A New Hunter from Nelson

Hi guys it's Eric here.

I am a new hunter at age 30, living in Nelson. I was born overseas with a strict no guns law but I am a gun nerd and have always dreamed of going hunting and getting meat from the wild.

I just finally got my gun license 2 months ago, got my .308 and have finished setting up everything.

I used to hike a lot when I was still in my home country so I trust myself some challenging blocks should be able to handle. The craziest one I ever did was a 15 hour hike with about 10kg backpack. I could do lots of ascending and descending in a single day, literally 1300m. I got an E-MTB so should be capable of tackling any tracks compatible with 4WD. I am keen to hike to some remote spots as well.

Last weekend I was going to try my luck, more like a field trip and testing myself to the limit. Found nothing over Dowie hut but good to learn from outside. I probably will be heading out to Beebys area on coming weekend and see what happens.

Keen to learn about the area. Any good places where can find deer or goats would be appreciated. Thanks mate.

Welcome to Nelson, plenty of us on here. I'm going to be away again soon until the end Jan but after that will be around.

You sound a lot fitter than some of us ageing buggers here in Nelson though.

Look into joining the local Deer stalkers NZDA can help with access maybe.

Welcome to the forum.
If the Dowie hut you refer to is actually Downie hut I am surprised you didn't find any deer.....it is probably one of the better places to go.
First off stop running everywhere.
Use the wind to your advantage, learn about catabatic winds and the prevailing winds.....deer can and will scent you from a kilometer away .
First and last light are the best times by far....but that doesn't mean that you won't come across a dumb yearling kicked out by mum at any time at this time of year.

Thanks Jack. Borning in a country where there was nothing to do but hiking... Will have a look at NZDA. Cheers

Sorry my typo... Yes I was in Downie Hut but just stayed for an afternoon as I saw the heavy rain forecast on Sunday. Definitely will do an overnight as you said the best times. Thanks for the tips too.

Beebies has a few deer, but they're quite shy as it gets a lot of people traffic. Look on a map and find the public access road off taphouse road, you e bike will take you up easily. The southern side as under the big transmitter seems to hold the most deer.. good numbers of pigs there too. Early morning and late arvo are the times I've seen deerbthere

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Originally Posted by Jus

Beebies has a few deer, but they're quite shy as it gets a lot of people traffic. Look on a map and find the public access road off taphouse road, you e bike will take you up easily. The southern side as under the big transmitter seems to hold the most deer.. good numbers of pigs there too. Early morning and late arvo are the times I've seen deerbthere

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Check with DOC re access to Beebies as I was informed the area is currently closed.

Welcome aboard Eric.

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Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

Check with DOC re access to Beebies as I was informed the area is currently closed.

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Beebees is open for hunting but not to vehicles.
I was at Downie hut two weeks ago and saw 3 deer 200m from the hut in the evening so they are definitely there.
Morning and evening are the best times to catch a deer out in the open but I saw 4 reds out in the open on the tops last weekend at 2pm so you can bump in to them in the day.
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BTY, Welcome to the forum @EricS

Thanks guys. Looks like Downie will be a great spot to get my first deer. I am now thinking of heading to Downie this weekend again as the forecast shows it will be a perfect weekend.

Taken from the door of Downie hut a couple of weeks ago with my phone. A deer in front of the large Beech center of photo 200m away.
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Good luck this weekend.

I'm off tramping tomorrow back Saturday as have a party to attend Saturday night. Not taking a rifle as its a popular local area, but will be checking out some areas away from the tracks although I know it had cullers through last winter.

Welcome. We are almost the same, came from other country where firearms for civilians are totally banned but I was bit lucky since I am older than you so I have air rifle and shotguns before they changed gun law in late 90s. Nelson area is good playground, probably people down there will see me and my wife in March next year. I know people use GPS a lot but I still like to carry a topo map with me when I explore new area. Thanks for the DOC `s work. One reason is the sun in NZ is in north, not south so my brain need to adjust this from time to time. And from reading the map, I can know where I want to, and what is likes over there etc. Hope this could help you too. Happy hunting.

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Originally Posted by Shearer

Beebees is open for hunting but not to vehicles.
I was at Downie hut two weeks ago and saw 3 deer 200m from the hut in the evening so they are definitely there.
Morning and evening are the best times to catch a deer out in the open but I saw 4 reds out in the open on the tops last weekend at 2pm so you can bump in to them in the day.
Attachment 264800
BTY, Welcome to the forum @EricS

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Do you have ghillie suit:) Good place to ambush few deer with two shooters in distance, do `t you think? 3 to 4 shots can be made before they were gone, maybe?

Side note, most hinds will have fawns on the ground now that will starve if you shoot mum. Try for a yearling, spiker or stag (stags in velvet also)

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Originally Posted by Black Rabbit

Do you have ghillie suit:) Good place to ambush few deer with two shooters in distance, do `t you think? 3 to 4 shots can be made before they were gone, maybe?

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Ghillie suits are for fat Americans, if you shoot more than one deer its a hell of a lot of meat to carry out and that's quite a long walk from there.

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Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Ghillie suits are for fat Americans, if you shoot more than one deer its a hell of a lot of meat to carry out and that's quite a long walk from there.

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Yes of course.

Thanks again guys. Quick update and report from yesterday and today's morning trip. Still couldn't find any deer from Downie hut. Moved to the more open area in the southern part, the west bank of the river and found heaps of new deer tracks and quite fresh poop. The area is quite flat though, treelines just block some vision. Heard a gun bang from the hill on Downies side but it was on much higher ground. Do you think there are some areas that provide good visibility except for much elevation?

Also, just curious about how effective sandfly spray is... Still got much from that bloody hell thing... Or do you guys even use that since I heard local won't be affected much by that stuff?

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Originally Posted by EricS

Thanks again guys. Quick update and report from yesterday and today's morning trip. Still couldn't find any deer from Downie hut. Moved to the more open area in the southern part, the west bank of the river and found heaps of new deer tracks and quite fresh poop. The area is quite flat though, treelines just block some vision. Heard a gun bang from the hill on Downies side but it was on much higher ground. Do you think there are some areas that provide good visibility except for much elevation?

Also, just curious about how effective sandfly spray is... Still got much from that bloody hell thing... Or do you guys even use that since I heard local won't be affected much by that stuff?

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I make my own sandfly repellent by mixing dettol disinfectant 50:50 with baby oil. Deer will think they’re entering a chemist shop if they smell it. Sandflies don’t bug me when I use that stuff.

Locals suffer just as much from sandflies as everyone else, they just pretend to be staunch about it. I'm guessing that with the heat we are having deer will be up high now. Mind you on Gordons Pyramid last 2 mornings you could hardly stand for wind and then their was sideways rain to go with it. Cleared both afternoons though.