The Aussie red stag experience

[ShadeMt]

As the hogs continued to squeal I had to pick up the pace as they were moving up the draw away from my direction.  Finally I got close enough to catch movement and saw a large black boar working through the brush about 50 yards away. With plenty of daylight I slowed by movement and everytime I would hear a squeal would look for the source in the brush.  Every once in awhile a hog would pop out on the trail and then right back into the brush.  After this happened a few times it became apparent that there was 2 big boars and they were chasing sows.  The sows were making all the ruckus.  It was an awesome amount of close action.

 

Daylight was starting to fade and hogs continued to scoot around on the trails below.  At times they would walk by at 35 yards and just disappear back over the edge before getting into my stickbow range. This happened several times and each time it seemed like the shot was imminent but then they would disappear again.  The sows finally decided to get away from the boars and headed up a trail on the opposite bank.  Several other small hogs followed suit and then one of the boars took off after the exiting sounder.  

 

I stood there in disbelief that I had been so close and no shot.  As I watched the herd walk out of sight I caught movement and an even bigger boar steps out on the trail below me at 30 yards looking for the rest of the group.  I was still in the game.  With the relatively small vitals of a hog and my blurred vision from the eye infection there was just no way to make the shot.  He continued on his way and with that encounter my hunting adventure in Australia had come to an end in pretty dramatic fashion.  So close again....

 

[Tom]

Excellent story telling and even though no game was taken you were definitely in the game. Thanks for taking us along on a grand adventure-a lifetime of memories.

[ShadeMt]

As I walked back to camp I caught up with my brother in law, who was returning from an equally exciting day.  As we reflected on the hunt we come to the agreement that it had been an adventure of a lifetime.  

As the sun set on our final day I caught this photo of the last sunset on this incredible adventure.  

 

Looking back I have always been pretty lucky in my 31 years of bowhunting, I have taken some great animals, met some great folks and on this trip I was just plain lucky to get the chance to experience the real Australia.

Thanks for joining along.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Great adventure!

[South MS Bowhunter]

Great adventure!

[Pete McMiller]

Wonderful story Clay, thanks so much for sharing.  Hopefully that's in my future.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great story!  Beautiful pictures.  Thank you for bringing us along.

[Matabele]

Awesome stuff! Sorry you didn't connect with anything, but it sounds like you'll have memories to last a lifetime!

[Ragin Bull]

Excellent story. Thanks for taking us along.
That is something I would like to do as well!

[ShadeMt]

Glad all of you enjoyed reading about my adventure.  Truly hope everyone gets the chance to do something similar in their lifetime.

Clay

[RJonesRCRV]

Anyone else in the group get a deer?

[maineac]

Thanks for sharing your tale! A great series of hunts!

[memo]

Great story, and glad you got to appreciate a hunt down here. Kudos to you for hunting wild deer, and luckily for you you went with Preecey. He's a character for sure.
Hope you get back for round two,
Memo.

[ShadeMt]

Thanks guys.  

RJonesRCRV, yes one of my hunting partners shot a stag on day 5 but since it was with the compound I did not show it.  He also got a second one the week after I left.  

memo, great buffalo story!  After hearing all of Wayne's stories about them I have an interest in chasing after one of them in the future.  His scrub bull stories were pretty intense as well.  Of course all of his hunting stories are pretty awesome.