“ Jive’ s body language whispered‘ deer’.”
then after a spell back to that. He never gave up. He was the ultimate optimist.
The breeze wafted gently into our faces and the light began to fade. I looked at my watch. Another five minutes? Soon that passed and I resigned myself to heading back to the 4WD wagon. Then, as I reached to my pack to put the camera away, I glanced at Jive and saw him intently looking across to the adjacent minispur. His characteristic body language whispered“ deer”.
I swiveled my eyes around. A hind had emerged from the other side of the spur. Quickly I retrieved the camera from the pack and took a shot. As I did so, another hind appeared – and another; and then the tops of antlers came into view, then
the lower times and a superb stag. The hinds had seen my movement with the camera and the stag, quickly sensing their focus, stared haughtily across at us.
In the viewfinder the data flashed 1 / 20th second, which the waning evening light had driven the exposure down to. Modern digital cameras and their image stabiliser are simply superb. Before digital, you would not contemplate a hand-held shot below 1 / 100th second and certainly 1 / 60th would be the absolute limit.
The photos provided an immensely satisfying memento of a magic moment – thanks, Jive.
Jive and I went on hunts where venison was required. Late one afternoon, we had climbed high and then as the sun set and the light began to dwindle, we headed back to the wagon down another spur. By this time I was intent on regaining the wagon before nightfall and had just about lost any expectation of putting venison in the deep freeze.
Suddenly Jive paused, nose questing the northerly breeze. He took several steps in the direction of the scent. I followed and we stood by a rocky outcrop as I scanned the small gully of fern and scattered matagouri. Nothing showed. So I picked up a small rock and lobbed it below. Next moment a young stag stepped out from a matagouri clump and stood looking around. A clean shot put the animal down.
This was yet another example of just how valuable a dog can be when hunting – not for chasing game like a pig dog, or flushing animals from cover, but as a hunting aid with superior senses – nose, hearing and eyesight. You build up a bond with your dog and it’ s a superb hunting buddy. Dogs are always eager to go for a hunt and never late; they never grumble, never fuss unduly and they never, ever give away your hunting possies to others. And they are loyal, loving companions. You cannot fault their nature.
As de Gaulle said,“ The more I see of men and the more I see of dogs, the more I prefer the company of dogs.” But be warned: Rudyard
The big stag“ shot” at 1 / 20th of a second
34 NZ Hunting & Wildlife 196- Autumn 2017