We needn ’ t have worried : the buck was lying stone-dead 2 metres away . I don ’ t know who was more happy , Dylan or myself , but he had secured himself a nice 14 point Woodhill fallow buck . By the time we had gutted it and carried it out to the road it was pretty much dark .
We met up with Peter and Ian back at the block carpark and swapped stories on our day ’ s hunt . Unfortunately for the brothers it was another unsuccessful day but they had both seen a few animals and had enjoyed themselves .
And as a bonus , Dylan ’ s trophy won the 2016 Bert Howlett Memorial Trophy for the best buck shot that year from the Woodhill herd . Brent Neville from Tasman Taxidermy tanned the hide , which Dylan now has as a memento of his hunt . I hope to get the skull mounted on a European-style wooden shield .
I hope that besides shooting his first buck he learnt a few valuable hunting lessons on that cold July day .
Dylan receiving the 2016 Bert Howlett Memorial Trophy from Brian Witton , Woodhill Fallow Management Council Committee member and Patron , Auckland branch NZDA
If you are interested in applying for a ballot at Woodhill Forest please visit our website for more details – www . fallowdeer . co . nz . Ballots for the 2017 ballot hunting season should appear on the site in the first week of March . Hunting commences on the first weekend in June and finishes mid-September .
12 NZ Hunting & Wildlife 196 - Autumn 2017