I'm down here in Auckland for a few weeks and Top_Predator invited me down to Hamilton to cull some wild goats. It was typically fine NZ winter weather and it couldn't decide between nice and sunny or pissing rain. We took a four wheeler up to the pine forests bordering the sheep farms and cruised around looking for goats. James lent me the use of his 243 and he used a 7 Mag and we had a great day bouncing around in the mud and sloshing through the muck and potting goats. This part of NZ has some beautiful scenery that was worth the ride in itself.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/Fjold/NZ_Goats014.jpg[/IMG]]

James said that the goats were skittish and few but we saw a fair number and managed to kill about a dozen during the afternoon.

Here's James with a Billy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/Fjold/NZ_Goats016.jpg[/IMG]]

I suffered from the usual American disease of shooting to slow and shot distances for me ran from 10 yards up to cross canyon shots of about 200 yards. Here I am with a couple goats.




The ranch we were on also offered Red Stag, Farrow deer and even Sambar along with different rams and goat, pig and turkey hunting. Here are some pics of some of the other game that we saw. The red stag pictures came out blurry probably because I had the shakes being so near to them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/Fjold/8f304aa8.jpg[/IMG]]

Here are some Turkeys walking around next to the road. We saw three or four flocks all easily within shotgun range.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/Fjold/NZ_Goats008.jpg[/IMG]]

The rancher had a client's red stag trophy hanging in the barn that the client was going to do a European mount. I though that as nice as this rack is it deserved a shoulder mount but whatever you like I guess.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/Fjold/6c7bb8c1.jpg[/IMG]]
I just wanted to say "Thanks" to Top_Predator for the invitation and for all of the effort that he put in to make sure that I had a great time.

Scenery and game looks fantastic.
Doesn't look like a bit of rain could have dampened the outing
Judging from the red deer trophy there are probably some other species besides red and sambar in the vicinity.
Cheers
robe

Man that is NICE!. Beautiful country.

Some nice countryside there.

I think you were tempted by the turkeys.

The fact that I got any pictures to show up at all amazes me! It took me 20 tries to post this and then I went up and read the directions on how to post pictures and it worked first time.

Good photos , great scenery and a happy hunter ,what more could anyone ask ?

Pleased you got to get out and about a little , staying in Auckland would not be at the head of my list of things to do in a foreign land if there was hunting to be had .

Fjold;

Looks like you had lots of fun. The photos are great. Good going!

Regards, D. Nelson

Just bring this back to the top for Lawndart

Got to do that trip to New Zealand one of these days. Great Photos. Glad you had such good trip

I AM SOLD!

Now I have an excuse to build that 270 Weatherby.

Life is too short.

The kids are all grown and gone.

I don't own a house or a car payment.

That is perfect country.

Time to get healthy and sell the clinic.

Thanks,

lawndart