338 Hunting: Pre roar recon Tararua Ranges - Hindered by kit breakage

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As we near a busy period for work, this is possibly one of our last chances to get into the bush before the start of the roar. On this adventure, we take the opportunity to get back into the Tararua Ranges.

After dropping off firewood at a hut in the Tararua Ranges, we have late evening/morning walk into the blind. We end up camping short of the blind after veering off down an incorrect ridgeline, ending up only a short distance from where we need to be.

The next morning we have a short walk to our blind, and within long we detect around 7 deer at various ranges and get an opportunity to shoot at a couple.

Strangely on the first shot, the harmonics of the rifle feel different, and it is not until later in the day after searching for a deer we hit, I discover the front Contessa ring (top cap) has a hairline fracture in it, extending almost through two of the three bolts.

Many thanks to Neil from Gun City (Wellington) for sorting a replacement part. Top notch service fella! Now it is case of checking zero and in the meantime take out the 300 Win Mag for a hunt until a zero can be conducted as well as validation at range (+1000m).

Whilst not shown in this video, a couple of weeks later we head back to the bush for a zero. It is hard to believe, however the first shot impacts at the area where I shot. Using another round, I target a spot and we hit where I am aiming!

During this time we have deer barking at us, and after around 20-25 minutes of watching a deer presenting its head and neck only, it finally edges forward just enough to get a shot away at 465m / 511 yards.

That video will be posted in a couple of weeks time. I still can't believe the rifle retained its zero with a new front top cap on the rings, and we got a deer the same day!

‪@longrangehuntingadventures‬

Remutaka Ranges
Tararua Ranges
Ruahine Ranges
Aorangi Forest Park
Arthurs Pass
Ahuriru Conservation Area
Fiordland

If you are based in the lower north island, always happy to have others join me for a hunt and share what we get.

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