Thread: The basics..am I missing something?

Originally Posted by bbbrad

In all the online videos, tv programmes, and pics in the mags and books, 99% of the scenes are open tussock, wide river flats, flat open ground, green hill sides.

There is areason for the above statement. I don't have much success bush stalking either, and I let them come to me - like on a slip etc. That has been way more productive for me, and us oldies need to get cunning and expend less energy getting our venison. By all means head into the bush during the day if you need to burn off energy, but hit the feed spots at the right time of the day.

You need to find the clearings in the Ruahines you will have more luck looking thru the bush onto the clearings.
@BRADS and @Neckshot would help but they have gone AWOL.

6 times looking for deer don't worry about not seeing them they are there and have seen you.

I haven't had a chance to get out into the bush for a few months but the last deersies I seen were at smoko time.

The deer we saw after an early morning stalk before sunrise was spotted at 10am

Midday we headed off next time and spot one at 3pm.

Some say first light,last light but they are out there grazing all day and night.Be patient and your freezer will be full.

I've been at it for a few years now and still haven't got my first stag, took a couple of years to get the first hind aswell. The main thing I have found is to enjoy your time in the bush, then you will start to notice trails, scrapes and wallows. find those tracks then worry about slowing down. follow trails, stop look and listen, patience is key in this game. Im mostly self taught that's why it took me so long, find someone to take you under their wing and you will learn quicker, but keep at it mate.

Where I hunt in the kaimais there is no sitting and watching cause there are no clearings , and no sitting and listening cause im deaf as a plank .
You have too be smart and make your own luck , slow when you see sign , steady and deliberate when your looking for it , freeze and listen if the shits steaming (unless its your own )
Hmmmm enuf said.

When I moved to NZ I started to hunt in the kaimais and I had to learn to hunt again as it is so much tougher than the European hunting.
One thing that you don t see many kiwi do is get a good pair of binoculars; yes, even in the dense bush they work well as you can focus at different distances through the foliage, and you will be able to spot an ear, a tail or something else way better and further than with just your naked eyes.
It was taking me 10 trips to see 1 deer, now is more 6 to 10 trips to kill 1.
I don't think that what you are doing is necessarily wrong but as the others said, you need to go where the deer are.
Change spot maybe and see how it goes.

So I'm not the only one that takes my rifle for long walks, Ive been walking my rifle around the southern end of the kawekas with no luck, I still enjoy the time away from it all and the feeling of the freedom you get in the hills.

Originally Posted by roadkill

So I'm not the only one that takes my rifle for long walks, Ive been walking my rifle around the southern end of the kawekas with no luck, I still enjoy the time away from it all and the feeling of the freedom you get in the hills.

Keep at it and it will happen. Right place, wind in your face, slow down.

My $.50,
You are doing great and after ALL these great feedbacks you had just keep the good work. I am kind "hopeless" with bush hunting too and I been "kill" by a deer couple times(they saw me, call me looser and pretty much "shot" me by the time I saw them) but I still taking my rifle for walks too.
Be patient, keep,the faith and more important, "ENJOY YOUR TIME OUT THERE"( it is not shouting just make it a statement).
Thank you to all of you out there and "in" here who keep me(us) entertained and full of good stories and acknowledge.

Mac

Good thing about getting busted by the deer first is that you have found the zone. All you have to do now is convert it to meat on the table

Ok, wow, thanks a million everyone for more tips and help. I think I have a good plan now to get the job done. I'll take it all on board and look forward to getting out there over the next couple of months. I'll be sure to let you all know how I get on.
Cheers
Brad

Don't try and get too technical with all the info you've got from both forums or you will spend all your time mindfucking and not hunt.
Take the location and environment you are in and try 1 or 2 pointers and work with that. If it no results then try a couple of different things.
As long as you have the wind in your face anything can happen

OK,what on earth are you doing groveling around in that thick crap a possum has trouble getting threw ? How are you going to shoot crawling round on hands n knees pushing your beloved rifle ahead of you ,you going to stuff your knees and or hands.
If you have a nice flat bottom stream with grassy benches or river flats is a nice place to transition first light or dusk to dark . But bush stalking can be an all day pass time .Light weight soft sole boots or sneakers ,cover the white face / hands with a mask & gloves.Fleece or woolen clothing that doesn't rasp .If you want to go extreme mask your human scent ,I like clove oil but its personal choice on that.A few drops of oil & the poor old deer don't know WTF you are.The reason hinds bark,they maybe onto you but not sure what you are & let all their mates know . Swirling wind can blow it for you as often we get in the bush. If you can move quietly is a plus while looking for sign ,when you do find it slow down.2 step stop look listen ,2 more steps etc.
Now about that thick crap you hate .You are probably better to work the top of leading spurs that run up to a main ridge. Creeks are good they normally have a spur each side.You can hunt both sides of them at once ,then cross at the head of the gully & work down the other spur .Deer often use those spurs as high ways(game tails) to transition both to feed areas or into another water shed.Sure deer bed down in those thick areas you love so ,but do you think they won't hear you coming way before you know they've left the area.Sighted at 50m you should be good for "Bush Stalking". Go forward gently look first for horizontal lines the animals back bone & belly. This time of year red deer are very grey colored not red/brown (grey ghosts) Hope you find some thing of use in this .

You guys blow me away, so helpful. Send me your addresses and I'll send you all a steak in the mail.

Originally Posted by PERRISCICABA

My $.50,
You are doing great and after ALL these great feedbacks you had just keep the good work. I am kind "hopeless" with bush hunting too and I been "kill" by a deer couple times(they saw me, call me looser and pretty much "shot" me by the time I saw them) but I still taking my rifle for walks too.
Be patient, keep,the faith and more important, "ENJOY YOUR TIME OUT THERE"( it is not shouting just make it a statement).
Thank you to all of you out there and "in" here who keep me(us) entertained and full of good stories and acknowledge.

Mac

Its 50 cents Mac not .5$

Originally Posted by Gibo

Its 50 cents Mac not .5$

$.50 is 50 cents !

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