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New Zealand turkey |
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8915 |
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Posted: July/18/2008 at 15:49 |
Pics were taken on Jan 20th this year. Location was an area in central Otago nicknamed the "rock & pillar range" on a 5000 acre sheep and cattle station. This area is about 1hour NW of Dunedin and has a semi-arrid climate.
Beautiful day, clear about 85 deg - scenery was spectacular as was the hunting. My son-in-laws first venture after turkey and he bagged 4. Turkeys are not considered a game bird in NZ so no season and no limit. The locals don't hunt them so there were birds everywhere.
We were hunting in a foothill region. In some of the pics you can see the plains about 3000 ft below us. Scan for green valley areas where there is water, then search for the birds and do a stalk using brush for cover. You will note the careful use of camo in some pics!
And this is their food of choice.
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God save the Empire!
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Those pics are great, Craig!
Did you all just hunt them like pheasant?
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8915 |
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Just spot & stalk Mark using the bow. Our warden friend had his rifle in case we ran into red deer or pigs. Could have easily shot more. I had the shotgun but didn't bother, wanted to blood the son-in-law, and would not have been as sporting with the gun. These birds while wary have not had hunting pressure.
This type of hunting would have to be experienced - nothing like here at all. John chuckled when he saw my camo gear and calls. Just not needed.
That pile of gooseberries all came from 1 tom. Greedy bugger! Edited by Dogger - July/18/2008 at 15:59 |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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I thought those were gooseberries. Man, it's been several years since I've seen those.
Mother used to make gooseberry pie.
That is incredible scenery, Craig. What a cool hunting expedition it must have been. Going back there anytime soon?
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8915 |
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Planning to go next January - will have pigs & deer on the agenda this time!
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God save the Empire!
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cyborg
Optics God Gaseous Clay Joined: August/24/2007 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 12288 |
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Great pics Craig Thanks for sharing them brother.
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With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other
An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects. OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause. Cyborg |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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If you take me with you, I'll put my range in Toronto...
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8915 |
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Let's get working on the details kickboxer!
My wife may be a little upset when I tell her she's got to stay home but I'll explain it's for the good of the forum.
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God save the Empire!
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Ed Connelly
Optics Retard God of no Chihuahua Joined: December/16/2007 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 24225 |
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Super pictures and story, Dogger..( I don't know if I will ever be able to think of you as Craig after Marvin the Martian and 2000 posts full of foolishness...) !!! Is that you wearing the white beard ??
Anyway, what a great trip!! Did you see any red deer or other big game?
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8915 |
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Lots of red deer but doesn't count because they were in fields being raised for market. The son-in-law and I did have a couple of days in fiordland to hunt deer but damn near got eaten alive by sandflies (blackflies to us). Very strange area, lots of very old growth beech forests and strange looking plant life. The camo I had was the wrong pattern for the season but had to wear it because of the bugs. Didn't seem like deer hunting because the weather was in the mid to high 80's and it was daylight until 10 PM. I cleaned the turkeys because although the son-in-law is a cardio-thoracic surgeon there's nothing quite like the aroma of a bird shot through the guts by a broadhead early in the day and left in the back of a pickup for about 10 hours in hot sun. Don't think he has ever experienced That kind of smell in the O.R.!
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God save the Empire!
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Ed Connelly
Optics Retard God of no Chihuahua Joined: December/16/2007 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 24225 |
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....ummm....I usually find turkey at the market around Thanksgiving for $.69 a pound!!!!
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8915 |
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Just not the same flavour Ed! Didn't you ever hang your pheasants Ed?
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8shots
Optics Jedi Knight Lord Of The Flies Joined: March/14/2007 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 6253 |
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Nice story and pics. Thanks for sharing that with us. Nothing beats those wide open spaces and a reason to be out there!!!
Thanks.
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Ed Connelly
Optics Retard God of no Chihuahua Joined: December/16/2007 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 24225 |
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no....
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