Thread: Ideas for a successful early roar hunt

Last year a mate and I went to a local spot and camped overnight in the early roar. We saw deer (after dark), heard one pass us by (from an unexpected direction) and heard plenty of roaring stags around. Mainly found like spots at dawn and dusk to wait (see above).No deer on the deck.

This year, I've offered to take a former colleague out for 1 night for the experience of hearing the roar. No guarantees given, but I know where one stag is hanging out right now.

As an inexperienced hunter (2 years, 1 bush deer and several goats) keen to hear how people do the roar in the bush and ideas on how to give my colleague the best time. For me hearing the animals roar as I try to sleep is enough, but more is better!

For safety I'll be attaching a bell to my pack on the way out, after a negative experience last year. Only certain reindeer go ding ding.

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Walk in deep, climb high and get a songhurst special glassing chair

If you know where he is now, Then he won't be there during the roar.
Boy's go to where the Girls are.
unless there are a few hinds in the same area as the stag, then he may stay put for a little bit longer.
Stags usually start their randy romp somewhere around mid March.

one needs to be ready where they are first light or late evening and that means knowing your area so you can come home by torch light or go out by torch light - or camp right where they are but that means getting the wind exactly right - you are seeing deer at night are you farm hunting or out on tops whats the story there should be dead deer - how much roaring are you doing least as possible -more hunters shut deer up by roaring to much than get them going - are you getting your wind direction sorted out okay - something basically being done wrong if you are hearing roaring and no dead deer - how are you going about your hunt are you sitting in one spot and roaring expecting a stag to come to you - you need to sneak and I mean sneak in on them - I used to take my boots off and close in on stags in my socks to be quiet -bit more info on the country you are hunting and how you are going about it required then we may be able to drill down on some specifics

Last time it was sitting in one spot and we just missed out on one moving around because it came from behind us. No roaring by us. They all shut up at first light, which was frustrating. The ones we saw were on the way back to camp after dark.

On public land in the foothills of the Tararuas (bush) where there are stags and hinds year round.

I've got close to a stag by hitting a manuka stick on a tree ( swirly wind lost me that one). I now have an antler to use. If I do roar this year I'll aim for weak groans every 30 minutes or so when I'm close, but not keen on attracting other hunters!

I have some beach feet to use for stalking, but the guy I'm going with won't be sneaky enough for the close stuff.

What I'm taking away is get as close as possible in the dark, then try to pinpoint by shooting light.

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Originally Posted by HUNTY

If you know where he is now, Then he won't be there during the roar.
Boy's go to where the Girls are.
unless there are a few hinds in the same area as the stag, then he may stay put for a little bit longer.
Stags usually start their randy romp somewhere around mid March.

I think he's there year round. I found his cast antler (4 points) but heard roars from that area during the rut as well Hinds in the area too. One stag per spur from the sound it of last year.

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yes - get close in dark and pinpoint - learn a red hind in esterous call - google it and practise it - you can get a RJ caller with it in its sound card - they work - use it when you think he may have gone - if you have wind right likely he still there just unsure whats going on - they will come into that hind call so be ready - no mettalic noise what so ever -if you can get your mate to roar from some distance away while you sneak in - thats a really good technique for the roar - but tell him to wait 3-5 mins after the stag roars before he roars back - and mix it up a bit roar from behind a tree facing away or get behind a bank - they will hear you - you want to sound like a randy young fella - for me the less I need to roar the better - to many young hunters go out with the myth a few roars and big stag will come charging in - at best you lucky if they stay put and keep roaring - the odd one will come in but boy they are few and far between

I have a lot of success early roar in the bush by sitting down and giving a few roars intermittently and sitting there for 30min or so. You’ll be amazed at what will come in for a sneaky look and how far they will travel to get to you. Keep noise and movement to a minimum and listen for breaking sticks and branches and watch for them trying to cut your wind.

yes early roar some will come in for a sneaky look -usually younger stuff but fun