Thread: WTF. B FA LEFT SOON.

There are too many deer in so many places. That’s pretty obvious, and yes we as hunters play a part in managing them but that part is not big enough. Hunters simply do not shoot enough deer. There’s a few reasons for this such as access which has been mentioned like private property, landlocked reserves and remote public areas etc. Another is the fact so many hunters go out to target stags and leave the hinds and lastly we just don’t actually shoot enough in general, particularly hinds. Anyone who thinks we can continue the way we are is kidding themselves. The issue we face is getting a palatable well rounded solution for the ongoing management of our wild herds. Something that strikes a good balance between hunters mentality on what to shoot, access to areas for hunters to control numbers and then most likely a commercial component that then does the fine tuning but with goals that work for everyone. We need numbers that strike the ultimate balance with the ecosystem they are living in so the deer are healthy and provide good hunting whilst the environment around them is healthy too. Anyone who hasn’t listened to the podcast by the educated hunter with Cam Speedy needs to have a listen and get a bit more educated on the subject. If done right we can setup something good for the future. It will take hunters getting educated and onboard though rather then referring to the defence “entitled” attitude so often seen. It needs to be done, what we all need to worry about is making sure it’s done right. That is a whole other topic in itself and is the concern IMO.

Are there too many deer in many areas? Yes! Are there not very many in some areas? Yes. Is there too much emphasis on shooting stags by all concerned and not enough on leaving stags to grow to a decent age? Yes. Are not enough hinds shot per stag? Correct. Are there many hunters actually effectively hunting the bush year round? Hell no. Are we overdue for a coordinated, collaborative, science based approach to manage numbers proactively and in line with the environmental carrying capacity area by area? Yes, absolutely! Will everyone's view on what that number per area is vary significantly? Absolutely. Do I hold out any hope of all government officials being reasonable and inclusive to the point that everyone's concerns are properly looked after? No. Do I hold out any hope that some hunters wont be ignorant dicks who really don't understand what is at stake outside of their wish of hunting a deer behind every tree area? Nope. So what do I want? I want a quality, sustainable hunting experience where the deer numbers are in balance with the environment I am hunting in, where I am bombarded by native taonga while I do, where the deer I hunt are healthy and there are enough to at least have a chance if I hunt right and where our hunting heritage is long term and protected, just like the environment we hunt in. When the decision made for so many has everyone from all sides a little bit pissed off, I call that a well balanced decision. Unfortunately often those in power think it is balanced when the group they personally disagree with is pissed off but not them. When everyone looks after everyone, then everyone wins. Sometimes the decision makers need to be reminded of that though.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

There are too many deer in so many places. That’s pretty obvious, and yes we as hunters play a part in managing them but that part is not big enough. Hunters simply do not shoot enough deer. There’s a few reasons for this such as access which has been mentioned like private property, landlocked reserves and remote public areas etc. Another is the fact so many hunters go out to target stags and leave the hinds and lastly we just don’t actually shoot enough in general, particularly hinds. Anyone who thinks we can continue the way we are is kidding themselves. The issue we face is getting a palatable well rounded solution for the ongoing management of our wild herds. Something that strikes a good balance between hunters mentality on what to shoot, access to areas for hunters to control numbers and then most likely a commercial component that then does the fine tuning but with goals that work for everyone. We need numbers that strike the ultimate balance with the ecosystem they are living in so the deer are healthy and provide good hunting whilst the environment around them is healthy too. Anyone who hasn’t listened to the podcast by the educated hunter with Cam Speedy needs to have a listen and get a bit more educated on the subject. If done right we can setup something good for the future. It will take hunters getting educated and onboard though rather then referring to the defence “entitled” attitude so often seen. It needs to be done, what we all need to worry about is making sure it’s done right. That is a whole other topic in itself and is the concern IMO.

Good rant, mostly correct but it the main thing the hunting community is freaking out about(and rightly so)is the current govt is clearly pro eradication of all "pests"and if you think they might listen to a common sense approach recommendation from us your kidding yourself.Sage wants to eradicate everything except natives and will do it as quick as she can while in power.I think the hunting community needs some new tactics as talking about it aint doing jack.