Thread: First Roar - A open question for the more 'seasoned' hunters

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

Really really - the man asked for advice not being wound up with this kind of humour - are you serious - I just cant work out if you actually mean this piece of stupidity or you are winding us all up -- if you for some insane reason actually mean you do something so bloody stupid then consider this - wind - for your insane thinking to work the stag needs to smell it - ya think with their sense of smell ya can camoflage your smell - good luck with that - if indeed ya was winding us all up ya achieved it

this is actually not uncommon,couple of my mates in their younger days used to tie pizzles to their belts didn't soak cloths in piss though,its a young mans game-give it a go op and let us know how it goes.

Originally Posted by Yesmate

Don't roar if they are already roaring,ambush from above.

thats very very good advice yes mate - a good hunt will be you actually have not roared at all just located - closed in silently from above - quite often I have removed my boots for the last 50-100 meters - and the poor bugger on here who follows the advice to cover yourself in manky stag piss -- wash your own clothes you did the damage

Originally Posted by Tahr

Do you belong to ChCh NZDA? They do some great club trips and there is a wealth of knowledge.

I am a member, but probably won't renew.

But to be honest I've not found the meetings very welcoming to newcomers and I've asked several times about club trips and the HUNTS course and never even gotten a response.

Heaps of things I didn't know, thank you!

I'll let someone else try the pizzle technique though...

Originally Posted by Average-Lad

I am a member, but probably won't renew.

But to be honest I've not found the meetings very welcoming to newcomers and I've asked several times about club trips and the HUNTS course and never even gotten a response.

Thats a real shame. I thought they had moved on from that frosty stuff. @Mathias ?

My Wellington branch is wonderful with newbies.

Don't over fuss about cammo or your smell/scent. The name of the game is not being seen through stealth and not being smelt by working with the wind that puts you at the best advantage.

In fact you would be better off wearing bright pink and your chic's perfume and being doubly careful because of it than being lax because you think that cammo and rolling in stag's piss is all you need to do.

My biggest mistake over the years has been camping on the tops where the action is and to wake up in the morning to find they have shut up shop. Don't camp where you want to hunt!
The other one that I try and live buy is only to shot a stag better than what I have. No use stacking antlers when they could turn into a real trophy in a couple more years. Photos are great to look back on in this situation.

Enjoy

Originally Posted by Tahr

Thats a real shame. I thought they had moved on from that frosty stuff. @Mathias ?

My Wellington branch is wonderful with newbies.

I'm a member a bit further south @Tahr, but I might take this comment up with a key member of North Cant and make sure he is aware of this.

Originally Posted by Average-Lad

I am a member, but probably won't renew.

But to be honest I've not found the meetings very welcoming to newcomers and I've asked several times about club trips and the HUNTS course and never even gotten a response.

Similar. Went to a meeting and not going back. Would have been good if they had a newbies chat area.

Originally Posted by uk_exile

Similar. Went to a meeting and not going back. Would have been good if they had a newbies chat area.

Bugger.
Ive contacted the branch about this. Its not what we want to hear.

I found it a bit awkward for my first few meetings in the Manawatu NZDA, but after a few times showing up I felt very welcome. Met some bloody good buggers and learned a lot, so it's worth sticking at it. Keep showing up.

I think people probably get a bit wary of new people turning up and expecting to be taken to all the good spots and spoon fed. I'm in no way suggesting that's what your about, but it is likely the reason for a less than glowing reception.

If you not getting very good responses with your roars, try roaring in the other direction. And if he stops roaring there's a good chance he is coming in for look.

Originally Posted by Average-Lad

I am a member, but probably won't renew.

But to be honest I've not found the meetings very welcoming to newcomers and I've asked several times about club trips and the HUNTS course and never even gotten a response.

That's a shame to hear. My experience at my local North Auckland NZDA branch has been the opposite. The first couple of meetings were a little awkward not knowing many people but on the whole I found everyone would happily chat if I introduced myself. If in doubt there's usually another newbie feeling even more awkward who would be stoked to have someone come up and say hello.

I suppose there's a lot of variation between branches. My local has been on an active drive to revamp its image and grow its membership and IMO they've done a great job. Also the effort some of the guys there put into running the best hunts course they can is pretty amazing, especially considering they are all volunteers.

Greetings All,
I am afraid that overall Deerstalkers are not that flash at greeting new members and making them welcome. This may have softened over recent years but it is just the type of loner person that makes a good hunter. Having someone to greet the newbies and introduce them to at least some of the people present can make a big difference. New members are the future of the club. This needs to be reinforced at committee level, again and again.
GPM.

Ive contacted Nth Canterbury about this. None of my business really except Ive been a member for 55 years and the org has made such great improvements the last few years I would hate there to be slippage back to how it was.