SOUTH-EAST JUNIOR BALLOT WRAP UP

FEATURE Peter McDonell

Fourteen eager junior hunters from ADA branches across Victoria and South Australia arrived at the South-East ADA owned property, Suwinskis, for the annual Junior Ballot Hunt, held on May 2 to 4. This hunt is held every year and is open to ADA members aged between 14 and 18. Entry is free. Each junior hunter has a personal guide on one of the properties that the branch has access to. Meals provided by our catering team and it's hard not to leave with a smile and great memories.

This year we were fortunate to have Stoney Creek sponsor the event providing each junior hunter with a fleece pack which were gratefully received and put to good use over the weekend hunts.

Friday afternoon saw juniors arriving, excited to see what the weekend would hold - hopefully they would see deer and have the opportunity to harvest one. However, this year could be tougher than usual as the South Australian Government’s focus on eradicating deer had reduced deer numbers and the increased disturbance coupled with drought had also altered the behaviour of the survivors. The few remaining large scrub blocks that that had traditionally held deer were now barren, due to the repeated attention of the helicopter-based thermal shotgun teams, so that small, isolated patches of Mallee were where animals were more likely to be found.

Before hunting, each junior hunter must complete a shooting test, placing three shots inside a 20cm target at 100 metres. This test also checks firearm safety and gives an opportunity to blow out any cobwebs or nerves the juniors may have. All juniors excelled in both the shooting and handling side of the test.

With camo now on, they set out into the field with hopes held high. After dark, hunters started to arrive back at Suwinskis for a feed and to share a tale of the afternoon’s adventures. It was pleasing to hear of success and close encounters, with two juniors harvesting fallow bucks, one passing on a doe that did not present an ethical shot, and a red deer stag with 11-point antlers and a buck walking free due to a miscommunication.

On the walk out to our sit and wait, I had instructed Cooper to wait until I gave the ‘all clear’ to shoot as our shot window would be narrow, and we didn't want a wounded deer running off on us. As we got to position, we noticed a couple of deer had already beaten us and were feeding in the neighbouring property. After a quick look at those deer, I instructed Coop to set up and get comfortable behind the rifle. While he was getting ready, a buck walked out of the scrub and a quick ‘mew’ from me had it halt in his tracks, presenting the perfect shot. Each time he looked like moving, I mewed again. I was waiting for the bang of Coop’s father’s .25-06, thinking “Take the shot now, I don't think I can hold him much longer”. Unbeknown to me, Cooper is patiently lying there. crosshairs rock solid on the buck’s shoulder thinking “When is Pat going to tell me I can shoot?” With things unfolding so fast, it was only after I said “Don't take the shot now” as the buck pushed under the fence that it was evident he had done everything as instructed and I had let him down on the perfect chance to take his first deer.

Saturday morning saw me guiding Aiden with Cooper now accompanied by Jake Nicholson on a premium position courtesy of the generosity of the owner of Water Valley Station. This would not be a trophy hunt, but a unique experience a few lucky juniors would get to enjoy over the weekend; with a chance at a cull buck if they could locate one - no easy task when all the deer are showing too much trophy potential.

Now, back to my hunt with Aiden. Before first light, we returned to where I had waited with Cooper the previous evening. Both Aiden and his father are relatively new to deer hunting, so as we walked, I pointed out such things as tracks and passed on what knowledge I could, while also trying to remain quiet. Running five minutes behind where I wanted to be, I picked up the pace a little - the sky was beginning to glow.

I glanced out into the paddock and spotted a deer feeding our way. I stopped and back-peddled to hide behind a shrub on the fence line about 60 metres from a hole under the fence. The breeze was perfect. Aiden set up prone beside me ready to go. Excitement built as the deer was now within 80 metres. I let Aiden know he could shoot as soon as the deer crossed the fence and I had stopped it. Then, with the unmistakable sound of a zipper opening, I spun around to stop Aiden's father opening his backpack, but unfortunately in the silence of day break the deer had also heard the noise. Its head was up and with eyes staring and ears pricked the opportunity was over. We collected our gear and continued on to our original ambush position.

After waiting two hours in the chilly shade, nothing had come through our chosen gully. Deciding to hold tight just a little longer, I was relieved to see two fallow bucks making their way towards our gully. They had two choices, continue on their current path and come to us, or go behind some trees and wrap around to the next gully. Of course, they chose the latter. We quickly moved forward hoping to catch them, but on cresting a low hill - nothing - they had simply vanished!

We decided to make our way back to the hut for lunch. The quickest path was along the fence, or we could dive into the mallee and see what would turn up. We pushed through the scrub hoping to find the bucks. Over two hours later we arrived back at Suwinskis with no deer sighted.

Meanwhile Jake and Coop had returned, with not one, but two deer, on the back of Jake's ute. They had managed to find and take a cull fallow buck, and a fallow fawn on their morning hunt. After a quick chat with Jake a plan was hatched for us to swap juniors again. I would guide Coop again for a hunt, and he would take Aiden.

Cooper and I would head to a property to look for a meat animal and leave Suwinskis and its bucks to other juniors. When near our parking point, I noticed two fallow bucks feeding in the open. They were between where we intended hunting and where another junior would be. I gave Coop two options, to chase those bucks or sit and wait for a doe. Credit to the young lad, he told me he was happy with the buck he shot that morning and would rather another junior try for those deer.

We carefully approached a small patch of scrub that tends to hold does and settled in the cover of a fallen tree 100m into the paddock. As the hours ticked by, lots of kangaroos started to appear, then as daylight faded, a fawn and then a doe appeared. I turned to Coop to get ready behind his rifle. This time I made sure he was clear on taking a shot “Shoot either one when you get a clean broadside shot”, I whispered.

The fawn pushed through the fence and quickly began feeding but rarely standing still or broadside for more than a second. Meanwhile, the doe was standing broadside but with a pine fence post covering her shoulder. Finally, she lowered her head and popped through the fence and paused broadside. Coop let me know that he’s about to take the shot, but as the words leave his mouth, the doe spooked for no apparent reason, spinning 180 degrees in the blink of an eye. Cooper kept his cool though and squeezed off a shot. The bullet impact sounded solid even though she jumped the fence from a standing start and I was confident we would find her not too far away. Cooper's confidence was shattered thinking he may have pulled the shot in his haste. I reassured him that we would find her and that the shot was good.

Getting to the fence with 10 minutes of light left Coop spotted a patch of something white just over the fence. “Pat is that the deer?” he asked. “It certainly is. Well done!” As we approach the doe, setting her up for quick photos, I pointed out the perfect shot placement.

Making it back to the ute, we loaded up and headed back to Suwinskis for a feed. Steve Jensen was once again in charge of catering and had brought along his two gas pizza ovens. We arrived to more tales of success with Jake working on the cape of Aiden’s buck, and Chealsea arriving with a fallow doe. There were handshakes all round. As the pizzas began to make their way through the crowd more juniors and guides arrived with mixed success. No deer for some, missed shots for others and a couple of deer from our furthest property on the weekend. But most importantly, everyone was smiling and enjoying what the ballot is about - getting out and hunting, sharing stories and teaching the next generation about all aspects of the craft.

I now had an opportunity to take Lexi, one of the South-East Branch’s juniors, for a hunt the following morning. She would be using my SMLE 303-270 that I had brought along in case someone had issues over the weekend. She commented that it was far from the smooth action and crisp trigger of her usual rifle, a 308 X-bolt but it would do the job.

We set off to the far end of Suwinskis, pulling up a few hills short of where I had taken Coop and Aiden. Set up and waiting patiently, Jensen headed off to check the other side of the hill. Lex was happy with any deer but I wanted to get her a trophy-class buck - to me, a fitting reward for the effort that she puts in, not just at the ballot, but at all ADA events. We sat quietly talking about the successes of the weekend. Then a doe appeared – pre-dawn light certainly plays tricks on your eyes, blink and sometimes animals just appear from thin air and one more blink and they are gone again.

I was unsure if Lex would take a shot until finally a broadside shot presented, and bang, off went the SMLE. The deer jumped, and I thought there was a puff of dust just above the shoulder followed by some scuffling in the bush. Failing to find any evidence of a hit or a dead animal, I began to wonder whether Lexi had pulled the shot due to the heavy trigger. Then, after considerable head scratching and walking in circles, I noticed a pool of blood and eventually we found the deer quite close to where the shot was taken.

It had been a perfect way to wrap up another successful Junior Ballot. Honestly, even with no deer spotted or harvested I’d call it a success - just getting 14 kids together out in the bush who love hunting, making great memories.

I'd like to thank all the dedicated members of the South-East Branch who helped out over the ballot weekend. Some travelled great distances to guide or help with the catering. Others who cannot attend on the weekend, instead provide me with detailed hunt reports in the weeks leading up, giving me updates about numbers of animals and their movements on various properties. This information is invaluable, especially when you have some 30,000 acres of management area to hunt on, with a limited time frame.

Pat Mahon is the South-East Branch Vice-President and Junior Ballot Coordinator.