The last few weeks some mates and I had been out chasing a few Chital about. Plenty of blown stalks along the way, the usual wind, native critters, all played a part in not letting us get what we wanted - until Dean finally struck some
gold...
This particular day the stags were sighted from a distance feeding behind a bunch of trees. At this stage we were about 200m out. The stags were only thinking of gorging themselves, their heads down low in the dry spring grasses. We made some good ground and when the odd stag threw his head up to check for danger we froze. There was a line of trees that we were able to come in behind. The stags decided to deviate their feeding direction and head upwards into the sloped ground, which was a blessing for our approach. We made it to the nearest tree without being detected. Dean lifted his bino's up and glassed for the biggest stag. As it turned out he happened to be the furthest away but there were two other stags with him that Dean was happy to shoot. The feeding stags edged further up the hill and we decided to creep into the next set of trees. Dean ranged the nearest Chital stag and then turned around to whisper that he wanted another 10m. Dean edged into the last bit of the stalk while I hung back with the video camera. He slowly made the 30m mark and wasted no time in knocking an arrow. The bow now drawing back as the stags that were unaware of the hunter's presents. Now at full draw the pin finally settled and the release just happened. A loud thud, followed by an explosion of deer. I didn't catch how good the shot was but by the reaction on Dean's face I knew it was good. The stag buckled up only 40m away and passed out. Dean - he had nailed his first Chital stag and he couldn't have been happier.
gold...
This particular day the stags were sighted from a distance feeding behind a bunch of trees. At this stage we were about 200m out. The stags were only thinking of gorging themselves, their heads down low in the dry spring grasses. We made some good ground and when the odd stag threw his head up to check for danger we froze. There was a line of trees that we were able to come in behind. The stags decided to deviate their feeding direction and head upwards into the sloped ground, which was a blessing for our approach. We made it to the nearest tree without being detected. Dean lifted his bino's up and glassed for the biggest stag. As it turned out he happened to be the furthest away but there were two other stags with him that Dean was happy to shoot. The feeding stags edged further up the hill and we decided to creep into the next set of trees. Dean ranged the nearest Chital stag and then turned around to whisper that he wanted another 10m. Dean edged into the last bit of the stalk while I hung back with the video camera. He slowly made the 30m mark and wasted no time in knocking an arrow. The bow now drawing back as the stags that were unaware of the hunter's presents. Now at full draw the pin finally settled and the release just happened. A loud thud, followed by an explosion of deer. I didn't catch how good the shot was but by the reaction on Dean's face I knew it was good. The stag buckled up only 40m away and passed out. Dean - he had nailed his first Chital stag and he couldn't have been happier.
The following week we were at it again, early starts had us looking at where the deer were feeding during the night and heading back into the thicker scrub during the mid morning. We glassed at the remainder of the deer and noticed there to be a straggler lagging behind. It was a chital stag and he was in a great spot for a stalk. I wasted no time in hatching out a plan. The stag was feeding right beside a dry creek bed. I thought if I could get to that dry creek bed without being detected I should have a good chance at a shot. I backed off the hill that I was glassing from and as soon as I was out of sight I ran about 500m before pulling up to come to another vantage point hoping to see the stag again. I slowly edged over the rise and to my surprise the stag was still in the exact spot. "You little ripper", I thought to myself. I continued on slowly sliding into the creek bed where I knew if I made it to the bottom this stag was in trouble. As I made it a fickle breeze was next on my mind. He had me in a bit of a panic as it swirled through the creek bed walls. I decided to push on hoping that the breeze up on top of the embankment was heading the same way when I entered into the dry creek. Further up I pushed and I knew I wasn't far from the stag. I clambered up the bank and peered up to see the stag still in the same area, head down and feeding. 20m more and I was at the 20m mark. The inconsistent breeze had me rolling through the paces a bit quicker then usual. The arrow out and onto the rest as the pin now about to find it's mark. The sharp outback broadhead made shaving sharp speed and flew right through the stags vitals. I stayed focused as the stag only for a short made short ground, before doing cart wheels and passing out. On a closer inspection this stag looked to be in poor condition, his body size wasn't as big as some of the other stags in the area, I was thinking this spotted deer may have had some sort of disease, but we'll never no...
Round 2 for Dean and the Chital bug continued. A few stags still patrolled the area but most seemed to be growing their velvet antlers.....
This one really caught Dean's eye. He looked to have perfect shaped antlers and was now at the top of the hit list....
Into it again after a night of dreaming dots. A few crazed chital let out their squeaky whistle as we entered their domain. We knew where they were heading so we intended to get into a spot in hope of them coming straight past. With the plan in play the morning sun started to shine, and before long moving spotted deer ventured in our direction. What a sight this was, we were thinking this was going to just happen, but as it does so many times the deer just turned off before they got to us and headed into the bush only 45-50 to our right. Luck was on their side this time, we didn't push this mob so we backed out and headed further across the range. It was still early and we were still hopeful to spot some more deer. The ground was in much need of some rain and the loud crunchy leaves and sticks had our surrounds on edge. Small wallaby's hammered through the timber taking a few dotted deer with them. We were thinking the day wasn't going to happen for us, so we decided to take a break and feed our faces.
With our hunger cravings gone it was time to check out the last flat where Dean had shot his previous stag two weeks earlier. We made it to a vantage point where we could glass the flat. We spotted deer straight away and an excited fist pump followed. We were thinking it was the same two stags that were hanging with the one Dean shot earlier. This time the 2 stags were bedded which was going to make things tough this time. One stag looked off into the opposite direction while the other was laying parallel to us. Dean had one tree to try and line up with the parallel stag for a direct stalk which could see him make it into bow range. I sat back and watched it all unfold, Dean made the attacking line he needed to close the gap without being spotted. With one stag behind the line of the tree the approached looked to be easy as he made some steady ground. Now at 60, 50, 40 and one stag looked to be getting a bit nervous. Dean made another 5m and the nervous looking stag rose to his feet. The bowhunter showed initiative and was already at full draw as the stag started to take a few steps. The stag sensed something and peered back to a carbon arrow which was already making ground on his vitals. The stag dropped into the arrow nicely and made an unstable get
away. Dean was confident with the shot so we gave him 15min before heading over to hopefully find a good blood trail. We cruised across to find plenty of claret sprayed across the thirsty earth, which made for easy tracking. The stag didn't make much ground and Dean was rewarded with his second Chital stag...
With our hunger cravings gone it was time to check out the last flat where Dean had shot his previous stag two weeks earlier. We made it to a vantage point where we could glass the flat. We spotted deer straight away and an excited fist pump followed. We were thinking it was the same two stags that were hanging with the one Dean shot earlier. This time the 2 stags were bedded which was going to make things tough this time. One stag looked off into the opposite direction while the other was laying parallel to us. Dean had one tree to try and line up with the parallel stag for a direct stalk which could see him make it into bow range. I sat back and watched it all unfold, Dean made the attacking line he needed to close the gap without being spotted. With one stag behind the line of the tree the approached looked to be easy as he made some steady ground. Now at 60, 50, 40 and one stag looked to be getting a bit nervous. Dean made another 5m and the nervous looking stag rose to his feet. The bowhunter showed initiative and was already at full draw as the stag started to take a few steps. The stag sensed something and peered back to a carbon arrow which was already making ground on his vitals. The stag dropped into the arrow nicely and made an unstable get
away. Dean was confident with the shot so we gave him 15min before heading over to hopefully find a good blood trail. We cruised across to find plenty of claret sprayed across the thirsty earth, which made for easy tracking. The stag didn't make much ground and Dean was rewarded with his second Chital stag...
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