HUNT
RURAL
WORKWEAR
A Fallow Rut to Remember with Kristian Gerathy
It isn’t just meat on the table or a trophy on the wall that makes a successful hunt. It’s the time switched off from the world, the hard yards, and the campfire yarns shared with good mates.
Last year I took a mental red deer on a solo hunt. A few days later, and some 15 hours away, I then spent three days with two good mates at another property, one of them trying to get his first deer with a bow. I have never really had access to Rut/ Roar blocks and before last year never targeted deer in this time of year. For me hunting has always been just to get away from the world, but after being in camp with a few mates that have developed over the past few years around hunting it was also great to be part of trying to make something happen and that antler itch is starting to kick in....
After a few hard days hunting putting in the hard yards we found ourselves on the final day. We all set up along a ridge, spaced out about 50m and I began making some calls. I had some great success with calling in a few deer & calls had been really effective- but just couldn't seal the deal for my mate although he had now had two great encounters including one miss. We spotted a little buck way off, feeding away, and once we were set up I let out a few baby fawn calls. The little buck loved it and came straight into three bow hunters who were ready and waiting. As he closed the gap to 40 metres, I told my mate to have a crack at making some noise. He let out a doe call and the buck turned and headed straight towards him. He composed himself, took the shot, and missed.
Not knowing this had happened and thinking he had already hit it, the deer then ran back past me and the landowner. Not wanting to lose the deer, we both decided to let one fly as we were not sure of how good Shayne's shot was. My arrow missed cleanly and then the owner let go a few seconds later and I heard the whack and got a nice clean shot. The deer ran off within sight and stumbled over a small ridge nearby.
We gave it some time and then all shared our versions of what we thought had happened. We soon found out that Shayne had missed and that the owners arrow had done the damage. Even though my mate did not get his deer, it was an insane memory for him and a crazy experience to see a buck up close and to make a call that brought him into sub 15meters.
We butchered the deer, lit a small fire, and relaxed while cooking some backstrap on a stick like boy scouts. It was great to switch off, talk a bit of rubbish, and enjoy some fresh fallow. The pack out was full of laughs and high spirits.
I then spent the next five days on a solo campaign trying to get my own buck. I pushed myself to breaking point including hitting a tick next and getting 50 or more bitting me ( was a horrible experience especially camping in the bush with so many on me). I felt like hunting wise I did everything right, holding out in the rain some days and waiting all day after on a known scrape for my chance. When it finally came, my target buck preached the tree I was waiting at and I shot clean under his belly. It was frustrating and humbling. There is much more to the story and I ended up having two more encounters all on film that I cant wait to share!
It is these ups and downs that bring us back each year, and I ended up with a big fat donut. Zero. But I will be back this year, and so will my mate and this is a great memory even though I left empty handed.
