My youngest daughter Pippa (8) is always keen to get out there hunting. It’s awesome to be able to show my kids my passion, having them outdoors and doing it together. Teaching them life lessons, how to be patient, respecting our rifles, our dogs and trusting them to do what they trained for. One day Pippa asked me if her wee friend Annalise could come stay for a weekend of hunting. Of course, it was good as gold. I’m always keen to get kids out on the hills.
The next evening I contacted another farmer and got the all clear for some ‘piggin’. I collared up the dogs Hank, Codez and Duke then we were off. The girls were excited in their giggly girly way. After a short drive, I unloaded the quad bike and we started on our hunt. We headed up the first ridge but didn’t see much sign. Hank decided to head off for a bit of a look in a scrubby gorse face. While me and the girls were waiting for Hank to do his thing, I saw a good pig trot out of the gorse above where Hank was looking. Codez and Duke saw him and off they went in a hurry. The adrenaline was starting for both girls and myself, it’s the rush we all love. The dogs hit him on the arse along the fence line but it wasn’t enough to keep him there. The boar made it through the fence and ran down into the gully on the other side with the dogs hot on his heels. Then it went quiet for a bit. I was thinking the boar had done a cheeky getaway and the dogs missed it. Before long I heard that beautiful sound of dogs barking 400m down in the creek. By this stage all three dogs were there bailing away. Just what I wanted to hear. I told the girls just to wait on the bike because it was a shitty gully for them. They were keen to stay and let me do all the hard work. This time anyway.
I made my way down and I could hear one dog barking and hear the other two holding it. I got to where the boar was, Hank had it sitting down in the creek and Duke was bailing away but I couldn’t see Codez anywhere, which worried me. I pulled up the trusty 30/30 and dropped the pig “bloody perfect”. I could hear Pippa yelling to me “Did you get it Dad? Is it a big one?” The girls were excited. I was ecstatic! After saying good job to Hank and Duke, I called out to Codez numerous times and walked around until I found him in a bad way. I bandaged him up and started my way back up the hill to the bike. I left the pig behind because my dog needed help, I had to get Codez to the vets quickly. I got to the bike with such relief. Codez was deteriorating so I dropped the girls off home to my wife and rang the vets to say I’ll be there in 20 mins. Codez made it to the vets and they done what they needed to. Late that night we got a phone call, I knew instantly they didn’t have good news for me. Sadly, he passed on the operating table that night. Losing a dog is what we all dread.
It’s the hardest part about the sport we all love.
The next morning, I got up early and went to the gully to find the boar and carry him out. Once I strapped him up I started the long haul out with a bit of huff and puffing. Finally home, I got him on scales he weighed 142lb. It’s a bittersweet moment. This one didn’t get away; the jaw sits proudly at home in Codez memory.
Codez was a great boy. He loved his life and all his adventures. Not only with us but also his other family (The Wiers) too. Pippa and him had a special wee bond. He was her little playmate around the backyard. Chased her on her bike, cuddled up with her in sun and always at her feet for pats. It’s hard on the kids as well, when we lose a 4-legged mate.
R.I.P Codez, you were a top dog.
Sean Campbell