Recap- Mick Kernaghan has finally done it, after so many years of chasing Sambar he has hit the jackpot, again on only a short hunt, Mick was walking up and onto a small plateau, when he created a small rise and saw a Stag with its head down feeding, he only caught a short glimpse of the antlers but knew he was defiantly a shooter, so he instantly crouched back down and knocked an arrow and drew and stood back up in one motion and nailed the big Stag at 40m broadside, then watched the Stag only travel some 50 odd metres before going down within sight! At this point he big man’s knees went to water, he just fell on the ground and yelled “Yeah I’ve done it!” to say Mick was a happy camper again was and still is an understatement! Mick it’s good to see all your hard work finally paid off congratulations on a trophy of a life time! The tremendous Stag takes the 3rd position on the TT ratings with an official score of 188 4/8DS! Mick also added a Spiker he shot back in 09 for the table to the Sambar ratings!
Peter Morphett also was another lucky hunter who rated one of the two Sambar he shot this year like a few other TT members, Pete dispatched the mature Hind from 38m, with one very well placed arrow, the challenging steep downhill and angering forward shot was make with precision which saw the Hind go down within 40m, again Pete loves his RAGE broadhead’s and they have served him very well, well done Pete!
Casey McCallum has had an awesome trip to the cape with fellow TT member and current TT legend award holder Ben Selleras, the boys managed to down many good boars on the trip but Casey’s big and best to date was taken early in the trip, the big boy took one arrow quartering away at 35m feeding off a fallen gulf palm, and when Macka went to claim his prize he was blown away with what he saw the massive thick long tusks later scored 32 2/8DS, impressive! Also rated another big bodied fella that was shot at 30m, but made him work a little hard to secure the 27 4/8 DS price, congratulations Macka on some real quality trophies there mate!
Leigh Cragg with James Warne and Mark Southwell and Darren Hayman had a very good trip out west of late, with many Boars and Billies downed by the guys over a the five day hunt, but Leigh managed to down his best billies on this trip, the first and big white billy was seen one day prior to Leigh catching up to him and getting him of the deck, the very nice billy that scored 113 2/8DS, nice one, but two days later Leigh managed to beat that with a very impressive billy taken out of a group or billies that while trying to persuade an unfortunate nanny holding out in some thick woody weed that she wasn’t really that interested in there type of loving, Leigh crept into close range to displace the 39 ½” wide billy which scored 123 2/8 DS, one very fine trophy Leigh and congratulations from all at TT!
Sean Walsh has been amongst the billies and boars of home also and rated some fine trophies, the best of billies of late went 105 5/8 DS and another 100 DS, Sean also rated a young boar that’s scored 19 4/8, well done mate I’m sure there is many more to come!
Shane McNaughton won this year’s annual merit award for the largest Fox rated in the 2009/2010 season, and while on a resent local hunt he shot and downed a new PB Fox at 30m, the real big Fox has scored 10 9/16 DS which places it well up the TT Fox ratings ladder! Congratulations Shane looks like you’re in the running for another award later in new year!
The year of the Sambar!
Well it's been and awesome year for members of TT taking down big Sambar Stags, and Mick Evens while on a short morning hunt, was on the way out of his hunting area when he spotted a Stag’s antler through some think coprosma bush at no less than 25m! As the Stag stepped out and into the small lane the Mick Evens was standing in the Stag stopped to try identify him, but it was too late, Mick sent a razor sharp Thunderhead tipped arrow into the front of the big Stag’s chest and now the only task was to track the big animal, which was not very difficult and after only about 100 yards Mick was rewarded with his first Sambar Stag and to say he was one very elated and satisfied bowhunter is and understatement! The Stag scored 183 6/8 DS, it slots in at the number 4 position in the Sambar ratings! Unreal Mick and all from all of us at TT we congratulate you on one awesome trophy! Mick also rated his PB Fallow buck taken in last year rut and it scored 200 7/8 DS, again congratulations, top effort!
Not to be left out Paul Southwell took and Sambar Hind after the TT awards while hunting with his brother Mark and Jarrod Vyner and Mick Evens, well done Paul. Mark rated his Spiker he took on the same trip he got his 141+ Sambar Stag recently also. Nice one guys!
Mick Kernaghan has finally done it, after so many years of chasing Sambar he has hit the jackpot, again on only a short hunt, Mick was walking up and onto a small plateau, when he created a small rise and saw a Stag with its head down feeding, he only caught a short glimpse of the antlers but knew he was defiantly a shooter, so he instantly crouched back down and knocked an arrow and drew and stood back up in one motion and nailed the big Stag at 40m broadside, then watched the Stag only travel some 50 odd metres before going down within sight! At this point he big man’s knees went to water, he just fell on the ground and yelled “Yeah I’ve done it!” to say Mick was a happy camper again was and still is an understatement! Mick it’s good to see all your hard work finally paid off congratulations on a trophy of a life time! Check back later when we get the official score.
The Payne family has been amongst the good game over the last few months starting with they’re annual trip to the cape and shooting few good boars, young Glen Payne took he best boar to date which scored 23 4/8 DS, well done Glen and on the home front the boys have been into the local goat population, which Glen took another PB billy that went 105 3/8 DS, but the old man has been after one of two big Billies and managed to take out one them, he took one of the 45+” monsters at 60 yards to score his PB Billy that scored 135 1/8 DS, one absolutely brilliant trophy Lee, and he topped it off a few weeks later with another fine billy the scored 114 2/8 DS, WOW what a year you’re having! Lee also rated a very nice Fox that scored 9 13/16 DS and another billy over 100 DS and a Fallow buck that went 164 6/8 DS from last years rut, extremely well done guys, and congratulations I’m sure there more to come!
Jim Craze also rated his PB Fallow taken from last rut, the red common Buck scored 206 6/8 DS, congratulations Jim!
Dean Scott out current number 1 Sambar record holder has rated two Billies he took back in 2009, they scored 110 1/8 DS and 98 3/8 DS, nice one mate, good to see you don’t hunt Sambar all the time.
New TT members Dennis Wells and Jason Watts joined with Billies they scored of late. First Dennis is or was rifle shooter and has seen the light and tried his hand at bow hunting, Dennis is a long-time friend of Jim Craze and with his guidance, Dennis is off the mark taking two very fine Billies, the best scored 119 1/8 DS 40+” wide and the second not to be sneezed at went 109 1/8 DS and were taken on hunts in 2009, nice way to christen your new bowhunting career, very well done Dennis and welcome to TT. And Jason watts also joined TT with an 85 DS Billy, welcome to TT Jason.
Well the TT awards are not far off now and with that the last of the 2010 ratings filtering through, there is some big news, read on!
Troy Reynolds has joined TT with the biggest Rusa Stag that we know of for some time beating the old number 1 of Dave Debreceny’s 217 6/8 DS taken in 2001, Troy’s big Stag scored 222 2/8 DS! Wow what a monster Troy, we all congratulate you on your efforts and welcome to Trophy Takers!
Also to score big Peter Novakovic rated the second biggest Sambar with TT, the awesome Stag was taken at 10m! Yes I said 10m! While on a hunt in the highland Mountains in Vic not long back and firmly takes its place in second position with 189 5/8 DS! Again what and excellent
achievement Pete, really, really an awe inspiring moment, congratulations from all at TT!
Our newly crowned number 1 Sambar holder Dean Scott who only just knocked Pete off as TT’s number 1 Sambar holder, rated three other Sambar that he has taken over the last 5 years, the first was one of two Sambar hinds taken in 2005 and 2006, and also his first Stag taken in that same year which scored 97 6/8 DS, again Dean awesome effort great to have you on board!
Also Shannon James gets himself into the Red Deer ratings with a very good, 12 point Stag that scored 239 1/8 DS! Unreal Shannon, and congratulations on such an excellent trophy!
TT Annual awards info again.
2010 Trophy Takers Awards – Dalgety, NSW.
The 2010 Trophy Takers awards will be held at the Town hall in Dalgety in Southern NSW over the weekend of 2-4th October, 2010. Dalgety is a sleepy little town on the banks of the in the snowy river, about 2 hours drive south of Canberra, in the heart of the snowy mountains region. There are NSW state forests close by that can be hunted with an R-licence, as well as some great trout fishing, including both Jindabyne and Eucumbene lakes are less than an hour’s drive from Dalgety. This will prove to be a great location for another Trophy Takers get together.
Presently we have the hall booked from the 28/9/2010 to 4/10/210 to allow a few days for set up of the displays. There is a Caravan park in close proximity to the hall site which has a range of accommodation options available:
www.snowyriverholidaypark.com.au
10 cabins @ $90 for 2 persons, $10 extra person....... Holds up to 6 persons
Powered sites @ $17 per person Non-powered site @ $10 person
For more information please contact either:
Mark Southwell (0427 785 344)
Jim Craze (0264 535 517)
Or via the contact page on the TT website to contact us through email.
We hope to see you there!
Dean Scott joined TT with the new Aussie Record Sambar that scored 203 5/8 DS!
The trophy of a life time was taken on the first day of a three day back pack hunt in Vic on the 15 of may 2010, with his trusty Hoyt Trykon XL at 60 odd yards!, What way to joint TT Dean and congratulations on a real life time achievement and welcome to TT!
Not to be left out Mark Southwell our trusty TT ratings and membership director had and awesome weekend on the elusive Sambar deer also, Mark managed to take his first Sambar Spiker at 30 yards, nice one mate, then only to better it a day later on and very nice 22” Stag taken at 30 odd yards also, the Stag scored 141 4/8 DS, what a way to open your account, with two Sambar down in three days, excellent stuff Mark and congratulations, great effort!
Steven Dimitrakellis has been in TT a long time but had not picked up his bow in quite awhile, so he decided he would check some of his old Goat haunts and as luck would have it he managed to find and take the best Billy in his bowhunting career with his trusty long bow too mind you at 15 metres! The 46” wide billy that scored 132 2/8 DS is one very, very impressive trophy and one that will stay in Steven’s mind for a very long time, congratulations Steven truly another achievement in a bowhunters life time to take a Billy of this magnitude!
Camron Bryant joined TT with his best PB Billy of his short bowhunting career the Billy was taken while on a mountain hunt with Ron McGrath. Camron despatched a 96 1/2 DS Billy first with one shot from his Monster 7 and RAGE tipped arrow, and bettered that the next day with a very nice 109 7/8 DS Billy, congratulations Camron on two fine Goats and welcome to TT!
2010 Trophy Takers Awards – Dalgety, NSW.
The 2010 Trophy Takers awards will be held at the Town hall in Dalgety in Southern NSW over the weekend of 2-4th October, 2010. Dalgety is a sleepy little town on the banks of the in the snowy river, about 2 hours drive south of Canberra, in the heart of the snowy mountains region. There are NSW state forests close by that can be hunted with an R-licence, as well as some great trout fishing, including both Jindabyne and Eucumbene lakes are less than an hour’s drive from Dalgety. This will prove to be a great location for another Trophy Takers get together.
Presently we have the hall booked from the 28/9/2010 to 4/10/210 to allow a few days for set up of the displays. There is a Caravan park in close proximity to the hall site which has a range of accommodation options available:
www.snowyriverholidaypark.com.au
10 cabins @ $90 for 2 persons, $10 extra person....... Holds up to 6 persons
Powered sites @ $17 per person Non-powered site @ $10 person
For more information please contact either:
Mark Southwell (0427 785 344)
Jim Craze (0264 535 517)
Or via the contact page on the TT website to contact us through email.
We hope to see you there!
Lee Payne after three seasons finally caught with one of the monster bucks he had been chasing, the 242 2/8 DS Buck was taken at 40m while sitting in a scrap in the early pre rut of this year and is Lee’s best Buck to date, congratulations Lee one spectacular trophy indeed!
Also the Cocking family have been into the local goat population of late, and young Nathan has taken his PB Billy that scored 118 DS, awesome goat Nathan, not to be left out his dad Peter rated a fine 104 5/8 DS Billy and his mum Anne has taken her best Billy so far that scored 76 2/8 DS, well done and congratulations to you all!
Roy Ellis joined TT ranks with a very good Buffalo, which scored 89 DS, which he took back in 2009, very well done mate, and welcome to TT!
Dave Whiting and Shane Dupille have rated two very nice Foxes of late, the TT presidents went 10 1/16 DS and Shane's scored 10 DS, good to see you still getting amongst them!
Pete Morphett and Jordy Appleby got off to a early start on the Fallow season this year, Jordy was first to score big, when he finally got in on a beaded Buck, after having to wait some two hours at 25 metres, before it stood to take the ideal shot, the 211 6/8 DS Buck only went a short distance before Jordy could claim his new PB, and a very impressive looking Buck it is Jordy, Congratulations!
Pete later that day managed to get another long shot on a Buck passing him by looking for a fight, and was taken down in record time with a very well placed angling forward shot from 55 metres, the RAGE 2 Blade head made sure of this, the big Buck which later scored 218 6/8 DS and had a 30 inch neck was aged at 6 years, and is another high end trophy for Pete, congratulations on another fine specimen Pete!
Shane McNaughton was hunting with Pete Morphett later in the Fallow season, and picking up some valuable tips on hunting Fallow Deer and managed to take his first Buck with Pete. Later in the trip he took another Buck which is only his second and his best, the Buck was called in from an amazing distance by Pete and Shane made and excellent shot from 30m, from an excellent ambush position, the Buck only travelled a short way like most deer hit with a two inch RAGE Broad head and later scored 185 5/8 DS, and is Shane’s PB, Well done mate and congratulations!
Mark Southwell and James Warne also had a very good Fallow rut this year, Mark after a long stalk down into a valley, managed to close the gap on a very good Buck that was holding 8 does and after a slow stalk closed to within range and shot him from 25 yards. He is a top Buck and is Marks new PB of 221 6/8 DS, awesome stuff Mark and congratulations!
James after a few near misses early on in the trip, finally got lucky on the second last day. After taking a cracking buck last year he was keen to shoot a wild looking one, and a wild Looking one he got! They found him high on a ridge in the fog and Warney shot him from about 12 yards, nice one Warney!
Jason Robinson had a good Fallow rut again this year taking a few Bucks during the season, the best scored 204 5/8 DS, nice one mate and he rated a Billy goat that he shot earlier in the year that went 111 2/8 DS, well done Robbo!
Paul Hardie has taken and massive white Fallow Buck with his recurve while hunting with Dave Whiting over the rut this year, the very even and wide Buck scored 238 DS! Top effort Paul and congratulations on your new PB and trophy of a life time with traditional gear!
Ron McGrath with Pete Morphett on there annual Chital hunt have taken a few very good Stags on there week trip, Pete was first to get the ball rolling taking and very large male Dingo which scored 13 11/16, then later the next day he downed a very nice 163 6/8 DS Stag at 36m with his trusty BowTech Tribute, not to be left out and only 20min later after Ron had a quick lesion on how to cape, Ron had positioned himself into an excellent ambush position. Ron was in the best position he has ever been in on the crafty spotted devils, at a mere 12m Ron successfully downed the 171 3/8 DS Stag with his trusty BowTech Tribute, we could almost hear the screams of elation from camp, well done Ron congratulations, a very good Stag for you first, excellent effort mate!
The very next afternoon the boys were onto a group of 4 stag two of them shooters, and Pete couldn’t convince Ron to leave his position behind a old big tree and head to were Pete thought they were going to go, so he slipped into another position some 80m away from Ron to see which way the unpredictable group would finally end up, as the roll of the dice played in Pete favour the group moved to within 35m, so Pete dispatched the best Stag out of it, the very even and wide head scored 175 4/8 DS, congratulations Pete awesome stuff!
Ben Salleras was on a goat hunt with Casey McCallum over new years brake and managed to get within striking distance and take a big white Billy that’s is over 42 inches wide and scored 122 1/8 DS, congratulations Ben a big achievement in this day and age to secure and big Goat trophy, well done!
Brad Smith joins TT ranks with a Buffalo taken at closer quaters, the massive beast scored 85 6/8 DS and welocme to Trophy Takers!
Jordy Appleby has taken a PB Billy while checking out his new hunting grounds when he moved towns of late and scored him self and very nice 109 4/8 DS goat at less than 15m, congratulations Jordy!
Rodney Collings have taken a ripper Chital Stag of late also, the 170 7/8 DS Stag is Rodney’s best yet, awesome effort mate well done!
Rodney also rated and feral cat that went 7 3/16 DS, again top effort congratulations!
Ben Salleras has rated his PB Chital Stag he took back in 2009, the excellent trophy scored 165 5/8 DS, very well done mate, congratulations!
Also new member Sean Walsh has joined TT ranks some very good Billy goats, they scored 121 2/8 DS, 106 4/8, 103, 99 4/8 and 98 4/8 DS, excellent mate and congratulations and welcome to TT!
Mark Southwell has taken a excellent Chital Stag while hunting with his brother over the x-mass/new year brake, Mark had the usual multiple attempts while playing cat and mouse with the crafty spotted devil’s, he was lucky enough in the end to have one walk right pass him at about 15 to 20 metres, and the Stag was on the deck in record time after very placed Rage 2 blade broadhead, the PB Stag scored 169 7/8 DS, well done and congratulations mate!
Rodney Collings has also been amongst the Chital Stags and rated and very nice 135 1/8 DS Stag that he took in 2009, nice one mate! And also has taken a very good boar of late that scored 29 2/8 DS, well done Rodney a top effort!
Shane McNaughton has taken his PB Fox (10 2/16 DS) while hunting with Pete Morphett, the old Fox was called in to a mere 3 metres while on one of the many hunting trips trying to secure Shane’s first Fallow deer which he achieved only one week later at 30 metres while hunting with Pete, well done Shane and congratulations on your first deer and a great Fox, I'm sure there will be many more to come!