Any advice for a new hunter?

Hi everyone

We have just moved to Napier after living in Australia and I have just started hunting. The plan is to one day teach my boy.

Been heading to Kawekas a lot in the last few months. Mostly starting at Lakes Carpark. Been up to top of Kuripapango and the Rouge tops glassing from Dawn onwards... but just had no luck and haven't seen a single deer. I would very much welcome any advice... should I start lower in the Bush? but on that note I don't even know how to start as never bush stalked before. Thanks team.

Get out as much as you can

Take ya binos and explore, Look for games trails, slips and clearings, it will come

Send me a PM if you like

Been hunting the kawekas 45 years and know the habits of those wily Sika -can share/show you some hot spots for this time of the year

Once you spot a couple of deer you'll wonder how many you missed all those other times. It will come. Stick at it

Thanks so much mate! I'll drop you a friend request. Would love to head out with you sometime or have a yarn over a few beers

Ive been out and come home seeing no deer about 10 times before I finally saw and shot a deer in the bush. For me the key was going slower, being quieter, and paying a lot more attention to what was going on around me. All the best and keep at it.

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Originally Posted by kawekahunter

Thanks so much mate! I'll drop you a friend request. Would love to head out with you sometime or have a yarn over a few beers

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I have sent you a PM

It’s behind the notifications tab on the top of your forum home page

Go out high on the hills and let yr binos do the walking.

As these guys all say- you’ll learn the most from just getting out there as often as you can. Every trip you’ll learn more. There’s also plenty of learning you can do at home- find yourself a copy of Lentle & Saxtons Red Deer in NZ book. Can pick copies up cheap on trademe. Not sure how Sika behaviour compares to reds, but I certainly learned a lot reading that book. I also enjoy watching hunting vids on YouTube etc & shows like Hunters Club & NZ Hunter Adventures. You’ll pick up plenty of tips & ideas from those. Spend time scrolling your hunting areas on Google Earth- you’ll pick up on promising slips & clearings etc to focus on when you head out. & spend some time trawling the depths of places like this forum- there’s an absolute wealth of knowledge & wisdom on here & if you show you’re willing to contribute there are plenty of folks here who are generous with their time & knowledge.

Don’t read had the shit posted here. That’s a good start.

Go join nzda Napier or Hastings branch. Get to know some people. If your keen it will happen.

NZDA HUNTS course is worth doing for if you've not hunted in NZ.

Learning how to deal with the bush, how to get off the track safely (and get back again) etc made all the difference for me.

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Originally Posted by davetapson

NZDA HUNTS course is worth doing for if you've not hunted in NZ.

Learning how to deal with the bush, how to get off the track safely (and get back again) etc made all the difference for me.

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Awesome tip thanks you!

Always clearly identify your target 100%.

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Originally Posted by kawekahunter

Hi everyone

We have just moved to Napier after living in Australia and I have just started hunting. The plan is to one day teach my boy.

Been heading to Kawekas a lot in the last few months. Mostly starting at Lakes Carpark. Been up to top of Kuripapango and the Rouge tops glassing from Dawn onwards... but just had no luck and haven't seen a single deer. I would very much welcome any advice... should I start lower in the Bush? but on that note I don't even know how to start as never bush stalked before. Thanks team.

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Greetings Kawekahunter,
I make no claims at being much of a hunter, quite the reverse in fact but I can share some of the mistakes I have made so that you don't need to repeat them. First get to know your area. The country accessed from the Lakes carpark is extensive so get to know it. Once you find an area you like keep on going back to it. Go as slowly as possible when hunting and as Micky Duck would say go slower still. Hunt the sign rich places. You might consider doing a multi day walk from Lakes Road to Kiwi Saddle Hut to Castle Camp to McIntosh Hut to Lakes Road. This would give you a good understanding of the area. Stopping and glassing frequently, even in the middle of the day, is always worthwhile. Lastly enjoy it. I've been trudging around the Kaweka's including the above area for close on 60 years and still enjoy my gentlemen's hours walks up there. Even take a rifle from time to time. Hunting in the winter is always hard. Regard your current trips as recce's for spring.
Regards Grandpamac.

one word : patience
dont expect the big one on day one, i got my first deer at 12 or 13, took me till 18 to get my 2nd
also prepare for the worst, dont expect a day trip unless its a few km around a farm. expect weather changes and delays.

As most have said, move even slower, or just SIT and watch and wait. You're doing well at getting out there, so just keep perservering. Sika ARE hard to fairly hunt at this time of year, as they're mostly bedded down.

Most importantly, GOOD ON YA for seeing the light and moving to NZ for the hunting and other lifestyle benefits! Your kids will be very grateful when they get older.

NZDA HUNTS course.

Not only will you get a good grounding in NZ hunting, you will also meet people who are happy to help in your area.

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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Kawekahunter,
I make no claims at being much of a hunter, quite the reverse in fact but I can share some of the mistakes I have made so that you don't need to repeat them. First get to know your area. The country accessed from the Lakes carpark is extensive so get to know it. Once you find an area you like keep on going back to it. Go as slowly as possible when hunting and as Micky Duck would say go slower still. Hunt the sign rich places. You might consider doing a multi day walk from Lakes Road to Kiwi Saddle Hut to Castle Camp to McIntosh Hut to Lakes Road. This would give you a good understanding of the area. Stopping and glassing frequently, even in the middle of the day, is always worthwhile. Lastly enjoy it. I've been trudging around the Kaweka's including the above area for close on 60 years and still enjoy my gentlemen's hours walks up there. Even take a rifle from time to time. Hunting in the winter is always hard. Regard your current trips as recce's for spring.
Regards Grandpamac.

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Thanks mate great tip. Will aim to walk that loop in the next few weeks!

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Originally Posted by Copelli

As most have said, move even slower, or just SIT and watch and wait. You're doing well at getting out there, so just keep perservering. Sika ARE hard to fairly hunt at this time of year, as they're mostly bedded down.

Most importantly, GOOD ON YA for seeing the light and moving to NZ for the hunting and other lifestyle benefits! Your kids will be very grateful when they get older.

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Thanks mate! Yeah getting proficient enough so I can teach my son is a major motivation for me. After a few years in Sydney we definitely saw the light and realised theres no place like home.

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Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Get a good GPS and topo50 app on your phone and get away from the tracks and huts. But like others have said, sika are a lot harder to hunt in the winter months, they don’t move around as much. Look for the north facing areas that get the sun. Cover lots of ground until you find fresh sign then slow right down. Keep at it, good luck ( you need a bit of that too)

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Cheers! Love the Topo50 app combined with Google Earth. It's been a game changer for me

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Originally Posted by mimms2

Go slower. Keep the wind in your face. Scent rises uphill in the AM and sinks at dusk.

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Cheers that's a great tip

Join the sika foundation and contact them, asking if a party is short on one of their planned fly in trips that you could join in at short notice. Does cost a bit to fly in. You'll meet other hunters, get to fairly good spots and learn about hunting in NZ.

Sika are a bit different to reds. They are much more wary but also curious. The biggest thing is they squeal at you when alarmed. Surprising no one has warned you about this yet ! If you don't hear a couple of squeals each day you're hunting in a low population area and try somewhere else. 90% of sika hunting is in the bush, specially at this time of year. Sitting and glassing won't be very productive till the spring (November).

Do a few internet searches for sika hunting tips and techniques. I think Neil Philpott is the guru, if he has a book, get that. GThde Lentle and Saxton book you want for sika is "Stalking the Seasons Round".

Other entry points are the several road ends around Makahu saddle (Makahu Road) and Clements Mill Road.
You might also look at the Eastern Ruahines for Red Deer. Again, they won't be out in the open much till spring and summer.

In late Summer and Autumn, there is fire danger (I believe) in the Kawekas.

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

Join the sika foundation and contact them, asking if a party is short on one of their planned fly in trips that you could join in at short notice. Does cost a bit to fly in. You'll meet other hunters, get to fairly good spots and learn about hunting in NZ.

Sika are a bit different to reds. They are much more wary but also curious. The biggest thing is they squeal at you when alarmed. Surprising no one has warned you about this yet ! If you don't hear a couple of squeals each day you're hunting in a low population area and try somewhere else. 90% of sika hunting is in the bush, specially at this time of year. Sitting and glassing won't be very productive till the spring (November).

Do a few internet searches for sika hunting tips and techniques. I think Neil Philpott is the guru, if he has a book, get that. GThde Lentle and Saxton book you want for sika is "Stalking the Seasons Round".

Other entry points are the several road ends around Makahu saddle (Makahu Road) and Clements Mill Road.
You might also look at the Eastern Ruahines for Red Deer. Again, they won't be out in the open much till spring and summer.

In late Summer and Autumn, there is fire danger (I believe) in the Kawekas.

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Thanks! That's great tips.
Will try to stalk the bush a bit more over the next few months until spring rolls around.

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Originally Posted by kawekahunter

Cheers! Love the Topo50 app combined with Google Earth. It's been a game changer for me

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One thing i learned pretty late with the topo phone apps is that i need to calibrate the compass regularly. I got a bit confused on one trip because the compass in the app was pointing in the completely wrong direction and I could not trust it. Turned out the phone just needed to be calibrated.