CAMP No. 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 59

CAMP No. 3.

On the following day Mr Bell came with, his usual pack of noble-looking animal*, and thifted us some five miles up the creek, where we were to pitch camp No. 3 for a four-days' stay. We reached our camping place, and found plenty of dry firewood and fre&h water; so, after boiling the "billy, we set to work at our camp, and before long we had both tenbs pitched. Plenty of fresh green manuka eoiub thrown in for bedding made thing 3 all' that was desired. We had an easy day, and lounged about the camp enjoying our pipes and a chat over our shooting experiences, besides making all arrangements for the next diy, which was to bo Mr Cuthbertson'a last day's shooting. The next morning we were much fresher than usual, so we rose very early and had breakfast over by 6 and got a good start — the guide, with Mr Pearce and Mr Cirthbertsoa, going over to Yellow Basin, while Mr Hoin and I went to the Morv«*n Hills after the large royal Mr Pearce had fired at on the Thursday evening. We had a good pull up a very ste&p face, almost perpendicular, and the slippery nature of the mica echist rock made it almost impossible to get around some of the bluff.?. Mr Horn managed it all right, but I had to pike and try another route around the other side, meeting him on top. I managed this all right, and met Mr Horn on top of a steep bluff. From here we coidd hear several stags roaring, and Mr Horn pointed out a herd to me, lying down on a very open face oppo^te us. With the glasses we could see- t-here was one rather good head — possibly a royal. Mr Horn took tho stalk To get any where within range meant climbing up some two miles and then coming dow.i upon the herd. Alter all this he would rot get closer than 4-00 yards from the herd. He started out, and 1 stayed watching the performance. He had been gone some two hour.?, when I saw the herd getting very ret tloas and commencing to move around. Just then I heard a shot, and the herd started off; two more shots and the stag fell, only to rise again and start off down the hill, dragging his hindquarters. Mr Horn still kept up a volley, but I shouted, " Ceaee firing; the (-tag is done." I made over with all possible haste — I think it must have been record time going up the range — on to the other side of the gully. I reached the spot, and found the stag travelling over the top of (he range much stronger than I expected to see him. Mr Horn soon came upo.i the fcene, and we both hunted all the gullifs without biiccess, co returned to camp. The remainder of the day was spent about the camp preparing a venison blew for our friends' dinner when they returned. About 5 p.m. I saw oar friends coming down the range on the opposite side of the creek, and 10 minutes brought them to camp. Mr Cu/thbertson had secured a good 11-pointor, thus filling his licensed number on his la&t day. The party had had a good day and saw lots of deer, many of the stags being small. On nearing the top of the Yellow Basin the party came upon quite a herd of stags, and opposite, on th"c other side, several hinds were feeding. The party went in pursuit of the first herd, and just as they were getting within range a very large stag emerged from some .scrub. At first he appeared to have a good head, but when ho turned around and faced the party it was eeen that he had six. points on one side and two on the other. The stag made off towards the herd slowly, and at tho same time the guide exclaimed, "Shoot the brute; he'll epoil us." The etr.g made for a small clump of bush, and that was the last they saw of him. The party also heard "Big Ben" roaring in tho bottom of Yellow Basin. Hia tracks wore plainly -w^ble, and easily diitinjjuiahed from

. _ i i. ■■ i i -** other deer tracks b> the enormous spread; of foot. The next day Mr Cuthbertsoa went home. Mr Hor i and Mr Pearee went up Timaru Creek, and I went to Deel' Spur and the guide stayed at home. I saw several <tm.ll stags and lots of hind?, but none worth shooting, so I came, home early in the- day and 1 watched the taxidermist; at work with the he*ds. Mr Horn and hia mate oame home just before dark, with a large nine-pointer, shot by Mr Horn, and! which had also cost Mr Pearoe a few oarti ridges. During their -traive ls they came upon several dead deer (small st?"js)" in the bushy which had apparently died or 'been shot by some " pot-hunters." ANOTHER LA3.GE HERD. Tho next day was to be our last day's shooting, so we meant to have a good hunt for " Big Ben " in the Yellow Basin. Mr Horn, with the guide, went to the head! of the basin, while Mr Pearco and I went) to the bottom and intended working towards the 'Tap, where our friends wero located, perhaps driving some stags up to them. Just after crossing Deer Spur wo came upon a large herd of hinds and several' email staggies in a basin. We counted 1&deer — 13 being hinds and 3 stags. This waa the largest herd of deer I have yet seen, at Hawea. We travelled up the main creak for some two miles, and then took a spur each. I don't think I liavo ever heard SO muoh roaring before. Thero must have been quite 15 stags, all roaring, at once. E passed numbers of eight and 10-pointers, and a very email royal, but I tally had one head to get, co I did not want to fill my, ■ license until I came upon something gOOdL I saw my friend shoot a large stag from; whore I was standing, on the opposite side of the gully. I thought it had a much better head than it did : the horns were very, long and black, with white tip 3 and a tre-< mendous spread for a 10-pointer. We hunted all the gullies around about the bottom of Yellow Basin, where we reckoned! on finding " Big Ben," and put up maujr^ hinds and small stags, but there were no signs of " Ben," so wo started for horne r having some six miles to travel to camp. On nearing the foot of Deer Spur I oaughfc sight of what I considered was a royal, so I let go, and killed tho stag first shot, Ifc turned out to bo a heavy 11-pointcr, andl this made 72 deer wo had seen during that day's stalk. On reaching home wo found our friends had returned, having had very bad luck. All licsm^ps were now filled with the exception of Mr HoinV, who only wanted one to fill his.