Thread: bush stalking for dummies

Originally Posted by Ned

Do you reckon the old swannie helped the bush hunter? Being overdressed and easily bringing on a sweat with minimal exertion is a great reminder to stay slow in the bush.

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100 percent.

I’ve hunted in a big stoney creek coat for a while now and recently i’ve gone back to wearing a swanny just for the noise factor. Nothing worse than a coat that crinkles and rustles with each step for me as a lot of the time i’m using my ears as well.

Originally Posted by hebe

100 percent.

I’ve hunted in a big stoney creek coat for a while now and recently i’ve gone back to wearing a swanny just for the noise factor. Nothing worse than a coat that crinkles and rustles with each step for me as a lot of the time i’m using my ears as well.

Likewise with using ears, very important.

But Stewart Island kiwis can be a prick in that respect.

Originally Posted by Ned

Do you reckon the old swannie helped the bush hunter? Being overdressed and easily bringing on a sweat with minimal exertion is a great reminder to stay slow in the bush.

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I wear nothing that makes a ‘scratchy’ noise, only wear polarfleece or wool.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

MD what is your suggestion in the following situation: Me, quietly stalking through the bush a tiny noise ahead or sign so fresh I know the deer is right there but I cant see it. I wait and look and look and wait then move and 'crash' gone. When there are three or four deer in a gully they are easy to shoot all making noise and interacting but those single animals are my undoing

hehehe sounds like Stewart Island...and then KIWI pops out and walked over my boots.... what to do???? use your binos.....its a hard habit to get into,but man does it make it easy to see through stuff....you focus ob distance so the other closer stuff sort of fades....

On ya micky duck Exactly the sort of post/thread that this forum needs more of.

I wish I could add some valuable insight but I'm fairly average at best as this sort of milarky

I do however remember reading some good tips a while back about bush hunting from @deer243. I can't seem to remember the thread they were in......perhaps he will

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

hehehe sounds like Stewart Island...and then KIWI pops out and walked over my boots.... what to do???? use your binos.....its a hard habit to get into,but man does it make it easy to see through stuff....you focus ob distance so the other closer stuff sort of fades....

I always hunted those wee grey buggers wearing shearers mocassins..moved on to jimboots and yes mr Duck the bino's,small as they were were the nuts as you'd say lol. Down on all fours paid off a lot too. Oh yeah the grey ghosts are an onto it animal. You describe the ol kiwi poppin in eh,they can also turn out to be a deer at times....................likin what yi write Mr Duck

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

MD what is your suggestion in the following situation: Me, quietly stalking through the bush a tiny noise ahead or sign so fresh I know the deer is right there but I cant see it. I wait and look and look and wait then move and 'crash' gone. When there are three or four deer in a gully they are easy to shoot all making noise and interacting but those single animals are my undoing

If the deer knows you are there you are screwed , because it is looking for movement . But if it doesn't t know you are there you have to remember the deer will be looking through or under the scrub . You will be trying to look through or over the scrub so try to look like a deer , under the scrub , go low .Crawl if you have too.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

MD what is your suggestion in the following situation: Me, quietly stalking through the bush a tiny noise ahead or sign so fresh I know the deer is right there but I cant see it. I wait and look and look and wait then move and 'crash' gone. When there are three or four deer in a gully they are easy to shoot all making noise and interacting but those single animals are my undoing

hi mate I have some advice for you,use your nose like a dog,I almost always smell the deer before shooting them,once you know what a deer smells like it is unmistakable and you need to back your senses with full trust, if I get that wiff of deer I know im close and its all on.i have plenty of times had deer break from within 5-10m once they hear me and don't get a shot off, this is what iv been doing, when I know im close but can't see anything let out a little mew(neeah)and wait rifle ready,do this a few times and often the deer will stand up or move to see what's up and you'll get a chance to shoot.deer will bolt at a stick breaking under your foot but other noises they will want to see what it is, even a low whistle works but a stick snap and its over.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

where she goes I follow...to hell n back if thats where she wants to go.....Ive learnt not to argue.....the bitch is always right.

A statement that could also be applied elsewhere!

Cheers

Loving this thread.

Sometimes the deer will actually come to you if you are patient enough.

The tree stand guys get a bad rap in some circles for 'just waiting/ambush', but if you have walked into the middle of nowhere, miles away from human presence and find heavy sign, why not catch a breather and wait for a while? He who moves the least sees the most!

As for kit, we deffo carry too much nowadays. Look at the guys from the days Joff Thompson, admittedly there were loads more deer but what did they carry on a day hunt away from camp apart from smokes, matches/lighter, knife, rifle and ammo?

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

MD what is your suggestion in the following situation: Me, quietly stalking through the bush a tiny noise ahead or sign so fresh I know the deer is right there but I cant see it. I wait and look and look and wait then move and 'crash' gone. When there are three or four deer in a gully they are easy to shoot all making noise and interacting but those single animals are my undoing

my uncle recommends running at them in the hope of a snapshot. He said he got a lot of deer this way before he had a dog.
He is a feral bugger though

Originally Posted by Pushover

my uncle recommends running at them in the hope of a snapshot. He said he got a lot of deer this way before he had a dog.
He is a feral bugger though

Ive heard this a few times and are keen to try it on deer that have alerted but not bolted.

Yes mate, you're onto it. Next barking hind ill try the same

Here’s my 10 cents to add to the above.
Binos in the bush is a big plus! Your not then pointing your rifle about. At something that has not even identified.
As said above if your swearing your going to fast on hot sign. This is a good one to teach young stalkers as it’s an easy one to figure out.
Lines, colour has been covered. A trick that my Dad taught me which is helpful. If you see something but it’s still and your not sure then look away and look back quick. Your eye will tell you if it’s moved. Even a breath will register. Don’t be scared to duck and move up and down when looking. As said above. It helps if you are impatient to move on. Helps keep you slow.
Don’t be afraid of the thick stuff!

Supplejack, there is a way through and it’s not with scissors. Deer can do it and you can to. Look for where the vine comes out of the ground, this is where it will bend most easily you will soon find that this is the fastest way to move through. A big old vine you will need to go around but if deer have gone through you too should follow. (Anyone who has stalked the Kaimias will know about this lovely vine)
Bush stalking is an art. Embrace it. It’s a true buzz if you can get in close.
Oh and listen out for eating, chewing the cud. I’ve shot few found this way.
Good luck

So after reading these pearls of wisdom I figured I’d trying my hand at this bush stalking malarkey. Have mainly shot open country so far so this is a new challenge. I have found a few spots in the Canterbury foothills that while highly used by hunters and other folks alike seem to hold decent deer numbers. Pressure has likely made most of them nocturnal. In the wasp free window before summer I have been tracking them up/down into the valleys through heavy beech, Manuka, bush layer and pepperwood and finding heaps of fresh sign and occasionally get a good whiff. Moving through the bush quietly is near impossible no matter how much I channel my inner ninja and visibility is 10m at most - often 5 or less. Even the dog when I take her sets off rockslides in the shingle. I have found a few spots that the deer seem to be using regularly but given the lack of a decent vantage point and being unable to stalk in quietly I am looking for cunning tricks to try and surprise the blighters. Have considered lugging in an axe and cutting a shooting spot on an opposite slope facing a small slip face or even look into a tree stand arrangement. Might also look into a game cam to try and sus out their patterns as there is cell reception there and I could check from the comfort of home. Any other tips other that ‘try somewhere more sensible ya silly bugger’

wallow in a wet seep covered in tracks. typical bush shot - can you pick out the dog giving me her ‘what’s taking you so long look’ she’s about 4 m away.