Thread: Bush hunting tips and tricks

what are yours?

My tip is that if you're like me and not very good at it, you should keep an eye on this thread to see what other people say.

Be wawy, wawy quiet.......................

Go slow, wind in your face, stop often.

Being able to read sign accurately. Knowing what bush tucker your intended quarry will be on and where and how it grows (altitude, time of year etc). Find where they will shelter and gain warmth and you will find them near by. Deer especially, are creatures of habit and routine. Easy, peasy.

In unknown country pick a nice sunny, north facing, gradual slope on the topo map to focus on. Walk up the slope until you hit the thickest amount of sign. Sidle along the slope at that altitude, into the wind of course. I use a lighter to determine wind, some tape cotton to the end of their barrels when they tape them shut.

Keep an eye out for two things, where they are bedding, and where they are feeding. Movement between and in those two places maximises your chance of bumping into them.

Try and cover shit ground quickly (and loudly) as you can. In areas of fresh sign, back right off on the pace, even sit down, and let the eyes and ears cover the ground. A nice terrace or gully head with good sign, think a couple of hundred meters an hour max, focusing on using eyes, minimizing body movement, and therefore minimising noise.

At this pace your not going to bump deer and resort to the 'spook and shoot' style of hunting. Remember, if you can't identify the sex and age of the deer, then you shouldn't shoot. If everyone stuck to this simple rule no one would die in stupid accidents.

Then when you bowl it over, get someone else to carry it out @Timmay

Nose first, ears second, eyes last.

I agree with all of the above, don't move too much when you find areas that look good ( lots of sign ) sit and listen , its amazing what you pick up when your tuned in to the bush, slight twig break, may be a bird but also could be a deer. Wind in your face if possible and make sure you I.D. your target and get a clean shot.
The bush can be intimidating if your not familiar with a new area but when you find an animal you have achieved something not just any one can do. ( bit like fly fishing ) Takes awhile to get it right but once the art is learnt you never look back !

Get out heeeeeeeeeaps

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Look for well defined spurs off ridges ,deer often use these & are generally easier traveling than sidling across faces.Terraces are often productive too.A pair of soft sole boots or sneakers can help keeping the noise down.

Know your deer , Diffrent deer do diffrent stuff ....ie Reds , waps, sika ....
Second know your country , Dont flounder around like a lost sole ..
In the mornings /eveninngs deer feed .but they also sleep / rest this is diffrent areas .
If deer are feeding they will travel many km to rest ....Where is that ?

Bush hunting isnt easy ...By asking on here doesnt help , it take,s time time time etc etc

be prepaired to come home empty handed lots .

In sika country, when you stop for a break and there are two of you, sit well apart or back to back...if on your own, then make sure when you are about to stand up that your rifle is in both hands and ready...cos that's when the little blighter will whistle, scream or bark...ignore trying to locate the whistle...you never will...look for the flicking tail.

When you stop, stop with your left foot forward (if you are right handed).

I generally try to walk as fast as possible uphill and then you get out to this nice area called the 'tops' then you start hunting. haha

Down on the coast here just walking in tight river beds is good and productive. go slow and be ready always.
Creeks are good for noisy buggers like me.
keep a keen eye on slips.
binos are handy even at 50 yards. make sure its a 100% positive ID

Here's a tip: I've noticed when stalking if you hear a "black bird clucking" or doing it's alert call nearby to you, keep very very still and try a let it settle or fly away, as deer could be close by, giving your position away and alerting them that something is up.
If you see a black bird try not to spook the dam thing, as it will alert deer as they take off.
Who hasn't heard a blackbird in the bush and make a racket? just a thought.
Or... on the other hand....if you hear a blackbird some distant off there "could be" a deer close to the clucking?? meaning the deer has alerted the bird??