Thread: Doc land hunting report or lack of!)

Sometimes I hate hunting , it can be so frustrating!.
Currently living in the nightmare of a Doc land drought. Think I’m on hunt number 10 without success and I’ve been trying!
I’ve seen a lot of my local up the back of Te Puke, I’ve seen the Kaimais, I’ve hunted some new grounds in Waitomo region, and just recently spend 24 hours in National park/Ruapehu. Plenty of close encounters but for one reason or another just can’t seal the deal.
Shit I can only but keep trying!
Rant over, happy hunting out there

Good on you! Yeo keep at it. Im about to post up a similar report of frustration.

Don't let frustration get to you, it won't help. Clear any negativity from your mind and go into each hunt positive and happy.
Have confidence. Expect to shoot a deer.
Yes, do keep trying and move slowly and using your vision a lot. Eventually you will get into your groove and you will score.

Rule number 1. Do not take a camera with you, and you will shoot a deer :-) and then wonder where was that bloody camera when you needed it.

Summer hunting over the crunchy floor is not the easiest for sure .
I have personally more succès between March and September.

Don't try too hard.Deer will be under yr nose in the late evening or early day light on green grass near bush edges n water.

Keep at it. I wondered around the bush as a young fella for about 4 or 5 years before I shot my first deer. One day it will happen.

Originally Posted by Friwi

Rule number 1. Do not take a camera with you, and you will shoot a deer :-) and then wonder where was that bloody camera when you needed it.

Summer hunting over the crunchy floor is not the easiest for sure .
I have personally more succès between March and September.

I thought that rule was " forget your knife " and you will shoot a deer

And " forget your bolt " and you will see a deer from the car park

Cheers guys, appreciate the support in these hard times

Originally Posted by akaroa1

I thought that rule was " forget your knife " and you will shoot a deer

And " forget your bolt " and you will see a deer from the car park

I can top that. Shoot a deer, walk up to it with knife but leave rifle. Deer gets up runs off. Try to chase with knife. Give up when it's dark. Finally find it the next day. Shoot it again. Roll truck down hill trying to pick it up...

Cheer up.
Straight out of basic training at the age of 18 & still in love with the SLR 7.62, and having read all the books of the day, Rex Forester, Philip Holden, Mike Bennett, I went out and shot my first deer.
Then spent a frustrating, almost 2 years, doing everything wrong till I tripped over my second.
But in those days, any young up and coming, had to compete with Deer Cullers, meat hunters, spotlighters, jetboaters & helicopters. Not to mention the large noisy groups of club trampers with their standard demoralizing question "did you catch anything"

I struggle at this time of year to get a deer on the deck in those places you have mentioned. Late evening is your best chance but you have to be prepared to walk home in the dark.

Wait until Mid March after some rain and you'll have better success.

Keep positive, I am in a very similar boat.
I am very new to hunting and to date have only been out 6 times, I've seen deer twice but not close enough to take a shot. Although on the 2nd occasion I was 15 metres away without realising it and the yearling jumped up and shot off into the bush, that was a great experience.

The takeaway is that each time I go out I feel that I am getting that little bit closer to the prize, each time I learn something new and each time it's just magical being up in the hills away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

It will come, happy hunting.

I recall a school camp to Mayor island, where we had the somewhat well known Bill Hohepa accompany us offering his snapper secrets. He had this theory that if you sit there anxiously waiting for a bite you'll never catch anything - it's not until you relax and take the focus off catching something that you'll have success.

I've found something similar to happen after a bit of a hunting drought - the more you are desperate for success, sometimes it seems even harder to achieve. Funnily enough, even during a hunt (in the bush especially), you'll start the day with a razor sharp focus on spotting an animal, but not until the mind starts to wander a little that an animal presents itself.

As an aside, I was in Nat Park a couple days ago and it was harder hunting than expected. Quite a lot of human activity by the looks over the break. Nearly pulled the trigger on a distant red, but after I found a more stable rest, the opportunity was gone! Still great to be out there.

Originally Posted by earplay

I recall a school camp to Mayor island, where we had the somewhat well known Bill Hohepa accompany us offering his snapper secrets. He had this theory that if you sit there anxiously waiting for a bite you'll never catch anything - it's not until you relax and take the focus off catching something that you'll have success.

I've found something similar to happen after a bit of a hunting drought - the more you are desperate for success, sometimes it seems even harder to achieve. Funnily enough, even during a hunt (in the bush especially), you'll start the day with a razor sharp focus on spotting an animal, but not until the mind starts to wander a little that an animal presents itself.

As an aside, I was in Nat Park a couple days ago and it was harder hunting than expected. Quite a lot of human activity by the looks over the break. Nearly pulled the trigger on a distant red, but after I found a more stable rest, the opportunity was gone! Still great to be out there.

That's a good point worth elaborating on. If you get through the bush like a coiled tiger animals will sense it, ya gotta move relaxed like you're not hungry. Face and hand movements stick out like dogs balls in the bush and open country. Even more important in open country, and there watch you silhouette, there is nothing more distinctive than the upright human form - can be seen for miles

Originally Posted by RUMPY

Keep at it. I wondered around the bush as a young fella for about 4 or 5 years before I shot my first deer. One day it will happen.

4-5 YEARS?? Crap Im having the issue I hope I don't have to wait five years LOL