Search for the Holy Grail of deer
When it comes to hunting one thing i enjoy most is not actually going bush and getting a deer but exploring new places and areas in search of that hidden deer gem thats out there somewhere, what i call the holy grail.
As i just hunt DOC, and dont travel miles and miles generally from home base theres lots of hard yakka and miles of areas to go in search of places that hold animals.
Ive done ok, i hunt many places that i have a chance of a animal, and some the odds are in my favour i get one bush stalking so been happy.
Still, going to yet another new spot always excites me more, be it if animals are in there or not so thats what i have used by energy on this years winter hunting on.
For a change, and i thought it could lead me to the Holy grail was to get a foresty permit for the first time and hunt areas in DOC that without one you cant access easily.
These Doc Blocks that back onto foresty, vast areas that may had limited hunting i thought could hold good numbers of deer and in the last couple of weeks i been on a mission.
Last two hunts i have hunted areas of DOC that needs abit of effort to get to, thru foresty and then hard slogs stalking back into the native and both areas i thought would be great but i was wrong.
First one was locked of, no drive access but ok by foot. Bit of a walk and come to the native, that was steep but looks the good and had high hopes of animals.
Long story short, yes, there were a couple of deer in the native, the wind blew it for me when a animal crashed away from 40 yards. Overall thou, this wasnt the Holy grail, the bush was abit too thick for good bush stalking , and deer sign was average but still, was a good day and nearly got a animal.
The second hunt was a huge surprise for me. this area has had access problems in the past, even thou theres a public easement road leading to DOC thur the foresty.
i really thought i do great here, the bush requires a trek though some knarly pine trees then a steep climb then you into native that goes for miles. Honestly, this was the best native for bush stalking
i have ever seen. Open, but plenty of cover, good feed around, it was amazing but fu k me, five hours, yes, five hours it took me to find one piece of deer shit.
Yes, its rained hard in the week, but i couldnt find a mark of a deer or a pig in hours in some of the best looking country ive been in for a long time.
Even worst, i saw 3 birds in 3 hours and the bush had hardly any bird song.
Yes, this wasnt the Holy Grail for deer. i have no doubt 1080 as killed the place . The lack of animals in a out of it place surprised me and the lack of life in there the only thing i can say is 1080.
I know it was done, but it was quite awhile ago so i just didnt understand but the deer in here are generally fallow so maybe they just have been wiped out, sad but true.
Anyway, im likely to head to a new spot in DOC again tomorrow, even thou i could go to another couple of spots i know for certain i see a deer. Its not all about getting a animal for me.
Exploring and just seeing different country and bush is great.
What keeps me excited about the search of deer heaven is i have found it once. My spot X. Took me a year of hunting that DOC block and travelling further and further back i discovered the Holy Grail.
Nobody had hunted that area for years, there were deer everywhere. Shoot one, then on walk out turn down another couple as one was always enough.
Ive shot more deer in that block than anywhere. Some good stags, it was great. Started to manage it more, didnt go there often at all but other hunters got wind of it, 1080 came and screwed it over .
Left it alone for quite some time, deer numbers went way down but i know the place like the back of my hand.
I only go in there once in spring, once in the roar and maybe if i really need a deer but thats hasnt happened in quite a awhile.
Its still my spot x. I still get a animal in there but its not the HOLY Grail anymore.
The search continues..........
