Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 06:33:50 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 06:36:56 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 06:41:19 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 06:42:08 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on May 09, 2016, 07:07:25 PM
Post by: coop2424 on May 09, 2016, 07:47:58 PM
Post by: Wetwoodshunter on May 09, 2016, 07:56:47 PM
Post by: olsy on May 09, 2016, 08:31:49 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on May 09, 2016, 08:42:39 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 08:46:10 PM
I don't think they can make bad food here! It's all amazing!
Devils burger, and garlic fries
Bobs weigh for breakfast
World famous fergburger! Well worth the hour wait for a burger
Breakfast, southern fried chicken and waffles with bacon and jalapeņo chutney
Lamb stew and roast lamb rump
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 08:47:44 PM
That may be the best part!
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 08:52:31 PM
Post by: MacAttack on May 09, 2016, 08:53:27 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 09:14:02 PM
This rock looked like a skull to me. Picture doesn't do it justice. The rocks in the mouth are basketball size or bigger!
And another pic of the tree in the first post for some size scale.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 09, 2016, 09:19:47 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 09, 2016, 09:20:27 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 09, 2016, 09:22:26 PM
Glad to see Jamie is baiting your critters for the hunt :chuckle:Someone gotta fatten them up for me! That stag is a 2 year old and already has that head hear!
Post by: Whitpirate on May 09, 2016, 09:54:24 PM
Post by: mfswallace on May 09, 2016, 11:12:49 PM
Post by: MLBowhunting on May 09, 2016, 11:20:41 PM
Post by: ELKBURGER on May 10, 2016, 07:51:52 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on May 10, 2016, 08:40:46 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 10, 2016, 08:56:51 AM
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on May 10, 2016, 09:50:10 AM
Pics look good love the bull, ox or whatever it is... Have a good time!!
Looks like a Scottish Highland Cow.
Post by: HighCountryHunter88 on May 10, 2016, 10:24:46 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2016, 10:42:29 AM
I've spent a lot of time in NZ, if you have any questions send me a pm!
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 10, 2016, 01:12:35 PM
There is so much more we would like to have done while in queenstown but had to limit ourselves due to money and time. We did see some beautiful areas of the southern alps on the bus cruise to Milford sound. Wanted to go on a jet boat ride up the rivers but decided on other things instead. One last day in queenstown today we will spend hiking and riding up the gondola. Then off to Christchurch for a day. After Christchurch we will head out to the hunt! Were hoping to be able to add a few hours of fishing for brown trout and a night of small game hunting while there.
Here's a pic of dinner last night at fat badger pizza and another of the sunrise out our hotel window just now.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 10, 2016, 01:13:52 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 10, 2016, 01:49:47 PM
Thanks for the info bear paw! I don't think paragliding or bungee jumping is up my alley. I like to keep my feet firmly planted on or near the ground! :chuckle:Be sure to look off the bridges in Christchurch - big brown trout everywhere.
There is so much more we would like to have done while in queenstown but had to limit ourselves due to money and time. We did see some beautiful areas of the southern alps on the bus cruise to Milford sound. Wanted to go on a jet boat ride up the rivers but decided on other things instead. One last day in queenstown today we will spend hiking and riding up the gondola. Then off to Christchurch for a day. After Christchurch we will head out to the hunt! Were hoping to be able to add a few hours of fishing for brown trout and a night of small game hunting while there.
Here's a pic of dinner last night at fat badger pizza and another of the sunrise out our hotel window just now.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 10, 2016, 02:46:10 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2016, 02:52:10 PM
It's right down on the water in the middle of town.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 10, 2016, 03:56:27 PM
This is kind of a fun thing to do in QT: http://minus5icebar.com/That was on the short list when we got here, but the cost got the best of us. We figured we could just sit outside our house in winter with a drink for a bit. :chuckle:
It's right down on the water in the middle of town.
They are charging $30 for one drink in there!
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2016, 04:07:38 PM
This is kind of a fun thing to do in QT: http://minus5icebar.com/That was on the short list when we got here, but the cost got the best of us. We figured we could just sit outside our house in winter with a drink for a bit. :chuckle:
It's right down on the water in the middle of town.
They are charging $30 for one drink in there!
Wow, they have gone up in price! :yike:
Have fun on the rest of your trip, good luck hunting! :tup:
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 10, 2016, 08:11:38 PM
Then we rode the gondola up for a look around.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 11, 2016, 08:50:20 PM
I convinced the wife I needed to look off all the bridges and managed to spit some fish and some eels in the river.
We get picked up tomorrow at 830 am for 6 days of hunting!
Post by: MtnMuley on May 11, 2016, 08:54:59 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 11, 2016, 10:17:25 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 11, 2016, 10:21:33 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 11, 2016, 10:30:28 PM
Just kidding BULLBLASTER, give them some North of the Equator fury for us.
Post by: jasnt on May 12, 2016, 05:42:14 AM
Post by: DaveMonti on May 12, 2016, 06:36:42 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 12, 2016, 11:41:18 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 12, 2016, 11:54:17 AM
Post by: coop2424 on May 12, 2016, 12:13:19 PM
Which species will you be hunting?
He is hunting red stag... I am thinking with the timeline change he is being picked up in the next 15min for the first day of the hunt.. I might be off an hr though since my math skills are questionable at times.. Kind of like bullblasters muzzy skills...
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 12, 2016, 08:47:12 PM
:chuckle:Which species will you be hunting?
He is hunting red stag... I am thinking with the timeline change he is being picked up in the next 15min for the first day of the hunt.. I might be off an hr though since my math skills are questionable at times.. Kind of like bullblasters muzzy skills...
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 12, 2016, 09:14:21 PM
Got picked up at 830 this am and made it to the lodge right around noon. Had some lunch and got situated. Then we headed to the range for some rifle zeroing and shooting practice. I am using a blazer that the outfit has for use. It is chambered in 7 rem mag and wearing both a can and a Schmidt and bender scope!
Shooting with a can is awesome!
Once we were through with shooting we got dressed in our rain gear and hit the hills.
It is absolutely pouring rain here.
Walking through the brush we came across a pack of feral goats and got to watch them a bit before they spotted us and took off. Later on we got into some stags and elk. Saw a few stags and Hinds (does) and a pretty big bull elk.
We are a bit soggy but back at camp for the night now.
Having a blast, the wife stepped in the wrong spot in one area and ended up knee deep in the mud! :chuckle: she was almost done right there but we talked her into continuing.
We have wifi at the lodge so I can keep things updated and keep pics flowing.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 12, 2016, 09:16:06 PM
I'll never live that down will I?:chuckle:Which species will you be hunting?
He is hunting red stag... I am thinking with the timeline change he is being picked up in the next 15min for the first day of the hunt.. I might be off an hr though since my math skills are questionable at times.. Kind of like bullblasters muzzy skills...
Post by: wadu1 on May 12, 2016, 09:30:59 PM
Yes it is a Heland Coo as they would say in Scotland, from a MacKenzie-MacCloud all highlandersPics look good love the bull, ox or whatever it is... Have a good time!!
Looks like a Scottish Highland Cow.
Post by: wadu1 on May 12, 2016, 09:37:36 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 12, 2016, 09:39:17 PM
nope! :chuckle:I'll never live that down will I?:chuckle:Which species will you be hunting?
He is hunting red stag... I am thinking with the timeline change he is being picked up in the next 15min for the first day of the hunt.. I might be off an hr though since my math skills are questionable at times.. Kind of like bullblasters muzzy skills...
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 12, 2016, 09:40:27 PM
Post by: MacAttack on May 12, 2016, 09:46:55 PM
No sister... Sorry Mac. :chuckle:
Damn
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 13, 2016, 12:04:12 PM
Post by: Gringo31 on May 13, 2016, 01:36:43 PM
Quote
I'll never live that down will I?
I think it's story time while we wait for the next update.
Post by: DaveMonti on May 13, 2016, 01:40:13 PM
QuoteI'll never live that down will I?
I think it's story time while we wait for the next update.
I agree, what's this all about?
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 13, 2016, 03:16:38 PM
Oh it's nothing... :dunno:QuoteI'll never live that down will I?
I think it's story time while we wait for the next update.
I agree, what's this all about?
:chuckle:
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 13, 2016, 03:22:10 PM
Located a bachelor group of stags, one was really nice. Got a decent look and decided I'd try and shoot that one.
Of course right when I decided that they saw us and took off. Tried to locate them again but they went into the thick brush. We did bump a stag from its bed in the brush. But couldn't get a good look. Just saw flashes of it as it ran away.
After that we climbed up high and set up and did some glassing. Spotted a fallow doe and fawn.
Rain held off so it wasn't real wet this morning.
In all we made a 3.5-4 mile hike.
Post by: jasnt on May 13, 2016, 03:50:22 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 13, 2016, 05:28:46 PM
QuoteI'll never live that down will I?
I think it's story time while we wait for the next update.
So Bullblaster and I met last summer when he pulled a muzzy bull tag in a unit that I know well. He came over to scout so I hooked up with him and coop2424 for some glassing and jaw jacking. I showed him all my secret spots, lined him out on his map, and since I was at least 60% certain he wasn't an axe weilding rapist/murderer, invited him to crash at my house for the week of his hunt.
Hunt gets here, he is all settled into the kids play room, my daughter conned him out of hundreds by selling him veggies from our garden (sucker), and his muzzy is dialed in. I wasn't able to hunt with him due to work but every circle I made on his map contained a 6pt bull. Spot after spot after spot he hiked into. Bull after bull after bull, practically threw themselves at Bullblasters feet. Night after night after night we cleaned his muzzy and reloaded all his quick loads. Unfortunetely he only brought one pound of powder and a couple boxes of bullets so he was unable to fill his tag
Post by: jasnt on May 13, 2016, 06:49:33 PM
:chuckle: I believe every detail 🙃QuoteI'll never live that down will I?
I think it's story time while we wait for the next update.
So Bullblaster and I met last summer when he pulled a muzzy bull tag in a unit that I know well. He came over to scout so I hooked up with him and coop2424 for some glassing and jaw jacking. I showed him all my secret spots, lined him out on his map, and since I was at least 60% certain he wasn't an axe weilding rapist/murderer, invited him to crash at my house for the week of his hunt.
Hunt gets here, he is all settled into the kids play room, my daughter conned him out of hundreds by selling him veggies from our garden (sucker), and his muzzy is dialed in. I wasn't able to hunt with him due to work but every circle I made on his map contained a 6pt bull. Spot after spot after spot he hiked into. Bull after bull after bull, practically threw themselves at Bullblasters feet. Night after night after night we cleaned his muzzy and reloaded all his quick loads. Unfortunetely he only brought one pound of powder and a couple boxes of bullets so he was unable to fill his tag
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 13, 2016, 06:55:57 PM
I'm not sure that's exactly how it all played out... :rolleyes:QuoteI'll never live that down will I?
I think it's story time while we wait for the next update.
So Bullblaster and I met last summer when he pulled a muzzy bull tag in a unit that I know well. He came over to scout so I hooked up with him and coop2424 for some glassing and jaw jacking. I showed him all my secret spots, lined him out on his map, and since I was at least 60% certain he wasn't an axe weilding rapist/murderer, invited him to crash at my house for the week of his hunt.
Hunt gets here, he is all settled into the kids play room, my daughter conned him out of hundreds by selling him veggies from our garden (sucker), and his muzzy is dialed in. I wasn't able to hunt with him due to work but every circle I made on his map contained a 6pt bull. Spot after spot after spot he hiked into. Bull after bull after bull, practically threw themselves at Bullblasters feet. Night after night after night we cleaned his muzzy and reloaded all his quick loads. Unfortunetely he only brought one pound of powder and a couple boxes of bullets so he was unable to fill his tag
But ya for the most part. Just like that. :chuckle:
Post by: coop2424 on May 13, 2016, 07:00:44 PM
Post by: shootem on May 13, 2016, 07:42:04 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 13, 2016, 11:09:37 PM
Right before dark we had a bunch of fallow deer come by. They were chasing a hot doe.
Also managed to rip the heck outta my Sitka rain pants :bash: shame as this is really the first time I have even used them!
Post by: BNAElkhntr on May 14, 2016, 07:08:32 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 14, 2016, 05:06:20 PM
Spotted a fallow and a goat in the first clearing we checked. Then walked up to the next.
Found a group of stags there and the one I liked yesterday was with them! We snuck close enough for a shot and played cat and mouse with this stag for what seemed like hours but really was about an hour. Then the stags fed off into the brush. So we beat feet up and over the top of the hill and set up overlooking where we hoped they'd come out. We ended up waiting about 20-25 minutes for the group of stags to appear and they did one by one. The one I wanted was the 3rd one back so we waited and he came out but walked straight away for about 50 yards.
He then fed straight away for 10 minutes and wouldn't turn. Finally he turned to his left and gave me a 1/4 away shot. I put us crosshairs just behind the last rib and cut loose. He jumped and mule kicked and turned to his right and started coughing. I sent another through his shoulders and he went down like a sack of taters on that one.
Was a great time chasing and trying to get a shot at this guy.
He ended up being a pretty old stag, teeth were very worn down. I never knew that these stags have whistlers like elk (much smaller tho) but they do.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 14, 2016, 05:07:14 PM
Nice Pics please Keep Updating What's the Name of the Place your Hunting at? Price for a Stag?We are with wilderness quest New Zealand.
I'll send a pm with what we paid.
Post by: BNAElkhntr on May 14, 2016, 05:12:16 PM
Post by: LabChamp on May 14, 2016, 05:20:39 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 14, 2016, 05:23:23 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 14, 2016, 05:38:22 PM
Beautiful view and great animal. Dream hunt for sure. what does that beast score?Thanks! I have no idea on score. The guide says around 330. I think they will measure it. The antlers are very heavy. Can't fit hand around even the beams!
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 14, 2016, 05:44:05 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on May 14, 2016, 05:46:35 PM
Post by: shootem on May 14, 2016, 06:35:11 PM
Post by: TVHunts on May 14, 2016, 06:44:49 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 14, 2016, 06:54:16 PM
Post by: jasnt on May 14, 2016, 07:51:04 PM
Post by: The100Road on May 14, 2016, 08:15:16 PM
send me one too please.Nice Pics please Keep Updating What's the Name of the Place your Hunting at? Price for a Stag?We are with wilderness quest New Zealand.
I'll send a pm with what we paid.
Post by: kentrek on May 14, 2016, 08:24:26 PM
BTW awesome adventure ! Awesome animal !
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 14, 2016, 10:45:35 PM
Looks like it had alil bit of elk genetics ? Do they cross ?I think they do cross, but I'm not sure of this one was a cross or not. Body size wasn't humongous like an elk.
BTW awesome adventure ! Awesome animal !
Post by: MtnMuley on May 15, 2016, 01:49:52 AM
Post by: Shooting Stix on May 15, 2016, 02:06:19 AM
Post by: RadSav on May 15, 2016, 05:04:50 AM
Looks like it had alil bit of elk genetics ? Do they cross ?I think they do cross, but I'm not sure of this one was a cross or not. Body size wasn't humongous like an elk.
BTW awesome adventure ! Awesome animal !
I always thought most of the stags in New Zealand are crossed. I remember reading information at the YO Ranch in Texas that "Red Stag" means it is a cross whereas Red Deer Stag is the pure species. Sika/Red cross would be a "Silk Stag?
I was offered a hunt in Argentina some years ago and their big selling point was that the stags there were "Pure" Red Deer and claimed they were one of the few places left to find them in huntable numbers.
Post by: TommyH on May 15, 2016, 07:36:22 AM
Post by: ELKBURGER on May 15, 2016, 07:47:02 AM
Post by: kentrek on May 15, 2016, 08:25:02 AM
Looks like it had alil bit of elk genetics ? Do they cross ?I think they do cross, but I'm not sure of this one was a cross or not. Body size wasn't humongous like an elk.
BTW awesome adventure ! Awesome animal !
I always thought most of the stags in New Zealand are crossed. I remember reading information at the YO Ranch in Texas that "Red Stag" means it is a cross whereas Red Deer Stag is the pure species. Sika/Red cross would be a "Silk Stag?
I was offered a hunt in Argentina some years ago and their big selling point was that the stags there were "Pure" Red Deer and claimed they were one of the few places left to find them in huntable numbers.
That's interesting, I was just going off the style of fronts bull blasters stag but after looking at a couple hundred other stags (google) its not really something to make note of.....it's amazing how unique these animals are, everyone has its own "look"....can't wait to get over there someday
Again awesome,awesome, awesome ! :tup:
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 15, 2016, 09:00:13 AM
The stuff you see on his stag is very typical for stags.
Post by: hunting4sanity on May 15, 2016, 09:54:12 AM
Post by: Maverick on May 15, 2016, 10:34:56 AM
Nice Pics please Keep Updating What's the Name of the Place your Hunting at? Price for a Stag?We are with wilderness quest New Zealand.
I'll send a pm with what we paid.
I was wondering the same thing! Congrats on the bride and stag!
Post by: Whitpirate on May 15, 2016, 12:09:53 PM
Post by: nwwanderer on May 15, 2016, 12:23:17 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 15, 2016, 01:25:22 PM
Great work pal! Congrats on all the trophies this trip and memories made. Hope you get to eat some of it.We've eaten some stag a few times at the lodge, and they are going to make us up a "to go" box of 50 lb of meat from the stag to check as luggage and bring home!
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 15, 2016, 01:27:41 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 15, 2016, 01:38:14 PM
Great stuff, thanks. Bring the new bride by, whitetail off to a good start, no new fawns yet and the turkeys are filling your normal whitetail spots.Glad to hear the whitetails are doing well! Not so excited about the turkeys :chuckle:
I did manage to get a mineral set and trail cam up out there before taking off on vacation.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 15, 2016, 06:03:39 PM
Post by: grundy53 on May 15, 2016, 06:41:31 PM
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
Post by: coop2424 on May 15, 2016, 06:46:52 PM
Get home quick! Coop needs help with bear baits! Apparently he sucks at it :chuckle:
Man I don't need this from you.. :chuckle: Enjoy your last days over there!!!
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 16, 2016, 01:45:45 AM
The pics show it all.
Guns prices are so weird. A couple pics of prices. But I also saw a howa 1500 in 308 with a scope and suppressor for 1300.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 16, 2016, 01:46:52 AM
Guess the sayings true? "Don't send a boy to do a mans work".Get home quick! Coop needs help with bear baits! Apparently he sucks at it :chuckle:
Man I don't need this from you.. :chuckle: Enjoy your last days over there!!!
:chuckle:
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 16, 2016, 06:34:00 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 16, 2016, 10:02:32 PM
The property here has a Arapawa sheep herd that normally stays on the private land but a couple years ago a group of them headed up the river valley and onto public land. The department of conservation (New Zealand government) doesn't want these sheep on public land and told the outfit that they need to get rid of them or the government will come kill them and Bill the outfit for the costs.
We headed up the valley hiking. It's about 3 miles to where the sheep have taken up residence. The outfit has been hunting them pretty heavily since they went up there and haven't had much luck.
We got up there and located a group of 6 sheep. I managed to knock 3 of them down by running and gunning, and could have gotten another but remembered we had to pack anything we shot back down to the lodge and figured 3 was plenty. :chuckle:
The guide and I broke the sheep down and into our packs and headed out. I also get to bring home the ram skull for a European mount. These things were very spooky and wouldn't stand still for us at all! I had to shoot as they crossed openings. Was a ton of fun.
Also we got to measure my stag today. We came up to 315 inches. Heading home tomorrow.
Post by: coop2424 on May 16, 2016, 10:13:34 PM
Post by: jasnt on May 17, 2016, 05:49:40 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 17, 2016, 06:53:38 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 17, 2016, 08:39:01 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 17, 2016, 08:41:15 AM
Way to represent for all of the true western hunters. Hard hiking, good shooting, and knowledge of meat care! Guides must love it when they get clients like you. :tup: get home so we can kill some bears!!
:yeah: I was picturing it went like this, "hey this guy can actually shoot...by the way, we have a bit of a sheep problem" :chuckle:
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 17, 2016, 09:34:10 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 17, 2016, 01:16:25 PM
I couldn't believe that mostly all of the hunters that come here don't help with the skinning or packing or anything. To me that's all part of the game! Wouldn't be hunting without all that part too. I also taught him a bit about how we pack animals in the states.
Post by: opdinkslayer on May 18, 2016, 06:37:48 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 18, 2016, 10:08:41 AM