Well after a long time (since my last good hunt in the NT with my mate Gary about 4 years ago)I've been on a hunt with a fellow AR member and had a great time. We started in Brisbane where I met and picked up Mr and Mrs AZ writer. We travelled to a friend of theirs property who kindly made me welcome in her home. On friday we went to Kauri creek in the Great Sandy Straights for a fish and the guys were well and truely smashed by the girls with Mrs AZ writer pulling in whitting after whitting, most under size but she managed two nice keepers and a nice big bream. We had some mis-adventure on our return to the boat ramp. We left our run a bit late and with the sun setting into my eyes as we headed back and I couldn't see where the channel was, so I ended up hitting sand bar after sand bar. In a short time darkness fell and I could't see a bloody thing. We ended up going to a camp site at Headly's and a nice fella there drove me around to the ramp at log dump to pick up my car and returned to the ramp at his camp site, staying with us until we got the boat out. My thanks to him.


Onto the hunting. When we arrived at the place we were staying we saw a few red hinds on the drive in which was cool as they were my first wild deer I have ever seen. At the house we were greated by the owners and quickly set off for a hunt before night fall. We headed high up the hills and did manage to see two chital hinds after about 20 minutes of stalking. I couldn't get a shot off however and they skipped away. The rest of the day was uneventful. After a fine meal of roast chital and a good night sleep we headed off again in the morning, again we saw chital but they spoted us first and away they went. We tried two other spots and saw deer but either an un seen wallaby dashed away at the wrong time spooking them or the breeze changed and they caught our scent. At one spot we split up and hunted a creek. AZ writer did come across a nice mob but there were no stags with them. After lunch we headed to another property and as we walked along the creek we spooked a mob of chital hinds. As they took off up hill, I spotted the stag sneek off down the creek. It was then discided to lay up under some lantana and see if they came back. I had my doubts about this waiting thing and was getting a little bored and a little numb in the arse when I spotted movment on the opposite hill. The does were heading back. I taped AZ writer on the leg and he quickly found them in his bino's. I lost sight of them however and AZ writer was trying to direct me onto a target but I couldn't for the life of me spot the deer in my scope (must get a set of bino's one day ). After some reshuffling I managed to spot a doe as she fed along the hill. I'd like to say that I calmly took a sight picture and dispatched the deer without effort but that would be a lie! I lost sight of them then found them again, then my taget went behind a branch, I waited until she stepped into a clearing and fired off a shot. Not feeling to confident we made our up the hill and it was AZ writer who heard her breathing her last in some lantana. The shot took her through the lungs and for those who'd like to know the rifle used my my old 6.5x55 shooting highland ammo. After dispatching her AZ writer showed me how to field dress her (with him doing most of the work ) and we dragged her down to the road for a pick up.
Down on the farm track waiting for a pick up.



Making most of the meat. AZ writer's in the shot lending a hand.



And a shot of some of the other wildlife in the area



This is my first deer and I was in great company when I took it. A good weekend was had and I've met some fantastic people.

Sounds like a fine time!

Well done on that first Bakes. They are a very pretty deer. wish they had taken here, but someone decided the best place for them was the coldest wettest part of the country.

well done nice looking animal

Good on ya mate . Like Shanks said - very pretty deer and a great shame they didnt establish successfully here years ago.

Chital in South Qld? Must be a localised herd.

Well done on your deer hunt, Tony.

Thanks John.