Thread: Spotting deer in Kaimai Bush

Hey guys, hope you're all doing well!

Just got out from a hunt in the Kaimais yesterday and met two awesome hunters along the way. Had a good yarn with them, and they mentioned that usually, you’ll see the deer if you’re in the right spots.

We’ve spent a lot of time up there with no luck, so just wondering how you guys go about spotting them? Of course, we try to keep the wind in our favour and stay on fresh sign.

Starting to think we could be doing something wrong, so keen to hear any advice that might help improve our odds! Any tips would be much appreciated.



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They usually spot you first. Its thick in there

you are hunting what is likely one of the toughest blocks to hunt in North Island --wind yes get that one right - time of day - early morning late evening hot times - midday they will likely be lying down and they choose a spot normally on a ridge where any approach they will hear and see you first - you need them up and about and feeding whenever possible - sign what are you seeing tracks or droppings or both - are these deer travelling to an area to feed or are they feeding there - when you hit good sign slow slow slow listen a lot - deer do make some noise - Northern Te Urewera is not to far from there you may have more luck there and numbers may be higher

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

you are hunting what is likely one of the toughest blocks to hunt in North Island --wind yes get that one right - time of day - early morning late evening hot times - midday they will likely be lying down and they choose a spot normally on a ridge where any approach they will hear and see you first - you need them up and about and feeding whenever possible - sign what are you seeing tracks or droppings or both - are these deer travelling to an area to feed or are they feeding there - when you hit good sign slow slow slow listen a lot - deer do make some noise - Northern Te Urewera is not to far from there you may have more luck there and numbers may be higher

Thanks for the advice, we often try to hunt the early morning and late afternoons. Have even resorted to watching clearings at these times with no luck

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Stop looking at the ground once you find sign, each time you look up/down you are refocusing your eyes to different light conditions....all sign is historical, the foot prints you want are the ones the deer is standing in...deer numbers in the Kaimai's are the highest I have ever seen or known of...seen three today when giving the dogs a run.

Use your ears, always heard them before spotting them in there. The ones I saw before hearing them all disappeared rather fast

It is so dry up there at the moment that you really want to target wet gully and streams.
Move to newly undiscovered spots for you. That is another way of learning the lay of the land and find deer where you don’t see them at the moment. And of course record any point of interest on gps. Also what shoes or boots do you stalk in? You really want to be in a pair of sand shoes or soft sole trainers.
Another thing, if you are hunting with another mate it just become even harder . Twice as much noise and movement.

With that area the deer are so trained up for people it's quite crazy. I've been standing stationary as a tramping group goes through yapping their heads off (moved off trail to let them go through) and not 30 seconds after they go past a hind group goes across the track right in front of me. Can't hunt on the main tracks so let them go but that's how trained up for people they are.

They will hold on the cut lines where the old tram lines are in the thick flax and regen bush enjoying the sun, they will let you get to within a few meters before spooking off and even though you hear them you won't see them go.

The trick with the Kaimais is finding where they are moving and be there at the right time, that can take a lot of time on the ground to learn the ways.

Bumped 2 just off the track this morning. Probably 20m, wasn't expecting to see them there. They are where you find them up there. I just find a game trail and follow it. Works pretty well for me. As Friwi said keep trying new areas and mark all the good things on your gps. This morning I was heading to a couple of wallows that I'd found in winter when I startled a young stag, he went a couple of meters and stopped to see what the noise was, that was the end of him

My gps is covered in marks, I'll usually just try and do a circuit that covers a few off

I've yet to explore the Kaimais. Definitely on my list.... gotta try not to be put off by people saying it's hard going as a newbie. I have as good a chance as anyone else I guess!

Thats the attitude

Originally Posted by AlwaysLearning

I've yet to explore the Kaimais. Definitely on my list.... gotta try not to be put off by people saying it's hard going as a newbie. I have as good a chance as anyone else I guess!

Carry secateurs on your belt, you wont need them to find a deer in the Kaimi's but when you do shoot one you will understand what I am on about.

When hunting as a pair with a reliable/safe partner, we would often hunt parallel just within eyesight usually following a bearing. It allows you to put eyes on more area and in some occasions pushes a deer towards the other person. Be safe obviously. I've had several situations in the kaimais where a person standing right next to me can't see a deer but I can, and vice versa. You need to be visually scanning every step to try catch a glimpse before they see you.

Carry overnight camping gear and hunt evening,camp ,carry on hunting next morning.