FEATURE Brendan Gourley
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My story begins with entering the Blond Bay Hog Deer Ballot for 2025. I had yet to shoot a hog deer and was keen for the opportunity should I be lucky enough to be drawn out. After seven years of entering the ballot, I was drawn out for Boole Poole Period one. Hearing my name on the live video stream from the Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Group was an awesome feeling, and I couldn’t wait to get out there.
After accepting their email, I began Googling Boole Poole and watching YouTube videos of other hunters sharing their experiences hunting Hog Deer. It was finally starting to sink in the awesome opportunity I’d been given and the challenge ahead of me. My plan was to head over to Boole Poole Island for a reconnaissance trip over the New Year period to build an understanding of the land and scope out a few spots.
After we beached the boat, Dad and I set off on foot to explore the existing walking track. We soon realised that a mountain bike would be ideal in this environment. While there, I watched a small stag and a doe wander the track 100m ahead. It was great seeing hog deer in their natural environment with my Dad, who has many years of hunting experience.
As February approached, I started gathering all the gear I thought I would need. I realised this would be a big task and not as easy as some think. I was very fortunate that my Mum’s cousin, John, had a boat and kindly offered to take me to and from the island. I asked Dad to come along with me for the experience and memory together. My Dad taught me to hunt, sharing his knowledge and skills over many years. We have many hunting memories and this was one I wanted my Dad to be a part of. Together we planned the trip, packing camping equipment, food, Spika mountain bike, hunting gear and most importantly the Esky and the mosquito repellent!
To make things a bit easier, we booked accommodation at Paynesville, so I was closer to attend the briefing in Bairnsdale and to load my hunting gear into John’s boat ready for the quick 30 minuite trip over to the island. The day before the hunt (Sunday) we headed over to the island to set up part of the camp to help save time and effort on opening day. On the first day of a heat wave, the bush made it feel like it was 40 degrees plus. Dad and I set up the tent and swags and a small hide out on a salt marsh clearing. It was so hot and made me wonder if this would all be worth it.
Finally, Monday morning arrived, and it was still bloody hot. I headed off to Bairnsdale to meet all the other hunters. We met the GMA Officers, who talked us through the rules and regulations of the ballot hunts. The presenters were helpful and encouraged us to stick it out to the end, considering the hot and windy weather predictions for the week. The meeting concluded and I was out of there, keen to get to the island and start my hunt.
John drove the boat to the island, dropping Dad and me off and wishing me good luck. I felt like I needed all the luck I could get. At 10.30am I was on the Island ready to go as most of my gear was already set up. I hadn’t made my mind up where I would try first, considering how hot it was, but I was confident that the deer would be searching for water. I knew of two good water holes and couldn’t pick which one to go to first. There was also a third water hole that I hadn’t checked yet, so I thought I better go see what that was like to help decide where I would sit first.
I quickly packed my backpack, thinking I would just check out the third water hole, then come back to camp and head to the first water hole, as I had a really good feeling about that one. Little did I know I would end up out in the heat for four hours with only one small bottle of water (note to self, I should have packed more water!). I jumped on my bike and headed to the unknown third water hole. I finally found it and it had no water in it, so there was no point sticking around there when I knew the other two had water.
I then rode as quickly as I could back towards camp, the heat was starting to get to me along with the pressure I felt to find the right spot quickly. I chose to go to the water hole closest to camp, I sat down trying to calm down and cool off, but worried the deer would smell my sweat. This water hole had plenty of water in it and had been frequently used by deer, but I couldn’t seem to find the right spot to sit off it without being too close. I sat back off it but felt I couldn’t see to shoot. I was sitting, watching, waiting for a while before I sent my Dad a message to check how he was going back at camp and to let him know the third water hole was no good. I said to him I didn’t feel comfortable at this water hole either and it didn’t feel right, so I made the decision to get back on the bike once again and head to the furthest hole.
The heat was extreme, I was so glad I brought my bike along with me but I was still sweating bullets. I sat down around noon and found a tree to sit under about 50 metres from the water hole. I decided this would be my best option and at dusk I would go to my hide.
I sat there contemplating how the hell I was going to sit here on this island for five days in this heat. I tried to focus on the water hole and think about the direction the doggies might come from. Two hours passed, and it felt like I’d been there forever. I was exhausted from the heat and had no water left. After going to the first water hole, I should have gone back into camp and packed more water and food supplies.
I laid back on my backpack looking up at the sky, wishing the temperature would drop. My Apple Watch then vibrated and a message came through on my phone, I looked down and read the message. It was from Tattslotto promoting ticket sales. I glanced up and saw a small stag standing by the water hole. Within seconds I reached for my gun and had it in my sights. I squeezed the trigger and it dropped down. I stood up and it went to move so I shot again. It didn’t move after that.
Standing over at my first hog deer I was in shock and couldn’t believe my luck. I felt like I should buy that Tattslotto ticket now, as I felt lucky! It was a nice, neat stag with a beautiful coat. With my heart pumping, I knelt beside it and said “thanks”. I called Dad back at camp to let him know the good news. He was just as excited as I was. Dad said he was very proud and would ride down to me.
Dad and one of the other hunters arrived to find me in disbelief that I had got one. He shook my hand and said “congratulations”. It was a surreal moment to have a photo with my first hog deer on day one of the hunt. I talked through what had just happened and how grateful I was. I called John with the good news and he said he would be over at the island ASAP. With the heat pounding on us, we quickly cleaned up the deer and strapped it onto my bike.
Arriving back at camp around 5:30pm, John had the boat ready for us to load up. We packed the boat, taking care of the precious cargo. I phoned through to the check-in station at Bairnsdale and was booked in for the next morning as it was too late in the day. My next challenge was keeping the deer cool in the horrible heat. As my parents still had the unit at Paynesville, we moved the deer inside and put him on ice.
It was then time for celebration drinks and to soak up my accomplishment. I would like to thank everyone involved in helping me achieve this mission, especially my Family, Dad and Mum, John and his wife Alison, along with the other hunters and the Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Group. Thanks to the Australian Deer Association for reaching out to me to share my experience.
“I felt like I should buy that Tattslotto ticket now.”
Australia Deer magazine Editor