Thread: Book recommendations for a new aspiring average hunter.

While waiting for the FAL to come through I got this book out at the library by Graeme Marshall and Don MacDonald.I don't read too much but I'm already 50 pages in. Which means it must be good.



There are some recommendations in the back of the book are there any you would suggest or some that aren't in the book?



I think I've put this in the right forum.

That's a pretty good list indeed.fourth n fifth definitely worth reading again and again.the third one is quite good too,author kicks around on here at times too.

I thought that the Red Deer in New Zealand - Roger Lentle, Frank Saxton was quite a good read. I don't think it's in print anymore but there are currently multiple copies on Trademe. There is a lot of in-depth info on tracking etc. A lot more info than I have ever used practically but the main points that have been useful to me were:

Be very careful of wind, never let a deer come downwind of you or they will be off like a rocket. If the wind is very light in the bush you can pick up some fine powder from hunting and fishing etc which bowhunters use to squirt into the air (bit like smoke) and its real good for seeing where the wind is going.
Be wary of catabatic winds. Usually flows downslope before dawn and switches to up slope as the day heats up.
Be up very early or late afternoon evening to find deer. Not much around in the middle of the day. Helps to camp near a good area to be there at the right times.
Deer seem to feel safer in foggy, cloudy weather for some reason and are out more
Be very careful poking your nose over ridgelines or you will spook deer. Your sillouhette is very obvious on the skyline.
Learn where to actually shoot a deer. Look at diagrams of shot placement to hit the heart and lungs. I found the first few deer I was so excited I couldnt think straigh enough for precise shot placement. Just go for the front shoulder in that case as long as you are running a good deer calibre rifle.
Of course always ID your target!!!! Its easy to get mega buck fever when you first start out. Spend a long time pondering if you had to live with killing someones child/spouse/parent for the rest of your life because you heard some rustling in a bush. This is real good motiviation to just let it go if you arent 100% sure its a deer. At the end of the day you arent going to starve to death if you come home empty handed but your a hell of a long time in jail or a lifetime racked with guilt.

Probably more that I have forgotten. I think that book was written when deer were getting hammered by choppers out on the tops so it is quite focussed on bush hunting. I feel like there are more deer around now that when that book was written. Find a good youtube channel of some guys who hunt in your area. Thats a good way to get some more up to date tips on how the deer behave.

The Alex Gale one was not bad but it was focused a lot on how to prepare for a hunt and what to do when you get a deer, which is good stuff but at the time I was more focussed on actually finding a deer haha. The Chamois one was a good read too but I have yet to target chamois so cant comment on how useful the advise is.

Cheers,

Thanks guys, I don't think I'll have to read the book after that write up, thanks Juicy.

Barry Crump wrote some good books.

Red deer in nz is still in print.
Hunting smarter is also a good read. I learned a bit from that one.

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Stalking the seasons is a good one

Alex gale book

Roger Lentle recently put out another book on tracking deer and deer behaviour etc.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Barry Crump wrote some good books.

Telescopic sights strain the barrel, best stick to iron.

Yep, true. Many a case of barrel strain from shooting at things too far away.
When will people learn.

Originally Posted by Windy

Thanks guys, I don't think I'll have to read the book after that write up, thanks Juicy.

Get a successful mentor but if not that info and use your legs. I like the american version, its not all about the kill, enjoy the mountains.

I could lend you the saxton/lentil book but I want it back.

Check your local library, I got red deer in nz and stalking the seasons via waimakiriri libraries

Originally Posted by 16Tontovarish

Check your local library, I got red deer in nz and stalking the seasons via waimakiriri libraries

these were the two i were going to suggest, good reads