Called the hard yards hunt, the mid winter Molesworth canadian goose hunt is considered the hardest of the 3 annual Molesworth goose culls. I tagged along with Mike Gane (the organiser) and his team of hunters at Isolation Flat for 4 days.
Trucks crossing Isolated Saddle on the way in.
Pure luxury! – scouting for geese from the comfort of the truck.
4WD trucks with off road tires are compulsory on goose hunts in the Molesworth.
Looking back at our camp sheltered by the pines from across the river.
Evan preparing the truck for a potentially deep river crossing.
Barry staying low to keep out of sight of approaching geese.
And the geese turn away from us at the last minute.
Hiding behind a rock outcrop Bryce waits for approaching geese.
Way down in the valley two hunters cross the river after moving geese for us.
Success! Bryce with two dead geese.
Way up high this flock of geese is safe from the guns below.
Looking up the Acheron River.
No wonder it got cold over night – waking up to a snow covered camp.
Our campsite after a snowy night.
Zack keen to go hunting but not so keen on the snow.
Scouting for geese near the camp.
Mike planning the mornings hunt.
Brrr! A very cold river crossing early in the morning.
Being in the right place for the geese is a combination of skill and luck.
Mike lining up approaching geese with Zack close to his side.
Stalking geese is all about blending in with the environment and always keeping your eyes and ears open.
Leaning on his truck Mike is searching the river bank for a mob of geese.
Mike and Zack walking back to the truck.
Mike popping out of the laydown blind to blast the approaching geese.
Boom! – We often stayed in our blinds until after dark waiting for geese.
My tent under the stars (and pine trees).
Not wanting anything to go to waste Mike is breasting out the geese to take home.
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