In the morning we set out to muster in the Te Huka catchment near Tom Bowling Bay.  From the pa site overlooking the western end of the bay we could see a big bull tucked up at the end of a finger of kikuyu grass well up in the tea tree. Before we could really assess a plan the dogs pushed a cow down onto the beach. Instead of stopping like they normally did , this one swam out through the surf to beyond the breakers with the dogs still in hot pursuit . They proceeded to have a battle well out to sea. The dogs eventually tired of this and swam ashore. The cow just kept swimming further and further out.  We mustered a different catchment that day. On our return in the afternoon I had a quick look for the cow. No sign. I had a pair of binoculars with me so just for shits and giggles gave the horizon a sweep. Couldn’t be. It sure was. Unmistakably a cow kilometres out to sea, looked like she was almost to the Three Kings. The bull was still on the same tongue of grass so Uncle Nuc said to get him in the morning. Nuc detailed his son in law, Jason to give me a hand.

            We set out early and the first thing we encountered was that same cow on the beach near Kurahaupo  looking a bit bedraggled now. Left her to the other musterers and made our way to the tongue of grass. Jason’s horse was not used to some of this work. He was a little bit diffident about getting near the bull. Maybe mindful of a neighbour who had just had his arm broken up near the shoulder during another muster down near Whangārei. They had had a horse killed on the same muster; a cow’s horn had penetrated its abdomen and it couldn’t be saved. I left my horse with Jason some distance away from the bull and made my way in on foot. The bull spotted me so I made the shot. It didn’t feel right. The bull crashed down to the left and out of sight. Didn’t look right. I was too chicken to go in on him. A bit spooked. Backed off carefully to my horse and spurred out of there. I still had to resolve the situation so made a plan to make my way to a bit of high ground immediately behind where the bull was standing.  Real cautious, made my way onto the bluff . Spotted the bull straight away. He was lying in a little watercourse facing away from me. Maybe no problem. Then I saw his ribs moving. Dead animals don’t breathe. I was trying to get a clean bead on his head when he staggered to his feet and lurched forward still facing away. Lined up the head and made the shot. I distinctly saw something fly off his head but he did not go down. Held the next shot very carefully. He collapsed instantly. Saw the spasm indicating he was finished. Made my way back to Jason and hopped back on my horse. Rode back up the tongue of grass ready to spur out of there if anything went wrong but it was all over.

            I autopsied the head area to find out what went wrong. The first shot was just too far right. It had taken the skull but travelled outside the bone to lodge in the upper neck.  The next shot had cut his horn clean off striking at the junction of the boss and the skull. The horn was what I had seen flying off. Uncle Nuc had detailed Jason to fetch a tractor so I continued with the muster.

            This was a case of shooter malfunction and this was far from the only case of shooter malfunction I had while I was working.