Thread: DOC land - The real Hunters bragging rights?

Ha Ha, I knew someone would crack.

Originally Posted by trapperjohn

Ha Ha, I knew someone would crack.

There's so much macho bullshit that goes on about hunting public land. I wish I had never trodden on the stuff.

We are all hunters here

I hunt hard on public land and happily hunt on private any chance I get...sometimes I refer to farm,as harvesting...but I've shot deer within dragging distance of car on public land too....and hunted for 5-6-7 hours and come home skunked too. It's all good ,if you not harming anyone and having fun.go to it.

Well said Husky. Hunting, and what a trophy is means something different to everyone. I’m a shepherd and everywhere I’ve worked over the years has had some hunting on it, some ok and some very good. At the moment where I work has shitloads of deer, so many in fact we get a helicopter in to tidy a few up. Probably a 150 a year. We’ve also got farmed deer so have stags hanging on the fence’s in the roar including some escape’s with some big heads. I shoot quite a few deer but it’s a bit easy and to be honest it gets a bit boring. I don’t shoot stags off fences because they mean nothing to me, but when someone does and are pretty stoked about it I compliment them on the head because to them it’s a trophy. It’s their trophy and that’s fine, each to their own. I shot a reasonable 12 on public land this year and that’s my trophy.I worked for it and that’s where the value is to me. Walking for days and camping above the bush and seeing a few animals is a joy for me, it’s how I want to spend my time. The flip side is I don’t have to, I can shoot one out the truck window but it’s no where near as rewarding. We should all remember it’s not a competition, and some people like to take the easy road while others amongst us find satisfaction in the effort that they put in. The effort is the trophy.

Some people get on to an area because an experienced actual "hunter" was dumb enough to show them where and how and in the case of private land, who. Then they go shoot there, be successful and claim the mantle "hunter". I lost access to private land because a bloke I loosely knew managed to get on with me and then went back a few times and claimed my "permission" to be there when the manager was "who the fuck are you"?

Leaving that comment in it's box, more important is learning how to hunt rather than learning a specific area: a hunter learns what causes animals targeted, to be in any given area at a given time, of day, of year - terrain, vegetation, prevailing weather patterns, life cycling and so on. You can find deer if you put thought into why you go where and when, plenty of the things about now. I can remember when it was hard, it will be hard again one day and it will be hunters that learn "how" rather than "where" still being successfull filling the freezer when it is.

Some private backblock land is every bit as difficult as some DOC conservancy land, some as easy as some conservancy land . I know a couple of blokes that wear jeans and gumboots, jump on the quad and roll up the back of the farm, shoot a couple of deer, back home in time to watch the evening news, do I care? nup.

For the OP: old saying: "comparison the the thief of joy" care less about others getting their deer, and focus on learning how to get yours.

Originally Posted by gimp

What DOC blocks are you hunting?

Around Craigieburn, Mingha-Deception, St James (South Island central area for others info). Did go to Molesworth and saw several deer but that was very deep in and on a Ballot block.


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Originally Posted by IamHackmeat

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 .

Good post and info TY.


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Originally Posted by Husky1600#2

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.

Thanks for the boost - I’m not trying to separate anyone my post title is more of an inner thought. I am doing my best to get out and visit areas where deer may be and am loving the journey.
But the day I get < 1 > deer on Doc land for my freezer is going to be a big celebration in my house. Trust me - I’m putting in the miles.


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Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

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

Yes I believe I am hunting the wrong areas as it’s been a ghost town for 18 months. I’m no hunter but am using all the knowledge around me to try my best.
I’ve been involved in a lot of sports over the years, but hunting has been the hardest in relation to getting information on good areas with deer population (I know, I know, you have to keep good areas to yourself).


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When I Started hunting at 16 it was 1969/70 , when heily hunting was in full swing in Southland/Fiordland and it was VERY hard to get a deer anywhere public or private .
I had just joined the NZDA as I thought that was my best chance , and it turned out it was . The NZDA was due to have it;s annual stag do , no mixed dine and dance back then lol .
Well it got to 2 weeks before the big do and no one has secured any venison it was so bad , so a group of us went up to Knobs Flat on the way to Milford for the weekend as a last chance .
Well who got the only deer ? yes me and I had to donate my first deer for the stag do . So I think doing the hard yards back then
when deer where very hard to find helped make you into a more careful bush hunter .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gND5zlmJA0&t=771s might help

Originally Posted by HILLBILLYHUNTERS

When I Started hunting at 16 it was 1969/70 , when heily hunting was in full swing in Southland/Fiordland and it was VERY hard to get a deer anywhere public or private .
I had just joined the NZDA as I thought that was my best chance , and it turned out it was . The NZDA was due to have it;s annual stag do , no mixed dine and dance back then lol .
Well it got to 2 weeks before the big do and no one has secured any venison it was so bad , so a group of us went up to Knobs Flat on the way to Milford for the weekend as a last chance .
Well who got the only deer ? yes me and I had to donate my first deer for the stag do . Attachment 274139Attachment 274140 So I think doing the hard yards back then
when deer where very hard to find helped make you into a more careful bush hunter .

Magic

Less walking,more glassing from a good vantage point. Especially the first and last hour of day light.Rest of the day,go home.Mountain river bed edges and grassy flats near water.That last or first hour of light is key time for when deer come out for a quick feed.They love green grass,you find that and watch.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

We are all hunters here

But then there's Philipo

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