Left Wilson at home

The ridgeline in the background is the top of the range! 1900 meters plus. This Stag wants to be a Chamois methinks.

A three day high. One up, one for hunting and one down. It was a grind packing in, and my lack of water en route did not help matters one little bit. I decided to leave ole four legs behind as I was going into the National park and dogs are frowned on in these parts. Why is anybody’s guess, the decisions and arbitrary laws these bureaucrats put forward leaves a man questioning their sanity.

I eventually found my water and erected what is left of my one man Macpac “Microlight” tent, zip broken holes galore, and no bath tub floor, time for something new I can see. Already I have superseded my Macpac “Cascade” 85 L. back pack with a new Tatonka “Bison” 65 litre jobby. I reckon say, every 20 years or so to up grade my gear. New Technology and all. I have gone from the Mountain Mule initially, and then onto the Macpac and now the Tatonka, pack which will have to see me out I suppose……. no problems.

I boiled up my freeze dried dinner then slipped away to glass the the other watershed for the last half hour of daylight . When the sun was disappearing over the western horizon and twilight was a blanket wrapped tight about me, I picked up a spiker mooching around just above the bush line. I ranged him at 540 meters away. He was as safe as houses.

I was away around 8 the next morning climbing to the crest of the range in search of the wily buck Chamois. I found myself dropping down the eastern side to avert some peaks, I did not want to negotiate. The sun hit me full on as I crested the range. I was planning on hunting south, and so the sun would be at my back for most of the day, as it should be.

9.30 a.m. cresting a small rise I found myself face to face with said stag, and at just around 50 meters away, I tripped the trigger on the ole Sako and the animal was mine. I have seen some deer high up and a long way from the bushline in my time but this guy takes the biscuit.

Around 2pm I was high above a north facing tussock face, and I felt the time was right after a bit of glassing to lie down and get some old man shut eye. Imagine my surprise 30 minutes later when upon looking down from my small bench I was presented with the sight of 4 Chamois at around 130 meters distance. There was a distinct lack of sexual urgency within the group, which puzzled me somewhat as it was nearing the middle of May. Anyway long story short I took the biggest of them to be possibly the main man and let fly with a 165 grn Accubond . As was expected the animal was flattened on the spot. Upon recovery however it was determined that the he was a she. Bugger, and bugger off is exactly what the other three did ,”never mind, meat is meat sol”. Bon appetit.