Thread: Beginner Hunter - need advice

Kia Ora team,

I’m 36 years old and have never been hunting in my life but have just gotten my firearms licence and purchased a Tikka T3x so I’m keen to get out there and learn as much as possible and eventually fill the freezer. I’m in the Katikati region and just wondering if there’s any recommendations in terms of where I should start exploring? Any tracks or areas where as a beginner I should start my hunting journey.

Thanks a lot!

A good place to start if no one on here is available is to head down to the BOP deerstalkers they have a club meeting on the second of Jan. Years of experienced hunters and advice to be found.

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go buy a 22, practice trigger pull etc.
way cheaper than centerfire to practice

Plenty of easy access into the Kaimais from Kati, Wright road would be a good start. Get a decent map on your phone like TopoNZ or a GPS and check the DOC overlays. Get a permit from doc website and go for gold

I may be on outlier here, but I'd start with goats. It can be a great confidence booster to shoot your first animal, any animal. You'll pick up the basics of bush stalking and dressing/butchering a goat isn't much different from a deer, so you'll learn some useful skills along the way. Young goats aren't bad to eat at all. I don't know your area, but I'm guessing there are plenty of goats accessible to you. Check on the DOC website.

Originally Posted by MB

I may be on outlier here, but I'd start with goats. It can be a great confidence booster to shoot your first animal, any animal. You'll pick up the basics of bush stalking and dressing/butchering a goat isn't much different from a deer, so you'll learn some useful skills along the way. Young goats aren't bad to eat at all. I don't know your area, but I'm guessing there are plenty of goats accessible to you. Check on the DOC website.

I agree, do you have rabbits over there? Possums, wallabies. When you have some experience tackle deer then I in 2-3 years.

Have known a few that were just starting and went straight for Sambar. No experience no knowledge. Needless to say they didn't last long.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

I agree, do you have rabbits over there? Possums, wallabies. When you have some experience tackle deer then I in 2-3 years.

We do have those animals and any shooting/hunting experience is good experience. For my own part, I've hunted goats in similar environments to where deer can be found. I've shot rabbits and possums in farm paddocks and orchards. Of course, we have possums in the bush, but in general, we are not allowed to shoot them with a rimfire on public land.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

I agree, do you have rabbits over there? Possums, wallabies. When you have some experience tackle deer then I in 2-3 years.

Have known a few that were just starting and went straight for Sambar. No experience no knowledge. Needless to say they didn't last long.

sorry Oldbbloke but I just dont agree with this as Churbay rightly says bush navigation is one of the most important skills to learn for bush hunting - ya not going to learn that wandering around farms shooting bunnys - one needs real bush time to gain confidence - or did you think deer would be in same area - no only on farms - completely different hunting our bush and shooting bunnys wallabys - the trick is to start small - learn the country from a topo map - which way the ridges and creeks lie - hunt one catchment alone untill you get condident - you must know where you are within the catchment - from a high point or the valley bottom watch for a north facing area with slips open areas and carefully stalk it early morning or late evening - learn your nz natives and what species deer like - in Waioeka Te Urewera one looks for Mahoe faces five finger pate fushia any grassy clearings open areas ( mean sun = feed ) yes deer will feed under say a tawa canopy but they will be constantly moving looking for mainly windfall leaves or new growth - bush hunting takes time to learn - the single biggest mistakes new hunters make is to hunt wrong area at wrong time ( a creek bed midday is not likely to produce a deer )or see a lot of sign and just keep going - when was that deer there and is it still there - when hunting in eighties deer were scarce one did not go past good sign one targeted that area

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

sorry Oldbbloke but I just dont agree with this as Churbay rightly says bush navigation is one of the most important skills to learn for bush hunting - ya not going to learn that wandering around farms shooting bunnys - one needs real bush time to gain confidence - or did you think deer would be in same area - no only on farms - completely different hunting our bush and shooting bunnys wallabys - the trick is to start small - learn the country from a topo map - which way the ridges and creeks lie - hunt one catchment alone untill you get condident - you must know where you are within the catchment - from a high point or the valley bottom watch for a north facing area with slips open areas and carefully stalk it early morning or late evening - learn your nz natives and what species deer like - in Waioeka Te Urewera one looks for Mahoe faces five finger pate fushia any grassy clearings open areas ( mean sun = feed ) yes deer will feed under say a tawa canopy but they will be constantly moving looking for mainly windfall leaves or new growth - bush hunting takes time to learn - the single biggest mistakes new hunters make is to hunt wrong area at wrong time ( a creek bed midday is not likely to produce a deer )or see a lot of sign and just keep going - when was that deer there and is it still there - when hunting in eighties deer were scarce one did not go past good sign one targeted that area

This is great information thanks so much. Starting from absolute scratch is daunting for sure. I like the idea of starting small and getting to know small areas really well using topo maps etc. thanks a lot!

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

sorry Oldbbloke but I just dont agree with this as Churbay rightly says bush navigation is one of the most important skills to learn for bush hunting - ya not going to learn that wandering around farms shooting bunnys - one needs real bush time to gain confidence - or did you think deer would be in same area - no only on farms - completely different hunting our bush and shooting bunnys wallabys - the trick is to start small - learn the country from a topo map - which way the ridges and creeks lie - hunt one catchment alone untill you get condident - you must know where you are within the catchment - from a high point or the valley bottom watch for a north facing area with slips open areas and carefully stalk it early morning or late evening - learn your nz natives and what species deer like - in Waioeka Te Urewera one looks for Mahoe faces five finger pate fushia any grassy clearings open areas ( mean sun = feed ) yes deer will feed under say a tawa canopy but they will be constantly moving looking for mainly windfall leaves or new growth - bush hunting takes time to learn - the single biggest mistakes new hunters make is to hunt wrong area at wrong time ( a creek bed midday is not likely to produce a deer )or see a lot of sign and just keep going - when was that deer there and is it still there - when hunting in eighties deer were scarce one did not go past good sign one targeted that area

@Barry the hunter

I guess I wasn't very clear. My intent was to suggest he try easier game first. Perhaps pigs or as someone suggested goats. Then work up to deer after he gets a bit of experience.

all good I think he may struggle to find goats where he is - maybe better just try for deer

Originally Posted by Shippo

Kia Ora team,

I’m 36 years old and have never been hunting in my life but have just gotten my firearms licence and purchased a Tikka T3x so I’m keen to get out there and learn as much as possible and eventually fill the freezer. I’m in the Katikati region and just wondering if there’s any recommendations in terms of where I should start exploring? Any tracks or areas where as a beginner I should start my hunting journey.

Thanks a lot!

Nice bro

Jump on here and pick some road ends, try and find some clearing, slips etc

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...to-do/hunting/

good on ya great days to start - a lot of deer in places - better if you could go out with someone experienced to start out but we all had to start somewhere - some real musts 1) make sure your rifle is well zeroed - 2) learn some basic map and compass and get a PLB - 3) decent foot ware and wear them in blisters will really stuff up your first trips -4) leave a clear intention sheet with someone and a time to hit panic button if you dont show I have always used 10 am next day as a general rule - 5) learn some basic butchery and get a good sharp knife - you have areas close that should be good Waioeka Te Urewera steep but should have numbers - Kaimas close but that is hard country to learn bush hunting but ya may get lucky - contact your local NZDA and see how that goes they do a hunts course you will learn from it - but you may also meet other hunters who will take you out and give you some basics - good luck

I second the Deerstalkers Advice, If possible do a HUNTS course. Awesome value for money, and great networking opportunity.

Secondly, I would highly recommend putting in the effort and going to a shooting range practicing your shooting skills. And not just from a benchrest, but positional shooting at various distances.

In your stead I would buy a Tikka T1x in 22 to practice (because blasting away 100 shots of 22lr each weekend will not make you cry). its a bit of an additional cost up front but they are just as awesome as the T3x...

https://deerstalkersbop.org.nz/

Public range days are on the last Sunday of each month. Range fees seem quite high at the minent so give them a rung and see whats the most economical way to get down there.

There are some goats up the kaimais but not heaps. More red deer actually but, as said quite difficult to get started on. Uts a goid okace to hunt.

I’d suggest doing a bit of “armed tramping”, walk a few of ghe tracks to get the lay of the land. Eg Mt Eliza mine track, Tuahu track, kaimai summit and use NZTop50 to record your route as you go so you can get back into the track when you do head off the side hunting. Bear in mind you will see a lot more people tha deer from the track si take it easy and identify your target if youre going to shoot. Next, try an ivernight trip to a hut like Hurunui or Waitawheta.

Check DoC website for tracks closed due to Kauri Dieback.