Wrecked but Rewarded - Rory Smith 

The old cockie stammered to me over the phone; "you might not make it back.... those mountains will eat you in the heat"

I laughed with the old fella for a bit and then he finished the conversation with a "rightO.... see you in the morning"

I took the recurve with me, but once more the real point of this trip was to get some new guys onto some game, get em hooked, allow them to see why I crave it.

After calling into the farmhouse complete with it's 2 kelpies chained to a gum tree, and the 4 corrugated iron sheds in part collapse I turned to the boys and told them the rough plan of attack (route) for the day.

It probably was about half way through the day when they realised that a plan sounds a lot better at the start than after slogging up and down shale slopes in the burning sun

'the kiwi' was out on his 4th trip with me, and for the day took 3 nice 'eaters' of which he now knows how to take the back-straps by himself

 Nath was on his first ever hunt, let alone bowhunt, and was doing a really good job of keeping up all day, but the cramps were quickly setting in.

Late in the day we made it to an area where I hoped the boys could have some more opportunities. I raised my bino's to notice a couple of billy goats crusing after a clearly in-heat nannie.

I grabbed Nath by the arm and said 'here we go mate, get an arrow on' as we got into 45m relatively easily.

Slithering into 25m I had the video camera rolling, and told Nath to take it easy, 'green dot on the spot' when the chance might arise.

The 5 or so billys all took off just as Nath came to full draw about 17m off them, and as I mentioned for him to let down I peered over the log pile ahead of us to notice the nannie bounding straight back in our direction.

"Bow up in front of ya mate... draw and anchor when I say" I whipped.

"The big black one, watch nothing else but the big totally black guy" I excitedly stammered as I picked out a ripper goat as Nath's target.

"Draw Nath... stay calm". I just hoped he could hold it together.

With a violent headbutt and a grumble the big black billy leaped across infornt of us at 10m to ward off another keen billy from getting at the 'sweet smelling' lady-goat.

The billy spun on the spot and broadside to us he walk back to the nannie.

I held the camera as steady as I could and heard the release aid trip the shot, and a blur whizzed through the big goats lungs.

"He's dead mate, you've got him, he's dead!!" I excitedly whispered.

"Where" Nath said as he stood straight up, taking my comment litterally.

"No, get down, just wait" I whipped through a big smile.


He made it 5m and had no idea what had happened.

Cracker goat for your very first game animal on your very first hunt hey!

 We made it back to the farmhouse Wrecked but Rewarded, well done boys.

Once again I had gone a hunt and hadn't even nocked an arrow, it really hadn't even occurred to me even though I've not stalked something for myself in months.

It's just great watching these sorts of guys achieve so quickly what took myself years to do. New bowhunters are what is going to make our sport thrive.

I really hope that this is how my children one day will get into our great sport.