Tony Lamborn and a couple of his Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby teammates, Adrian Barone and Brendon Edmonds, went deer hunting on Wednesday.
They spent eight hours up in the Kaweka Ranges and despite seeing four sika deer including a stag they returned home empty-handed.
"They were too far away for the calibre of gun we had but it was good to see them," Lamborn said.
There was more bad news for Lamborn when he returned to Barone's Tamatea home. His 18-month-old black and white (yes Magpies colours) foxy Sid was missing. Barone's neighbours told Lamborn Sid had jumped over Barone's gates and guarded Lamborn's ute for at least five hours before running off.
Naturally Lamborn, 22, will be hoping for better luck should he get game time off the bench for the Magpies against the Bay of Plenty Steamers in their second round ITM Cup fixture at Tauranga's Bay Park Stadium on Sunday. Lamborn has replaced Maori All Black and Hurricanes openside flanker Karl Lowe, who has a rib injury, on the subs bench and if he gets game time it will be his first-class debut for the Magpies.