Thread: Got too be philosophical!

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Yeah man, I just noticed recently a few newbies having a bit of trouble finding animals, and thought Id post up a few reports at the moment, where its not all easy and not many dead animals to show. Can take quite a bit of effort to sort out new hunting territory and work out how to hunt it.

And I understand completely what you are saying, I'm in that newbie category as far as deer are concerned, possums, hares & wabbits have been the victims for years well before now. I had the opportunity to learn from my BIL before he passed, now I'm teaching myself and I'm learning. My previous threads testify to that lol.

Nice Sow! I bet the dog was chuffed about that. It's cool to see how much opportunity there is for different species around where you live. Over here in South Carolina the public land is hit pretty hard too.

Another week, another new area explored.

This time a bit further afield. My brother and I wanted to push up towards the western side of sumner area and see if any or many deer coming over the top. We got to road end and then saw the posted 1080 signs from Sept. Oh well. Packs on and we made out way upriver until we felt it looked like a good area. Just as we were mid river crossing i looked up to see the arse end of a deer disappearing through some Kanuka, about where we wanted to camp.

Bugger but at least we saw one early.
We set up camp and chilled out a bit waiting until 5pm before splitting up and hunting.



There was a shocking strong wind heading up valley, So Mike headed down river while I cut inland into bush and stalked my way for a couple of hours up and around to come out up valley and hopefully not having disturbed the country close to flats in the process. An unmistakeable smell lead me too a dead deer from the drop. As luck would have it I came out right at the beginning of some stunning clearings, which I camped on until 30 minutes before dark.



Then I stalked and explored my way along their edges until I hit the river again.



There was deer tracks along the clearing edges and a couple of beds under the trees along the same edge, but little to no shit. It looked like what deer were here were staying very close to cover and not spending long on the clearings.

As it got darker I made my way out onto river flats and glassed my way back to camp, Finding one more dead hind, until it got too dark to hunt.



I met Mike at camp, and the consensus was We were camped right on the spot with the most fresh sigh. When we come back we will camp across river to avoid storing it up with our scent and activity.

Beautiful Valley worth another look in a year or two I think, But deer numbers low enough right now to make it hard work.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

To be really philosophical.. sometimes areas that get shit tonnes of spotlight and thermal pressure are the opposite to normal and you will get plenty of sporadic animal movement during the day as the smart ones have learnt to hold tight at night

Fi sure..

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Another week, another new area explored.

This time a bit further afield. My brother and I wanted to push up towards the western side of sumner area and see if any or many deer coming over the top. We got to road end and then saw the posted 1080 signs from Sept. Oh well. Packs on and we made out way upriver until we felt it looked like a good area. Just as we were mid river crossing i looked up to see the arse end of a deer disappearing through some Kanuka, about where we wanted to camp.

Bugger but at least we saw one early.
We set up camp and chilled out a bit waiting until 5pm before splitting up and hunting.



There was a shocking strong wind heading up valley, So Mike headed down river while I cut inland into bush and stalked my way for a couple of hours up and around to come out up valley and hopefully not having disturbed the country close to flats in the process. An unmistakeable smell lead me too a dead deer from the drop. As luck would have it I came out right at the beginning of some stunning clearings, which I camped on until 30 minutes before dark.



Then I stalked and explored my way along their edges until I hit the river again.



There was deer tracks along the clearing edges and a couple of beds under the trees along the same edge, but little to no shit. It looked like what deer were here were staying very close to cover and not spending long on the clearings.

As it got darker I made my way out onto river flats and glassed my way back to camp, Finding one more dead hind, until it got too dark to hunt.



I met Mike at camp, and the consensus was We were camped right on the spot with the most fresh sigh. When we come back we will camp across river to avoid storing it up with our scent and activity.

Beautiful Valley worth another look in a year or two I think, But deer numbers low enough right now to make it hard work.

A hand held thermal spotter might be useful to help map their habits.

Yep, Its tempting. But it's not me.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Yep, Its tempting. But it's not me.

It's absolutely amazing what you see going on. For me it has enriched my knowledge and understanding of deer and whats going on in the environment at night.

Originally Posted by Tahr

It's absolutely amazing what you see going on. For me it has enriched my knowledge and understanding of deer and whats going on in the environment at night.

Yeah I can understand that. I will have a thermal coming as soon as Ken has the one I want back in stock. But I won't use it on public land or for my recreational hunting. For me, I like that the animal has at least its natural abilities as advantage, or at least as an evener over me, and that my achievement is using my brain and effort to work them out.

It's a long standing thing with me. I was quite happy to use a spotlight for pest control, But never for my personal, hunting.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Yeah I can understand that. I will have a thermal coming as soon as Ken has the one I want back in stock. But I won't use it on public land or for my recreational hunting. For me, I like that the animal has at least its natural abilities as advantage, or at least as an evener over me, and that my achievement is using my brain and effort to work them out.

It's a long standing thing with me. I was quite happy to use a spotlight for pest control, But never for my personal, hunting.

Fare call there whanahuia ... well put.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

It was either a 120gr Amax- most likely, Or a 120sst.

Was that your 270?

No, It was a 6.5 Grendel. Because I had an unknown river crossing to do, I didn't feel like risking the 270 going for a swim, and Im still sorting out how to use the packrafts. So just being cautious.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Yeah I can understand that. I will have a thermal coming as soon as Ken has the one I want back in stock. But I won't use it on public land or for my recreational hunting. For me, I like that the animal has at least its natural abilities as advantage, or at least as an evener over me, and that my achievement is using my brain and effort to work them out.

It's a long standing thing with me. I was quite happy to use a spotlight for pest control, But never for my personal, hunting.

Yes thats a considered view, horses for courses. Consistent with this, and as an example from me, thermals have helped deliver venny for 1,500 meals to the needy in the last 12 months. And remembering too that it's the deers' respected natural abilities of evasion and being nocturnal that escalates them very quickly from resource to pest. Then you gotta use tools and not principles.

The thing that has most amazed me from observing them at night is where they appear from and how active they are. During day, Ive been surprised by how many deer stay still in the bush when they detect us and don't move away, and we simply walk past them.

agree Thar how many with a deer problem are gob smacked when they do use night gear and actually see how big their problem really is - but whanahuia you are completely entitled to your beliefs - its only in the last two years we have started to use thermals - for me when I do get out I like every advantage - hunting is expensive when on super over winter so to come home with the goods is the aim

Originally Posted by Tahr

Yes thats a considered view, horses for courses. Consistent with this, and as an example from me, thermals have helped deliver venny for 1,500 meals to the needy in the last 12 months. And remembering too that it's the deers' respected natural abilities of evasion and being nocturnal that escalates them very quickly from resource to pest. Then you gotta use tools and not principles.

The thing that has most amazed me from observing them at night is where they appear from and how active they are. During day, Ive been surprised by how many deer stay still in the bush when they detect us and don't move away, and we simply walk past them.

If everyone used thermals and night vision with the diligence and purpose that you do, I would be rethinking my overall ideas on usage. It's a complex discussion. Right now Im hunting an area that's getting some form of night hunting on public land, and the activity is so blatant that they are spray painting markers and putting reflectors along a bloody bulldozed trail to find their way in. Last time we spent a night in there you could hear the gunshots along the road at 2 am. given the lack of respect for the DOC rules, Im not convinced the safe firearms practices are being followed either, and so I don't wish to set up a camp for a night close too the area. So part of my non use of thermal is about not impacting other sensible public land users.

And In a few weeks Im going to head a bit further afield too check out some of the high population areas. When I do, I won't be holding back on ammo usage. Because I think in those areas, it's not really about thermal use, but more about actually shooting the deer you see. Not holding out for a better one or only shooting what you can carry.

Yep, there's always more there than you ever see. Their ability to hide and detect you is fantastic.

good on ya whanahuia you are out there getting amongst them tractor season finish soon and my turn