Thread: Deer numbers

Deer are safe as houses in the bush. All (or at least most of) the hunters these days are sitting in the open waiting for them to come out. I find all the shit/ kit we carry now, along with big range finding binos, spotting scopes, large scabbard housing packs, assorted knives, water bladder pouches with the sippy tubes etc etc so hard to get around in the bush quietly with.............. They sit in the bush safe and breed away quietly. Occasionally one sticks a toe out and 11 guns from a km away go off simultaneously. So it goes back in and stays there breeding for another year or two.

Originally Posted by Hiawatha

Deer are safe as houses in the bush. All (or at least most of) the hunters these days are sitting in the open waiting for them to come out. I find all the shit/ kit we carry now, along with big range finding binos, spotting scopes, large scabbard housing packs, assorted knives, water bladder pouches with the sippy tubes etc etc so hard to get around in the bush quietly with.............. They sit in the bush safe and breed away quietly. Occasionally one sticks a toe out and 11 guns from a km away go off simultaneously. So it goes back in and stays there breeding for another year or two.

Yep some of what you say is correct. I’m seeing deer in the bush, on slips , in the open , on the tops and in the scrub. 10% of the hunters get 90% of the deer. That will generally stay about the same. Your right about technology too. Keep it simple. Minimal gear and get the wind right. Yes bush stalking is an art in its own right. I’ve lucked onto deer over the years in the bush but generally by being Johnny on the spot and no great skill on my part.
The days are here fellas get out and enjoy it.

Originally Posted by Nathan F

Yep some of what you say is correct. I’m seeing deer in the bush, on slips , in the open , on the tops and in the scrub. 10% of the hunters get 90% of the deer. That will generally stay about the same. Your right about technology too. Keep it simple. Minimal gear and get the wind right. Yes bush stalking is an art in its own right. I’ve lucked onto deer over the years in the bush but generally by being Johnny on the spot and no great skill on my part.
The days are here fellas get out and enjoy it.

Exactly. And now @Nathan F through the generosity of the forum you know to take more ammo and not to walk so far. Always learning, eh

Originally Posted by Tahr

Exactly. And now @Nathan F through the generosity of the forum you know to take more ammo and not to walk so far. Always learning, eh

LOL never too old to learn Mr C

I hope I never lose the fire to put a pack on and walk . Something about being well away from others strikes a chord

Definitely more deer around now than even 5 years ago, well here in Marlborough anyway.
And admittedly I hunt private land, but anything from half a dozen to 15's and 20's isn't uncommon. On some properties they are becoming a serious problem, and even more so now with all the fawns runnin around