Thread: Beginner Hunter - need advice

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

sorry Oldbbloke but I just dont agree with this as Churbay rightly says bush navigation is one of the most important skills to learn for bush hunting - ya not going to learn that wandering around farms shooting bunnys - one needs real bush time to gain confidence - or did you think deer would be in same area - no only on farms - completely different hunting our bush and shooting bunnys wallabys - the trick is to start small - learn the country from a topo map - which way the ridges and creeks lie - hunt one catchment alone untill you get condident - you must know where you are within the catchment - from a high point or the valley bottom watch for a north facing area with slips open areas and carefully stalk it early morning or late evening - learn your nz natives and what species deer like - in Waioeka Te Urewera one looks for Mahoe faces five finger pate fushia any grassy clearings open areas ( mean sun = feed ) yes deer will feed under say a tawa canopy but they will be constantly moving looking for mainly windfall leaves or new growth - bush hunting takes time to learn - the single biggest mistakes new hunters make is to hunt wrong area at wrong time ( a creek bed midday is not likely to produce a deer )or see a lot of sign and just keep going - when was that deer there and is it still there - when hunting in eighties deer were scarce one did not go past good sign one targeted that area

@Barry the hunter

I guess I wasn't very clear. My intent was to suggest he try easier game first. Perhaps pigs or as someone suggested goats. Then work up to deer after he gets a bit of experience.