Thread: Latest NZ Hunter Mag

Great to see in the "Word from the Editor" Greg calling out to shot more hinds to controll deer numbers.

This is not a new thing but in areas where there is too many animals - If we don't do our bit then the Green Machine will wipe out all of these animals and leave us with nothing! So let's do our part.

It’s not just hinds but also thar nannies!

After all the advocating for saving our thar against DOC and there big cull, hunters still aren’t doing their part.

Last year & this year I was still bumping into hunters during the bull rut who were just shooting bulls.

Once you’ve shot your bull… rip into a few nannies for population control.

FB full of people shooting velvet stags, some under the heading of Venison Hunters. Then asking how to get the velvet cured as a 'trophy'. We are not great at game management I feel? Just came back from a deer hunt myself - shot 2 young hinds, saw a few velvet stags - they can grow out. Back in Nov was on a tahr hunt with others - shot a few nannies though admit one of the group shot a juvenile bull in error in the group. Greg Duley and Co are completely correct about our approach to game management.

I got plenty ammo and time over December if anyone want to point me at some of these over populated areas

Originally Posted by NewbieZAR

I got plenty ammo and time over December if anyone want to point me at some of these over populated areas

Central ruahine tussock country

Originally Posted by Hunteast

FB full of people shooting velvet stags, some under the heading of Venison Hunters. Then asking how to get the velvet cured as a 'trophy'. We are not great at game management I feel? Just came back from a deer hunt myself - shot 2 young hinds, saw a few velvet stags - they can grow out. Back in Nov was on a tahr hunt with others - shot a few nannies though admit one of the group shot a juvenile bull in error in the group. Greg Duley and Co are completely correct about our approach to game management.

I've seen that. I definitely hate seeing those big stags shot before their prime and your not allowed to say anything about or you get kicked off the page.

Originally Posted by NewbieZAR

I got plenty ammo and time over December if anyone want to point me at some of these over populated areas

Somewhere closer for you… kaimanawas, hunt the head waters of Jap Creek, Kaipo, tikitiki as that has always held good numbers

Originally Posted by Hunteast

FB full of people shooting velvet stags, some under the heading of Venison Hunters. Then asking how to get the velvet cured as a 'trophy'. We are not great at game management I feel? Just came back from a deer hunt myself - shot 2 young hinds, saw a few velvet stags - they can grow out. Back in Nov was on a tahr hunt with others - shot a few nannies though admit one of the group shot a juvenile bull in error in the group. Greg Duley and Co are completely correct about our approach to game management.

To be fair, although it’s tough to see, most of those stags are shot in a paddock on old mates farm after a 5min walk from the truck in their red bands. For the most part the other 99 percent of us would never have had the opportunity at those animals anyway.

what pisses me off.....and yes Im happy to be called an old fudd....is the yearly race to bag a good stag,before the buggers have fired a shot of their own....... stripping velvet and staining antlers so it looks like a "real trophy should" is a bit of a double standard. and yes its gone on for years...
it used to be very frowned upon...now its open slather race to get in first and to hell with the genetics... its bad enough we always taking out the best stags,but to do so continually before they pass on genes ...well it just seems dumb to me... shooting velvet stag for the freezer...yip can understand it,but I believe most folks given the chance/option will shoot the lesser of two beasts given the choice...I know I my self have let velvety stags walk away as they looked to have potential.beside the buggers are normally huge n heavy....that said I shot 2 at once last year but mate n I harvested the meat till could not fit any more in packs and still walk...but they were still at button stage so no idea of potential.
when I tally it up I seem to shoot 2-3 hinds per stag.

not sure if these have been updated...thats the way they used to be. I remember a fine chap asking if it was OK to go and velvet shoot with a helicopter crew in haast.this was 25-30 years ago.

this is where they used to be..... bit different now!!!!

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

this is where they used to be..... bit different now!!!!

They spread like mould the little buggers

someone want to have a go and redrawing the lines???
thats from LH Harris book.... a hunting guide.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

what pisses me off.....and yes Im happy to be called an old fudd....is the yearly race to bag a good stag,before the buggers have fired a shot of their own....... stripping velvet and staining antlers so it looks like a "real trophy should" is a bit of a double standard. and yes its gone on for years...
it used to be very frowned upon...now its open slather race to get in first and to hell with the genetics... its bad enough we always taking out the best stags,but to do so continually before they pass on genes ...well it just seems dumb to me... shooting velvet stag for the freezer...yip can understand it,but I believe most folks given the chance/option will shoot the lesser of two beasts given the choice...I know I my self have let velvety stags walk away as they looked to have potential.beside the buggers are normally huge n heavy....that said I shot 2 at once last year but mate n I harvested the meat till could not fit any more in packs and still walk...but they were still at button stage so no idea of potential.
when I tally it up I seem to shoot 2-3 hinds per stag.

I'm just wondering what you shoot this time off year as hinds are in milk stags are in velvet that only leaves yearling hinds it doesn't worry me as I only hunt for meat & the spot I hunt most off the time doesn't seem to hold stags & I don't shoot hinds in milk but isn't it better to shoot a velvet stag than a hind & the fawn staving to death AS LONG AS THEY TAKE ALL THE MEAT OFF THE STAG