The Red Deer rut has come to a halt here in New Zealand. I was only able to get out once for a few days, my wife is playing the lead in "The King and I" at a local theatre, and has a very rigorous rehearsal schedule, so I'm doing a lot of child minding presently.
Managed to bag a scrubby four pointer with that most American of calibers, the 30-06, in my Husqvarna 1600.
It was an exciting hunt. The stags weren't roaring readily, but would answer a roar every now and then. They were holed up, not yet that invested in the rut that they'd come charging in aggressively. This one was down across a bush-clad valley, replying to our roars but not moving. My buddy hung back roaring intermittently while I stalked in, so that I could locate him. Got within I'd estimate 30m, so close that I could only move while he was roaring to prevent any noise and detection. I was waiting for the next roar that would mask my sound so that I could go in and seal the deal, however when the next one came it was much further away - maybe 100m or more. He wasn't keen on a fight and was leaving his pad. I was able to repeat the process, and 10 minutes later with near to him again. I crept forwards to where I though he'd be, and could see a shape silhouetted by the early morning sunrise. Was it him? Looking through the scope, I could make out the red shade of his ear, as the sunlight shone through it. I couldn't see any antler, was this a hind? Then he let out an almighty roar, prickling my skin. The crosshairs found his shoulder, and a single shot put him down.
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