Thread: Bush stalking time of day

During daylight is the correct answer.

I've missed deer at both ends of the day,missed a few in middle of day too lol. Just before or just after big rain storm is pure gold. But as someone once told me...the deer live there 24/7 it's not like they head off on vacation each day. If you have enough light to see under bush canopy,it's a good time to be stalking around. Stinking hot summer day,find a cool gulley,freezing cold winter's day,find a warm one.

When we had many cameras up we encountered deer at all times of day and night. During hot weather early morning and late evening I would consider best but not the only time. Cooler days deer move all the time, 10 am to 2 pm showed lots of movement.
So really if your in deer country and fresh sign any time of the day you have a chance of an encounter.

In the morning and evening they seem to be out taking care of the things on their agenda. From about 10.00 - 3.00 in the middle of the day if you come across them they are mostly bedded down in areas that look too thick to go into...

I haven't shot many but they have all been between dawn and 10am or late afternoon within 1.5 hours of darkness.

The bush I usually hunt is pretty chewed out and on the edge of farmland, so for me hunting early morning or early evening when deer are moving from feeding areas to their resting areas is more productive as they’re on the move. However as it’s already been said they are always about, they don’t teleport away to another dimension during the day, they are just harder to find. I work with deer as well as hunt them and I can tell you they never truly relax, they are aware of what’s going on all the time and unlike us their noses work while they sleep, and I suspect their ears do too.

Originally Posted by hamishg

Thanks Bhess, Are you looking near the top of those spurs where they come off the ridge? Much animal movement during the day?

if you are hunting the same area time after time then when you find areas where they have bedded down a very careful stalk in with the wind right can be productive - but man you have to be very quiet - and many times the deer will be lying down and hard to see - and they are not stupid they will pick areas that have crap to get thru to find their nice little sit down sunny spot --what I used to do is spilt my area - I keep hunting mid day but slowly- when I was bush hunting I never stopped hunting - - intensely glass likely spots but very slowly - deer having had a sit down chewing cud for an hour or two they can get up and have a feed lunchtime -I would keep hunting likely areas - but I would have my top spot for evening last hour of light -

I'm a bad sleeper, so am too tired/lazy to get up early except during the roar.
My hunting would consist of 95% bush stalking.
No rivers, slips, clearings, tops etc

Usually start hunting around 10am after a lazy lie in and breakfast/cuppa etc.
More of the deer/pigs I have shot have been mid to late afternoon.
Around 2pm to 4pm with 3pm being a particular magic time.
Also 11am seems to be another minor magic time.

Not so many for me in the last hour as I use this time to navigate back to camp, then the last push via headlight.
I'm usually camped a couple of hours in from the nearest car park.
Certainly spook a few during this time.
Spook plenty at other times, but I have a feeling a lot of those are bedded down, while the ones I shoot are feeding or up for a bit of a stretch.

Winter, Spring and Autumn.
Don't hunt as much over December through to end of February as leaving the fawns to grow and wean off the hinds.
That and also its hot, flies, mozzies and long days.

Originally Posted by hamishg

Morning, what time of day have you folks had success bush stalking? Is it the usual dawn and dusk? Is mid afternoon any good? I have a spot I've been to once and bumped into a couple of yearlings crossing a ridge track around 10am. I was too busy watching my feet crossing a boggy bit of track and looked up in time to see them bolt...

Which species? There are some significant differences between reds and fallow for example. Howard Egan's book on fallow is a good explanation of their different habits

Originally Posted by Oscar

Which species? There are some significant differences between reds and fallow for example. Howard Egan's book on fallow is a good explanation of their different habits

Oscar is dead right what species reds are very different to fallow - fallow will feed out at midday- reds not so much -

Anytime of the day but don't look for a deer , look for an ear , a leg , antlers , THEN IDENTYFY YOR TARGET , that is the key to bush stalking
Spot something odd , identify , check , make sure .
Just don't expect to see a full deer standing broadside every time

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

Oscar is dead right what species reds are very different to fallow - fallow will feed out at midday- reds not so much -

Bush edge, scrub, or farmland hunting in the open for sure, but bush hunting as per the original question I've found no noticeable difference.
Of course each individuals experience's may differ.

I have found the best time is about 15-20 mins after I decide that despite good sign, there's no bloody deer in the area and give up, stomping my way back to the track or camp. Another highly productive time seems to be just as I get tangled in some supplejack. It is almost without fail during these time periods that deer will trot out into the open, pause, and look back towards me, allowing plenty of time for a shot if I had still been in stalking mode.

The bastards are usually there, just a matter of being careful and not giving up.