We are out hunting on foot, stalking in the beautiful mountains of NSW for trophy Fallow Bucks and Red Stags. This video is part #2 from 3 over a week long hunt. I wish I could say that we smashed an absolute monster buck or stag on this day, but we didn't and that's fine. This is hunting and not shooting, but we filmed some amazing animal and mountain scenery, with a decent boar shot at the end of the day.

I've been very fortunate to gain access in an area like this with a good mate who wishes to remain unnamed (huge thanks to him). This trip we have paired up for some EPIC buck hunting action chasing these dynamic animals in the rut.

As I work through footage I will be posting the episodes up. Ultimately I wish to bolt this all together in one long hunting film.

Experiencing the fallow buck rut is something every hunter should try to do. They are amped up, croaking for dominance, stinky and keen for a fight. It's often extremely fast paced hunting of what is normally an elusive, shy animal.

The deer taken are free-range wild animals on private property. This is an experience I try to do each year as the hunting is amazing, and something unique to cherish. It's much different to the regular bulk pest control shooting I normally do for work. Understand that this is a recreational activity, and the deer are a game resource on this property.

For those interested my rifle is a fully customised Tikka T3X, chambered in 30-06. The stock is carbon fibre made by Southfort Labs in NZ (now discontinued). Blued fluted sporter barrel, and spiral fluted bolt. Scope is a Swarovski Z5 2.4-12x50mm BT, and I'm shooting handloads with 178gr Hornady ELD-X projectiles at 2830fps.

Wild dogs in my local area have been attacking livestock and causing havoc to landowners, in this video I'm out on a contracted shoot targeting these troublesome predators. I'm running the Pulsar thermal gear in an attempt to lower pressure being applied as animals venture out into the paddocks after dark. It's often a false perception with wild dogs if they are friend or foe, but this is a never ending battle which many landowners in Australia contend with.

Watch the video and you'll see how everything unfolded.

Rifle used, I always get asked that - It's a custom Tikka T3 chambered in 6mm BR, 18" Carbon Six CF wrapped barrel and Hi-Tec Industries CF stock. The suppressor is made by Shawmac Industries, which works amazingly well on this cartridge shooting Hornady 87gr Vmax Projectiles (all ammo is reloaded, no please don't ask me for load data as I don't share this information). Thermal scope is obviously a Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XG50. For scanner duties, I'm running Pulsar Merger LRF XP50 thermal binoculars.

Long Weekend hunt with the Brothers Steve n Pood. So many pigs about ATM, however, also a lot of grass but we probs banged down around 100 pigs between us.

There seemed to be a single dog living around one remote dam on this property. What was the best way to catch him? Time to stop and think about it.

We really appreciate your comments, even the ones from the narcissists and unpractical types who seem to hate our message. Here is a bit more info on why we approach things the way we do.

In Queensland Australia, one introduced species (Lantana) is almost out of control. The effects on the environment, on industry and the lives of country people has been hugely understated. Another introduced species, (wild deer) use it as a food source, for shelter and for cover to elude their historic predator species (man). Often they are just Ghosts of the Lantana.

Sometimes, you just have "one of those days". Plenty to do and see, lots to think about and challenge your brain so that success will follow.

Ever been that hungry you would eat a seagull? Finally back to our ol' fishing hut and reflecting on some great old times.

Stormy days are some of the best days in the bush. It can make the trapping hard but the animals all come out after the rain. Get out into the dirt and the mud and enjoy.

So many hunters openly hate anyone who puts an economic price on hunting or on wildlife. Personally, as a commercial operator (Deer guide, farmer and trapper) I've copped this all my life so it's nothing new. The reality that many will not face is that once a game animal becomes valuable to the landholders, it is protected and managed. Strip its value and treat it as a Pest and there is only one way this can go. Down the drain.

Our small group, RIDGE has predicted for more than 30 years, if we didn't control the deer herds of this country through recreational hunting, then there could only be one result. Widespread aerial culling. Almost every State in this Nation is now seeing thousands of wild deer shot and left to rot.
We must take the lead, install sustainable programs and get the numbers down in our local areas or face the reality. We can do it as hunters, with ethics, morals and empathy.

Pigs & Wild Dogs Part 1, 2, 3
Setting the traps is often the easy part, keeping them set and ready to catch a dog is usually the hardest thing, especially in wild pig and cattle country. Think outside the square and find the solutions.

For more information and to keep up to date with our up coming episodes visit http://www.australianwildcountryadven...