Learning to hunt successfully

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Originally Posted by Bobthewannabehunter

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 join

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by canross

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.

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.

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Will have to find my local deer stalkers and look at joining up, cheers for the insight