I’ve been hunting this particular property for the last 8 years. During that time, I’ve found them quite difficult to pattern, both with cameras and my own observations. So far it has been mostly, just keep going and eventually you’ll cross paths. There is however 1 area of the property that seems to consistently hold stags during the afternoon, early in the year.
I have previously shot a stag that was right on the 30 inch mark, although he was unrecovered on the day. 3 years later, after speaking with the neighbour, he was recovered and bang on 30”, depending who measured him. I was elated, but there was a bit of an asterisk seeing as though I didn’t recover him myself and I knew bigger deer existed here.
Coming into January, after the Christmas holidays, I knew I wanted to spend some afternoons out there to see if any of the big boys would come through. A few afternoons produced nothing, but 1 day I spotted a group of hinds coming out of the scrub to feed and following up the rear with a big rutted up neck, was quite a big stag. One of those stags you know instantly you don’t want to stuff this up and need to get him down as quickly as possible. Quick shimmy into a clear shot with a rest and he folded on the spot.
That particular hunt wasn’t difficult, but the many uneventful trips leading up to it over the years was the struggle. He went well into the 30’s on both sides, great mass and meat recovered. He ticked all the boxes for a stag to be proud of. This stag had definitely been defending his harem and was in peak rut mode, but as is the nature of chital meat, still tender and delicious.
Zac Mckenzie: Australian hunter, spearfisherman, wildlife photographer & magazine contributor
