Thread: How's the recon going for the roar?

Feeling pretty shattered after a 13 km walk today. Very dry and noisy, all the small creeks were dry but with a few prints in them. Heard a couple of deer moving around but couldn’t get close.
A bit of sign on last years scrapes, based on the game camera footage from last year it’s probably the fallow does and young ones doing the initial footwork. Didn’t see any sign of rubbing/thrashing by the bucks so I suspect they haven’t moved into the doe areas yet.

Recon for the roar seems to be going well here. I was checking the back water tank which is located on top of a hill surrounded by pine trees, suddenly noticed a solitary red stag watching me from amongst the trees less than 10m away. Recon for the roar is right, but the bloody deer appear to be stalking me!

Was out on Friday afternoon/evening waiting on a smallish clearing above a shitty chasm type native filled creek in a pine forest, and just on dusk heard a sika stag doing the hee haw, either in the creek or in the pines on the other side. Just about shat myself, he did another one just as I was leaving, also heard some other deer noises, which possibly were some hinds with him. I thought it was to early for the sikas around here. On another note a nice fat hind was scored on Saturday morning, still in it's summer coat and the fattest hind I have ever shot.

@tamamutu nice to see the work of someone who knows how to skin an animal properly Not often seen on hunting pages

Originally Posted by Ackley

@tamamutu nice to see the work of someone who knows how to skin an animal properly Not often seen on hunting pages

It only needs to look pretty on the plate mate, not hanging off a tree.

Originally Posted by tamamutu

Was out on Friday afternoon/evening waiting on a smallish clearing above a shitty chasm type native filled creek in a pine forest, and just on dusk heard a sika stag doing the hee haw, either in the creek or in the pines on the other side. Just about shat myself, he did another one just as I was leaving, also heard some other deer noises, which possibly were some hinds with him. I thought it was to early for the sikas around here. On another note a nice fat hind was scored on Saturday morning, still in it's summer coat and the fattest hind I have ever shot.
Attachment 191865

Attachment 191866

What did you skin that with mate

Originally Posted by HILLBILLYHUNTERS

What did you skin that with mate

Probably his hands.
I'm not being a smartarse, he probably punched the skin off like I was taught to do years back, rather than using a knife. The way I was taught, you only used a knife to make the initial cuts in the skin, the rest was done by working the skin off with thumbs and fists.

Used a clean rag, fist/thumbs, 1/2 blunt knife with sharper tip making initial cuts, rag for additional grip. knife for when flesh/fat starting to attach to skin while pulling off and neck was bit of knife work.

Originally Posted by Cigar

Probably his hands.
I'm not being a smartarse, he probably punched the skin off like I was taught to do years back, rather than using a knife. The way I was taught, you only used a knife to make the initial cuts in the skin, the rest was done by working the skin off with thumbs and fists.

Correct..I still punch/pull off any pelts if I'm lucky to hang a whole deer in my garage etc. Unfortunately most deer I manage to put down are usually a long way from any road end. I spent a few seasons as a pelter at a freezing works once punching off sheep pelts..every 8th lamb...all f***in day. A very simple procedure once learnt.

Originally Posted by Jus

Have been doing recon for the last 4 months, plus knocking hind populations in my spots down to a 3rd of their numbers, atleast trying to. Hopefully the stags will compete hard if their are fewer hinds to go round. Have 3 mature stags on my watch list, was going to get out after one of them this weekend except for catching bloody covid! Checked out a completely new spot a few weeks back that I e scouted with google earth and nz topo maps, a few animals around and a half decent stag which is my best so far so I couldn’t help but shoot him. The fat on the bugger was out of this world, over an inch on his rump! Attachment 191767

massive animal. Hope you had some help getting that off the hill.

Originally Posted by doinit

Correct..I still punch/pull off any pelts if I'm lucky to hang a whole deer in my garage etc. Unfortunately most deer I manage to put down are usually a long way from any road end. I spent a few seasons as a pelter at a freezing works once punching off sheep pelts..every 8th lamb...all f***in day. A very simple procedure once learnt.

Yep the old freezing works skills sure come in handy when dealing with game carcases

This should warm your hearts. 2 days ago.

Originally Posted by Tahr

This should warm your hearts. 2 days ago.

I think I might need to confirm this wallow for myself @Tahr . I can only do this if you provide me with the GPS co-ordinates please, this would be greatly appreciated..... I'm on day 4 of a 10 day isolation with my family. Hoping I don't catch the 'rona' from them and have to start my own 10 days. My only recon has been satellite and topo planning on new ground I want to get into thus far. Although I have been able to go through all my gear and now reorganize my pack, etc.

Originally Posted by Projects

I think I might need to confirm this wallow for myself @Tahr . I can only do this if you provide me with the GPS co-ordinates please, this would be greatly appreciated..... I'm on day 4 of a 10 day isolation with my family. Hoping I don't catch the 'rona' from them and have to start my own 10 days. My only recon has been satellite and topo planning on new ground I want to get into thus far. Although I have been able to go through all my gear and now reorganize my pack, etc.

I don't like your chances of avoiding it @Projects

Saw this one on the tops last weekend of February. No bush for Kms.