A Hunting We Four Go

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A HUNTING WE FOUR GO Anita Catchpole ) - here shall we go this year? reached our goal well past lunch-time finally paid offa as an entree was added Hunting in the Kawekas was 2 o'clock wasn't normal council toourvenison stew thati night. Wehad the unanimous decision from Rex lunch-time! gone for a wander down river earlier and Paul. A phone call from Dale and come across the Critchley/Booth/ confirmed her place on the trip and That morning we had discovered a Hunt rafting team and before long we from the deep dark south she arrived little problem with our fuel supply were all ensconced in the lower tub at clutching fishing rod the new, flash Te Puia and pack. Stories hot springs very abounded about her nice! fishing prowess, that big That night it rained, weighed and SO on. no, pelted down. At After a wee shopping about2o'clock criesof spreel Daleandlarrived abandon camp and home with lots ofgoodfrantic digging sounds ies; too many and too could be heard from heavy for our packs. the Dale/Paul fly. It's Dale's legs were quivamazing how spoons ering and Paul's shouland expensive hunting ders were hurting just knives can be turned at the thought ofit. into ditch-digging tools. Meanwhile, Rex Boxingl Daya arrivedand and I took no notice sawusheadingupnorth and asked if the noise in Paul's car, destinacould be kept down - tion Helisika, much to we were high and dry Dale's delight. This is on our spot. definitely the way to startatramp - fly into The next morning as the highest point with we walked past the all your gear and walk rafting team we had to from there. Ten minlaugh at their rain utes later we were ditches. Ditch digging standing on Te IS obviously a prereq- Pukeohikarua in the uisite for rafting trips. middleofthe Kawekas. The first priority was We managed a quick meat SO amidst al bit of Women The Hunters! Rex Benbrook tour ofTe Puia Lodge scepticism from Dale before setting off up wes set offi intothe setting sun to return and Rex learnt the valuable lesson the Makino River. "I'm surethere was two hours later with not one, but two of always checking what kind of at track herelast time" said Paul for the deer. Dale decided this hunting busi- whitespirits you've bought as ours umpteenth time. Memories of North ness was becoming a bit too easy but turned out to be 3 litres of kerosene. Island bushbashing were being reshei reassured us thata 10 lb trout was Luckily we had an XGK but a primer awakened forl Dale and they were less awaiting us down in the Mohaka. fuel was still required. Thanks to than pleasant! The river soon imsome hunters we met en route, we proved SO the travel quickened and a Havinghung twolegs inthe meat safe managed to acquire some meths. short time later we came across a for our return and packed up half of group of hunters who gave us dire our supplies, we set off the next day When we reached the Mohaka River warnings of what lay ahead - more for the Mangatainoka River. Follow- the pressure was put on the fishing bushbashing and a verybig, steephill. ing a devious ridge we eventually team of Dale and Paul but persistence Dale's legs threatened to give up and only stories of the fishing in the and of course some wine and wipe the massive grin off her face, Ngaruroro River kept her going. beer to swill it all down. Rice Sur- nor could the prospect of carrying it prise wasn't on his menu that night through to the Oamaru River. Dale's Wei finally reached Mangaturutu Hut oh, the Joy of helicopters. scales came in handy for the weighjust as the rain set in and thei temperain anda a passer-by recorded the event ture dropped to near zero (well, that's Next day saw us lurking round the for posterity. what itf felt like) andt this wassupposed hills trying to spot brown, furry creato be summer! tures sO that our dinner menu could Our next stop was Boyd's Lodge continue. Eventually when Dale and where wepromptly put on thej primus Next day dawned fine and out came Iwere SO cold we were ready to give for a snack of cabinbread and "Binol Benny's"deers surveillancegear. up, one was spotted. Rex did the venison steaks, much to the annoy- Weonlyn managedtospotideery within honours: and we lefth him tol bushbash ance of all the pseudo-hunters who 20 minutes - a bit of a poor effort down to it. hadn't So much as seen any deer yet! really. "Huey" had a mixed bag of weather for us that day. As we: set out "Thefish see Afternoon saw us slogging through for Tel Puke it was fine, then it rained, the rain to Oamaru Hut where Dale hailed, snowed, and turned fine: again. us before put ona feast that nighty with al lightly Whew, and that was all within two baked, lemon salted trout for entree hours! we cast. andi main no need fora backup this time. Tel Puke was a wonderful sight to see, with all our goodies stashed away in January 2nd involvedi returning tot the The end of the trip involved a trudge thel bushes. It was New Year's Eve: sO river valleys SO we walked down to back through acres of farmland, rewe all opted for a quick shower be- Harkness Hut, up the Harkness Val- turning eventually to the car at the tween the snow and hail storms and ley, and over into "the fishing river", Helisika base. Dale reached the conjust asIhad finished my dash with the the Ngaruroro, but before long the clusion that deer slaying was far soap, our New Year's Eve guest ap- stories ofwoe started!! "The fish see easier than fishing but we all decided peared lovert thet top ofthehill. Hehad us before we cast. - "I nearly had you have to learn to spin a yarn if no idea what he was in for: one Soitwastob be venison steaks trout fishing iS your game. for tea once more. 1st Course Chippies and Dip TRIP PEOPLE KILL SCORE 2nd Course Roast Venison and Ther next day was the day to catch the Trimmings "Mother of All Fish" and to our im- Rex Benbrook 1 deer 3rd Course Steaml Pudding, Custard mense surprise, it happened! With alias (Bino Benny) and Cream coaching and advice from everyone Paul Driscoll (PD) 1 deer, no fish 4th Course Coffee and Afterdinner Dale successfully landed a 6lb rain- Anita Catchpole 1 Bambi Mints bow trout. Not even the rain could Dale Parsons 11/4 fish B 9 19 When it's getting dark, you're miserable, andthe task B at hands Iseems endless, then it's time to digyours sense ofhumour outfrom the bottom ofyou pack, weariton your spirit, and lighten your load. Carolyn Birmingham