Thread: Spot lighting deer

Originally Posted by Rich007

I went spotlighting for Sambar for the first time a couple of months ago and thought it would be really easy to get some venison.
The area we have access on is heavily spotlighted and we saw a few sets of eyes that quickly disappeared. It took five unproductive nights before we had learnt enough and adapted our technique to have some success. We had an early night, got up at 1am, walked around areas that we had seen sign in the daylight, didn't wave the spotlight round trying to see if there were deer 500m away and at 4:45am we shot 2, then went to milking.

Before I tried it I would have said that spotlighting wasn't hunting. But for me it is.

I think the issue seems to be the shooting of 'easy deer' not being considered hunting, not wheather it was night or day.

Well done Rich - was that where we were planning a mission?

Originally Posted by Pop Shot

Well done Rich - was that where we were planning a mission?

Na, but we really must get you (and Raging Bull) after a Pheasant before I get busy. When do you fly out???

Originally Posted by Rich007

Na, but we really must get you (and Raging Bull) after a Pheasant before I get busy. When do you fly out???

August 6th.

We are both off into the Ruahines this weekend - but anytime after that I'm free... Raging Bull probably has work commitments.

Originally Posted by Sidney

Thats just bollocks..

You are quite entitled to attach more value to one form of hunting over another, but don't start redefining the english language to sort your personal standards..

Hunting is the looking for and the pursuit of game animals... got nothing to do with the methodology employed..

You can do that without a gun, with, with a bow, with a camera, with a spotlight in a truck or not...

You could say that spotlighting is not ethical hunting in your opinion, or is lazy hunting, or it might be illegal hunting - but its still hunting..

Does the English language "define" spotlighting as hunting? If so I will retract my statement. I never said its not ethical. Im not taking any moral high ground here.I have shot many many deer in the lamp and still do shoot the odd one, And although its fun and puts meat in the freezer to me its not hunting

Originally Posted by Nana The Flats

I remember years ago being pulled over down paringa by the haast cop. he told us to wait for half hour because he was spotlighting the road first.

hahaha.

Lets just say for a min that spotlighting is frowned apon, and daytime is thumbs up- where would night visiosn fit into the equation?

Originally Posted by Pointer

Reminds me, You and I must be over due to run the electric dog over a few clearings? Been a while

Agreed. Is it worth waiting for things to warm up?

Originally Posted by Spanners

Lets just say for a min that spotlighting is frowned apon, and daytime is thumbs up- where would night visiosn fit into the equation?

If I was to voice my opinion I might be "redefining the English language"

Originally Posted by Spanners

Lets just say for a min that spotlighting is frowned apon, and daytime is thumbs up- where would night visiosn fit into the equation?

The reason it is illegal on public land, as far as I know, is because it's harder to identify your target and know what is beyond it. But decent night vision gear allows you to do that, so it is a really good point.

IIRC the Woodhill Fallow ballot says - No NV gear allowed (along with spots etc)

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Does the English language "define" spotlighting as hunting? If so I will retract my statement. I never said its not ethical. Im not taking any moral high ground here.I have shot many many deer in the lamp and still do shoot the odd one, And although its fun and puts meat in the freezer to me its not hunting

Yes it does... every time you turn a spotlight on you are looking for something... everytime you move while looking for something you are in pursuit of it..

So tell me how can you use a spotlight without hunting?

Rich007 Lit plenty of Sambar, once they've seen a few lights they get pretty smart - more cunning than most light shy deer. Had one duck the light in long grass on Timmay and I one night!

Timmay whenever bro, I'm always keen PM on its way

Originally Posted by Sidney

Yes it does... every time you turn a spotlight on you are looking for something... everytime you move while looking for something you are in pursuit of it..

So tell me how can you use a spotlight without hunting?

Well if thats oxfords definition then I apolagize profusely for not reading a dictionary.