WESTLAND EPIC
We kept talking about the urge we both had to do a proper backpack mission; one that pushed us out of our usual comfort zones, both physically and mentally. Over a couple of midweek beers at the local pub we got to work on brainstorming a few ideas. There was only one place we both thought could offer what we were looking for – South Westland.
We did a bit of research and planning before choosing a valley to fly in and hunt out of that would take us at least three days of solid walking to reach our truck. This would leave us three days of hunting tahr and chamois in the headwaters and side creeks before hopefully knocking over a handy deer or two on the flats to fill our freezers.
The week before our trip rolled around quickly and we were checking the weather almost on an hourly basis. It wasn’t looking good and we quickly needed to have a plan B and C ready. Then miraculously the day before we were due to fly in, the big front that threatened to smash us with wind and rain suddenly eased right back – meaning we were on!
For this trip the main rifle we were using was Hamish’s Sako 85 Finnlight that was bedded by the boys at NZ Hunter.
