Back again,
, This pic is a Gum Tree that a stag or two has had his way with. I'd hate to be on the other end of a cranky rutting Stag when they do this to our hardwoods.
And the Parrots at the top.
Now back to this fella. This is when I first viewed him. Silking his way through the timber. Than bedded not more than 18/19 yards.
After 5 days of hunting and walking this was going to be my last day "In Country". I'd shot over the back not once but twice on two mornings in a row. Parden the pun but I put it down to not picken a spot. Maybe just one to many spots on these critters! Both animals were no further than 15 yards and the 2nd was just 8! Gee I gotta stop doning that....
After this lad took a mid morning nap under 20 I just new my luck had changed. The breeze was holding and I'd good cover both in front of me and behind. Now I just waited for Mr Big here to make the next move.
About and hour later he was making sounds like he wanted to head on somplace else. As he stod, I drew, held at anchor and this time picked a spot.
And this is what was left after his departure.
He ran in a flat run for 30 odd yards than stoped to regather himself. I had a grin on me like a rat with a gold tooth! But I had some doubt as to the hit. I lost sight of the arrow in flight due to the sun in my eyes and him jumping at the shot, all this happed in or around 9 o'clock in the morning.
This is where things go all egg shaped. Not wanting to push him I gave him time to himself and lost him in the heavy timbered creek area. At midday I made my way back to the Homestead to get help in finding my Stag. I was sure he was dead as the Blood on the WW head and 12" of footed shaft looked real good & thick.
We look and looked. Drove around in the station Toyota and glassed but still no Stag. Dead or alive. Again my luck looked to be turning bad. Than at 1830 hours that evening I spotted him walking with a group of young stags and I followed behind at a distance.
After glassing him for over an hour and making sure it was the same stag it was bitter sweet for me. Bitter that an animal can take a hit ( seemed to be one lung only?) and leave a bloody arrow only to be still standing 10 hours later without a hint of being sore. The whole time I glassed him, just on dark, he never even looked to want to bed down and rest. Just one tough Hombre?
And sweet to see him live on to battle another day. I called the owner the last night and he has seen the same Stag, still alive and not even with a limp. I was so worried that he'd go off someplace and die but by all accounts he's still going strong.
That's deer hunting for you, one has to take the good with the bad.
In Oz, al
Topic: Outback Daypacken.. Updated Pics!! (Read 6589 times)
