My First Deer

I have been hunting with my Dad since I was four years old. We have shot many pigs and goats together on the farm, and we have shot about 10 deer together, always with Dad doing the shooting. We have hunted in the Kaimanawas, Pureoras, Woodhill, and more recently, on South Taranaki DOC land. Late last year, I told Dad I wanted to have a go behind the gun, so he loaded some .308 rounds for me, and we started to practice on targets. 

Our first hunt for a deer for me was to a South Taranaki DOC block which involved a very long walk with heavy packs on our backs to where we camped. After camp was set up, we stalked to a big clearing where we saw a couple of fallow grazing. Dad and I snuck up to 80m from one, and I lined up for a shot, but unfortunately, the shot missed, and the deer ran off. 

The next chance was three weeks later when we went into the Ruahines for three nights in the roar. We stalked and stalked through the thick bush, but I couldn’t get eyes on a deer long enough to shoot one. Dad shot a hind, and we saw a few others and heard a few stags roar, but there was no deer for me. 

My third hunt for my deer was the club hunt with our local North Taranaki NZDA branch We packed our gear, left home after school on Friday, and arrived at the woolshed three hours later in the dark. We set up our beds and got our heads down, but I didn’t sleep well, partly from excitement and partly because it was so COLD. In the morning, after breakfast, Dad and I headed to the back corner of the block and started stalking. After seeing a few fallow in the neighbouring block, we eventually saw some that we could shoot and with them was a big white buck. I was so excited! We watched the buck for 1 ¼ hours as he was sitting down, meaning I wasn’t confident taking a shot. After all that time, the wind changed, and the deer smelled us and ran off before I could line up and get a shot. Disappointed, we moved to a different part of the block, where we saw another deer, but again, it was sitting down, and I couldn’t get a proper shot.  

After being out nearly all day, we returned to where we had seen the big white buck that morning, but he wasn’t there. Instead, a smaller buck was there, so we watched him for about half an hour, hoping the big boy would come back out. Just when I thought I wouldn't see the big one again, I looked to our left, and there he was, about 80m away on the skyline, looking straight at us. I froze and whispered to Dad that I could see him, but he was also watching us. After what felt like forever, but was probably five minutes, he moved off and out of sight so we could move and try and get a shot. We crawled over a little rise to where he had gone, and he was broadside about 130m away, but right on the skyline again.  

After a few minutes, he began to move off and dropped below the skyline, where I could get a shot. I was so excited to see the buck I had missed out on that morning. I lined up the centre shoulder when he stopped and squeezed the trigger. The buck jumped and ran off, but Dad said it was a good hit. We followed the buck and found him dead about 70m away. 

I was so happy; I had just shot my first deer, the one I had seen that morning and been so gutted about missing out on. That night, we ate fresh deer heart for dinner, and it was the best meal I have ever eaten. Then I slept really well. I have already chosen a spot on my bedroom wall for the head, and Dad says he will help me clean it up and hang it up once it is dry.