Thread: Summer hunting .....a question of ethics??

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

I would have thought a 50/50 mix would be the norm, rushy would no.

It varies slightly every year but generally more female fawns than male. On average it is probably more like 60/40 in favour of females.

Originally Posted by Toby

At least My pecker still works at my age

So does mine Toby. It watches me shave every morning.

Originally Posted by Rushy

So does mine Toby. It watches me shave my legs every morning.

Yeah I bet it would

Originally Posted by Toby

Yeah I bet it would

You need a slapping. What is your mums phone number?

On another note, do deer farmers get a buzz from deer stalking? Does it become like shooting a cow?? Well Rushy??

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

You got funny water over there that produces more females than males??? I would have thought a 50/50 mix would be the norm, rushy would no.

Anyway the key to heard management as the majority of people see it (wanting more deer, not to fussed about heads) is to shoot stags.

The key to trophy management is to cull shit stags and keep the number of hinds in check...

If I'm hunting on a doc block I take anything, if private I'm very selective. It all depends on the situation tho

When you're out hunting don't you see more hinds than stags? True they're born at a 50/50 ratio but they aren't shot at that ratio, a lot more stags than hinds get shot.
As for culling, I won't say its a myth but I no longer believe you can cull a herd into greatness. Genetics isn't so simple, you can cull the shit stags but they can still carry the genes for a good offspring, the same way that a monster stag can carry the genes for shit stags hence how they pop up in good herds. But the genetics carried by hinds are just as influential for the quality of antlers as stags you just don't have the luxury of being able to see what genes are strongest in them. Likewise to shit hinds there are "super hinds". There was one study even done with one of the progeny of Jamieson over five hinds and year after year only one hind, and always the same one could produce stag fawns that had the quality of their father.

I'm going to ask a question here too, sorry Lentil but

Do you guys get a different buzz from a private land deer compared to a public land deer?

I've shot most of my deer on private land but I reckon I had more of a buzz shooting public land deer

I had this conversation with an associate who said he has a friend who goes around shooting crying fawns, after hunters have been through killing hinds.
not to mention this is your breeding stock in your area.
I leave hinds with fawns. which makes it hard to find meat as I don't see a lot of deer. but I feel better inside doing so.
a, the fawn is too small and deserves a bit more of a life.
b. the fawn will die with out the hind.

what I do find hard to make out the difference is fawn vs yearling. how do others tell?
if its feeding from udder its fawn, if not yearling? which I understand is not reliable as there could be a fawn sleeping in the scrub that you cant see...

Almost everything got smoked when I was shooting for money...Almost. As I have aged and dispatched more than my share, I am very selective.
I am primarily a trophy hunter now.
I will shoot a few meat animals for myself and friends when needed, they are always yearlings of either sex, doesnt matter as long as they are clean shot and looked after correctly.
Hate seeing good stags shot in velvet, a huge waste no matter how you look at it. It stinks of inexperience and selfishness. Saying your a meat hunter to justify it is bullshit. You are not a hunters asshole if you cant find a more suitable animal to shoot.
Pregnant hinds dont worry me but ones shot when likely having a fawn at foot do.

I seen 11 deer and 25+ chams in a couple days hunting when I was home over the last couple weeks and never fired a shot. Had a ball though.

Originally Posted by Lentil

On another note, do deer farmers get a buzz from deer stalking? Does it become like shooting a cow?? Well Rushy??

I am a little spoiled Lentil as I have Fallow on my back fence line and reds in the paddock. Accordingly, I generally hunt in a place where the deer have a far better chance of evading me than I do of catching up with them. It is an absolute buzz even just to hear a stag roaring in the bush when at home they are roaring their heads off just out the window.

Originally Posted by Bavarian_Hunter

When you're out hunting don't you see more hinds than stags? True they're born at a 50/50 ratio but they aren't shot at that ratio, a lot more stags than hinds get shot.
As for culling, I won't say its a myth but I no longer believe you can cull a herd into greatness. Genetics isn't so simple, you can cull the shit stags but they can still carry the genes for a good offspring, the same way that a monster stag can carry the genes for shit stags hence how they pop up in good herds. But the genetics carried by hinds are just as influential for the quality of antlers as stags you just don't have the luxury of being able to see what genes are strongest in them. Likewise to shit hinds there are "super hinds". There was one study even done with one of the progeny of Jamieson over five hinds and year after year only one hind, and always the same one could produce stag fawns that had the quality of their father.

Yeah it's all interesting stuff.

I haven't seen to many big red stags shot that I really like the look of, don't really do it for me.

I would like a nice fallow or sika, much more impressive and nice looking heads IMO.

Originally Posted by dave-m

either you shoot it or...... someone alse will

That mentality right there in trophy hunting in my opinion is the difference between an area producing nice heads or huge heads. the amount of blokes I've heard say that who also whine about not be able to shoot big ones is unbelievable. A stag might need another couple of years before he's ready but if you let him go he might get shot, well tough luck its a chance you have to take. I'm not self righteous but I think the reason I have a small amount of big heads compared to the blokes I know with lots of small to average ones is because I can watch a nice 12 point stag walk away in the hope I run into him when he's a big 14 or 16. And bloody oath the amount I've passed on that I've never seen again compared to what I have seen again is a huge gap but in the end my patience did pay off and I'm much happier with my big red on my wall than a dozen young tens gathering cob webs in the shed.

I know this wasn't your point and I'm not having a crack at you, just when I hear that line used I can't help it!

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

Yeah it's all interesting stuff.

I haven't seen to many big red stags shot that I really like the look of, don't really do it for me.

I would like a nice fallow or sika, much more impressive and nice looking heads IMO.

Well there are a few decent fallow over the ditch here for ya

Originally Posted by Bavarian_Hunter

I can watch a nice 12 point stag walk away in the hope I run into him when he's a big 14 or 16.

I'd shoot a 12. I've seen a few pics of 14s that look ok but once they are bushy on top I dislike the look, not saying I wouldn't shoot them

Just waiting for the invite mate, bow is ready to get on the plane!