Thread: Could it be so simple?

Originally Posted by Moutere

The OP suggested posed a really poinient question, even if adopted as only a personal limitation it does have a lot of merit.
This should be a positive discussion where new ideas are encouraged.
The solution lies with individuals at its root level, constructive discussion will broaden everyone's awareness and enhance personal safe guards regarding this matter.
My question is.... will you share any simple personal checks and processes you apply in identifying your quarry?

As said above, I can't remember the last time I went out just to shoot something, I'm always targeting a particular animal.. Generally Spring I will be looking for a well conditioned younger animal, Feb/roar will be looking for a stag that I would be happy to carry the head out a fair way along with the meat. In winter if I need meat then I will smack most things but as above I'm still fully identifying a guessed age and sex cause I don't want to end up with an old skinny hind.

I am now a strictly a trophy hunter during the winter months. It is now the only time I will bother to bush hunt.

I do not hunt bush during the warmer months as there is no need.

Hunting country I know will produce the class of animal I want is the first step.
I halve my time actually looking for animals by reading the sign. If I see sign that interests me I will try and get a look at the animal making it.
If I catch up with it, I want to get a bloody good look at it.
I am admittedly not that sharp at assessing them and have underestimated animals in the past. So I am never in a rush.

I am also fully aware the percentages of seeing a deer I want are really low in the first place as they are extremely rare.
When I started out trophy hunting 10 years ago I was hunting with someone who has been doing it his whole life. I have ton of respect for this bloke. He told me of a big 10 he seen 2 years before in an area we were hunting. He was sure if it was alive it would be a good one.
Long story short I found it and it was better than expected. To this day he is still the largest red I have seen on foot since I have been hunting.
Anyway, a comment made by my mate was in the back of my mind as I watched this stag from 50 meters in open beech forest. "What ever you do , don't shoot it in the head ya filthy meat shooter, you will trash the head skin."

I could have shot this stag in the head 50 times over in the amount of time I spent watching it. I didn't, out of fear of dissappointing my mate. I never got that animal.
Knowing what I do now, I really regret not drilling him behind the ear.😆

Since then I have only seen maybe 2 deer that I would want. One never showed back up and the other has someone else's name on it.
But I am in no hurry and all going well I will find one in the next 20 years😆





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Its pretty simple don't shoot people