John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
Only for the blokes that are deer mad.
With thoughts that a shower of rain overnight had hopefully dampened the ground a little we headed off to a neighbours roughly 10 k`s away. As I dropped in altitude down the valley road low mists greeted me and I nearly turned around to head back home. The climb in height back up to a long bush gully full of blackberry bushes was the target area for today so I soldiered on hoping to hunt above the mist that would be laying lower down.
Dawn light was late and after a low light 400 yard stroll from the ute dog`s nose was onto deer scent coming down on the falling breeze.
It was a good 3-400 yards before a sighting was made. I did see two roo`s feeding in the light bush to my right that may have caught his attention but knew he is better than that.
I had my big tripod with an SLR digital mounted and its a real **** in the bush too as it seems to catch on everything.
Continuing on and closely watching dogs stance and nose led my binos to a watchful hind up ahead that seemed 'too wary' as the wind was good and we were noiseless. Sambar are often watchful like that for no reason at all,perhaps a bird call had her on guard. I then commenced to stalk her for a video crack but leaving dog behind.
From tree to tree in full sight was a slow journey and eventually a bit of her in the light mist was captured. Nothing much of substance but added to the record of my morning`s wander.
Heading up a central spur in a gully junction to get above her I was honked above and from my left,ah **** it,two hinds had seen me but due to my camo gear didn't know what I was and honked me for the next 20 minutes.The original target hind had gone ahead and was lost in bush and then answering honks came from across the gutter floor from a berry patch. It took me some time before I finally saw an ear of calf sticking up and setting up to video her I realised that the belling was coming from an unseen hind that was barely visible behind a decent tree. She eventually moved and gave herself away. After 20 minutes or so of frigging about videoing and trying to get a better avenue for the lens the hind led her calf away and the calf climbed to the right and stood for a short time.
I haven't a clue as to what the terrible background noise caught on camera is.
In the mist ahead.
Good men will see them easily and quickly.
The calf at 81 yards stood a while watching and listening to the unseen hind above and left of her,seemingly for instructions.
It would have offered its body for science if down closer to the ute.
Mumsie was behind the tree trunk and belled for quite some time.
With thoughts that a shower of rain overnight had hopefully dampened the ground a little we headed off to a neighbours roughly 10 k`s away. As I dropped in altitude down the valley road low mists greeted me and I nearly turned around to head back home. The climb in height back up to a long bush gully full of blackberry bushes was the target area for today so I soldiered on hoping to hunt above the mist that would be laying lower down.
Dawn light was late and after a low light 400 yard stroll from the ute dog`s nose was onto deer scent coming down on the falling breeze.
It was a good 3-400 yards before a sighting was made. I did see two roo`s feeding in the light bush to my right that may have caught his attention but knew he is better than that.
I had my big tripod with an SLR digital mounted and its a real **** in the bush too as it seems to catch on everything.
Continuing on and closely watching dogs stance and nose led my binos to a watchful hind up ahead that seemed 'too wary' as the wind was good and we were noiseless. Sambar are often watchful like that for no reason at all,perhaps a bird call had her on guard. I then commenced to stalk her for a video crack but leaving dog behind.
From tree to tree in full sight was a slow journey and eventually a bit of her in the light mist was captured. Nothing much of substance but added to the record of my morning`s wander.
Heading up a central spur in a gully junction to get above her I was honked above and from my left,ah **** it,two hinds had seen me but due to my camo gear didn't know what I was and honked me for the next 20 minutes.The original target hind had gone ahead and was lost in bush and then answering honks came from across the gutter floor from a berry patch. It took me some time before I finally saw an ear of calf sticking up and setting up to video her I realised that the belling was coming from an unseen hind that was barely visible behind a decent tree. She eventually moved and gave herself away. After 20 minutes or so of frigging about videoing and trying to get a better avenue for the lens the hind led her calf away and the calf climbed to the right and stood for a short time.
I haven't a clue as to what the terrible background noise caught on camera is.
In the mist ahead.
Good men will see them easily and quickly.
The calf at 81 yards stood a while watching and listening to the unseen hind above and left of her,seemingly for instructions.
It would have offered its body for science if down closer to the ute.
Mumsie was behind the tree trunk and belled for quite some time.
