Winner of the 2008 Amuri Helicopters prize draw (Trevor Smith)
And the lucky prize draw winner for the 2008 Sika show sponsored by Amuri Helicopters to the value of $2,100.00 helicopter chamio trip goes to Trevor Smith – wow, what an awesome prize.
I won the prize on a Sunday & contacted Tony Michelle (director of Amuri Helicopters) the following day to thank him for the wonderful prize he had kindly sponsored & to book my dates which happened to be for the 26th May 09 fly in – to the 5th June 09 fly out solely to target a good chamio buck during their rut. I asked him what other animals were there to hunt in our block & Tony replied – good red deer & plenty of pigs.
After booking & confirming dates along with a few other questions relating to the hut in general & the overall landscape we would be hunting, I then touched base with three of me mates to see if they were keen to join me on this hunting trip & without any hesitation – they were all in.
Finally after putting an itinerary together, it was now time to execute the plan & head to the South Island (Hamner Springs) to hunt on St James Station. On our arrival at the Amuri Helicopter hanger we were greeted by one of Tonys pilots – Phil, for Tony happened to be in Australia on business. We were flown in on a R44 to the Stanley Vale Hut & this was home for the next 10 days. On our fight in, Brett happen to see two pigs from the air which was only 3 km from our hut which was good to see – it’s always good to see animals from the air. Because the R44 happen to do 2 trips – 1 with passengers & 1 with a cargo net, Phil the pilot happen to spot a chamio from the air on the opposite face from the pigs on the second trip in so this was a promising start. While waiting for Phil to return with our gear in the cargo net, I also happen to spot a pig through my 10×42 leica binoculars on a northerly face across the Stanly River opposite the hut.
On arrival at the hut, it was not hard to see that this place had a lot of history attached to it. The walls on the inside were made up of straw & clay – obviously to help with insulation. The hut book really took to all our attention when we discovered that a person by the name of Alan Lloyd Davies who had visited the Stanley Vale hut was the grandson of Letita Logney Fowler (Born Stanley Vale 1877). There were news paper clippings on the wall as far back as 1892-93.After sorting all our gear out & getting our base camp up to scratch including preparing tea & getting the fire roaring, it was time to plan our hunt. Brett & Graham decided to team up & head west down towards Lake Guyon while myself & Kev chose a promising looking ridge across the Stanley River which was towards the east.
The next morning (Thursday 28th May) approached us & we were all keen as to get out & hunt. Kev & I spotted what looked like to be a good chamio buck via my 10 x 42 Leica binoculars & carefully assessed by my 22 power night force scope at 1132 yards away on the other side of the valley we were climbing. He was on his own & perched out on a rocky outcrop high above the valley floor scanning everything in sight for miles – im sure. We did our best to not skyline our selves by walking on the other side of the ridge in order to get above him & shoot, but due to the amount of ice on the south side of the ridge – without crampons this option was not safe & therefore the buck & spotted me mate Kev walking the skyline for a brief moment & he disappeared. We continued to climb up to a high bench so we could sit & glass to see if any other animals were present. The higher we climbed, the steeper it got, & the more ice there was so we pulled out my jet-boil, melted some snow for water, & had a cup of tea along with some chocolate. While sitting & glassing enjoying the overall scenery & moment, I spotted a red stag with a rack of antler way down closer to the valley floor & on the other side of the Stanley River. This was at 11.30am & he was on the move just grazing. Shortly after he disappeared into the manuka, I then spotted a large black animal even further away on a big flat plateau once again across the Stanley River – yet further down the valley again. Because St James Station run their cattle through the valleys – up & down the river, I had to look twice given the size of the animal I was looking at which happen to be approximately 2.5km away & it did not take long to tell that this was a bloody good pig & not a calf simply from the way it was moving.We finished our cup of tea & chocolate & decided to head towards where we had just seen the stag & pig. On our way down off the icy face, Kev pointed out a deer crossing the river which after throwing my binoculars onto the animal, it was a red hind. We continued on down the face & when getting to the bottom we decided to stop for an apple & a cold drink. While crunching on our apple, Kev tapped me on the shoulder & said look look look, there’s a deer. I looked to where he was pointing & got a reading at 571 yards via my 10 x 42 Leica Geovids. He was a 10 pointer red stag bedded down on a north facing clay bank enjoying the afternoon sun. I had a crack at him & after two shots he calmly disappeared down the bank & into the manuka. We continued with our plan which was to head towards the plateau where we saw the big pig. Kev stalked the plateau while I climbed high enough on the opposite side to see the whole clearing & watch Kevs stalking skills. On several occasions I observed Kev bringing his rifle up to his shoulder & sensed he was onto something. Boom boom, two quick shots from his BAR 270 & yes I hoped he had smoked over that big pig. After meeting up with Kev right on night fall to see if he needed a hand to carry, it turned out that he had a shot at a young hind on the run however couldn’t find it, but heaps of blood. We returned to camp to share our day’s stories with Graham & Brett, and yes we coped a bit of shit for missing the 10 pointer stag & wounding the young hind & just to top it all off, they were both successful with three 40lb pigs shot at 416 yards.
The next day (Friday 28th June) Kev & I decided to head south – down the Stanley River to fly camp. We hunted our way down the river flats stopping & glassing the high basins for chamio. We found a neat posy on a flat bit of ground 5 – 6 km down stream & this was our base for the night. Both Kev & I decided to hunt on our own so Kev climbed up the ridge straight behind our tent while I headed down stream. Way up high in the distance with my naked eye, I noticed a nice looking Hebe basin just below the snow line that looked promising to hold a stag so I sat & glassed it. After 1 hour or so of glassing, I witnessed a stag feeding right on the snow line which happen to be a small 8 pointer however after continuing to scan the Hebe basin I spotted the big boy lying down once again on a northerly face enjoying the 3.30pm sun. He rose to his feet which allowed me now to have a good look at his head. After doing some trigonometry with my 10×42 leica Geovid binocular / range finder, I estimated him to be 2000 yards up from the valley floor & then scoping him out with my 22 power night force scope, the best I could make out he was another 10 pointer. With only two hours of day light left, I decided to sit & observe him along with creating a cunning plan to shoot him the next morning (weather permitting). When meeting back at our fly camp with Kev, I told him I’m onto a stag & I will get him tomorrow. Kev saw a chamio during his afternoon hunt so that was the both of us set for tomorrow.
Saturday 29th June – after a bloody cold night we were up early & keen to get moving probably more so to unfreeze the blood & get it circulating. After three hours of climbing up to my land mark well out of site from the stag, I carefully dropped my pack, crawled on my guts over the top of the main ridge line without sky lining myself & glassed straight down into the Hebe basin & bingo; there he was in the same place as yesterday lying down. Unbelievably way in the distance up in the snow I saw an animal running initially thinking it was a chamio but very quickly I new it was a hare. Now this hare would have been at this moment approximately 300 yards away from the stag & probably 500 yards away from me & of all places for the bugger to run, he ran straight towards the stag bedded down & right along side him & that’s not all, 2 seconds later, another hare from below him appeared from nowhere & ran straight on the other side of him (amazing how animals communicate) – this stag was now wired with his ears pricked & his rack back while his nostrils were working overtime but I had the wind in my favor. He was 360 yards away bedded down & all that was visible was his face & rack of antler. I very quickly & carefully made a decision to sneak down to this particular rock & sit him out until he rose to his feet. Half an hour later it all got too much for the stag & sure enough he rose to his feet fully alerted but to late for him – from 300yards away free hand shooting he had led pumped into his shoulder. After a photo session, I boned out the hind quarters, back steaks & eye fillets, tied the rack of antler onto my pack, and set back off to our fly camp to catch up with Kev. Not long after arriving back at camp with the load of venison & rack of antler, Kev turned up with a big smile & a hand shake. We decided to leave our fly camp set up & walk through the night back up stream to the Stanley Vale hut to drop off this load & catch up with the two Koros – Graham & Brett. I carried the load off the tops & back past our fly camp & Kev carried it the rest of the way. It’s great when you team up with a mate that actually enjoys carrying weight solely for the strength, exercise, & memories. On our arrival back at the Stanley vale hut we were greeted by the two old Koros with “oh what’s the matter with you softies, cant handle the weather- bla bla bla” but when seeing the real reason for our early return, the shit stopped & it was congratulations all round.
The next morning (Sunday 31st June) we woke up to an absolute snow blizzard which meant our plans for returning back to the fly camp were over for today. We were all camp bound for the day which meant a good fire, good cooking amongst good friendship & a good game of cards along with sharing all our hunting moments with each other. About midday Kev decided to open the door just to have a look outside at the snow blizzard when he said quick quick, someone grab their gun, there is a chamio walking past the hut. I happen to be the quickest & closest to my riffle & with two quick shots, the chamio was pretty crook however not over. Kev went to run over to the animal as it was folding when Graham said no Kev come back, bang, Graham give the chamio another shot & amazingly he still stood on his feet. I said to Kev, you may have well given it a shot two but it finally fell over approximately 60 -70 yards from our hut door. You hear of hunters shooting animals from their hut but to shoot a 9 inch chamio buck from the hut door don’t happen every day. After a photo session in the snow blizzard, we laid a tarp out on the floor in the hut by the fire & brought the chamio in to head skin.
The next morning (Monday 1st May) after a good hearty cooked breakfast, it was time for hunting again. I was first out the door this time heading North up stream of the Stanley River to check out the north facing matagori scrub where the food was plentiful & after yesterday’s snow blizzard, the animals will be out for a feed. We all hunted all day in the snow – in some cases above our knees & I personally actually found it warmer to walk in the river rather than walk in the bloody snow – either way it was cold. Matagori seems to hold nice green grass around the base of the tree & it is perfect pig habitat so this is the animal I focused on for the day & this was the same face that Brett had seen two pigs from the air when flying in. It wasn’t long into the afternoon when I finally spotted a good size blue pig & with a careful stalk & one shot I had a nice eating 80lb sow. When arriving back at camp with the pig, Graham & Brett were packing their bags for a fly camp down past Lake Guyon for they had spotted 5 deer & one stag in particular caught their eye. After a camp photo session they both set off to conquer their mission. For safety reasons although they had a locater beacon each, they told us where they would be hunting & both Kev & I wished them all the best.
The next morning (Tuesday 2nd May) I decided it was now time to focus on a good chamio buck even though we had already shot one from the hut door. I climbed high not to far from camp & glassed for 4 hours up into some good chamio habitat that consisted of a big shingle slide, rock gardens, & plenty of cover high up. After all my patience, the time involved sitting & glassing paid off. Appeared from no where on this big shingle slide was two chamio – 1 buck & 1 nanny. At 742 yards away, I could clearly see that they were both mature animals with good length in their horn. I decided to have a shot from here at the buck & with a steady rest I squeezed the trigger off only to wake him up however the spray of shingle right next to him proved that the shot was very close – but not close enough. As the two chamio casually made their way back up the shingle slide towards their rock garden they stopped side on to allow me to have another shot being at 860 yards & 1 more at 950 yards. They continued to climb to safety & then bedded down to enjoy the afternoon sun for a while before rising back to their feet & start feeding again. I patiently sat their until the sun disappeared to view their movements & their runs which help me put a plan of attack together for tomorrow simply because he was a very good buck & I wanted him on my wall. When returning back to camp that evening I shared my days events with Kev for Graham & Brett were still down the valley past Lake Guyon chasing their big stag. Kev had a camp day that day, loaded the hut up with firewood, cleaned up, had a wash, & chilled out.
The next morning (Wednesday 3rd May) both Kev & I set off from camp together. Kev decided to hunt his way back down the valley & pick up our tent. I had my plan of attack all sorted & it was just a matter of time before the chamio exposed themselves so I could execute my plan. After three hours of sitting & glassing – they appeared but this time they had 3 juveniles with them making a total of 5 chamio. I viewed them from 1042 yards away from across the other side & therefore it was time to hunt. I quickly yet cautiously started my stalk & after 40 minutes of non stop moving from the tops down to the valley floor & back up the other side I was there – 244 yards from the buck. He was walking away from me so I started to whistle to get his attention to stop & turn but he obviously didn’t hear me. He was now out to 266 yards away when I called out to him which was enough to get his attention which caused him to stop, turn slightly & with a quick well placed shot shooting up hill the bullet went through the shoulder & out the neck – he was down, yee ha. When making my way up towards him, I happen to look up into a series of rocks & way up on a ledge were three juveniles & the next ledge above them was the nanny looking straight down at me. I quickly dropped to my guts & through my scope onto the nanny. She had an exceptional set of horns on her & with one quick clean shot in the brisket; I now had the buck & nanny. I continued my climb up towards my buck excited to pull out my tape & measure the horns. I measured him on the hill as 9 6/8 in length & 3 3/8 in diameter. Both horns were identical to each other in length, diameter, & shape. After a photo session I now decided it was time to recover my nanny. I carefully started to climb the rocky bluff system that these animals live in towards the ledge the nanny was perched on & when finally reaching the ledge I was shocked to see that she had fallen down a huge rock gutter which for any hunter it was to dangerous to recover her – this was for rock climbers, not hunters. After my disappointment having to leave her there I continued to climb higher to safe ground so I could then make my way back down to the valley floor & then climb back up to my buck. On arrival back at my buck, I caped him out & headed back to camp & once again to talk about each others series of events for the day. Kev & spotted a chamio up high but had no real desire to chase him however he picked up our tent & found his deer he shot on the first day which happen to be 15 meters away from where he stopped looking that night.
The next morning (Thursday 4th June) it was a camp day for me. I decided to hang around camp, head skin my buck, cut firewood, cook up a big feed, get the shower sorted out & wait for everybody to turn back up for this was going to be our last night here in the Stanley Vale hut. Kev was keen as for a hunt & decided to head for the matagori on the northerly faces. We discussed his plan of attack together which was to climb high, sit, & watch. Well – the plan paid off – again. Kev shot a good condition 120lb blue boar in the exact same area as I shot my 80lb sow. Graham & Brett returned back to camp in the afternoon from their three day hunt on the big stag unfortunately unsuccessful with shooting him. They saw 6 chamio & two smaller stags while trying to get the big boy & as all good trophy hunters do, they wisely decided not to shoot for they didn’t need the meat & their heads were not good enough. With the fire roaring& the firewood stacked inside the hut, the stew all cooked, all us hunters were showered, packs were packed ready for the flight out the next day, it was time to settle in for the night with another game of cards amongst good company & reminiscing our moments over the past 9 days.
The next morning (Friday 5th June) right on schedule – 9.30am we could hear the helicopter approaching us & this time it was Amuri Helicopters AS350 Squirrel. Glen was the pilot & he kindly gives us a scenic flight out of the valley back to Hamner Springs where Amuri Helicopters hanger is based. Once again I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony Michelle (director Amuri Helicopters) for this hunt & if you are ever considering flying within the Hamner Springs region, please don’t hesitate to contact Amuri Helicopters on 0800 888 308 or check out their website at www.amurihelicopters@xtra.co.nz
Cheers
Trevor J Smith