On Tuesday and Wednesday this past week, during a fine spell, I hunted for a day and a half on a backcountry farm where I assist with feral goat control. For me this usually involves some good outings on foot, roaming around and picking off goats as found. I usually find them either in small mobs or pairs along with the odd loner here and there. The farm terrain is largely open but fairly steep. Small stream gullies are numerous and many I don't venture into as they range from gnarly to dangerous. I will cross the ones with animal tracks but if there's no tracks it's no go.
There is a hunting lodge on the farm from where the farmer and an associate run meat / guided hunts and with the CV situation they've been quite busy of late with local hunters. Hunting is mainly for Red and Fallow Deer. I slot my goat hunts between these visitor hunts so I'm not interfering with any hunter's plans. It's also a safety policy as visiting hunters can hunt just about anywhere on the farm.
There is another, older, hunter's hut on the farm and until this trip I've never stayed overnight there. Its name is "Vegas" ! Thankfully, to me, it has hardly any resemblance to what I imagine Vegas is but it is very well set up for a night or three in the hills and I enjoyed a comfortable and peaceful night there. It was cold but not quite enough to bother cranking up the fireplace heating. From the hut is a great view East to the mountains of Tongariro National Park and probably explains the original decision to locate the hut where it is.
As usual I took my .270W and on this trip was shooting some old Nosler 130 gn Ballistic Tips I am using up. I had done a rough scope resighting for this load but not well enough as it was definitely shooting past 200 yds. Over the day and a half I shot 20 goats with 36 shots, which is a bit embarrassing compared to my usual average which is a lot better. Once all the Noslers are gone I'll be using a new load with Hornady 145 gn ELD-X.
Wild pigs roam across this farm. They take sanctuary in the large bush blocks on the farm and surrounding farms but venture out onto the pastures to root around. I always see evidence of their activity and only sometimes see them around in daylight. I love wild pork and will shoot sows and other young eaters but I leave any boars alone. The farmer is a keen pig hunter and loves a good outing with his pig dogs. I report any boars I see.
On this outing I scored a sow. She was a bit skinny but she is now in the freezer anyway. I sneaked in to 60 yds and put in a tidy head shot. DRT. Also shot another smaller eater that got away. Annoying, but that's another story.
No two visits there are the same apart from always being enjoyed. I think "Vegas" might become my camp there from now on.

Vegas. I use the bike to get my gear to the hut. From there, hunting is on foot.


Vegas - interior.


Mt. Ngauruhoe the cone on the left, Mt. Ruapehu, the snow covered peaks on the right.


Eater pig.

Good write up and pics, that Vegas looks pretty decent to me.

Pete

Beautiful place and pics, thanks for sharing.

Nice spot! Who made the stock?

Hi Shanks,
The stock is from Ken Henderson, Hi-Tech Composites.

Thought it looked familiar. I have an early experimental one of his on my grendel. Bloody good stocks.

Looks like cool country to hunt!

Any big billys?

quote:

Thunder Head
posted 29 June 2021 04:22
Looks like cool country to hunt!

Any big billys?

I've never seen a billy here I would consider "big" in the horns. Generally here I would say goat body size is on the small side. I have shot a few billies larger bodied than the average here and all had small horns.

shankspony
posted 28 June 2021 09:03
Thought it looked familiar. I have an early experimental one of his on my grendel. Bloody good stocks.[/quote]



Agreed Shanks. They are very good stocks. Light and tough. Much nicer than the Southfort Labs stock.

That`s a rippin` hut to go back to when the weather turns to shit. I like huts now the bones are creaking.

quote:

gryphon1
posted 06 July 2021 16:28
That`s a rippin` hut to go back to when the weather turns to shit. I like huts now the bones are creaking.

You're not wrong Gryph. At my age I feel the same way.

Nice Grant. Thanks for posting.