Different story if its private land..heaps of deer in lots of private blocks around here. In well hunted Doc blocks where most have either had a good bombing or are going thur a good bombing of 1080 the deer numbers are certainly lower than many places elsewhere. I head out quite often, doing 8 hour plus days searching for deer around the region in DOC blocks. Signs not high, certainly in the many places I go. Still, I see or get a deer every 3 trips on average but sometimes its the only sign I see hunting all day but ive tracked it down. Of cause im day hunting, if you fly camped or headed further back and stayed in places like the head of the lakes etc you see a lot more deer but I do ok as getting out there is what matters and getting a animal is a bonus.
Animal numbers have certainly decreased in the last 3 or 4 years in the blocks ive been hunting , either because of hunting pressure by others, 1080 or by the animals ive been getting as some blocks ive done quite well. I now go somewhere new every 3 trip, looking for the pot of gold but genrally finding low deer sign(if any) and if im lucky I get a deer in the new block in 3-5 trips in and then head somewhere else new and so forth.
Doc blocks are certainly feeling the effects of the 1080, illeagal spotlighting around here and increase pressure of extra hunters. Still, the key is get of the beaten track, head up ridges and places that aren't so easy, where others may not be so keen to go and generally you still find some sign and after you been back a few times to work out the area you tend to see a deer and get one ok
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