Thread: Identifying Animals is the Bush?

Quite a few years ago I was hunting fallow in the rut. I'd roared up a buck and it was about 6-10m away on the other side of a clump of manuka; but out of sight. I was 99.9% sure that it was a deer, but obviously wouldn't shoot until I'd positively identified it. But...... I knew the area was poached quite heavily because it was close to a road and I began to think.... " I know I won't shoot just at a sound or movement; but what if I've roared up another hunter? Can I be sure that he/she wouldn't?"

I was also wearing a tan and black checked bush shirt; it was before the days of camo and blaze. So that made me think "What if it is another hunter and he sees a glimpse of brown and fires?" Anyway; I put the shits up myself; started whistling (so if it was a hunter they'd know it was a human) and backed away. I didn't hear anything run away; but a buck could have sneaked away; and a poacher would have done the same.... I just figured that it was better to live another day than take a risk....