The weekend was a great success.
The 4 of us bagged about 30 wild goats.
We saw a couple of other herds that numbered about 70 in total but they were on another farmers land and we wouldnt shoot without permission.
I used the .223 in the morning followed by my M1 carbine in the afternoon. Two of my companions used their CAS lever actions in 44-40 and my third companion used a 12 guage with buck shot and solids.
The hunting was hard, as the block we could shoot in was very steep hills covered in gorse, bracken and bush.
We butchered a dozen of the younger goats, leaving the billys alone, and had enough meat to fill a couple of large chilli bins. Some good eating over the coming weeks.
To finish off the day the farmer, on whose property we were shooting, allowed us the use of his quad bike and we ran down another mob. One person driving and the other on the back with a 12 guage. Using this method we took out another 5 billys.
The farmer was pleased with our efforts and has invited us back anytime we wish to clear out some more. He is also going to talk to the other landowners in the area on our behalf with the view of granting us access to their properties.
On the way back we called into a companies head office. They specialise in forestry investment. They have started negotiations with us that hopefully enable us to hunt their property. 22,000 hectares of land or approx 50,000 acres. In this area there are wild goats, deer (both red and fallow) and wild boar. Once we explained to this company that we had just been culling a farmers wild goats in an area local to theirs, they were only too pleased to enter into discussion over entry to their property.
It pays to be polite and professional.
Just too put myself down a little and to bring a smile to your lips I have to tell you this little story.
The others decided that since this was my first hunt with them that I should take the first goat. We located a small mob of about a dozen animals. We stalked them to a small clearing and then I was told to shoot from the crest of a rise. The others went either side of the rise to get the mob when it broke.
I climbed the rise, puffing and panting all the way. Carefully eased myself to the top, identified to the others by signals which animal I was going to take, sighted and pulled the trigger. I missed. 40 yardfs with a .223 and I was way out. Puffing and panting plus pure adrenilin rush and I failed on my first shot. 2nd shot dropped the goat and 3rd took another. In the mean time the other 3 took out 8 other goats. I really took a pasting from my mates. The rib of all their jokes for the rest of the day.
What have I learned?
I need to get fitter. I need to relearn how to hunt. I need to practice snap shooting and finally when using a scope at 40 yards do not set it for the highest magnification. Lowest will do. Too many hours on the range where I had all the time in the world. My M1 carbine with its battle sights was used later in the day and those open sights were perfect for 100 yard shots.
I'll stop now as I do tend to burble on a bit.
Dai.
