Thread: What would you do ?

On ya Josh

I like your style Joshc, I have let far more deer go than ones I have actually shot. If my freezer is full I still go out hunting, but the difference is I choose not to kill anything, far better hunting skills can be learnt by sitting quietly and observing deer. High kill numbers does not mean a better hunter.

High kill numbers does not mean a better hunter.[/QUOTE]

It would have to be fairly high on the list though, I would imagine.

1080 doesn't leave them if their pregnant, used to leave deer when I'm pig hunting, but not any more.
As soon as DOC sees too many foot prints it's time for some more green stuff.
I believe that if the hinds are left you get a imbalance of numbers and creates a poor roar with little competition for hinds.

Taking a photo is good. It's a bit like catch and release when you're out fishing. Getting a good photo of a deer while bush stalking is probably even harder than shooting one.

I agree phillipgr but I'm at the stage the Mrs says "Did you get any not on camera?" I love photographing deer. Bloody great to watch them in the wild and not squeeze the trigger. Next time will be the trigger not the shutter

Originally Posted by tetawa

1080 doesn't leave them if their pregnant, used to leave deer when I'm pig hunting, but not any more.
As soon as DOC sees too many foot prints it's time for some more green stuff.
I believe that if the hinds are left you get a imbalance of numbers and creates a poor roar with little competition for hinds.

From my experience I disagree. If you have a choice why kill everything? Comparing yourself as a hunter with 1080 is a bit out there! Lol

As for the roar, Stags never used to even roar on our property, the last 5 years have been the best roars yet. This year was intense for 3 weeks solid. Deer numbers are not high but healthy. Not long ago I lived on a station crawling with deer, you would see dozens on each hunt, easy. The roar there is a full 6 weeks of action.

Originally Posted by phillipgr

Taking a photo is good. It's a bit like catch and release when you're out fishing. Getting a good photo of a deer while bush stalking is probably even harder than shooting one.

you nailed it 100% if professional wildlife photographers took up hunting/shooting in my areas I would be in trouble.

I rarely shoot pregnant deer - reds or fallow
Mate and I usually do a meat run down the Parapara in late November
We just target young bucks - but they are sometimes hard to locate as they seem to separate from the does and head off into remote scrubby corners of the station
We saw a lot of does last November - this was the best mob - very misty morning so a crap picture - but about 25 does in that mob - I watched them for half an hour


Lots of mobs 5 to 10ish - they sit out in the sun all day long - lovely

I shoot the Spikers and Yearlings no matter what time of the year.

Probably average about 3 -4 a year to keep the freezer full.

Sustainable harvest and best eating.

Hanging bones on the wall no longer interests me.

Cheers
Pete

"

Originally Posted by P38

I shoot the Spikers and Yearlings no matter what time of the year.

Probably average about 3 -4 a year to keep the freezer full.

Sustainable harvest and best eating.

Hanging bones on the wall no longer interests me.

Cheers
Pete

Not from the Hawkes Bay though eh Pete? I hear from a reliable source that there are no deer left down there

3 - 4 yearlings wouldn't keep my dog feed for a year let alone me!

Leave them to grow into stews and steaks and harvest them another day.

Nothing worse than tracking a shot deer through thick nasty shit only to find its a tiny yearling!

Well my ratio of deer shot to let walk is 0:5. I can see the point in VC's comment that you basically wouldn't shoot hinds at any time of the year if you wouldn't shoot them pregnant or with dependants. For me it would depend on the situation. If I'd put in some miles and it was the only thing that presented I would likely bag it. If there were options I'd go for something easy to carry since I'm a wimp.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I'm a wimp.

somehow I seriously doubt that GM.

Originally Posted by Rushy

somehow I seriously doubt that GM.

I'm meant to be on a 15kg maximum carry limit. Sshhh!