Thread: So what deer, etc are allowed to be shot?

Dear Agony Aunt.

Biggest furry thing I've bowled so far is a hare and looking to up the anti a bit now I've had a play with the centrefires. I have some hand loads and am happy that I could get inside a 5" - 6" diameter circle out to about 300m with ease, so I think I'm ready. Now the big question is what am I allowed to shoot, as going by another forum if its a species with horns not very much. Think I've narrowed it down to only males over about 9' at the shoulder with hard antlers that are just able to get the TV antenna down mountain valleys in a period of about two to three weeks at some stage during the year. Anything else could be in the club with the next batch of afore mentioned beast (in about 10 years time) or busy possibly developing into such beast that you aren't allowed to take as someone else would like to see if indeed it develops into afore mentioned beast (in which case I think they have dibbs on it).

Sincerely,

Confused

Hell, if its brown, its down.

If its your first anything and its legal, shoot anything you bloody like mate
If your hungry and it looks tasty and its legal shoot it.
Personally I try to leave hinds alone from Nov to end of Feb to try and avoid a orphan starving to death.
Otherwise if it looks like food and you are prepared to carry/eat it. SHOOT the fucker

Thanks fellas, so I won't be tarred and feathered if it doesn't meet the criteria mentioned earlier? I know I'm a little old, and way too decrepit (hardly feel a day over 95), to start this hunting but it's something I want to do. Hopefully the body will hold up.

Im sure no one would begrudge someone shooting for instance a velvety stag or A 9'' cham for a first animal. Once you have a few in the freezer its time to start being selective.

get a few under your belt before you start the ethics shit.

Whack 'em, stack 'em, then kick the rest under a bush

Originally Posted by Pointer

get a few under your belt before you start the ethics shit.

Whack 'em, stack 'em, then kick the rest under a bush

+1

Even after all that don't worry about the ethics shit, if you don't shoot it a chopper probably will. I'll never hassle anyone for shooting something that others think should be let go. If it'll taste good shoot it I say.

Originally Posted by Mike H

+1

Even after all that don't worry about the ethics shit, if you don't shoot it a chopper probably will. I'll never hassle anyone for shooting something that others think should be let go. If it'll taste good shoot it I say.

Fuckin oath. The trophy of tomorrow is the steak of today. As Dogmatix said, if it's brown it's down

Hinds at this time of year with the young at foot, otherwise if you've got it in your sights it dies.

I have to say I will leave hinds also while they're likely to have young. On that note, how old does a fawn have to be before it can cater for itself?

Originally Posted by Pointer

Fuckin oath. The trophy of tomorrow is the steak of today. As Dogmatix said, if it's brown it's down

Yip, so very very true and more the merrier.Get into it.

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Hinds at this time of year with the young at foot, otherwise if you've got it in your sights it dies.

Na just means you 2 for 1...

All deer species in NZ are able to be shot as long as you have permission to shoot in that area.

In my mind every animal you shoot is a trophy, it may not be bigger than your last one but the stalk may have been better or it may have been harder to get to.

At the end of the day there will always be those out there that will bag you for shooting a spiker and those that will bag you for shooting that big 18 pointer and removing it from the breeding pool, if i ever see a fiordland moose you can be assured i will be trying to shoot the damn thing.

As long as the stalk / hunt was enjoyable for you who cares what every one else thinks.

I dont shoot hinds this time of year,Iv seen plenty that seeem to have no fawn only to have it pop into view 1/2 an hour latter from a spot mum had it tucked away in.Velvet dosnt worry me at all.Was a time we would leave the hard antlered stags to get them in velvet the following season.

Originally Posted by sneeze

I dont shoot hinds this time of year,Iv seen plenty that seeem to have no fawn only to have it pop into view 1/2 an hour latter from a spot mum had it tucked away in.Velvet dosnt worry me at all.Was a time we would leave the hard antlered stags to get them in velvet the following season.

Well said sneeze, anyway, if there are few deer around, look for a spiker, they taste best anyway