Thread: What to bring for the first hunting day trip?

If you take a map and compass make sure you know how to use it properly.
NZTopo50 app on your phone is handy if you don't have a GPS.
Before you shoot a deer, do you know how to cut them up?
Heaps of good advice already mentioned.

After going on my first official hunt last weekend with my son and seasoned hunting mate for two nights I soon discovered that I had packed way too much, brought too much food and too many extra items of clothing. I was amazed at how little we ate. We didn't shoot anything as the deer we did see were too far away.
It was still a fantastic adventure because we learnt sooo much and nothing beats being out in nature away from the rat race.

Being wished "good luck" or sharpening your knife prior to a hunt is NOT bad luck.

Yep, I hunted with a guy that was superstitious to that crap.

Good luck

What a pack of pussies
Rifle ammo and a knife.

Originally Posted by SmokeyJason

What a pack of pussies
Rifle ammo and a knife.

Dumb.

I think early on it's better to have more headroom for safety / chance of getting lost or spending a shitty night out than coming in hot with just a knife and a gun like rambo.

I've not been in that area but you could follow the track and then push off east from Mt Oxford - seems like there's some open country there that would be good for glassing.

Good luck n have fun

@HarryMax, SmokeyJason is a hardened old deer caller from the 70s that used to roam the bush in a pair of holey y-fronts with a swanny over the top and live for a month off a bag of flour and whatever he shot.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

@HarryMax, SmokeyJason is a hardened old deer caller from the 70s that used to roam the bush in a pair of holey y-fronts with a swanny over the top and live for a month off a bag of flour and whatever he shot.

Yeah but ol mate who's going in the bush for the first time isn't.

There's always a first time. Fwiw I too was a first timer. Gotta start somewhere, hard way is the best.

Originally Posted by SmokeyJason

There's always a first time. Fwiw I too was a first timer. Gotta start somewhere, hard way is the best.

Ok Boomer

Originally Posted by SmokeyJason

There's always a first time. Fwiw I too was a first timer. Gotta start somewhere, hard way is the best.

I tend to agree, my first time was last weekend with an overloaded pack spending 2 hours bush bashing going up and down super steep hills! I'm over 50 and unfit so it was a good tester and was also a good way to find out if hunting was for me or not. I learnt a hell of a lot and had a great time so will be continuing on the hunting journey. Plus I spent some great one on one time with my 15 yr old son, can't beat it.

one item I never go without is a pull thru and several pieces of cloth then if I suspect moisture in barrel easy fix most hunters carry to much - day hunt culling it was a sheath knife spare knife ( mercator) in pouch pull thru ammo compass toilet paper spare lighter piece candle ( just in case need to light fire ) thats it

Tend to agree with @SmokeyJason and @Barry the hunter. We all tend to carry far too much gear these days. PLB, rifle, ammo, kit and caboodle pull through, knife, light rain jacket, lighter and tinder, insulation tape, plus what I’m wearing is about all I take for local day hunt. Don’t carry much more when hunting the likes off Molesworth, St James, Upper Leatham etc. I go through stages of carrying shit I never use and have a cull of gear in bumbag or daypack every so often. I get by ok even with the odd unintended night out.

That's another thing to have if possible is either a PLB or satellite messaging service so you have contact with someone on the outside world if all hell breaks loose.

yes I do agree with that Monkey nutz I could add nowadays I do take my cell phone ( cameras great ) but a PLB would be good - but some hunters almost rattle with what they carry

800ml drink bottle..poweraid from shop works good and lasts forever refilled from creeks. Couple of muesli bars.if are a hungry model.half a Boston bun buttered and top flipped so icing n butter are in centre and bread outside. Plb/phone maybe GPS if own one. Knife because a man without a knife is like a dog without a dick. (Dog without a dick is a bitch n I'm nobodies bitch).box of barley sugars for emergency rations. Positive attitude. Binos. Positive attitude.