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Hi all I started hunting around 2020 but have never had a successful trip after deer have paid for guided trips but am trying to pick one off doc land. Had a year off due to my first child coming along and unable to find time. I am now trying to get out a few times a year my first trip will be to Tongariro national park in a few weeks. I use a 7mm magnum will be great full for any advice that can be offered cheers
Look for areas with plenty of sign, if you find fresh sign follow it slowly and quietly :)
I've found a few decent clearings that I plan on glassing, down around ohakune side, would they be likely to head out in to the open this time of the year or would moving in to the bush be a better option? @inglishill
Either or, the biggest thing is finding the animals. gffffffffffffffffff5444444444 (my cats two cents worth as he walked over the keyboard) glassing works, looking for fresh sign works, listening for sounds in the bush works. I don't know this area so can not give specifics, just don't give up :)
Cheers for the advice hopefully I've picked a area to hunt the deer are in
I am sure there are people on here that know the area that might be willing to chip in with some area specific advise :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthewannabehunter
If you're time poor like many of us, I'd suggest joining the deerstalkers - they organize trips and put you in the same orbit as others that can help you get out in the right places to get animals.
The most difficult hunting you will ever do is within the vicinity of your keyboard
Get out there and familiarise yourself with your chosen area
Explore it until you can navigate it in the dark without anxiety, while enjoying this process you will often find the deer at first and last light.
About the 10th of May the reds will come back out onto the grass to feed up and put on condition for the coming winter, this makes spotting them that much easier. Sika maintenance feed through the roar but they do feed up with more intensity around the last days of May
...and do their HUNTS course if you want to learn.Quote:
Originally Posted by canross
Other then member ship fees do you have to pay for there group hunts? I've been thinking about joining up to my local deer stalkers, as they have a rang the is open most Sundays it's just the fees holding me back. Should really pull finger and joinQuote:
Originally Posted by canross
So true ain't going to shoot anything on the couch all computer, I've got next week off work so am heading out Monday, I've seen plenty of deer on previous trips, just been to slow to shoot, spooked a mob of 3-4 around piropiro flats. I've seen them every time I've been out just need to start shooting them nowQuote:
Originally Posted by 7mmsaum
What do they teach you on the hunts course? I've done one on skining, gutting and breaking down a deer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Basenjiboy
Sounds to me you’re hanging out in the right places, maybe you just need to slooowww down a wee bit.
Go back to piropiro and about, and sharpen your bushstalking skills.
The three essential tools are a good gps to mark the interesting spots and not getting lost.
A puffer bottle of chalk or flower for wind direction . And a pair of secateurs to sort out the supple jacks.
If you have already scared some animals, you are on the right path.
First one we stopped to have a smoke had wind on our face then got up to take a piss and 10m in front of me a stag got up out of a bush and was gone before I knew itQuote:
Originally Posted by Mararoa
Another time we where 100-150m from camp not expecting to see anything that close to us
Then there was the time in the kaimanawas and I had just left a hut looked to the left and I was being watched by 2 of them they bolted once they heard my bolt. I think I may need to open my eyes ��
It depends on the event - you pay for courses, but it's as much about connecting with people so when they organise a trip they invite you, or someone gives you a tip on a place to go, that kind of thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthewannabehunter
There are a lot of tricks to hunting You can be doing it 95% right but that missing 5% means you never see anything. Often you've got the signs or animals right in front of you but you aren't seeing them. Having someone experienced there to teach/point out/help really helps.
As someone who's been in the same position as you quite recently I can tell you that going out solo hunting takes time to get the animals. Over the last two years I've had A LOT of armed walks, the first few I saw nothing but as I talked to people and got an understanding of WHAT to look for and where, this, coupled with using google earth to spot likely spots on doc land has got me to places with plenty of sign and lately I've been finding the animals, just not within range, except that one time when two spikers wandered past me up above the Lindis whilst I was making a brew...and my rifle was over there--------------------->
Point being, the more I've gone out, the more I've seen and the more I've learned. I've brought meat home from high country stations but whilst DOC meat has eluded me thus far, it's time will come and in the meantime I'm enjoying the process, patience is key imo
Will have to find my local deer stalkers and look at joining up, cheers for the insightQuote:
Originally Posted by canross