Thread: First time Whitetail hunter needs advice.

Im heading to Cavalier block on the island at the start of August and was in need of some advice on that block and hunting Whitetail.
And doe anyone know about diving over that way for a cray etc.

Cheers
Mal

Not sure about crays but you used to be able to get paua & kina down at the gutter (south end of the bay) could be worth taking a rod too, as for the whitetail, I'd try warm/sunny area's in the morning like along the sand dune/bush edge's, 20yrs since I hunted that block but it's a good spot. If you spook one there's a good chance of seeing them there again, they don't disappear out of the catchment like reds do. Sitting & watching well used game trails/feed area's is another good option. Good luck

Warm clothes, an umbrella for camp chores etc (You may get laughed at the start but if it rains like it can down there then the smile will be on your face) and fishing gear
Whitetail stick to about 300-500m from the coast from everything that i've read and i shot mine within 400m of the beach (that was the northeast corner of Stewart Island though).
No real trick just lots of QUIET stalking and steer clear of crown fern if you can, their ears are the size of their heads!

I know a guy that did bird counts for DOC down there. it consisted of walking transects in the bush, stopping at every intersect (every 50 or so metres) sitting down for 10 mins to listen and note what birds he heard and how often he heard them. He heard a lot of birds......... as well seeing 3 whitetail, one of them being a trophy buck.
The buck not realising he was there wondered right up to him, he said hi to it, it bolted and stuck its head behind a log, body in full view!

hope this helps

RR

Been to the island twice and shot 2. drop some broadleaf on the first day and then check to see whats been eaten the next. Find a tree and wait dawn and dusk. Team of 12 of us shot 13 deer in 10 days doing this with bows.

You'll be fine mate, your stalking skills are very good. No more difficult to hunting the spots you have been frequenting lately. We'll sort out the best spots and I'll go there and you can have everywhere else


We won't be breaking off broadleaf and baiting the deer, anyone who visits the island regularly (like me) will likely agree that this is done far too often. Some clearings and beach edges are absolutely littered with dead stalks of broadleaf poked into the ground. There are areas where you're lucky to find broadleaf because hunters have broken it all down!

Originally Posted by JoshC

You'll be fine mate, your stalking skills are very good. No more difficult to hunting the spots you have been frequenting lately. We'll sort out the best spots and I'll go there and you can have everywhere else


We won't be breaking off broadleaf and baiting the deer, anyone who visits the island regularly (like me) will likely agree that this is done far too often. Some clearings and beach edges are absolutely littered with dead stalks of broadleaf poked into the ground. There are areas where you're lucky to find broadleaf because hunters have broken it all down!

+1 it has got out our hand and is no different to baiting deer and hunting like yanks IMO.
There is enough leaf litter after a good blow to make the animals active and noisier than usual gobbling it up.



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havent been to that block but all good advice so far, its pretty easy country i found and my advice would be to start hunting as soon as you walk out the door as we saw deer very close to the hut. Im not one to sit around all day watching a bit of broadleaf as i get bored shitless, just stalk quietly and slowly like any other piece of bush in new zealand.
or tear around and cover shit loads of ground and do the old spook and shoot.

Both methods are productive

Originally Posted by RichieRich

Warm clothes, an umbrella for camp chores etc (You may get laughed at the start but if it rains like it can down there then the smile will be on your face) and fishing gear
Whitetail stick to about 300-500m from the coast from everything that i've read and i shot mine within 400m of the beach (that was the northeast corner of Stewart Island though).
No real trick just lots of QUIET stalking and steer clear of crown fern if you can, their ears are the size of their heads!

I know a guy that did bird counts for DOC down there. it consisted of walking transects in the bush, stopping at every intersect (every 50 or so metres) sitting down for 10 mins to listen and note what birds he heard and how often he heard them. He heard a lot of birds......... as well seeing 3 whitetail, one of them being a trophy buck.
The buck not realising he was there wondered right up to him, he said hi to it, it bolted and stuck its head behind a log, body in full view!

hope this helps

RR

Dont know if that is 100%? I shot my only whitetail just above the high tide mark. It ran into the water when hit... There is always heaps of prints on any beach at low tide...

Apologies i meant the 1st 300-500m from the coast

Originally Posted by Wildman

Dont know if that is 100%? I shot my only whitetail just above the high tide mark. It ran into the water when hit... There is always heaps of prints on any beach at low tide...

What calibre are you using?
I found my 222 was perfect, they are not big deer.

Fully suppressed 7-08 will be rifle of choice for this trip.
Im wondering if anyone has left a weight belt over there somewhere for diving, its gonna be hard to get my one on the plane and not hit weight limits, pushing it i know but it would be handy.

I'm just taking a mask and snorkel. No wetsuit, you'll be sweet. It's only cold for a bit.

Originally Posted by JoshC

I'm just taking a mask and snorkel. No wetsuit, you'll be sweet. It's only cold for a bit.

No Wetsuit, Shit you must be a tough barstard.

Originally Posted by Shootm

No Wetsuit, Shit you must be a tough barstard.

Or a bit chubby?

I thought shooting deer on the beach was off limits?
Have a great trip guys