Thread: Hunting spots done a complete 360 on us

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Like @oneshot says, this time of year is when the hinds go into cover to wait out the last part of their term before they drop their fawns. They'll be in small groups, separate from stags and spikers. They don't move around much and are very very shy. That would explain the relative lack of sign.

Where I hunt last week in 8 days I didn't see a single hind, whereas 4 weeks previously they were happily browsing in the open. Saw only stags and spikers in pairs.

I leave hinds alone at this time of year. Pest or no pest, its not cool to take out hinds that have just dropped a fawn. That's my take on it, others might disagree, fair enough. Until late Dec / early Jan you won't see the fawns, especially in the Kaimais.

If you have the opportunity to be selective, do so, its a good feeling to be able to leave an animal for the right reasons. If you can, go for spikers. Not the best time of year for them either, condition wise, but they are losing their winter coats now and will stack on the condition. I live on the edge of the Kaimais and the grass came away a month early this year after the wet but warm winter we've had.

That makes two of us, I don't shoot hinds with new fawns or are ready to drop, plenty of yearling meat around to be selective.