What summer strategies do you folks use. I'm picking the heat will mean deer only in the open first and last light? Cloudy days more productive? Have access to spots that have bush and some open land fringed by bush
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What summer strategies do you folks use. I'm picking the heat will mean deer only in the open first and last light? Cloudy days more productive? Have access to spots that have bush and some open land fringed by bush
on the hottest day wander into the sticks around lunchtime, head for a gully head that has a flowing water.stalk into the head 20 yards sideling above the creek on the northern side and get ready for some quick draw shooting.
Spot also has an old power pylon service track that cuts through the bush along the ridge although partially overgrown and I've seen a couple of deer on this a couple weeks back. Covered in grass and mostly sheltered by overhanging trees. Skirts a couple of valley heads. Would this make for good summer stalking? The first section also has farmland on one side of the ridge and bush on the other with a lot of game trails meeting the ridge, although a lot of goats so don't know specifically where the deer bed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yesmate
Another question, do goats make beds like deer do?
Took a wander around the Tahakopa Beach block yesterday and set up a couple of cameras. Worked my way north from the bottom, hugging the west side, to the base of the hill. Cool and damp with plenty of sign where the creeks bottom out. The hillside is fairly steep but negotiable so will prowl around those when I go back in but the rest is a bloody wet hellhole. Basically bog hopping from one dry hump to the next. Found a couple of beds on those dry humps but she’s tiger country in there. Whoever started the thread on taking the hunt out of hunting doesn’t go where I do!!
Certainly less pressure on the blocks this time of the year but love the adventure. The body doth protest too much after 6-7km’s of that though:D
Strategy.hmmm let's see....get my fat arse off couch and head into the bush canopy and just mouse along in cooler areas. Dawn is plurry early at 05:15 and dusk is getting past my bedtime at 21:30
Goats love to be dry so bluffs with overhang are gold if it's raining.
Thanks Micky, what I was trying to figure out is if I might find goat beds and mistake them for deer beds?Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
There's a bit of that in the bottoms where I go but thick as in there and impossible to be quiet, or I'm just a loutQuote:
Originally Posted by Sidetrack
Nah.goats shit in bed.deer don't. A goat bedding area,if dry,is great to store in memory as they will head there when rain is on the way. In the king country we used goats as weather gauge,when you saw them heading for cover it was time to do the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by hamishg
Good to know! It's hard enough trying to tell their shit apartQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
It’s been that wet here over the past year even the deer have the runs. A lot of sloppy jobs out there!!
I was finding a lot of these 2cm long ones that were really green, kinda cylinders with rounded ends, not sure if deer or sheep but still new to this gameQuote:
Originally Posted by Sidetrack
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....8/#post1636242Quote:
Originally Posted by Sidetrack
Any ideas?
My strategy is to go diving and fishing. It’s too hot to climb hills in summer haha. But yes, first and last light are much more critical as not much moves during the heat of the day.
Got a baby coming in March so gotta work with what time I got!Quote:
Originally Posted by stagstalker
Fair!Quote:
Originally Posted by hamishg
Applicable to fish tooQuote:
Originally Posted by stagstalker
Yeah don't imagine they like climbing hills in the heafQuote:
Originally Posted by Gibo
If you drive past a deer farm check out what they are doing.
It isn't a bad indication what the deer in the bush are doing.
I thought I was really clever but talking to @7mmwsm
I found I wasn't the only one who did this.
It might just be that me and you are the two dummies on the Forum @erniec.Quote:
Originally Posted by erniec
But I do agree that watching undisturbed deer, in any situation will give you an idea of what the get up to at any time of day.
During the heat of the day they are usually resting. And a lot harder to find and sneek in on than one that's up and feeding. Feeding deer give themselves away with noise and movement. And are focused on feeding.
Have a look at Game Animal Council site, Better Hunting platform - Hunting Essentials modules. Lots of info for newer hunters. There’s a module on signs left by animals including identification of faeces.Quote:
Originally Posted by hamishg
They neighbor has some deer so I usually have a look to see what they're doing and get my eye inQuote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
also when its hot use your nose like a dog, deer are stinky when its hot and if its a stillish day you can smell them from quite a decent distance.i have quite a few kills from winding them.and like 7wsm says they will be laying up so stealth and patience is key.
Good point, how would you compare deer scent to goat? Less sour?Quote:
Originally Posted by Yesmate
The bite times on GPS are good for this,I believe it's based on tide and possible the old Maori fishing calender is too.Quote:
Originally Posted by erniec
Sweet and deer like.... Or pooh stink alabillyscroatparfume.... Nanny doesn't smell much unless her boyfriend have been for congical visit.Quote:
Originally Posted by hamishg
Moon phaseQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Like how goats smell like their meat smellsQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Crap...I don't know what a deer smells like, are you sods saying next time I knock one over I should give it a good sniffing?.
youll know when you smell them, very unique.
Yeah think I know what you mean I've just never honed in on the smell. Will do next time I get one
Just be aware that just because you can't smell them, doesn't mean they aren't there.Quote:
Originally Posted by hamishg
And if you think you can smell them, doesn't mean they are there.
It's all little parts of a big picture.