Thread: Deer numbers

A friend saw 40 stags on his lucerne paddock yesterday morning.

Certainly way more deer around these days which is great, and like others before me, something I never thought I would see. In my early days of hunting, hinds were worth 4k a piece on the hoof, so they were targeted by deer traps, helicopters and anyone with a dart gun. It means great opportunities for all of us, but with a responsibility to manage the resource. Great for new and young hunters too, being able to see and get animals, without the disapointment of many trips with no animals sighted. Easier to be selective and leave those potential trophies to grow their head gear out too. So blessed these days! Enjoy it while it lasts, as it won't be long before the greens, doc and the government object.

Originally Posted by Fred Fisherman

Certainly way more deer around these days which is great, and like others before me, something I never thought I would see. In my early days of hunting, hinds were worth 4k a piece on the hoof, so they were targeted by deer traps, helicopters and anyone with a dart gun. It means great opportunities for all of us, but with a responsibility to manage the resource. Great for new and young hunters too, being able to see and get animals, without the disapointment of many trips with no animals sighted. Easier to be selective and leave those potential trophies to grow their head gear out too. So blessed these days! Enjoy it while it lasts, as it won't be long before the greens, doc and the government object.

They'll only have grounds for their objections if we let them.

We have shoot way more hinds.

This whole shoot the spiker and stags should switch to shooting hinds.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

They'll only have grounds for their objections if we let them.

We have shoot way more hinds.

This whole shoot the spiker and stags should switch to shooting hinds.

Shoot everything. Just have respect for the game and utilise what you harvest.

Originally Posted by Brian

A friend saw 40 stags on his lucerne paddock yesterday morning.

Is he applying for a P? If ever a man needed a SLR....

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

Is he applying for a P? If ever a man needed a SLR....

Nah. He's got us

Originally Posted by Tahr

Nah. He's got us

I think you meant "Nah. He's got us and tilly"

If we shoot a hind and leave a little fawn to starve, dehydrate and die a miserable suffering death, no one will see it or punish us for our actions but that does not make such a thing right.
We are answerable to ourselves for such actions and it reflects on how we conduct ourselves in the other areas of our lives. It is a test of character.
Two weeks ago a friend and I shot a 2yr old hind that was heavily pregnant. We had some discussion over the ethics of taking such an animal prior to the shot with my own position at the time being that she would have been pregnant in April just as she is now, but not visibly so. We saw two older hinds with the one we took which obviously both had fawns hidden nearby, these we would not shoot now but they become shootable again in March when the fawn is big enough to wean.

Aldo Leupold: "Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching—even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

Is weaning around late february?

Originally Posted by stevodog

Is weaning around late february?

Natural weaning does not take place till July. On a farm fawns are weaned either pre-rut in the first - second week in March or later post rut last week of May or 1st week of June.
If a wild hind is shot in March the fawn will get a 'check' but will be OK. The later in March the better.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Which parts? I usually put up a deer a trip in the kawekas but never see them. Just hear them running away.

I am yet to check out ngapuketurua or even clements Mill Road. Kiko Road etc.

I seldom hunt Clements; don't know the area very well, but there's plenty of sika living in the monowai and small tee tree grasslands all over the southern Kaimanawas and Kaweks. They don't generally stick their noses out until last light though.

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

I seldom hunt Clements; don't know the area very well, but there's plenty of sika living in the monowai and small tee tree grasslands all over the southern Kaimanawas and Kaweks. They don't generally stick their noses out until last light though.

Cheers. Will give it a nudge.

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

Deer numbers are up in Hawkes Bay too, one of the HBRC biosecurity guys told me numbers are likely to exceed the previous highs of the 50's/60's soon. 5 years ago I never saw a deer here, now I have resident population. And if no one can eat them due to the brodifacoum risk, I can't see it getting any better.

That is true but it helps to keep them in a job.Got home this morning at 4.30am. Possum numbers are up on the back country roads.

Originally Posted by TeRei

That is true but it helps to keep them in a job.Got home this morning at 4.30am. Possum numbers are up on the back country roads.

Yes, Ive noticed that 'possum numbers are on the increase in Sth HB/Nth Wairarapa. Not big numbers, but for the last few years there haven't been any on the roads or in the scrub, but I'm starting to see a few now each night I'm out.