Well it seems there is a lack of hunt reports here, so thought I'd stick up a bit of the action around shank's place over the last little while.

first up was a bit of pheasant hunting. this is something that a small group of us create ourselves through time and effort, and a small subscription each year to pay for the cost of releasing 3-400 birds each year. the reward is some tough but rewarding hunting when the season starts.








After the days shooting, one of the guys nipped up the back to try find a pig. he did and it was a goody.



Not to be outdone, the french girl Ihave had staying with me decided to give pig hunting a go.


She carried the pig home which made my night easier.

We then hopped in a plane with the dogs in the back for a few days hunting on the east coast.



where she excelled with the only deer shot for the trip.



Back home and I bought a new boat, with the help of an aussie owned bank. Some of you guys will know where Haines come from too.
we soon put it too the test with a mid winter overnight trip.















And thats about it. Have to do some work sometimes. Still get to sit on a hill with a rifle most nights though and watch the sun set if nothing else.

Yeah. Good on yeah Shanks. I'm stuck,happily, in the office with the hunting highlights being whats happening on the African forums.
That said I've had a nice pig and several deer hanging over the past 10days.
We really do take our 365 day hunting season (not gamebirds) for granted don't we. I'm that comfortable with what i do down here that if it wasn't for my teenage daughters nagging me to take them hunting I'd be in real danger of turning into an arm chair warrior.
Oh, and lets not forget, that's after a 150 day guiding season.
Keep up the good work and spark my interest, maybe it will get me out and clicking the camera, now where is it.

You really should be taking that camera for a walk H, we are the poorer here for its absence.
can't be all office time. Doing any possums at the moment?

Nice Red to christen the boat with Shanks
Which model Haines did you get.

Yep, it was. Senator, second hand, but a better boat than I was originally setting my sights on.

Great pics Shanks, thanks for sharing.

I'll try and get down again before the season closes for Pheasants

Good pics, as usual, Craig. Your pheasant releases are great to hear about. What percentage of the total number end up being shot on the property?

- Paul

40-50 percent of the cock birds as we are not allowed to shoot hens. Some of those are birds that are left over from previous seasons.

How do you guys eat those Salmon (kahawai). They are not thought of much here as a table fish. I think most people make fish cakes out of them.

They are an underrated fish. Here there is good cause to call them the fish of the people, simply because they are everywhere and easy to catch. Personnely I will never turn down a nice piece of crumbed kahawhai, but they are absolutely awesome smoked and eaten hot. Once cold I make them into a white sauce and turn them into a pie.
At the moment out here you have to find the Kahawhai to have a good go at the snapper which are lurking underneath, so there is a reasonable catch as the bait is dropping through the school.

Great work shanks! real cool stuff.

Glad to see you do goot service to the highly under rated Kahawai. I find then really tasty and great eating.

Bakes - try marinating them with some criushed garlic, crished ginger, pepper & salt and fried on the barbi with a bit of butter. You could also add some turmeric (just a tiny pinch) and chillie powder if you like it spicy.

I NEVER give up a chance at some fresh Kahawai.

I cry at the waste when guys cut them up for bait!