Thread: Seeking Advice - Persevere, change location, try for something else

So I am an unaccomplished late start hunter, 48 yo and only really been heading out over the last 18 months. I have had several trips out the back of the Coleridge area in Canterbury based out of the 4wd. Seen a few animals but either haven't got onto them without winding them or it's been too dark to shoot. Still got a big fat zero on the board.

My question for the forum hive mind is should I continue to persevere in the same location, change it up and try somewhere else to rule out the area I have been trying, or go try for some wallabies or goats to build confidence (bit of a longer drive). Other option was a guided meat hunt to get the first under the belt but that is quite cost prohibitive.

Like when I started fly fishing it takes a while to crack the code but I feel I have a cloud over me that I need to remove like bad Juju or something.
Get one, you know you can get another is what I am feeling

Look forward to some feedback.

Cheers
Liam

Go and try somewhere else, you can always go back. It pays to have several hunting areas that you rotate through. I have about 5 areas I regularly hunt from Kaikoura to the McKenzie country.

I’m not much more “accomplished” than you and in a similar position. Having started late and not having a lot of guidance but have a few on the board. If you’re seeing animals and can get close enough for them to wind you I’d stick around the area you are and maybe change your approach. If I see animals in a spot I just assume I’m the problem if I can’t get them. I may be wrong but that’s my 2 cents


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If you're finding animals, you're halfway there already. Hunting in my own experience is ALL about patience and perseverance. If the animals are there, plenty of fresh sign then you've just got to get yourself into a good position and .....wait. If there's no or little sign then get walking until you find some, Google Earth is great for spotting likely spots, I use it frequently. I still haven't bagged a veni on public land and I'm over 2 years in but I'm getting better at finding them and have shot a number on stations that I've been invited onto.

Not every hunt is successful but every hunt will teach you lessons, especially if you're paying attention. I'd say keep doing what you're doing and it'll come together but also find an experienced hunter to take you under their wing, they are a mine of hard earned knowledge that you can milk to your own benefit and may will be willing to take you out to a known spot. Hunting isn't complicated but neither is it a simple as "went for a walk, saw a deer, shot it, came home"

Coleridge is a very broad area, but it does hold a lot of deer. It sounds as though you need to change up how you are approaching it.

The main river(s) can be productive but generally the deer are waiting for the cover of darkness to venture out – get up the side creeks a bit, glass the slips and you’ll see a lot more. Just have to have that wind working for you.

Mate your just up the road and plenty of great hunting all around you. Keep at it.slow down.let binos do the work in open country. Your seeing animals already,now work out how to get wind right and get close enough to make shot count. Just like that first bonk...... Took lots of work but it was much more simple afterwards lol. My roster doesn't leave my much free weekend space this time of year but get in touch may,June if want to go for wander with me.

There is nothing wrong to exploring new territories and marking interesting spots with gps.
But, when ever I want to go for a hunt, anywhere, I check the forecast and the direction of the wind and then decide which place I will hunt and which direction I will do my approach. That is before even leaving my house. Pick your day for the battle and you will be fine.
If you have already seen and scared animals, you are doing a lot better than some beginners I know for whom it took 4 years before getting their first real wild deer.

I too started late, later than you mid fifties, have shot deer with other people, goats on private land, two Chamois solo on public but still trying for my first solo public land deer. I'm looking for new areas and have some plans just need the weather to play.

thanks team some great advice coming through and great to see I'm not the only one! Keen to hear peoples thoughts on the value of day/evening hunts vs 2/3 day trips. I haven't given the day hunts a go
@mickyduck may take you up on that in the new year.
@Hayden C lets call it the upper Avoca area and I've been working my way around a specific side creek over the last couple of trips
@stug thanks might be time to change it up

Hello Liam, dont go for a hunt with MD, hes too slow and with all the rests he needs will talk you to boredom.
Best advice youll ever get is this, plan a weekend mish on map(pick good weather)
Walk in in the dark to a marked spot on fri, hopefully youll wake up amongst deer if not go further along and pick a spot that looks the berries, lots of deer sign, camp out of the way and be there right on dark and dawn. Best of british.

Keep at it and doesn't hurt to have lots of different spots. I am new to hunting too and I have systematically covered every square km within my local area in the last six months. Getting the lay of the land has really helped and I'm seeing deer every time I'm out. In saying that probably done about 60-80 hrs per deer shot so far!

@liam_s

Your experiences are typical of new hunters.

Best to stick with 1 or 3 areas and get to know them well.
If you see 1 deer, most likely 4 or 5 in the area that you didn't see.
Look for areas deer are using, then find a spot where you can wait and watch.(wallows, rubs trails, sunny spots, the lee out of the cold wind, feed areas, water points) Yes, binos are good too. Bit of foam to sit on. Sometimes I even take a folding seat. Lol

Take your time, walk very very slowly if deer are likely about. The breeze is super important.
Enjoy the day out. Be patient. I often listen to music on the mobile while I wait and watch.
Good luck.

Might be your footsteps, if I'm in the bush and someone is near I can easily hear them 100m away. And these are animals that evolved over tens of millions of years to listen out for a snapped twig

stay there if your spotting animals that's 80%of the hunt plus there will be 5 times as many as your are seeing.your just making some mistakes think of how you can be in positions where when the animal makes a mistake(they will)ie come out a bit early or stay out a bit to long after light break you are ready to swoop.

Hi Liam, if you haven't shot a wallaby or goat yet, then that'd be worth the drive and will help get your confidence up.

Going out for some wallabies will give you a heap of opportunities and time on the gun, which means you'll be more in tune with your set-up when it comes to deer. Even the small things like getting set up quickly, quietly and efficiently help a lot when hunting deer.