What a year 2025 has been! To round out the year we got together a number of Spika Pro Team members and asked them to give us their top hunting moment of year. So grab yourself a drink and some snacks and enjoy.
Hazel Bennett
“The best hunt from this year was chasing Sambar in the VHC snow with my partner & our gundogs, Zekey and Alma (pictured). Watching them learn and build confidence has been so rewarding, and I can’t wait to see their progress in the future.”
Bailey Simmons
“My favourite hunt for me this year was getting my first red stag. I’ve been wanting one for years so getting it done was a proud moment. It was also nice to share it with my mate Steve who tagged along.
While glassing the hills we spotted two stags bedded on a peak. The wind was howling so I got in close and waited for them to stand up. I got an arrow in this stag from 25 metres and he was down after a 40 metre dash.”
Zac Mckenzie
“Hunting on horseback for a week in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan. Over 4500m looking for Mid-Asian Ibex, the physical exertion was something I've never experienced before. Success came on this 10 year old Billy using a blizzard to cover the distance between us.”
Jovan Pageot
“My favourite hunt was at Charters Towers chasing chital in January. I loved it because I got to hunt with one of my favourite humans for a week securing a couple really nice stags (Drews went 34.5 and mine 31.5) i loved hunting the warm weather of north Queensland the total change of scenery and stepping outside your comfort zone makes the adventure that more sweet”
Nathan Stewart
“This was easily my favourite trip of the year, a proper NT adventure chasing buffalo, pigs and scrub bulls in hot, unforgiving country while helping out with local pest-control work. Good mates, great access and reliable gear made it one of those straightforward, no-fluff hunts that just sticks with you.”
Gordon Wallace
“This one meant a bit to me…
A very generous and close mate who had done a lot for me went on a hunt for sambar together and walked away with this. Prime example of how hunting has positively affected my life and the connections its brought me”
Jack Pogson
“It was super late fallow rut, I had all but missed the window with some crazy circumstances at work in the mine. We had experienced a sandstone outburst (crazy situation basically blew up). Saved all that were involved (still some major injury’s were had) but everyone got pulled out safe, and this was my first hunt back, giving me a realisation of how lucky I am to enjoy the things I love.
Wild world we live in important to do what ya love.”
Dylan Smith
“I wanted to build some confidence with my recurve bow so I took it out west on a trip with Bailey. This billy goat was with a mob that was chasing a nanny that was on heat, so I snuck in to about eight metres and sent an arrow. I hunted some much bigger animals this year but this one marked me starting to commit to the recurve again properly and it was great to share the moment with my mate.”
Andrew Saliba
“Words can hardly describe how incredible it was to get to hunt Maral in Kazakhstan this year.”
Jesse Polkinhorne
“My trip to hunt the rut on the south island of New Zealand sticks in my mind as something I will remember forever.”
Melanie Mccullen
“My favourite and most memorable hunt this year was taking my first pig with a compound bow, an exciting experience and definitely one to remember.”
Steve Colley
“Definitely my highlight hunt for 2025! Even though it’s not over, I don’t think I’ll top this one. Very limited access to reds and very limited knowledge on calling them in, I can assure you this hunt got the blood flowing.”
Brad & Carlie Tonkin
“Living our best lives all year long as a family living off the land.”
- @aussieskullmountsanddesigns
