Thread: Fallow in the Native

Hi Guys,

New to the forum, have introduced myself over in the intros forum.

I really want to knock over some Doc land fallow but was wondering what others experience with them in the bush is.
Everything I've read points to them being grazers so am I looking for blocks with substantial clearings/grass around creeks or do they actually browse too if grass is short?

Have read Howard Egans book also.

Cheers

They definitely prefer grass and areas with it will be hotspots. Doesn't have to be much, creek edges, micro clearing etc. Use to hunt them alot in the Blue mtns native, used to find them targeting micro fungi in open beech areas and under broadleaf feeding on windfall.

Thing with fallow is they have a small home range, once you know where they live you can get onto them pretty easy.

Originally Posted by Hunty1

They definitely prefer grass and areas with it will be hotspots. Doesn't have to be much, creek edges, micro clearing etc. Use to hunt them alot in the Blue mtns native, used to find them targeting micro fungi in open beech areas and under broadleaf feeding on windfall.

Thing with fallow is they have a small home range, once you know where they live you can get onto them pretty easy.

Awesome thanks Huntly1, that's exactly the sort of info I was after!

yes agree with Hunty 1 - they prefer grass and clearings but the bucks seem to spend time in native if its close -the real big boys are very sneakey -if under pressure they likely spend time during day in heavier cover and hit the clearings at night - if not hunted hard they seem to live close to the clearings - sometimes right on them just under cover -but the farms we hunt many seem to spend all day out in the paddocks - see a patch of rushes and a careful glass and ears sticking up - check the clearings for fresh sign and then leave them for a carefull look last hour of light -but they can come out for a feed middday if not disturbed to much so worth a carefull look then - when I first came to Naki had not hunted them much and an experienced fallow hunter here told me that - and bugger me he was right - shot quite a few out feeding 12-2 pm

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

yes agree with Hunty 1 - they prefer grass and clearings but the bucks seem to spend time in native if its close -the real big boys are very sneakey -if under pressure they likely spend time during day in heavier cover and hit the clearings at night - if not hunted hard they seem to live close to the clearings - sometimes right on them just under cover -but the farms we hunt many seem to spend all day out in the paddocks - see a patch of rushes and a careful glass and ears sticking up - check the clearings for fresh sign and then leave them for a carefull look last hour of light -but they can come out for a feed middday if not disturbed to much so worth a carefull look then - when I first came to Naki had not hunted them much and an experienced fallow hunter here told me that - and bugger me he was right - shot quite a few out feeding 12-2 pm

Thank you too Barry, the little block I have in mind is surrounded by pines which I can't hunt, I know they are in there along with a ton of goats so I'm just trying to figure out how much time they spend in the actual native.
I remember fallow tasting pretty damn good!

they are one of the best alongside white tail and sika what I do is bone out all the meat put it into a heavy plastic rubbish bag use vacuum cleaner to suck out the air and leave in fridge for a week but the bucks in the roar forget it they are stinky - but your block binos are your best friend and keep out of sight - dont glass from two close and get your wind right- check your clearings for sign - deer shit mainly - fallow sometimes dont leave much in the way of footprints unless its muddy or a track they use regularly but try not to leave to much scent around on the clearings - might pay to google goat and fallow prints so you can tell them apart -good hunting

Thanks Barry,
Will get out there for some handy hunts in between chasing the reds.
May end up checking all the blocks further and further your way till I find the one haha

Find out where they are crossing into the pines , then steak out there game trail both in evening and at dawn .

Where's there's easy green tucker,youl find them.

Thanks guys, will try find crossing points that aren't goats and
assuming they live in the native and watch them!

saw a fallow in the ruahines the other day while bush hunting.

Why do they like pine forests?
Can't hunt in the pine forests here either.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Why do they like pine forests?
Can't hunt in the pine forests here either.

pine forests are just cover or them they will feed out on the grass around the edges,fallow dont really like the thick stuff as cover.

Originally Posted by Yesmate

pine forests are just cover or them they will feed out on the grass around the edges,fallow dont really like the thick stuff as cover.

You've obviously never hunted them in tussock country with matagouri filled guts then..... One thing is for certain,they are very very good at hiding behind even a tiny bit of cover,knowing full well you are there.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

You've obviously never hunted them in tussock country with matagouri filled guts then..... One thing is for certain,they are very very good at hiding behind even a tiny bit of cover,knowing full well you are there.

You are the first person to mention this trait . In the sixties at school about 11yrs old we had a stand in teacher sir rex innis jones a ww2 spitfire pilot over japan who was rapted to tell us boys about hunting fallow up the whanganui and he insisted we glass for a twitching eye or ear in the bush as they would stay dead still for an hour . He was one brave dude took flac up the arse and the saying was he had plastic in him than a toy factory , drove a ford falcon futura in 1972 when was a slave /apprentice .