Thread: Rookie mistakes!

I thought since being a newbie to hunting I would live to hear some "wise" ol' stories from anyone and everyone, or advice, about any mistakes rookies out there often make?
Would be nice to learn from the mistakes of others to make sure I don't follow suit

Share your rookie mistakes from when you started out, or any from anyone you took out with ya - or any general tips!

One thing I've learned from just tramping is that when you're out there - a big, black trash bag can really save someone!
This coming from a trip a bunch of mates and I made up to Nina Hut in the Lewis. Pretty easy track to the hunters hut - but we went on a weekend in torrential rain and in a storm (fully equipped for the weather!) last winter, as we were a party of 9 and expected to have the hut to ourselves with the bad forecast for our little "hut party". Got there and the 10 bunk hut ended up with 22 people in this storm, as a bunch of rookie tourists showed up!
Heck, you should have seen the state of them - dressed in trousers and all that as if they were taking a stroll along the Abel Tasman.
One lady didn't even have a raincoat - or any jacket of any sort, so on top of graciously giving up our bunks to them and putting up with their complaints and refusal to share space within the hut (acting like they were more justified to be there with all the comforts as they were more "inexperienced"), we also had a fashion her a make-shift jacket from black trash bags so she could continue their crazy trip, not back out, but actually stubbornly further into the valley.

Not much, but knowing how easy it is to get caught out there, I never take the basics for outdoor kit for granted! Or you know... just wear the weather-appropriate gear in the first place....

Yep sad but true, dick heads in this world!

Don't dry wet clothes over a smokey manuka fire or you end up with clothes on the back of the ute driving home in undies hoping like hell no cops pull you up.

I didn't think it'd smell so bad but there ya go

Originally Posted by Toby

Don't dry wet clothes over a smokey manuka fire or you end up with clothes on the back of the ute driving home in undies hoping like hell no cops pull you up.

I didn't think it'd smell so bad but there ya go

Oh that's some prime advice right there! Would've been a sight to see for those coppa's if they did show up

Lesson 1... bunny shooting is less fun when you leave your magazine at home.

As a fellow rookie, I can only recommend using common sense, and since you could spot the mistakes 'that' party made, you're on the right track. One thing I learnt quick was, be ready to take a shot at very short notice, ONCE you've identified your target, I've missed out on two fine deer in the same spot due to just not expecting the deer to be where they were.

Toby I think there's other reasons you drive home in your undies! Any excuse!

Originally Posted by GravelBen

Lesson 1... bunny shooting is less fun when you leave your magazine at home.

Sounds like an opportunity to learn how to go primal and catch them with your hands (I met a bunch of Otago Uni students this year who actually did this and slung it over their pack!)

I never hunt with one up the spout, while walking into a scrubby clearing one a crisp morning I deciding to put one up since everything felt right for a deer and my wee 22.250 has a very positive half bolt. Upon spotting said deer I automatically cycled the bolt (as I would normally do), ejected and the live round, failed to pick up a new one and went click at the deer. Walking away from that I felt a complete rookie.

Originally Posted by Maca49

Toby I think there's other reasons you drive home in your undies! Any excuse!

Does it make it less gay sounding coming home with 2 deer?

No it makes it worse!

Rookie mistake 101 don't hunt on the internet.get out into real bush and learn the best way.books are better info than internet info when it comes to hunting.

bloody shit phone

One thing I've learned is to make a list of things to take and cross it off as it goes into the pack - I've left a bolt behind before.

I never stop feeling like a bit of a noob cos every trip I do I'm always experimenting with different ways of using gear and whatnot

The most recent one would be always refresh ya head torch batteries..

Originally Posted by Neckshot

Rookie mistake 101 don't hunt on the internet.get out into real bush and learn the best way.books are better info than internet info when it comes to hunting.

bloody shit phone

You really hate the "internet hunters" (pretty much this forum) don't you

Originally Posted by Toby

Does it make it less gay sounding coming home with 2 deer?

Nope, being in your undies and having 2 dead deer on the back of the ute is even more disturbing!!