Uhunt A Young Lads Quest

Uhunt Mag Information

  • Posted By : BRISTLE UP
  • Posted On : Jan 12, 2020
  • Views : 2585
  • Category : DEER HUNTING » STORIES
  • Description : With the wind in our faces and a fresh deer pad under our feet it wasn’t long before we spotted a mob of deer.

Overview

  • BOOK A HUNT WITH JACKS OUTBACKTRACKS 
    If your interested in an adventure of a lifetime chasing a Chital, Rusa, Bull or Boar trophy of mammoth proportions contact us today. 
    FACEBOOK: jacks outback tracks OR PH: Jack Brook 0476 106 970. 

    By Jack Brook

    From the age of 3, I was on my old man’s back trapping rabbits wandering the hills, shooting foxes and running hunting dogs on most weekends.  So I’ve grown up around hunting, camping, and fishing. You could say it stirred something within and as the years passed the passion of hunting has become an obsession as well. I am now lucky enough to spend most of my time in the bush as a professional hunting outfitter based in North Qld. I’d just returned from a Rusa hunting trip with clients, and was madly rushing about prepping capes and boiling heads when my young bloke approached me and said: “I’d really like to shoot one of those!”

    I told my son that he needs to put ten good shots in a row on paper, so practice, practice, practice and after a month I was confident the boy could competently take a deer up to 200m with every shot and a trip was organized. Two weeks later my trusty Hilux aptly named the Chital chariot was awaiting the arrival of a good mate and longtime hunting buddy from Tasmania sitting in the pick-up bay. I checked some tie down straps on the fully loaded Ute and there in the front seat was one very happy and excited looking seven year old.



    The trip to the destination was uneventful. Just before dark, we had the camp set up, dinner on, cold beer in hand, and plans made for the coming day. Day one and two would be all about Greg and getting him a good head. Day 3 would be for the boy, and day 4 I would have a crack. Day 5 on the trip home we would stop at a spot I know has a few good Chital stags and see if we can’t bag a nice one of those to finalise the trip with plans made dinner eaten and a few beers it was off to bed for an early start. At about 2am I got a sharp jab to the ribs from my young bloke dad there are night howlers (aka dingos calling in the distance). 

    I giggle and roll over reassuring my distressed son that there was nothing scarier than his dad in this bush and with this said he shuffles his swag almost on top of mine and we both fell back to sleep. The alarm sounded at 4:30 and I was up putting the kettle on and frying up some bacon and eggs doing all the prep work for the coming days. Hunt bag was packed lollies and treats from mum for the young fella, plenty of water, knives, binos ect. By 5:30 we were all fed by 6 we were in the bush glassing hard for stags.



    The first encounter we had was with two young stags mooching through the creek we were walking about 300m ahead once I work out the biggest of the two was only about 27inches we made our way around them and carried on. About 2 k further on I spotted a good stag laying in the shade around 500 m off the creek so myself and Ryder waited back while Greg put in the stalk. This gave me a great opportunity to talk my son through the stalk and provide him with skills to help him secure a good stag in the coming days! From behind the binos we both watched a great stalk, a good shot and a heavy 34 inch stag go down.

    Day two called for another early start a good feed, gear prepped and off we went with Greg having secured a great stag we had a day up our sleeve for a little recon. So I spent most of the day just looking at deer with the boy and teaching him the importance of wind direction, fresh and old deer sign and getting him comfortable shooting the 300 wsm an afternoon beer with the farmer saw us all to the land of nodd by 8:30 pm.
    Day 3 was a day to remember early start but for the first time the boy was up and had his breakfast, boots on ready to rock and by 6:30 we where back on the same creek system. I let the boy take the reigns a little and using some of the skills picked up from the previous days he made good choices.

    With the wind in our faces and a fresh deer pad under our feet it wasn’t long before we spotted a mob of deer. We got a real good look at the mob and hard glass of the surrounding bush, with only a few smaller stags and a heap of does. But I know with that many does this time of the year, the big stag we are looking for won’t be too far away. About another kilometer or so and the boy was pumped when he spotted a lone stag 600m ahead. I calmed him down a little and sent him on his way and what an effort like a seasoned pro. He made a stalk and took a perfect off-hand shot to secure a trophy of a lifetime almost 35inches of heavy antler to say I was a proud dad would be a huge understatement and the joy on that young hunters face put a tear in my eye and etched a memory in my brain that will never be forgotten. The next day I decided to have a look in an area that I know a few real big stags frequent. We glassed about 10 stags, and 50 does for the morning. Stopping for a refreshing swim and a feed at lunch. At about 2 in the afternoon from behind my swaro binoculars I spotted a very heavy main beam an now it was my turn with the other two now spectating.

    I made the stalk the wind, however, was not kind to me and the stag was onto the game but hadn’t yet fully identified if I was friend or foe. He slowly made his way slightly away at around 200m, hes a cracking big hoowa, and it was now, or never. I let out a quick call that was later described by my hunting partners as more like a yowi than a Rusa stag but however it was successful and he stops broadside at around 220m. A calm breath, then one two three four, a controlled squeeze and the big boy was down in his tracks and what a stag 35 inches of wide heavy pearling covered antlers to add to the other two already down and to top the day off on the walk home Greg smokes a good boar. Up early packed up, fed and on the road before seven, at around 10 am we arrived at the spot I affectionately call the heartland. 

    Greg has previously shot around eight trophies and record chital with me here, so it’s decided I will have a go first and if the opportunity arises Ryder will have a go! The area I hunt Chital is mostly dry hard sparse country with occasional clumps of trees so these trees is the location spend most of the morning glassing. At around midday a large mob was located in the shade and after a little time looking we made out a great looking set of antlers amongst the mass of does, spikes and one or two young stags. We moved in for a quick, successful stalk, a good shot by yours truly and a bloody awesome stag is on the deck. The walk back to the truck tested young Ryder’s minimal experience a good stalk, but a missed opportunity saw another great chital trophy make for greener pastures something for the young bloke to look forward to on his next adventure.