Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 19, 2011, 07:46:03 PM
With the morning of the last day coming way to fast, I went to bed. I woke to the final day of hunting in New Zealand. We started out early in darkness of night, with the climb up the mountain. That way we could give ourselves the most time possible on the final day of the hunt. In the early morning light, we managed to spot a mob of arapawa ewes and rams way down in a lower valley. After looking them over, we decided that there was not a trophy ram for me in the bunch. We spent the next hour or so glassing from a look out on top of a canyon. I was able to see some great fallow bucks and a mob of feral goats. Then in the draw next to us, a small group of rams “3 in total” moved out from a thick windrow towards the bottom of the draw. As soon as I saw this ram, my heart skipped a beat! I knew he was a great ram and a monster at that! The other two rams were outstanding rams as well but my heart was set on this giant! We grabbed are stuff and took off after the rams. We were able to slip up to about 150 yards without being detected. As we sat there putting a game plan together a strong gust hit me on the back of the neck and I thought O SH#%! Within seconds, the rams got our wind and took off down the hill. I really thought my chances of shooting this ram had went out the window. Lucky for us the rams got down the hill to a group of fallow does and bucks feeding along the timber. When they got by them they seemed to calm back down. We then started a big semi circle around to the underside of the group of rams. The fallow that had helped us was now hurting us. After watching for about 30 mins, the rams started working their way down towards us. We were kind of in a y at the bottom of the draw. If the rams went right, the chances were slim to none for a shot. If they went, left I would have a great 30-35 yards shot threw some trees and brush. As faith would have it, they turned left. As the rams walked by the ram I was after was trailing in the back. I slowly drew my beast of a xforce back to full draw. As I drew, the rams sensed me and started to take off. I set my pin on the front edge of the now quartering away rams hip. As I felt my release break and saw, the arrow hit the ram right on the edge of the hip going through the liver and out the opposite lung, passing through the rams shoulder on the way out. I was over joyed as I watched the big ram run and start to stagger. I knew my fatal arrow had been placed well. As we walked to the fallen ram, I started to shake. I get the “buck fever” after many of my shots. As I lifted his, head from the earth I knew what I had in my hands not just a trophy animal to me but also an animal of my dreams! After a few minutes of quite time to reflect on the hunt and the great animal I had taken. We were able to get some great pictures and pack the ram out. I could have not asked for a better last day of hunting. A great trip full of many memories and great animals! Memories I will look back on and enjoy for the years to come.
Thanks for reading…
Matt…AKA. carpsniperg2
Post by: agchawk on May 19, 2011, 07:47:42 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 19, 2011, 07:49:39 PM
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,75838.30.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,75838.30.html)
Post by: rb2506 on May 19, 2011, 07:53:38 PM
Post by: alecvg on May 19, 2011, 07:55:55 PM
Post by: Todd_ID on May 19, 2011, 08:11:04 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 19, 2011, 08:16:27 PM
Holy Crap! That thing looks like it's 30 years old! Congrats!!!!! :IBCOOL:
No I am only 24 :chuckle:
Thanks everyone!
Post by: benhuntin on May 19, 2011, 08:19:44 PM
Post by: bowsandhose on May 19, 2011, 08:22:54 PM
Post by: Huntbear on May 19, 2011, 08:24:22 PM
Holler at me when you get rested up. Have a question or two for you.
Post by: rebal69972 on May 19, 2011, 08:27:07 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 19, 2011, 08:29:55 PM
I'll bet that was a good eater :rolleyes:
The kid's at the church won't mind much. They will be happy to have it :IBCOOL: Along with the rest of my meat. This is the first year I have brought any back. I just brought about 30lbs of stag back and the other hundreds of pounds of meat went to the kids at the local church. :IBCOOL:
Post by: h2ofowlr on May 19, 2011, 08:30:36 PM
Post by: runamuk on May 19, 2011, 08:37:03 PM
Post by: bobcat on May 19, 2011, 08:44:03 PM
I guess that's what makes it a trophy, huh? :chuckle:
Post by: bobcat on May 19, 2011, 08:45:21 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 19, 2011, 08:52:46 PM
By the way, WHO wrote that story??? :dunno:
ME ;)
Post by: bucklucky on May 19, 2011, 08:57:11 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 19, 2011, 09:03:44 PM
:chuckle:
One hell of a trophy. Congrats.
Post by: bucklucky on May 19, 2011, 09:06:17 PM
Post by: Malottguy on May 19, 2011, 09:29:30 PM
Post by: Camp David on May 19, 2011, 10:03:57 PM
Post by: turkey buster on May 19, 2011, 10:12:49 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 19, 2011, 10:21:31 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 20, 2011, 07:46:07 AM
Post by: arrowflinger on May 20, 2011, 07:50:14 AM
Post by: GoldTip on May 20, 2011, 08:09:20 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on May 20, 2011, 08:23:31 AM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on May 20, 2011, 09:17:30 AM
Post by: quadrafire on May 20, 2011, 09:44:34 AM
Post by: fvh40 on May 20, 2011, 10:09:02 AM
Congrats with the ram, it's an awesome story and one long to be remembered. Cool pics .
Post by: Austrian Hunter on May 20, 2011, 10:17:38 AM
Post by: Carnivore on May 20, 2011, 10:22:15 AM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on May 20, 2011, 01:31:58 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 20, 2011, 02:14:26 PM
Congrats Matt, super job. One question though. How was it that you could bring meat back into the country? I thought that wasn't allowed by customs.
You can bring the meat back threw customs, from new zealand. How ever there is about a 50/50 chance that they will want to inspect it and you will not get any back or it will be spoiled when you get it back. I just tell them that I have done it before and that it is all sealed up in many plastic bags and frozen. Then I also let them know that is fully de-boned and there is no hide or hair left on any of it. Then your chances are very high of just walking right threw customs. I also let them know that it is venison and not just meat. They are more jumpy with livestock meat.
Post by: iRem on May 20, 2011, 03:52:11 PM
Post by: HUNT on May 21, 2011, 08:07:38 AM
Post by: Elkstuffer on May 22, 2011, 04:35:06 PM
Post by: rasbo on May 22, 2011, 05:06:34 PM
Post by: cohoho on May 22, 2011, 08:03:08 PM
Post by: piled-up on May 22, 2011, 08:21:45 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 22, 2011, 08:42:14 PM
Now - that is one cool looking animal. Funny seeing your trip results got me into a discussion with the wife. New Zeland might be on Not-So-Far-Off vacation for the both of us.
You know I can help with that ;)
That thing is huge holy :crap: with a bow to thats awesome! Any flyfishing while you were there?
No the rivers were closed when we went. The lakes are still open. I was to busy hunting :IBCOOL:
Thanks everyone :IBCOOL: I am glad I could share a once in a lifetime hunt with everyone here :IBCOOL:
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 24, 2011, 04:46:07 PM
Post by: KNOXY on May 29, 2011, 03:18:17 PM
Post by: d-rock on May 29, 2011, 09:48:57 PM
Post by: sakoshooter on May 31, 2011, 12:20:25 PM
Imho, record books are for people. Also, respect for the animal happens in the field which I'm sure you already did - ethical shot and humane kill. Entering them into a record book does no more respect for them than us not entering our trophies in a record book does for disrespecting them.
Congrats again.