Thread: Whats your Roar 2024 plans, and goals?

Hunting local, still on the mend from a couple of broken bones but I am mobile at least. I'll stick to well known areas this time around.

My plan is… avoid the Kaimais and any spot where the number of animals roaring on two legs is superior to the number of animals roaring on 4….

I hunt deer all year round. The roar/bugle is nothing special to me these days though I wouldn't mind going into Fiordland one more time before the body packs up. Been there, done that. I tend to ease back on hunting over the roar, too many 'once a year hunters' and general half-wits out there for my liking at that time of year. Don't care what anyone else thinks but stag meat tastes shit at that time of year when they're all hyped up.

3-4 trips planned. Not super motivated by antlers, so taking inspiration from Trout, unless a monster trots past, I'll be more than happy to be out in the green stuff, and maybe thin a few hinds out of the population.

Flying into the main divide for a week with a couple mates to chase big reds

I'll add I've filled my freezer up as of Waitangi day. Shot one on Waitangi day, and shot one the fortnight before. So I'm not rushing around in April to shoot just anything and I can avoid all the halfwits who come from all and sundry to go up the dead end road.

What does make me laugh is you hear them putting up stuff on social media stuff like; mmm some fresh stag in the roar good eating here. I mean who doesn't like a bit of fresh stinky stagy meat.

yes many an innocent townie put of venison for life after being given some manky roar stag meat by idjit hunter - fallow buck especially bad in roar

Just had some backsteaks(vac packed whole) yesterday from the stag I shot last roar and suprisingly was good. Not yearling good but very edible. It's sat there for so long because I thought it'd be shit. Guess they're not all bad ay

Originally Posted by charliehorse

Just had some backsteaks(vac packed whole) yesterday from the stag I shot last roar and suprisingly was good. Not yearling good but very edible. It's sat there for so long because I thought it'd be shit. Guess they're not all bad ay

you are right I have had red stag from roar that was fat and not to bad eating - but the nose test is the must - I open up the back steak and have a good whiff - manky leave it to feed the piggys - but some fat on back steak and just a venison smell yup all go - but sooner a nice fat hind- fallow buck seems to be another matter - they just smell bad in roar

Just getting out there is still the goal for me , stuffed my back again pre- Xmas , shooting stags is off the radar for me and possibly permanently …. Just being out there wandering around will be a step in the right direction .

Originally Posted by Lucky

Just getting out there is still the goal for me , stuffed my back again pre- Xmas , shooting stags is off the radar for me and possibly permanently …. Just being out there wandering around will be a step in the right direction .

I can relate to you on that one. I am in exactly the same boat.I am about 90% now but still haven't tries any big hills or carrying much of a load.

Will take the usual 2 weeks. One in the canterbury high country and one in some South Westland bush. 5th year in a row missing out on a Haast/Wanaka block.

Still hunt the open blocks down there each year and see more deer than we probably would inside a block but jeez it's busy down there compared to Spring/Summer. We could go a week in a row over summer without seeing anyone. During the roar, I'd be lucky to see a flat without a tent on it once the weather clears. The beauty of staying down for a week means we can usually work around these fella's, hunt the less popular areas and still find plenty to keep us interested.

[QUOTE=Shearer;1550309]I can relate to you on that one. I am in exactly the same boat.I am about 90% now but still haven't tries any big hills or carrying much of a load.[/QUOTE

Yeah it's the weight thing for me now, just take it easy , if there's any advice I can give is save your back people , you only got 1 and when its stuffed it really sucks , if its too heavy leave some meat behind .

Will get out for a few weekends and possibly a couple 3 - 4 day hunts. Would be great to get my son onto his first deer or at least get him close as possible to the action.

work to earn $$$ to live on...might poke head out during off days if mid week....looking forward to may june july this year,will do a lot more time on hill this season....