT. Just love being in the elements on a mission. Unfortunately to get to the baits in the howling wind was difficult, so by the time we tracked around them we were sure our scent had been taken to them. There was nothing at all on the baits, although Tim reckoned he'd heard a piggie squeal, probably as it got out scent.
On the walk back to the car I shot a possum, fun with the 7mm08.
The Men - Tim, Mick, Craig & Mitch
What would make sane people go out in gale conditions with darn near sideways rain storms? Well, there was work that needed doing. Work involving the rearing of next year's pheasants. Vital work. Sanity saving work.
Shanks did the hard yards last year with the rearing pen, using as much existing infrastructure as possible. And what a mighty result he got. This year our brief was to expand the width of the pen, to take advantage of higher ground and hopefully avoid the lower part of the pen becoming boggy. We organised roughly 150m square of Rolawn roll out grassed turf, and Aunty, Cleaky and his young fellah had the job of transporting it. Thanks to Hislop & Barley for the use of the trailer, a big double axle flat bed. They rocked up to Dickie's on Friday afternoon, got loaded and set off into the teeth of the gale. When I spoke to Cleaky at about 5 they were about to be enveloped in a big black cloud... happy to say that they arrived safe and well. Then Aunty promptly turned around and drove home, apparently wires got crossed as a result of the forecast but anyway that was a hell of a big job to have out of the way. Thanks Simon!
When I drove past the top farm, (lets use real names for now), Craig, Tim and Quinn were hauling a load of top soil on the back of a trailer. I setltled in with a coffee and waited for them to arrive. Craig dumped the soil and then delivered the tractor back.
Top Soil
When he got back, Mick & Mitch rocked up, so after a coffee we picked up the tools and set off. Mitch got to work pulling down the materials on the outside of the old pen; given that we were expanding laterally everything had to come off. The rest of us set about spreading the topsoil, this is where our new turf (Rolawn, thanks to our kind sponsor) would be laid.
Ditch Digging
We then needed to dig a drain around the pen - and now for an amazing fact. This place receives 3-5 m of rain per annum. Consequently it is the home of mud. Thick mud. Some of the mud is yellow-orange. Other types of mud include grey treacle and pure slop. Some is slush. Some is puggy. Some has animal poo hues. If you want mud then you've come to the right place. Forgetting mud for a second (only a second mind you, it is an enduring and somewhat central theme and "stays with you" long after you've gone home) - it's what's underneath that is really interesting. As we dug we hit rotten rock, possibly old metal spread for the race but maybe not. More likely substrate. This was under a couple inches of mud and sludge and it was dry. It was crumbly and friable.So all that rain just hits, sinks in a bit, and then rolls off. Amazing.
The old pen, note the slush & mould
Digging the drain took a while, but we got there. Meanwhile Mitch was in deconstruction mode and (remember this is in a gale) we began to dig out the old corrugated iron sides of the pen, which were well dug in to stop rats and pests getting in. We then began to lay the turf, and this was time consuming as we butted up the edges, mostly laid the 'grain' in the same direction ;) and got it bedded. Sooner than you'd believe, it was lunch time. The skinnies (Craig, Mitch & Tim) needed refueling. Mick and me were all good, for we knew that real men carry lunch with them. My lunch is bigger than Mick's I think. With all the beer I'm drinking lately, I will soon have the biggest lunch in the world!!!
Old walls are down, turf is rolled out
After an hour's break with food and coffees we headed back down. Mick, Craig and Mitch began to dig in the new corner posts, while Tim and I began to shift a wall inside the rearing area to allow better airflow and more light. (UV kills all sorts of bad bugs). Things were going well and all to plan - normally this is the precursor to a major cluster, but not this time. We didn't get a vehicle stuck. No one got their leg chopped off (Craig's chainsaw is by far the biggest I ever used, bar is something like 40") and the good karma stayed with us. The boys were going hard at the new posts, and Tim and I got the new wall up (hope no one leans on it) and then laid a new plywood floor, all the better for cleaning as the existing pitted concreate held poo like a blanket holds poo. We finished rolling the rest of the turf and then before we knew it, it was 5pm. Down tools.
Driving in new posts & demoing the old wall
Scope of work
Still a power of work needs to be done (prolly not in this order):
- Build new outer walls around the pen (dig in corru. iron)
- Biuld up the walls with chicken mesh
- Lay shade cloth over the top (like 140m of the stuff)
- Brace outer posts
- Lay wires for cloth to sit on
- Plant lupin seeds in boggy spots
- Go hard on the trapping
- Fix up feeders
I can see another working bee before long.
We all went back up to the house and had a big meal of sausages (goose & duck), pasta, onions and mashed spuds and a few coldies before heading back out into the relentless weather to see if we could bag a piggie. We stopped at Pig Crossing, disgorged from the Prado (knew 8 seats would come in handy one day, even if only 6 of us aboard) and while Craig took Mick & Mitch on a walk, Tim his boy and I went cross country to the top baits. Walking around in howling wind and rain with only slight moon was GREAT. Just love being in the elements on a mission. Unfortunately to get to the baits in the howling wind was difficult, so by the time we tracked around them we were sure our scent had been taken to them. There was nothing at all on the baits, although Tim reckoned he'd heard a piggie squeal, probably as it got out scent.
If you want to get ahead, get a hat (Happy birthday Craig)
On the walk back to the car I shot a possum, fun with the 7mm08.
Tim and I stayed up watching "Watchmen", a real cracker. Up at 6am, on the road at 6.30 and back in the big smoke. The mud on my driveway is a good reminder of a decent day's work done.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Mid September
I've mentioned elsewhere that September is a "layover" month on the outdoors-person's calendar; for us in AW our gamebird season is finished for a start. But looming on the horizon is the trout opening. For the first year in quite a number, I'll be out and about chasing an early season fish. The last time I fished opening was with Milo and cuzzie Paul.
We fished a 'local' fishery for resident brownies, and as i remember we did ok despite the rain... which isn't present in the photos. We landed 4 or 5 fish ... I think. I don't remember the year, probably 4 or 5 years ago?
Those fish sure are pretty, and quite ravenous in the early season. This opening we're revisiting the scene of the crime from years and years ago where we fished side by side a small creek that hold good flow prior to summer. I expect skinnyish 'bows, but hopefully the brownies will be home and hungry.
This is the best I've felt about fishing for a while. I'd never say that trout are easy, far from it in fact, but I lost the drive to chase them. I think its back.
Yay!
I plan to enjoy it. Go Mid September!
We fished a 'local' fishery for resident brownies, and as i remember we did ok despite the rain... which isn't present in the photos. We landed 4 or 5 fish ... I think. I don't remember the year, probably 4 or 5 years ago?
Those fish sure are pretty, and quite ravenous in the early season. This opening we're revisiting the scene of the crime from years and years ago where we fished side by side a small creek that hold good flow prior to summer. I expect skinnyish 'bows, but hopefully the brownies will be home and hungry.
This is the best I've felt about fishing for a while. I'd never say that trout are easy, far from it in fact, but I lost the drive to chase them. I think its back.
Yay!
I plan to enjoy it. Go Mid September!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Game: To give or not to give
I started on this idea awhile ago after the Close Up episode prompted by Guy's game dinner. Tim and I talked about this the other day, which is why the unfinished draft has percolated up my thought ladder. History: given that shot game was to be served at a restaurant, Guy got an opinion from AWF&G's Legal Counsel on whether serving pheasant from Lakelands was on the light side of the law. Apparently not - Bruce Stainton's view was that the giving of game, or any part of game, to persons other than immediate family is illegal. That part of the law needs a bit of work, not that anyone would be in any danger of getting sprung for giving a handful of feathers to a fly tying mate, or at least one would hope not. Where it got fuzzy was that a chef came along saying that he'd willingly pay for shot pheasant from preserves and all of a sudden the article took a dangerous curve. The sentiment expressed was that thousands of birds were being wasted/thrown in holes and would be better sold. Not true; but none the less it is hard to defend a situation where the people doing the shooting aren't doing the cleaning and eating*.
I'm slightly cold on the idea of selling those preserve shot birds even though we know it works overseas.
But I'm colder on a law that calls me criminal if I give a duck to a neighbour, soup kitchen or old people's home.
A Law tweak is needed, but extra vigillence is needed to ensure that the change does what its meant to.
*This includes all those parrie and goose culls where the meat is sometimes wasted.
I'm slightly cold on the idea of selling those preserve shot birds even though we know it works overseas.
But I'm colder on a law that calls me criminal if I give a duck to a neighbour, soup kitchen or old people's home.
A Law tweak is needed, but extra vigillence is needed to ensure that the change does what its meant to.
*This includes all those parrie and goose culls where the meat is sometimes wasted.
The Evening Goose
Friday morning we decided to have a lie in. I woke early enough at 6.30 and got up and pottered around a bit, but we really didn't make a move until well after 7. After a brekkie of pancakes, banana and syrup (go Andy!) we were ready to hang gear out to dry (the heavy weather had passed over) and sharpen knives for a goose filleting session. AJ, Andy & me made short work of it as Tim degrassed the blinds. Then we drove to one of Tim's mate's places to dispose of the bodies in a pit and back for a coffee. We decided on a trip around Lake Wairarapa - this being a sort of "come to god" experience for me as I'd dreamed about the place for years. Stopping for pies and beverages (this is a road trip remember) and for AJ to talk to the local girls, we then cut south to the lake. We drove the Western side first. You could call this side the 'civilised' side, with paddocks running right down to the waters edge, green pasture, and cattle and sheep farms. Tim explained that you had to be 'in the know' to hunt there, all highly territorial (seemingly mirroring the Lake Waikare scenario).
The Southern end of the lake is where the outlet is, a barrage controlling water flow into the diverted Ruamahunga River. Another geography lesson, I had no idea how close the Ruamahunga flowed. now we were getting into serious waterfowling territory. The Eastern side is far swampier, with willow chokes, raupo back waters and all round great territory. We drove around some famous sites, checking the DU reclaimed area (all a bit mish mash), the famous Boggy Pond, and stopped at Kilmore Lodge, a F&G owned hunting HQ available for hire.
Not many waterfowl were present, we saw a pair of geese over there and a few swan and ducks. Heading north again we drove back to Masterton and started preparing for an evening jump shoot on a farmer's pond.
Pond doesn't really describe it, figure on a small lake of about 120m long by 50m wide with tall trees on the northern edge, and enclosed by hills on both the North and Southern sides. The Eastern edge had a row of tall poplar like trees, bare of leaves. The Western end comprised lowish scrub, some smaller trees and marshy paddock with rushes. We slogged our way through slush and mud up the hill to the lake, and on inspection found several geese in residence. Tim walked the southern edge to move the birds (hopefully back towards us) and 3 unseen geese sprang and came towards us. Me AJ and Andy were hiding in the ruushes and when AJ called the shot we jumped up and took them out. I got 2 and AJ peeled the other, Andy not able to shoot as my mellon was in the way. We then took up positions, Andy & AJ under trees on the Northern Edge (stiff wind at their backs) while Tim and I covered the NE corner. After a longish wait (30 mins?) I heard a honk over the garbling of a flock of resident magpies and called the lads that geese were on their way. AJ sparked up his caller and soon 3 geese crested the rise in front of us, turned into the wind and barrelled in. Andy and AJ smoked them with some impresseive shooting, and Max the dog was soon in action. Later another 5 showed up and came in over Tim and me; but we let them come in and the boys opened up again, this time knocking down 2 and Tim pulled off a GIANT of a shot, dropping one at an easy 55m out in the paddock. It was breath taking. The other pair swung away caliing like lost sheep. AJ socked the calling to them and they swung back over us. This time it was my turn to take out a very high bird, seeing a goose drop like a sack of spuds is pretty impressive to say the least.
With 9 in the bag we called it a night. Max had retrieved magnificently, the shooting was spot on, and now we had a km long trudge in the dark (who forgot their headlamp then?) carrying 9 freakin heavy ass birds.
Back at the truck we chatted, then headed home for soup, steak & veges with Tim as our dinner guest. Another wicked shoot. We cleaned the birds that night so as to be ready for our early departure.
What a great couple of days.
Andy Tim & AJ sucking up the beauty
The Southern end of the lake is where the outlet is, a barrage controlling water flow into the diverted Ruamahunga River. Another geography lesson, I had no idea how close the Ruamahunga flowed. now we were getting into serious waterfowling territory. The Eastern side is far swampier, with willow chokes, raupo back waters and all round great territory. We drove around some famous sites, checking the DU reclaimed area (all a bit mish mash), the famous Boggy Pond, and stopped at Kilmore Lodge, a F&G owned hunting HQ available for hire.
Pond doesn't really describe it, figure on a small lake of about 120m long by 50m wide with tall trees on the northern edge, and enclosed by hills on both the North and Southern sides. The Eastern edge had a row of tall poplar like trees, bare of leaves. The Western end comprised lowish scrub, some smaller trees and marshy paddock with rushes. We slogged our way through slush and mud up the hill to the lake, and on inspection found several geese in residence. Tim walked the southern edge to move the birds (hopefully back towards us) and 3 unseen geese sprang and came towards us. Me AJ and Andy were hiding in the ruushes and when AJ called the shot we jumped up and took them out. I got 2 and AJ peeled the other, Andy not able to shoot as my mellon was in the way. We then took up positions, Andy & AJ under trees on the Northern Edge (stiff wind at their backs) while Tim and I covered the NE corner. After a longish wait (30 mins?) I heard a honk over the garbling of a flock of resident magpies and called the lads that geese were on their way. AJ sparked up his caller and soon 3 geese crested the rise in front of us, turned into the wind and barrelled in. Andy and AJ smoked them with some impresseive shooting, and Max the dog was soon in action. Later another 5 showed up and came in over Tim and me; but we let them come in and the boys opened up again, this time knocking down 2 and Tim pulled off a GIANT of a shot, dropping one at an easy 55m out in the paddock. It was breath taking. The other pair swung away caliing like lost sheep. AJ socked the calling to them and they swung back over us. This time it was my turn to take out a very high bird, seeing a goose drop like a sack of spuds is pretty impressive to say the least.
With 9 in the bag we called it a night. Max had retrieved magnificently, the shooting was spot on, and now we had a km long trudge in the dark (who forgot their headlamp then?) carrying 9 freakin heavy ass birds.
Back at the truck we chatted, then headed home for soup, steak & veges with Tim as our dinner guest. Another wicked shoot. We cleaned the birds that night so as to be ready for our early departure.
What a great couple of days.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Road Trip Report
Got back yesterday at 5.30pm having left Masterton at 8.30, a slowish drive punctuated with stops here and there - I even got a couple of casts into the TT River as we stopped and hooked up with a couple of AJ's mates. Reflecting now on what a good bunch of people kiwi's generally are, and how lucky we are too with the range of outdoor opportunities still open to us.
Backing up a little, picked up AJ quite early on Weds morning, timing the run to avoid traffic. We made Hamilton in good time, arriving early to grab Andy from Tamahere. Piling his stuff into the boot I was glad that only 3 of us were going, we couldn't have got any more stuff aboard. Included was 3 shotguns, boxes of ammo, 2 chilly bins, AJ's layout blind, bags of gear, waders, gummies.. well she was chocka. Onwards to Taupo for gas, lunch and to pick up some .22 ammo, and see AJ's life size photo on the outside of one window. Porn star. Then onwards, turning off at Vinegar Hill (seeing very few Rathmoy pheasants), across to Ashurst, through Manuwatu Gorge, Magatainoka (Hail! To the Tui Brewery) Paihiatua, Ekatahuna, and finally into Masterton. We found Tim's place alive with kids and visitors, were made very welcome, and then unpacked our stuff. We set off to find our bearings and gather grass for the layouts. Tim showed us Peter Jackson's place and we were soon gathering handfuls of the greenest grass possible. Tim explained that he'd tracked down a population of birds using a paddock by the sea, and that we'd have to be there and set up well before daylight in order to meet them as they arrived. Up at 3.20, had a munch of weetbix and packed the Toyota with guns, food, shell dekes etc. Tim's ute was stacked out with full body dekes and the blinds and quad bike were on the trailer. We shipped out and drove for an hour or so out of town. Arriving at a paddock gate after a number of twists and turns we loaded the quad and trailer and somehow got ourselves out to the spot. Checking a lagoon out Tim conveyed that the only thing that could have gone wrong just had - the birds were already sitting on the lagoon. He was gutted, seriously gutted. Even in the dark I could sense his head dropping. But press on we did, 4 hands making the blind setting up and decoy laying out a simplistic task. Tim took the quad back under cover and we were hunting.
Backing up a little, picked up AJ quite early on Weds morning, timing the run to avoid traffic. We made Hamilton in good time, arriving early to grab Andy from Tamahere. Piling his stuff into the boot I was glad that only 3 of us were going, we couldn't have got any more stuff aboard. Included was 3 shotguns, boxes of ammo, 2 chilly bins, AJ's layout blind, bags of gear, waders, gummies.. well she was chocka. Onwards to Taupo for gas, lunch and to pick up some .22 ammo, and see AJ's life size photo on the outside of one window. Porn star. Then onwards, turning off at Vinegar Hill (seeing very few Rathmoy pheasants), across to Ashurst, through Manuwatu Gorge, Magatainoka (Hail! To the Tui Brewery) Paihiatua, Ekatahuna, and finally into Masterton. We found Tim's place alive with kids and visitors, were made very welcome, and then unpacked our stuff. We set off to find our bearings and gather grass for the layouts. Tim showed us Peter Jackson's place and we were soon gathering handfuls of the greenest grass possible. Tim explained that he'd tracked down a population of birds using a paddock by the sea, and that we'd have to be there and set up well before daylight in order to meet them as they arrived. Up at 3.20, had a munch of weetbix and packed the Toyota with guns, food, shell dekes etc. Tim's ute was stacked out with full body dekes and the blinds and quad bike were on the trailer. We shipped out and drove for an hour or so out of town. Arriving at a paddock gate after a number of twists and turns we loaded the quad and trailer and somehow got ourselves out to the spot. Checking a lagoon out Tim conveyed that the only thing that could have gone wrong just had - the birds were already sitting on the lagoon. He was gutted, seriously gutted. Even in the dark I could sense his head dropping. But press on we did, 4 hands making the blind setting up and decoy laying out a simplistic task. Tim took the quad back under cover and we were hunting.
Layouts all set (Andy & AJ there somewhere)
After a couple of hours with the occasional honk heard in the distance, Tim was definitely unhappy. Then lying back and looking out I suddenly saw a pair of birds 500m away and locked up - they were coming straight in! All of us were back in our blinds under cover and just waiting. Tim called for Andy to take the birds and take the shot, and we launched ourselves out of the blinds.... waiting for Andy to shoot. Locked in as they were, the geese landed out by the furthest dekes set 25m away. They were mowed down as they took to the air and we had birds on the ground!
Tim's actually smiling!
Andy was stoked with his first goose/geese and gave it up for a quick photo.
Then it went quiet for quite some time. Tim and AJ went for a walk to a lagoon to put some birds off, there were between 50-70 just hooning around and we wanted birds in the air. While they were away a mob came into view. They circled us twice in range but never commited, and on the second pass I saw one flinch badly - straight away I knew he'd seen something amiss. The full beverage bottles we'd placed on the ground beside our blinds had been spotted. I took that one pretty hard to be honest, all the reading I'd done told me that's exactly what would happen. Silly beginner's error. So we whipped around making the place tidy, picking up some empty shells from the first shots and waited for the lads to come back. They'd got quite close to the geese which had all taken off and flown out to see. The wind was pretty mild so they were safe out there.
After another couple of hours, 4 birds came in from the North. With AJ calling they committed early, and all 4 stayed with us. Then a pair joined us so we had 8 in the bag - things were shaping up nicely. The time had just turned 12; and a Northerly front was approaching.
Tim meantime made several trips to the lagoon to put up birds. He was working hard for us and it began to pay off. The weather steadily worsened for the birds, with the wind turning and steadying there were now white caps on the sea and birds were moving. We had some good trial and error moments - with one flock approaching on a pass AJ asked if we were getting stuck in and given they were only 20m up I said
"Oh goodness me yes!" And me and AJ started peeling them as Tim was saying "NO!". We put down 3 of the 8 odd and knocked the crap out of another (I put down 2 and wounded the third) but Tim told us if we had let them come around again there was a real chance of all 8 staying. Lesson learned. (gulp). By mid afternoon we had a good bag down on the deck.
We got better and better as the day went on, not missing too many Chances. Tim grabbed a chance of his own when 2 birds charged in unseen after a lull and he cleaned them up beautifully. After a while we got out to take photos... doh!
I say "doh" because I was pushing to get photos while the light was good. (Shots in the field beat photos in the back yard). But also because birds were in the air. Leaving bodies lined up belly upwards while birds approach is not a good look, however in they came! Charging back into the blinds we claimed a couple of flocks, one which included AJ's "snow goose"
AJ & The Snow Goose (Bluddy Feral!)
The domestic bird had been seen hanging with geese offshore, so here was the evidence that birds would move back to where they'd been before.
Great Dekes make a difference
We packed it in at 5 or so, with dark coming we wanted to have the gear sorted (24 full bodies, 24 shells, 4 blinds, rubbish etc) before dark. Andy, AJ and I walked back to the vehicles talking about the day we'd just had. I was elated and I'm sure the lads were too. 35 birds on the deck, 33 of them since just before 12. Those early hours without much action just had to be gutsed out.
We packed the vehicles and got back to Masterton for a late dinner, showeer, drinks and hit the hay happy as pigs in shit. 
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Piripiri Pheasant Plucker's Preserve
The pheasant shoot previously known (by me) as Little Ruawai Preserve has now been officially renamed. We have a cast of good buggers now, and are putting down 500 birds this coming rearing season.
Roll Call:
Craig aka Shankspony (El Presidente)
Tim aka Cleaky (El Treasurer)
Me aka Snuffit
Hendrik aka Hendrik375
James aka Top Predator
Mitch aka GQHoon
Simon aka Aunty
Mick aka Mick Hunter
This will be the third year of bird raising and releasing, and this year we're getting more organised than ever. Including establishing working capital, because with raising birds you never know what the next event, be it disaster/calamity or triumph, will be and what will need to be covered. Mitch has raised birds before as well, not in the numbers we're talking about but his experience will be really useful.
17/18 Sep, we're holding a working bee to prepare the raising pen. Craig had put pigs in to turn the soil and expose it to sunlight, as UV kills Coxiellosis which can lay dormant. Unfortunately with the high rainfall the pen is a quagmire, so our first mission will be to establish a scoria base, and then thanks to the generosity of Dickie Sansome, we'll lay Rolawn grassed turf over the top. This is a very generous gesture from Dickie and Helen. Tim, Simon and I will pick up the turf which will weigh 2.5 tonnes and drag it down to PPPP and then we'll all get in boots and all and take care of the tasks at hand. Craig has the DOC license to hold and release. The trapping program will be stepped up, as with the lengthening days all those pesky little feckers will be breeding like mad.
I'll report as we go.
Roll Call:
Craig aka Shankspony (El Presidente)
Tim aka Cleaky (El Treasurer)
Me aka Snuffit
Hendrik aka Hendrik375
James aka Top Predator
Mitch aka GQHoon
Simon aka Aunty
Mick aka Mick Hunter
This will be the third year of bird raising and releasing, and this year we're getting more organised than ever. Including establishing working capital, because with raising birds you never know what the next event, be it disaster/calamity or triumph, will be and what will need to be covered. Mitch has raised birds before as well, not in the numbers we're talking about but his experience will be really useful.
17/18 Sep, we're holding a working bee to prepare the raising pen. Craig had put pigs in to turn the soil and expose it to sunlight, as UV kills Coxiellosis which can lay dormant. Unfortunately with the high rainfall the pen is a quagmire, so our first mission will be to establish a scoria base, and then thanks to the generosity of Dickie Sansome, we'll lay Rolawn grassed turf over the top. This is a very generous gesture from Dickie and Helen. Tim, Simon and I will pick up the turf which will weigh 2.5 tonnes and drag it down to PPPP and then we'll all get in boots and all and take care of the tasks at hand. Craig has the DOC license to hold and release. The trapping program will be stepped up, as with the lengthening days all those pesky little feckers will be breeding like mad.
I'll report as we go.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
The AndyH report
Here goes:
"Well, it was a quiet afternoon.
We were taunted the whole time by herds of geese on the green grassy farm slopes opposite the mai mai (across the swamp) cackling and grunting as they chased each other around. The odd rain shower to keep us hidden. And lots and lots of spoonies and teal! Heaps of them. A heap of ducks got up when we got there too and there were quite a few moving around.
Just before dark a single goose came across in front but was out of (my) range. Paul had a crack but it continued un slowed. Then a single came around the back and was going to land on the pond (thanks to my awesome goose calling), Paul was out in the punt getting the dekes back in and he had a larrup just behind me out of sight, when it came into view it was climbing fast and directly above. Needless to say, I missed it. Kevin and Rex in the other maimai dropped it with a few shots and it fell into some nasty sheet that the dogs couldn’t get into. So one down but none back to the vehicles.
They are so much bigger than ducks, I need to completely change the lead I give them I think.
But we will see in the Wairarapa whether geese are immune to my charms as they seem to be at the moment."
"Well, it was a quiet afternoon.
We were taunted the whole time by herds of geese on the green grassy farm slopes opposite the mai mai (across the swamp) cackling and grunting as they chased each other around. The odd rain shower to keep us hidden. And lots and lots of spoonies and teal! Heaps of them. A heap of ducks got up when we got there too and there were quite a few moving around.
Just before dark a single goose came across in front but was out of (my) range. Paul had a crack but it continued un slowed. Then a single came around the back and was going to land on the pond (thanks to my awesome goose calling), Paul was out in the punt getting the dekes back in and he had a larrup just behind me out of sight, when it came into view it was climbing fast and directly above. Needless to say, I missed it. Kevin and Rex in the other maimai dropped it with a few shots and it fell into some nasty sheet that the dogs couldn’t get into. So one down but none back to the vehicles.
They are so much bigger than ducks, I need to completely change the lead I give them I think.
But we will see in the Wairarapa whether geese are immune to my charms as they seem to be at the moment."
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Season's end
Today's the last day of the pheasant season - and the AW goose season. The end of 4 months of the game bird season. I can't be in the field today for one reason or another, much as I'd love to. From August we now roll into September, that sort of layover month where the shooting season (here) is finished and the closed trout streams don't open until October 1. September is the perfect month to do all the chores that you've been putting off around the house. Only 9 days until the goose trip, so really looking forward to getting away for a shoot.
Andrew's shooting with Paul Hannibel today, trying their luck on the geese. Maybe will text him later for an update.
There's a list of things we need to get done around the traps as well:
1. Late Sep we have the Little Ruawai Preserve working bee. Preaprataion of the main pen is the key mission. Underfoot conditions in the pen are horrird, so we're going to get some second Rolawn turf from Dickie, and lay that over scoria. Mitch, Mick & Simon are now also in the syndicate. That gives us Shanks, Tim, James, Hendrik, me, Mitch, Mick & Simon. We ought to be able to get plenty done.
2. Swamp - probably in Oct we need to put the new window that dad's made in. Roof repair (!). Spraying. Need to knock the poaquatica back. Maybe we'll have a bunch of traps through from Dave Klee as well by then.
3. my stream fly boxes are looking bare. Probably need to tie 6 dozen flies.... which I enjoy, but still it's a thing that 'needs to be done'.
Better get started!
Andrew's shooting with Paul Hannibel today, trying their luck on the geese. Maybe will text him later for an update.
There's a list of things we need to get done around the traps as well:
1. Late Sep we have the Little Ruawai Preserve working bee. Preaprataion of the main pen is the key mission. Underfoot conditions in the pen are horrird, so we're going to get some second Rolawn turf from Dickie, and lay that over scoria. Mitch, Mick & Simon are now also in the syndicate. That gives us Shanks, Tim, James, Hendrik, me, Mitch, Mick & Simon. We ought to be able to get plenty done.
2. Swamp - probably in Oct we need to put the new window that dad's made in. Roof repair (!). Spraying. Need to knock the poaquatica back. Maybe we'll have a bunch of traps through from Dave Klee as well by then.
3. my stream fly boxes are looking bare. Probably need to tie 6 dozen flies.... which I enjoy, but still it's a thing that 'needs to be done'.
Better get started!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The economics of digging a hole
I've been having this talk with Guy. I'm not claiming to be the thought originator, either. Its about the cost of digging a hole - or to be more specific, the cost of keeping the hole just so. A hole dug in a typical willow bound swamp will remain a hole for about as long as it takes spring growth to pop up. Extra soil warmth and daylight hours will encourage all sorts of aquatic flora to emerge, and most of the time what grows is not particularly desireable. Normally the purpose of digging a hole in willows is to open water and encourage bird life, more specifically ducks in the case I have in mind, but still its a simple objective. Keeping the water open costs time, effort and money, applied in equal doses. Skimp on one and your hole suffers. So for every dollar you spend on opening a hole, you have to budget say, $0.05 - $0.10 for every year thereafter, keeping the hole the way you want it to be. One of the biggest owners of these holes is AWF&G. The idea is that area user groups maintain the holes at their own expense, which is quite right. There's no escaping the concept of user pays, it's one of the realities of life. But what if the cost of maintaining the hole, or all of the holes, is an unbudgeted expense line in an overall financial plan? Does this mean that if you keep digging holes, you need more and more paid staff maintaining the holes? Something wrong with this picture?
Do we want to be the biggest owner of holes in the land? Maybe. But by being the biggest owner of holes, we are stuck being the biggest owner of holes. By inference you are then stuck being the biggest maintainer of holes.
We have 3 field staff in a region stetching from Raetihi to literally Kaiwaka. If even one of those staff is working on the F&G blocks at 80% capacity, then we're pretty stretched to do anything new. (Why they would be working on the properties is anyone's guess. It's not budgeted for in any approved plan that I can see).
I have to run now, but am keen to come back to this topic soon.
Do we want to be the biggest owner of holes in the land? Maybe. But by being the biggest owner of holes, we are stuck being the biggest owner of holes. By inference you are then stuck being the biggest maintainer of holes.
We have 3 field staff in a region stetching from Raetihi to literally Kaiwaka. If even one of those staff is working on the F&G blocks at 80% capacity, then we're pretty stretched to do anything new. (Why they would be working on the properties is anyone's guess. It's not budgeted for in any approved plan that I can see).
I have to run now, but am keen to come back to this topic soon.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Boy's road trip
We're almost set. Me, AJ, Andrew & Cock are road-tripping to the Wairarapa in September, to go goosing with Tim Allen. This trip has been some time in planning, and quite hard to get the crew together for. Tim can't come because he's saving like mad for his wedding; Shanks can't come because of work (calving etc); Guy can't come because he just likes pulling the trigger and goose hunting isn't always like that :D - nah, he's busy deciding on next year's strategy; Chris from up north can't come because of other stuff he's got on. Cock may even have to pull out if work calls on him. Andrew should be able to come if powers that be allow. Strategy is quite simple - the timing puts us in goose territory on the drakest nights of the month. Hopefully the geese will not have been overly hassled. Tim will scout them the days before we arrive and make a call on where we go, be it on land, or the lake. We'll then hunt them accordingly, and with 2 days and nights at our disposal will hopefully have at least one good session.
I'm looking forward to this like mad. I like a road trip to do something different. And it sort of fits my ambition to learn more about goose hunting.
Roll on September.
Met with my old boss today. His property Hau Ora Farms in the Tukituki Valley is primo pheasant territory. He put down 400 this year and has shot 90-something in small driven days. He's getting right into it and plans to put down 1,000 next year; supported by cover crops and on the back of a 3 year trapping program. (300 hedgehogs, tons of rats, weasels, ferrets, 70 cats...) looking at all that vermin, no wonder its so hard to breed and keep birds.
He recently had to modify his land - with 35 acres of old man gorse the nasties had too many hidey-holes and the birds flew straight to it. Check this out:
The aftermath. Pretty country huh? And when the burn off goes into cover of some sort the birds will appreciate the first striking of the match.
(Apparently there was an article in the local paper as a result of all that smoke.....)
I'm looking forward to this like mad. I like a road trip to do something different. And it sort of fits my ambition to learn more about goose hunting.
Roll on September.
Met with my old boss today. His property Hau Ora Farms in the Tukituki Valley is primo pheasant territory. He put down 400 this year and has shot 90-something in small driven days. He's getting right into it and plans to put down 1,000 next year; supported by cover crops and on the back of a 3 year trapping program. (300 hedgehogs, tons of rats, weasels, ferrets, 70 cats...) looking at all that vermin, no wonder its so hard to breed and keep birds.
He recently had to modify his land - with 35 acres of old man gorse the nasties had too many hidey-holes and the birds flew straight to it. Check this out:
The aftermath. Pretty country huh? And when the burn off goes into cover of some sort the birds will appreciate the first striking of the match.
(Apparently there was an article in the local paper as a result of all that smoke.....)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
24,000
Somehow, I've done 24,000 kms in the Prado in the 1 year that I've had her. Man, I'm not sure how I've managed that, given she's not been on any really big trips. So I thought about it. A trip to Shanks' place from my house is 252 Km. I've done the trip maybe 4 times. There's 8.3% of all of the Km's. A few trips to Taupo etc.. it all adds up. Still the one year milestone is reached.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Shanks Ranch
Normally I’m not big on Sunday day trips, as I far prefer travelling and fishing shooting on Saturdays and spending Sunday at home. A little flexibility is a good thing, so given that Mick, Mitch and their hairies wouldn’t be free until Sunday it was a done deal. We (Tim & I) hit the road about 1.30 Saturday on the 3+ hour drive to the Shanks Ranch, arriving as Shanks finished up feeding the calves. We unpacked, had a cuppa then headed up the hill for a pig. Shanks immediately spied pigs on the skyline on the way in, and as we moved across the paddock we were able to identify 4 piggies mooching around. We were a ways off but still within rifle range for a good shot (I am not a rifle shooter’s butt) so we headed in to the usual shooting spot. The breeze was light to nil, but unfortunately it swirled and I’m picking that our scent wafted uphill because as one their heads came up and they turned tail and charged off. We sat and waited for 20 minutes as the mist descended then headed off to see if we could see anything on the airstrip. Nothing doing so back to the Ranch Homestead for a bowl of carrot and coriander soup with some thick bread, then a course of venison and salad. A few beers went down then Mick & Mitch turned up and after we visited the Natural Bridge (spectacular glow worms and formations) by torch light we sat around shooting the breeze until midnight when I retired. Tim woke me and just about got a punch for his trouble at 1am. Then I struggled to get back to sleep. Craig woke us at 7 and I have to say I was feeling rusty. Toast & honey & coffee for breakfast then we packed the cars and headed off. Shanks Ranch is a fine piece of land, containing everything that I’d ever want in a property: contours, duck ponds, a trout stream, relative solitude and of course all the interesting wild life that you could hope for. Now pheasants being what they are tend to be birds of habit. The general feeling I got from Craig and which Mitch backed up was come mid August the birds get on the move and move out the usual haunts. Today we were accompanied by Brutus & Heidi, Mitch & Mick’s GWP’s. These guys live for hunting over and around their dogs and it shows, their pups are great workers, and are well under control without the zealot control that I saw the retriever guys apply to their dogs. Both dogs were good workers, plenty of get up and go and really good on the point. The first gulley we worked was bare so up and over a ridge went Mick & Mitch while Tim and Shanks worked a big depression. I went around the top ¾ mark of the bowl while Craig and Tim headed down. Soon a bird barrelled over the top, stirred up by Mitch & Bru’ and headed down to Tim and Craig on set wings. Both opened up and from my vantage point I observed a couple of things:
1. The bird was hit
2. The shots put a number of birds out of the rim of the gulley ahead of me.
I moved up and along and worked a patch of head high gorse, about as round as a small car (like a mini) and up and away went a rooster. I stepped to the side but he carried on straight away before curling so my desperate shots were well behind as he cleared the 40 to 50m mark. The lads down below were waiting and hit him as he came over, dropping him into a god awful patch of crap. I met up with Mitch and Mick at the top of the ridge and we watched and waited as Tim, Shanks & his lab Silent worked the scrub over. It was thick as sh*t and after 30 minutes they gave it away, with plenty of holes for the birds to escape into it just brought home that sometimes in that terrain you’re going to lose a bird sooner or later. Earlier in the season that big old melanistic escaped me the same way … impenetrable crap. Down into the next gulley – this territory is blimmin steep – this time we were entering a deep bowl with steep edges covered in bush. Tim and Craig went through the middle while Mitch, Mick the dogs and me panted our way up to the top. We tried to move down into the valley via a depression but it was a dead end, so back to the ridge and up, up up we panted. At the top I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when a cackling rooster shot off. I was well behind with the first barrel but the second caught him and he went down on a bung wing. I marked him and then Mitch and Bru’ came over and Bru’ performed the retrieve on a very dead bird that has moved 15m from where he dropped. Bru’ was stoked, wagging his tail as he delivered to Mitch’s hand.
Mick and Heidi meantime had followed the ridge along to a bush edge and we heard another rooster go. Mitch and me wandered along to the top fence line, by now Tim and Craig were all set in the bottom of the gully to our left and well below us. As soon as we put Bru’ over the fence, he hit a scent. Mick meantime had closed in above us, so while Mitch stayed close in to the dog, I moved down the hilol slightly. The scenario was that we are all on top of a small bank that cut away below us. Bru’ was locked up on a bird that was holding tight below us, about 5 feet down the bank in an undercut. Then with a clatter of wings and a cackle he was up and away. And he kept going despite 5 shots blasting out after him. It was classic! A truly deserved escape in the most unlikely of circumstances – not quite surrounded but still. We were now entering a scrubby face at the top of the bowl that spread around to the right and with Tim and Craig in position; anything that got up would sweep down and over them. And they did, several birds took to the air one especially nice fast and high Cock bird blatted over Tim (miss, miss) then Craig and then while Tim was reliving the miss and not reloading, another bird made its escape! At least we had now located them. So far it was looking tough and the score was running 5-1 in favour of the birds. We trooped through the cave with the stream through it and pooped out in the next gulley. Mick and I went through a rimu grove to look for anything in a swampy glade Craig had told us about while the others headed off up a small scrub filled gulley. Nothing doing for either party, so Mick & Craig worked up a scrubby hill while the rest of us walked up the track of what Craig called “the steep hill”. Yes it was steep, definitely the steepest of the day and whilst I got up there first I was puffing hard out. Not easy country at all… we grabbed a breather and watched Craig & Mick put up some hen birds. Then over we went into the next gully. Tim and Mitch went into a scrubby face while I hopped the fence and walked the ridge above one of the hill pastures amongst rocky outcrops. I saw a cock zoom off about 100 yards away going full noise – wings set, head down. Then another curled away, taking off out of range and swinging around to land atop a rocky buttress. 2 steps later and a cock erupted below me, curling down and away. Now this was an interesting shot…. Shooting at something that starts below you and then curls away is not an easy shot. It’s not something you can practice for that easily either unless you have a trap or shoot sporting in hilly country. I remember struggling with this shot on the sporting course. I had enough time to shoulder the gun then realise my mount was ‘wonky’, then straighten it, swing through and below the bird and fire. It was a solid hit, with the bird dropping like a stone into the bottom of the gully. Neat, bird # 2 in the bag, feeling pretty happy with the shot as well. Then another bird went from the gulley and I missed twice, smack! Back down to earth… As I reached my bird, Bru’ zoomed into, scooped it up as neat as can be and ran back to his master – heh heh a bird I didn’t have to carry. Mitch and Tim worked the rocks I had seen the cock land in and Mitch scored his first bird after a solid point by Bru’. After the retrieve, Tim worked around a high pile while I nipped down below the scrub that any bird would naturally run into, and as the lads came through I pulled off a good second shot on a departing bird for my limit. Tim meantime dropped a fast flushing bird that was probably pushed back by my shots – all good now each of us was on the board. Mitch and Bru’ picked Tim’s bird and then came down to find mine, which had inconveniently dropped across the river which was flowing quite fast and murky. Craig and Mick appeared up on the track and came down as Bru, fought the current, dragged himself out of the river and set off after my bird. Which was very much alive – head up and running, boy did he screech when Bru’ ran him down and grabbed him!
We stopped for a breather then Craig had to leave us to go and get his place ready for some guests. We decided to push on past the big pond, with the dogs putting up a couple of birds in the heavy native – out of range for the guns. Then we crested a small swamp gully with a single tea tree and tiny patch of cover. 3 hen birds ran out as we came over the rise and as we started to talk there was a fair explosion of activity as 2 cocks and 2 hens made their move. Tim and Mitch each dropped a cock – Mick chiming in on Mitch’s bird. We moved back up to the boundary and began to get spanked by the birds again. Heidi locked up hard out of sight on a bird which eventually broke and escaped Mick’s fleeting shot; then birds jumped here and there, always out of sight or range. We circled back around by now all of us were feeling the pinch so made a call to get to the car. Mitch and I worked the river edge and again Bru’ pulled a classic point. We had this bird cold and each of us tip-toed up beside the dog –only for a hen to erupt away and across the river. A fitting final moment for the hunt. Back to the car then the Shanks homestead for a cuppa and to clean the birds. We hit the road at 3 and had a relaxing drive back – Spring is getting closer with the days lengthening, the grass growing thicker and the warmth of the sun improving. A great day for sure on the Little Ruawai preserve.
1. The bird was hit
2. The shots put a number of birds out of the rim of the gulley ahead of me.
I moved up and along and worked a patch of head high gorse, about as round as a small car (like a mini) and up and away went a rooster. I stepped to the side but he carried on straight away before curling so my desperate shots were well behind as he cleared the 40 to 50m mark. The lads down below were waiting and hit him as he came over, dropping him into a god awful patch of crap. I met up with Mitch and Mick at the top of the ridge and we watched and waited as Tim, Shanks & his lab Silent worked the scrub over. It was thick as sh*t and after 30 minutes they gave it away, with plenty of holes for the birds to escape into it just brought home that sometimes in that terrain you’re going to lose a bird sooner or later. Earlier in the season that big old melanistic escaped me the same way … impenetrable crap. Down into the next gulley – this territory is blimmin steep – this time we were entering a deep bowl with steep edges covered in bush. Tim and Craig went through the middle while Mitch, Mick the dogs and me panted our way up to the top. We tried to move down into the valley via a depression but it was a dead end, so back to the ridge and up, up up we panted. At the top I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when a cackling rooster shot off. I was well behind with the first barrel but the second caught him and he went down on a bung wing. I marked him and then Mitch and Bru’ came over and Bru’ performed the retrieve on a very dead bird that has moved 15m from where he dropped. Bru’ was stoked, wagging his tail as he delivered to Mitch’s hand.
Mick and Heidi meantime had followed the ridge along to a bush edge and we heard another rooster go. Mitch and me wandered along to the top fence line, by now Tim and Craig were all set in the bottom of the gully to our left and well below us. As soon as we put Bru’ over the fence, he hit a scent. Mick meantime had closed in above us, so while Mitch stayed close in to the dog, I moved down the hilol slightly. The scenario was that we are all on top of a small bank that cut away below us. Bru’ was locked up on a bird that was holding tight below us, about 5 feet down the bank in an undercut. Then with a clatter of wings and a cackle he was up and away. And he kept going despite 5 shots blasting out after him. It was classic! A truly deserved escape in the most unlikely of circumstances – not quite surrounded but still. We were now entering a scrubby face at the top of the bowl that spread around to the right and with Tim and Craig in position; anything that got up would sweep down and over them. And they did, several birds took to the air one especially nice fast and high Cock bird blatted over Tim (miss, miss) then Craig and then while Tim was reliving the miss and not reloading, another bird made its escape! At least we had now located them. So far it was looking tough and the score was running 5-1 in favour of the birds. We trooped through the cave with the stream through it and pooped out in the next gulley. Mick and I went through a rimu grove to look for anything in a swampy glade Craig had told us about while the others headed off up a small scrub filled gulley. Nothing doing for either party, so Mick & Craig worked up a scrubby hill while the rest of us walked up the track of what Craig called “the steep hill”. Yes it was steep, definitely the steepest of the day and whilst I got up there first I was puffing hard out. Not easy country at all… we grabbed a breather and watched Craig & Mick put up some hen birds. Then over we went into the next gully. Tim and Mitch went into a scrubby face while I hopped the fence and walked the ridge above one of the hill pastures amongst rocky outcrops. I saw a cock zoom off about 100 yards away going full noise – wings set, head down. Then another curled away, taking off out of range and swinging around to land atop a rocky buttress. 2 steps later and a cock erupted below me, curling down and away. Now this was an interesting shot…. Shooting at something that starts below you and then curls away is not an easy shot. It’s not something you can practice for that easily either unless you have a trap or shoot sporting in hilly country. I remember struggling with this shot on the sporting course. I had enough time to shoulder the gun then realise my mount was ‘wonky’, then straighten it, swing through and below the bird and fire. It was a solid hit, with the bird dropping like a stone into the bottom of the gully. Neat, bird # 2 in the bag, feeling pretty happy with the shot as well. Then another bird went from the gulley and I missed twice, smack! Back down to earth… As I reached my bird, Bru’ zoomed into, scooped it up as neat as can be and ran back to his master – heh heh a bird I didn’t have to carry. Mitch and Tim worked the rocks I had seen the cock land in and Mitch scored his first bird after a solid point by Bru’. After the retrieve, Tim worked around a high pile while I nipped down below the scrub that any bird would naturally run into, and as the lads came through I pulled off a good second shot on a departing bird for my limit. Tim meantime dropped a fast flushing bird that was probably pushed back by my shots – all good now each of us was on the board. Mitch and Bru’ picked Tim’s bird and then came down to find mine, which had inconveniently dropped across the river which was flowing quite fast and murky. Craig and Mick appeared up on the track and came down as Bru, fought the current, dragged himself out of the river and set off after my bird. Which was very much alive – head up and running, boy did he screech when Bru’ ran him down and grabbed him!
We stopped for a breather then Craig had to leave us to go and get his place ready for some guests. We decided to push on past the big pond, with the dogs putting up a couple of birds in the heavy native – out of range for the guns. Then we crested a small swamp gully with a single tea tree and tiny patch of cover. 3 hen birds ran out as we came over the rise and as we started to talk there was a fair explosion of activity as 2 cocks and 2 hens made their move. Tim and Mitch each dropped a cock – Mick chiming in on Mitch’s bird. We moved back up to the boundary and began to get spanked by the birds again. Heidi locked up hard out of sight on a bird which eventually broke and escaped Mick’s fleeting shot; then birds jumped here and there, always out of sight or range. We circled back around by now all of us were feeling the pinch so made a call to get to the car. Mitch and I worked the river edge and again Bru’ pulled a classic point. We had this bird cold and each of us tip-toed up beside the dog –only for a hen to erupt away and across the river. A fitting final moment for the hunt. Back to the car then the Shanks homestead for a cuppa and to clean the birds. We hit the road at 3 and had a relaxing drive back – Spring is getting closer with the days lengthening, the grass growing thicker and the warmth of the sun improving. A great day for sure on the Little Ruawai preserve.
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