Wallaby hunt - I'm back.

[JeffinNZ]

Hi team.

I'm back from my hunt and thoroughly glad I went. My mission was to get my friend Mike onto his first wallaby ('roo) and we did this and some.

The property was new to us and the game holding area quite small but really nice. A river bed along a step, scrubby face. On arrival at the farm we availed ourselves of the clay throwing trap and used up the bucket of clays I had loaded. My 12 gauge handloads (with home dropped shot) went well as did my faithful old side by side. Mike is a bit of a natural on clays and after about 80-90 rounds we prepared to chase furry things.

As Mike has only a pair of .22RFs I set him up with my suppressed .32-20 Martini shooting ACWW Lyman 31133 HP's with poly wad over a full charge of H4227 producing 1850fps. I carried my Husqvarna .30-30 bolt rifle pushing a CBE 309 162 in 40-1 alloy over 22gr of Benchmark for 1700fps. The farmer's son dropped us off down the road so we could walk back and initially we saw only 3 bunnies but elected to leave them and look for bigger game. On a bit we had seen no 'roos but got onto a pair of hares that were sitting in the river bed below us about 80-90m away. I encouraged Mike to have a shot and from prone he leveled his hare and I quickly lined up on the other and took that. This was Mike's first ever hunting kill; here he is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4469_zpsa05c25ee.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4469_zpsa05c25ee.jpg.html)

And me with the Husky and hare:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4470_zpsdcb54951.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4470_zpsdcb54951.jpg.html)

On we went and came to a grass laneway between the hill and scrub in the river. Mike immediately spotted a face and ears looking at us and called 'roo! I couldn't positively identify over the iron sights and the animal moved out of sight before he could line up. We moved forward slightly to find it again in the open scrub. Buck fever got Mike and he missed at 20m but as the 'roo turned to depart I hit it with the .30-30 on the run. I solid female:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4473_zps4f92402b.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4473_zps4f92402b.jpg.html)

Further on Mike lead the way and walked past a shot on the hill he thought was a hare. I lined and and dropped a small 'roo then went to recover it only to spring it's friend who was sitting nearby. The second animal launched to my left and I dropped it inside 10m again on the trot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4476_zps4325c4f2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4476_zps4325c4f2.jpg.html)

Approaching the homestead in failing light we entered a large, flat area I didn't think would hold game. That was until a very large male 'roo went sailing by. It stopped and at about 50m Mike got his first wallaby:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4481_zps274e83e1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Winters%20property%202014/DSCN4481_zps274e83e1.jpg.html)

The farm boys had rigged up the truck with a bench seat on the back for some spotlighting. I am not a huge fan of night shooting but away we went and what a hoot. Mike and I on the back, he with the .32-20 and me carrying my 12 gauge with some BB loads I had put together. Another 10 'roos fell before midnight. Tally for the weekend, 14 wallabies, 3 hares, 4 bunnies. AND we saw a nice fallow deer in the spotlight that I will look for next time.

Great weekend and a joy to help someone else into the sport. Now he has to come round and reload all the brass he created!

[btroj]

Looks like you started him off right.

I did notice a lack of leggings my boy......

[CastingFool]

Sounds like a great day outdoors. I'm amazed at how big those hares are. How much do they weigh?

[338RemUltraMag]

Great story! I can not help but notice that you are wearing shorts and he is wearing dress shoes!

[Fishman]

Fascinating! Thanks for the story.

[JeffinNZ]

Looks like you started him off right.

I did notice a lack of leggings my boy......

Summer time. Rather good conditions over the weekend.

[waksupi]

Good fun!

[357maximum]

Looks like a damn good time....color me envious of the game and that husky 30/30,----- staring at snow drifts deep enough to conceal my steel swinger targets.

[Bzcraig]

That's a good day and those hares are huge. Seems crazy to me anyway......you can't have handguns but you can use suppressors.

[JeffinNZ]

That's a good day and those hares are huge. Seems crazy to me anyway......you can't have handguns but you can use suppressors.

We can't hunt with handguns. Ownership for target it straight forward.

[357maximum]

What seems crazy to me is that our vehicles must have mufflers, our lawn mowers must have mufflers but firearms and motorcycles must be loud for some reason...that is what makes no sense to me here in AmeriKa.

[Bzcraig]

We can't hunt with handguns. Ownership for target it straight forward.

Thanks for the correction.

[Southern Son]

Summer time. Rather good conditions over the weekend.

Or have the Kiwis finally signed the U.N. convention BANNING Purple Long Johns for Humanitarian Reasons?

[Reg]

Can you eat them ?

[JeffinNZ]

Or have the Kiwis finally signed the U.N. convention BANNING Purple Long Johns for Humanitarian Reasons?

Heaven forbid!


Can you eat them ?

Yes, you can eat them but they are vial, smelly little critters. It's purely pest control for us.

[sthwestvictoria]

Glad you are back on the horse Jeff. That is a lovely little single shot 30-30, I'd love to stumble on one of those here in Australia. Still playing with loads for my Savage 340 in 30-30. A great cast calibre.
Which benchmark powder are you using 1, 2, 8208? Do you use a filler with it?, I'm using AR2205, 2206H and 2208 in playing around currently.

[Larry Gibson]

Jeff

Outstanding hunt and well told. I thoroughly enjoyed it. That is indeed a sweet looking little 30-30. The suppressed 32-20 also. Mike looks like he had a wonderful time. Again, well done.

Larry Gibson

[Dan Cash]

Off topic but, is a kangaroo hide good for anything?

[roverboy]

Nice rifles Jeff, and looks like you and Mike had a good hunt.

[Scott_R]

Great hunt and story. Thanks!

[Muskyhunter1]

Thanks for sharing Jeff. Do you folks have roos in NZ or was that in Australia you guys were hunting? Yup that 30-30 is a beautiful little CB rifle.

[richhodg66]

Great pics and I love that Husky .30-30 (the Martini is cool too). I really have lost desire to hunt with current production guns anymore, give me vintage stuff.

That blue vest and hat Mike is wearing look very much like the blaze orange gear many states here require for hunter safety except for the color, although that blue seems like it would stand out too. Is that the purpose of it?

[swheeler]

Jeff looks like great fun and nice write up. Damn you guys grow some big rats there!:)

[Dean D.]

Thanks for sharing Jeff! It looks like a good time was had by all.

When I visited Australia back in '03 I got a chance to try Baramundi, Crocodile, Kangaroo and Wallaby. I really enjoyed the Wallaby. Lean dark red meat with a very good taste. I didn't find it gamey at all. Maybe it was how it was prepared. Cheers!

[LIMPINGJ]

I must say that Husky is the most elegant looking 30-30 I have ever seen. Is the Hare included in the vile smelly little critter description? I would have thought Hare was good to eat.

[missionary5155]

Greetings and Bully from this side of the Big Blue.
That was a good read and the photos are a joy. Fine day to have a Mike out in the wild !
Mike in Peru

[drinks]

LJ, see "hare" ,think jackrabbit.
Sorta edible when 1/2 grown or so, mature ones are very "chewy", to say the least.
The only hare I know of that is fairly good eating is the varying hare of the north.

[Driver man]

Hare backstraps are as good as venison. Cook quickly on a BBQ or pan fried ,have to be one of the best kept culinary secrets. Hares in NZ grow pretty big.

[Camba]

I enjoyed the story and I like the pictures too.

[wallenba]

No purple pants?
Curious, what does a wallaby come close to tasting like? I'm imagining half venison, half squirrel.

[dualsport]

Thanks Jeff. I always enjoy reading about your exploits and great hunting adventures. Keep it coming. It seems you will always be known for the purple tights. We have a TV show here called "Meateater" that is popular. Check it out if you can. I could see you with your own tv show. A little hunting, some guns, a little philosophy, and some great cooking/eating.

[sthwestvictoria]

I must say that Husky is the most elegant looking 30-30 I have ever seen.
They are nice aren't they. Jeff has some more pictures here:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?172364-Husqvarna-single-shot-is-here!!
The Husqvarna Model 35 was produced from 1912-1942, Cylinder action single shot rifle (Mauser M1871), details here:
http://www.skydevaaben.com/allhvamodels/info.xml

[cdet69]

Purple pants may be out in summer but I have to get me one of those blue camo vests.

[JeffinNZ]

Thanks for sharing Jeff. Do you folks have roos in NZ or was that in Australia you guys were hunting? Yup that 30-30 is a beautiful little CB rifle.

NZ. Wallabies were introduced here more than 100 years ago. Very localised population and considered a pest.


That blue vest and hat Mike is wearing look very much like the blaze orange gear many states here require for hunter safety except for the color, although that blue seems like it would stand out too. Is that the purpose of it?

The chief arms license officer in the NZ Police did a lot of research and determined blue is the best colour for our environ. Orange blaze, under the right light (wrong light?) can look like red deer. There ain't many blue animals.


I must say that Husky is the most elegant looking 30-30 I have ever seen. Is the Hare included in the vile smelly little critter description? I would have thought Hare was good to eat.

Hare is like venison. Good eating.


No purple pants?
Curious, what does a wallaby come close to tasting like? I'm imagining half venison, half squirrel.

I'll tell you soon when my neighbour cooks it. If you encountered a wallaby you'd understand why I have not eating them to date.

[JeffinNZ]

Glad you are back on the horse Jeff. That is a lovely little single shot 30-30, I'd love to stumble on one of those here in Australia. Still playing with loads for my Savage 340 in 30-30. A great cast calibre.
Which benchmark powder are you using 1, 2, 8208? Do you use a filler with it?, I'm using AR2205, 2206H and 2208 in playing around currently.

BM2 but our US friends know is as Benchmark via Hodgdon; yes a small wool tuff to locate. The looooong Husky barrel gives much better velocities than loading data states as must Thutty Thutty data is ex short barrels. The .32-20 is fed on AR2205 but again H4227 for our cousins.

[cdet69]

Maybe a blue vest would not be good after all. I could be hunting down south and be mistaken for a democrat. Blue is their color and accidents happen all the time. Sometimes even on purpose.

[Stephen Cohen]

Actually Kangaroo Hide makes some of the finest leather available, and the meat on most varieties is very good.

[762nato]

We put snowshoe hares in bottles and pressure can them. Very good eating.

[JeffinNZ]

Actually Kangaroo Hide makes some of the finest leather available, and the meat on most varieties is very good.

"Tan me hide when I'm dead Fred,
Tan me hide when I'm dead.
So we tanned his hide when he died Clyde
And that's it hanging on the shed,
Altogether now.....
Tie me kangaroo down sport, tie me kangaroo down......"

Good old Rolf Harris.

[waksupi]

I'd love to have a 12 plait kangaroo hide bull whip, but they are kinda spendy!

[dualsport]

Now that's funny! I've been singing that song since I was a kid.
"Tan me hide when I'm dead Fred,
Tan me hide when I'm dead.
So we tanned his hide when he died Clyde
And that's it hanging on the shed,
Altogether now.....
Tie me kangaroo down sport, tie me kangaroo down......"

Good old Rolf Harris.