fly

If you want to participate enter your information in the Online Contest Room.

Well, it looks like there aren't too many around to run the contest. If no one is able I'll run it this year. Place you user name below if you want to be included. So far it's just me (fly). Place your picture and tag on this thread.

Looking forward to seeing them!

Well RB, I have yet to see William or Martin who were the staples around here. Time will tell if they find their way back.

Will this be the final thread of the RT forums? Will William or any of the long time members revisit this site following the prolonged down time? This may be the final nail in the coffin. If it is, I want everyone to know I have enjoyed these many years and that RT has helped me to grow as a hunter and a person. Good hunting to all! Here is one of my favorite hunting pics sporting my RT camo! Update... sorry could not upload a picture.

Got my 2021 Pronghorn and Whitetail back earlier this week!

Yep, I thought so as well and I assume we will lose a lot of our dwindling members.

I have read up on the red deer introduced to New Zealand back in 1871. The Otago region of NZ are descendants of 6 genetically superior red deer from the highlands of Scotland. Arguably, trophy stags are classified as Royal (12 points), Imperial (14 points), and Monarch (16 points) that score around 300 total inches on the Douglas scoring scale. Boone and Crockett is not used for red deer as they are not native to North America. Anything with more than 16 points or scoring more than 320 inches would be a genetically modified stag much like the HIGH FENCE deer here in the states. It was quite difficult for me to find a guide that had permission to offer hunts for wild stags on private land. Our guide grew up in the Otago region and knew a lot of land owners. We had sole access to hunt 25K acres that bordered national forest. The property was beautiful, but produced the most challenging hunt of my life. The terrain was very steep with multiple water crossings each day (at times waist deep). The stag I took is classified as a Royal (12 symmetrical points). Our guide estimated him to score 290 inches. Dave's stag lacked a 12 point on one side but had a huge frame and was likely 8 or 9 years old and 280 inches. My stag was estimated to be 6 years old. I pulled the front incisors on both and will send off to be aged. Both stags are being officially scored and mounted in NZ and will be shipped back in about a year.

Thanks - there were some areas that got very thick, but 75% was open. Here is a link to my bungy jump into the Kawaru river.

yes, William. it was

My lifelong dream came true on April 8th as I harvested a royal free chase free range (wild) red stag in the Pisa mountain range of the Otago region on the south island of New Zealand. It took a single shot from 290 yards from a .65 PRC rifle to bring the majestic stag down. My hunting companion Dave was to get his stag on day 4. The hunt was the most challenging of my life. We covered 5-10 miles a day on foot through deep creek crossings, steep inclines (including some easy rock climbing) and briar navigation that produced numerous superficial cuts. We had sunny skies on day 1, turning to rain then snow and then sun again.jnh Below are some of the better pics from the hunt and vacation that followed. I also took my first Miriams turkey.

Got the age back from Deerage.com: 5.5 years

Namami NC, I have only used it on my deer mounts. Interesting question you bring up though.

Thanks everyone! The 3 deer on the fireplace are all from my 32.5 acres. The one on the left is 2020, the one in the center is 2022 and the one on the right is 2021 (will be several more months before I get it back).

Thanks Martin. The stag will go on the wall to the right of the fireplace. It's a large wall and that will be he only thing on it - if I am fortunate enough to get one.

Already got my 2022 buck back from the taxidermist. He said he had to use the largest form he could get.

Not sure if you all know about the free application you can get on your phone called photo-room? It is pretty cool and can add some cool effects to our deer pictures.

That's a wrap for the 2022 season! I look forward to sharing the hunt with the RT family in about 9 months!

Thanks! It's not my biggest but the first mounted deer off my property so it's special.

Some of you may remember the 4.5 year old 130 inch 8 point I took off my hunting ground in IL back in 2020. Well, I finally got the mount back! Took over two years. Way too long if you ask me. Anyway, here is how he turned out. I had the brow tines replaced from a trail cam pic I had.

Hope you get better soon William. I just got over my cough from influenza back in mid-November. I went out this eve and got skunked - didn't see a deer. Thursday will be my last day for the 2022 season. I'm skipping turkey hunting this year, because I'll be chasing Red Stag in the mountains of New Zealand. I'll be sure to post pictures of that hunt. Should be amazing! It has been a life time dream of mine since I first started hunting.

Well boys... I went out tonight and guess who walked past me at 20 yards? The unicorn buck I shot back in early October! At this point he has a free pass till next year. I didn't even take my crossbow off the EZ hanger. I figure he's 3.5 or 4.5 and will be bigger next year. I already have one at the taxidermist and really just wanted a doe for my sister. I saw three, but let the two smaller ones walk past waiting on the bigger one, Then the smaller one caught my wind and that was all she wrote. I've still got one week so maybe I'll catch up with that mature doe.

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

Same here Pat. My influenza developed into bronchitis and I still have a nagging cough preventing me from hunting. Would still like to fill my archery doe tag, but will have to see how this cough does. Currently on steroids and it's a little better. Took my cameras down, as this arctic weather in the negative digits will just fry the batteries. Probably put them back up in April.