The hunt

I was woken at 4am this morning. 40mins later we were heading north, first stop the Culverden Tea Rooms/Cafe. A pie and coffee was the order of the day. Not my usual fare and I have no idea when I last had a pie but today I just went with the flow.

Another 15 mins or so and we were on the station. It's big, huge and absolutely magnificent. The pig damage is amazing. Imagine a rottery hoe or small earth moving equipment out of control on steep tussock land and you get the picture.

It was all over by 10am. On a cloudless day it's heating up and too dangerous for the dogs. We left 2 young fellas and their Dad in the shearing quarters and the hunter and I headed away. This is the gentle and proud Dad looking down the gully where his 2 sons are preparing to carry a pig up a very steep sloped for several hundred metres.

We picked up chooks on the way and were back at the hunter's place by early afternoon. The hunters 2, pigs 0 on the this occassion. 1 for the freezer of the farmer who owns the station, the other to feed the whaunau/family of a mate with a death in the family. They look after one and another.

I've seen some magnificent country today. Extrordinarily rugged and beautiful, folded and faulted by our smouldering geology.

Another great day.