Thread: How can I shoot more deer, and what's your hit rate?

90% of my hunting is in DOC land. I get at least 1 deer per trip in the hills but do have the odd trip where I get none but might get a pig instead. I am lucky enough to hunt 60-100 days a year hunt (only work half the year).

You need to think like a deer, its all about food, shelter and safety. If the deer has all 3 in one spot/area the better your chances. Bush hunting for me I look for well used animal runs, that they use to go to food, water, shelter and run for safety.
So knowing there habits like knowing what they are feeding on and where, knowing the main runs from feed to bedding areas to water. Knowing when and where they bed up for the day, if they aren't feeding, time of year plays a big part and how much human pressure they get. I stay well away from huts and track that have high use, the deer in that area are to spooky, in saying that I have only had 3 nights in a hut this year and 2 of those was on the forum lake hunt. Hunting up high and looking down and across valleys. Going out straight after a storm or heavy rain they we be out on sunny spots/ clearings drying out and feed like mad to catch up on the feeding missed out during the big storm.
You can never have enough time on the hills doing the hard yards learning how to move, how fast to move and when. The same as the knowing the feed and sign finding them and watching deer interact with each other and other animals.