Thread: DOC land - The real Hunters bragging rights?

As I get more into hunting, it becomes obvious to me, that there are two types of hunters. Those that hunt and get animals on Doc land and those that have access to farm/private land, for their successful kills.

When I started hunting around 18 months ago, I saw so many hunters showing photos of multiple deer hunted and bagged in an evening, let alone a 2-3 day trip.

One guy I know (3 guys hunted in total), had 7 deer gutted and on the back of their utes within 5 hours. I thought this looks great!

As I plod through acres and acres of Doc land without seeing so much as a single animal, I now realise that the reality is a lot different.

I’m not against people getting easy access to game on private or farmers land whatsoever. I think it’s fantastic. But is there a case to be made that someone who can hunt successfully and get their meat on Doc land are really the true hunters?

I know this is different depending on where you’re located in the country, however from talking to a lot of other hunters, it just doesn’t seem as easy as what I thought it was going to be.

Things like Helicopter Culls and 1080 drops seem to be wiping out a lot of deer, at least in the areas that I normally Hunt.

What are others thoughts and experiences on this? I’m not trying to create any derisiveness about hunting on different types of land, but it sure would be good to at least see an animal let alone shoot one on Doc land!

Ps - Am absolutely loving hunting and will continue my strolls through the barren lands ever hoping to spot at least a rabbit …

You've got it dead right.

Evening shoot usually means spot lighting.

I only hunt DoC land, only because I don’t have private land to hunt on though. I certainly wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to hunt private land. I bumped into 4 hunters in the bush this roar!!
DoC land is definitely a lot more challenging but I guess it’s a lot more rewarding when you do get an animal.

What DOC blocks are you hunting?

Hunting competitions as well.

I hunt both, there is a huge difference between farm hunting and paddock hunting.
Some of the farms I hunt/have hunted are no less challenging than DOC land. The biggest plus to private land is being reasonably confident Noone else is there when you are.
I rarely venture onto public land during the roar as it's just too busy (part of the reason I hunt is the fact that I can get away from busy).
If that means I don't hunt during the roar, that's ok, sometimes I'm lucky...sometimes not.
Any wild animal taken can be a trophy no matter where it lives, private doesn't always mean easy.
Plenty of animals on DOC land (where do you think animals on private land come from ?)
Yes it's nice to have access, but you will find animals on DOC land if you put the time in to learn an area.
My 2 cents

i manly hunt public land as im to lazy to talk to farmers and there's more deer on the public now than ever . there's lots of places that have little or no animals but go a few k in another direction and there's heaps . it can take a while to learn what to look for in a spot but once you work it out you can go somewhere and a have a reasonable chance of seeing something. try new spots have a good look if nothing doing/no sign try somewhere else till you either see an animal or sign then go back a few times .

I put way more personal value on DOC/public land hunting than private especially the trophy aspect. I have access to both but constantly find myself drawn towards the public land. Personally preference

otherway of looking at it "is if your not suffering a little are you really having fun?" i suffer alot more on public land than on private

The biggest difference I see is that private land is subject to more stringent, (but sometimes more random) management. Who hunts there, when they hunt, what they can hunt, how many and what animals can be taken. If you have the privilege to hunt private land that is well managed, there is a far greater opportunity to find what you want. Not many land owners will let just anybody go on their land and shoot whatever they want, as is the case with most DoC estate.

Having hunted public land for just over 50 years, and had the privilege to hunt private land for a few years shy of 50, I have to say I've met hundreds of guys that I would regard as hunters regardless of where they hunt. Real hunters, hardcore at times, from both private and public areas. And its not difficult for many of us to know the difference between hunters and shooters, and I've seen both on both private land and public land.

Lets not divide ourselves into hunters versus real hunters, but we do need to be well aware of what is a shooter and those that have progressed on to become hunters. Most of us can look back and say with confidence the day when we knew we became a hunter. And we shouldnt lose sight that there are plenty of guys and girls out on the hill wanting to progress in to real hunting, for all the right reasons. We need to foster this for the sake of our sport.

Mrfants, I'm reasonably confident that if you continue to head out hunting, possibly on public land, that it will all fall in to place and you will find animals, you will take home the venison or the pork, and one day you will turn to yourself and say "today I became a hunter". its not about the kill, its about the journey.

Well said @Husky1600#2
We need more comments from people like you

Mrfants you have to be hunting the wrong areas- how much money ya got- pick a DOC area even two close together - hire a cheap helicopter- it will likely be a R22 Robbinson - go for a fly over your area just before dark or first thing in morning a little two seat fixed wing will do it but the pilots of those usually reluctant to get down in height - this will put you way ahead in terms of where deer could be located - something needs to change my boy- either someones gives you some decent info on deer for you to go after or expand your search - I learnt Taranaki deer by looking down from 200 feet but then I did not have to pay either - but keep hunting same areas and seeing nothing one way ticket to bored hunter

There are not 2 types of hunters. There are many types of hunters, and many types of opportunities. Save your judgements for when you know the hunter. Where he hunts is of no consequence.