Thread: Hello, and any tips to gain bush confidence?

If the OP takes his sleeping bag and a cover / fly just sleep where you finish in the evening and walk out in the morn

Originally Posted by Cigar

I'll add another rule: Always take a headlamp or torch, even if you are just ducking out for a quick morning hunt.

yes I auto assumed he would take one - the torches now have really changed my hunting - back in seventies eighties we avoided dark like the plaque - now with a couple of LED Lensers one head lamp one hand held no hesitation to come out several hours after dark ( known route of course ) I have always liked that bit attributed to Daniel Boone I AINT NEVER BEEN LOST BUT I BEEN DAMN CONFUSED

I suggest getting to know one particular area well rather than going to lots of different locations to hunt. As you become familiar with one piece of ground, push a little further. Work on your spacial awareness by taking in your surroundings from all perspectives. Look back every now and again at where you have come from otherwise when you turn around to go home everything will look different going the other way.

The trees wont harm you. They are benign. Its our minds that play the tricks. Stay calm in all situations. Don't rush.

Don't be afraid of being caught out for a night. In unfamiliar ground far better to be curled up safe but cold under a space blanket than blundering around in the dark and hurting yourself. I used to tell my boys that the night wont hurt them. "Its exactly the same as daytime except the air is a different colour" I would say.

Agree about carrying a torch. This is what I carry when I don't intend to be out after dark. It's a Fenix E12 V2. Brightness and burn time are impressive and has a clip which attaches to a cap turning it in to a head torch.

Watch the utube link posted earlier and subscribe to Shays patron.
The guy is a true bushman and speaks in an easy manner without ego or fanfare.

Watch the 5-10 day weather forcasts.Big highs coming over from auz.make it easy to plan your hunting in good weather.They let you know that any rivers,streams you going to cross wont be rising quickly on you.Stops you making dodgy decisions in crossing them.

Just a thought on streams as navigation aids. Up here, some streams which appear on maps are non-existent or just a bit of boggy bush. Others aren't marked at all. We don't have many proper rivers passing through DOC land, so it can get quite confusing.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Watch the utube link posted earlier and subscribe to Shays patron.
The guy is a true bushman and speaks in an easy manner without ego or fanfare.

I am going to subscibe myself, never too old to learn more. I shoot plenty of deer, but I probably have only 10 -15% of Shays bush hunting skill set. He is a machine

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

I am going to subscibe myself, never too old to learn more. I shoot plenty of deer, but I probably have only 10 -15% of Shays bush hunting skill set. He is a machine

Yep I subscribed a while back. For the same coin as a hunting magazine, I get a lot more out of it. He seems to put a lot of effort in to researching the topic and sharing the knowledge.
He'd make an awesome teacher I reckon.

Originally Posted by Ned

Yep I subscribed a while back. For the same coin as a hunting magazine, I get a lot more out of it. He seems to put a lot of effort in to researching the topic and sharing the knowledge.
He'd make an awesome teacher I reckon.

I like his gentle disposition and understated humbleness.

Such a contrast to the cult hero Josh and his macho bullshit with his kids. I like the hunting and outdoors aspects but the rest makes my skin crawl.

One thing I'll add it that the majority of deaths in the bush come from drownings, respect the water and be prepared to wait for river levels to go down.

And always use a decent wading stick when crossing water.

There is a tale of a guy that slipped when crossing a river and his knee connected with a rock. What looked like a tiny nick just below his kneecap was actually a severed tendon. Game over, unless you have a PLB or get lucky and someone from Land SAR happens upon you.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I like his gentle disposition and understated humbleness.

Such a contrast to the cult hero Josh and his macho bullshit with his kids. I like the hunting and outdoors aspects but the rest makes my skin crawl.

Josh has wide appeal and a large following because he is not just about hunting - he is actually all about entertainment and a certain type of humor to keep it interesting. A similar style of self deprecating and mocking, urine extracting humour as Russel Brand has perhaps, but mixed with cooking, gardening, fishing, kids, dogs and home life creating a broad interest base.
No where near the hunting skill set that Shae has but more viewers. Regardless, he has some clever tricks to share

Originally Posted by 223nut

One thing I'll add it that the majority of deaths in the bush come from drownings, respect the water and be prepared to wait for river levels to go down.

I am surprised that there are not more, based on the terrible spots to cross example we see people on youtube and TV making crossings

A walking stick will save your knees for later on in life. Downhills are a bitch.