Return to Happy Valley: Stalking, Strategy & Our First Red Deer

The Setup

Returning to Happy Valley Hunting felt like stepping back into unfinished business. We arrived Friday at lunchtime, ready to set up camp, and this time, the purpose-built hunting trailer took us only 20 minutes to set up—we finally had the system down! Once settled, it was time to prep the rifles:

✅ Ethan’s .223 Ruger – dialled in and ready
✅ Genesis 300 Blackout – perfect for close stalking
✅ Glenn’s faithful .270 Winchester – his pride and joy, now retired after taking a deer
✅ Tikka TAC A1 (6.5 Creedmoor) – not exactly a hunting rifle, but Glenn was keen to test it out on the trip

The First Evening: A Slow Start

With everything prepped, we headed out to where the Chital Deer had been crossing on our last visit. Ethan was set up with his .223, Glenn positioned with the Tikka, but the goal was to get Ethan on his first deer—Glenn’s rifle would only come into play if backup was needed. But that never became an issue—we saw nothing. Disappointed but not discouraged, we headed back to camp for dinner, a fire, and some strategizing for the next day.

Day 2: A Wild Start & Endless Stalking

Our alarms went off at 3 AM—a little too early in hindsight, as we sat in the dark, unable to see our hands in front of us. But as we drove out to our stalking spot, the unexpected happened:

🔥 A mob of 20 wild pigs—from big sows to tiny piglets—crossed just in front of us. We were too slow to react, and they disappeared into the scrub before we could get a shot off. That’s hunting.

After setting up in the same spot as the night before, we waited… and waited. Nothing. Time for a break—back to camp for a nap, Warfighter coffee, and bacon & eggs. Fully recharged, we set out to find the pigs, covering kilometres by foot and 4WD. Despite hours of stalking, we didn’t see a thing—but the off-roading and bush stalking made up for it.

At dusk, we tried whistling in some foxes—nothing. The property owner popped in for a beer and offered to take us out in the morning. We jumped at the opportunity.

Day 3: The Ghosts of the Bush

Up at 4 AM, we left on foot from camp. The morning was crisp, the birds were singing, and not long into the walk, the owner spotted a mob of Chital—seven deer, but they were on the neighbouring property. We sat and watched, appreciating their beauty.

We glassed ridges, walked, glassed again — moving toward the owner's ‘honey hole’. The sign was getting fresher, the rubs on trees more frequent, and the owner could literally smell the deer—this guy is a deer whisperer! Then we heard it—

🔊 A Chital call.

We’d never heard it in real life before, and it was incredible. Another call, this time from a different direction. We moved in.

Then, a whistle.

"There he is!" A beautiful trophy Chital stag, an 18-20 pointer, stood on the mountain face. Glenn set up, controlled his breathing, got his sights on him… but then—

💨 A swirl in the wind.

Just like that, he and his 18 mates vanished. The ghosts of the bush.

We relived the best hunting day ever back at camp. Tomorrow was our last chance. The owner wasn’t giving up on us—he had a secret Red Deer spot, and he was taking us there.

Final Day: The Red Deer Moment

At 5 AM, the property owner pulled up — “Get in.”

We had no idea where he was taking us, but his excitement was contagious. Through the gate, locked behind us, we drove deep into the property.

🚗 The ute stopped. We got out quietly.

🔍 “Shhh… you won’t believe it.”

We took a few steps from the ute — “Look up there.”

Standing in the early morning mist, between two trees, grazing on lush green pastures, was a magnificent Red Deer.

Glenn moved in, lined up his shot, steadied himself.

💥 The shot rang out. The deer was hit, but still alive. Glenn racked the .270, took another shot—it was down, but not out.

Now it was Ethan’s turn.

We stalked in closer. The Red Deer sat in the long grass, watching. Ethan turned to Glenn—

🗣️ “Do I take the shot?”

Glenn set him up on the shooting stick, stepped back—

💥 Ethan squeezed the trigger. Headshot. Done.

The biggest moment of our hunting journey—finally realized.

The End of One Journey, The Start of Another

This wasn’t just another hunt—it was the culmination of nearly a year of persistence. We missed opportunities, tracked ghosts, and pushed ourselves harder than ever.

But we did it.

And this is only the beginning.

Thank you:
Happy Valley Hunting
Tactical Gear

📌 Stay tuned for the next video—where we field dress our Red Deer and walk you through the entire process!

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