SIka - regularly whisted at - no deer taken - tips?

Hey team,

I have been putting in time in the Kaimanawa's (Clements Mill) trying to learn areas, learn where Sika might be, and how to stalk them.
After a number of trips down I have managed to find plenty of sign, and have bumped six Sika now - only seeing two of them. I am yet to have a chance at a shot.

So far I have determined that the best time to find them is either early morning just after light if you are in position, or the last couple of hours of the day.

I have never found any really open areas where it would be possible to sit and glass - mostly pretty close bush (albeit more open than the Kaimai's). We try to move slowly and as quietly as we can when in areas with good sign, and have also tried sitting still in places that seem to have high traffic to see what might move.

As it's a fair amount of travel etc to get down there I probably need to get one soon to keep the boss happy - any advice on what i'm missing?

Seems you are getting on to them, just that they on to you before them ha ha...
Wind Wind Wind... and slow down.
Keep going you will get one sooner or later.. Keep working the spots you are bumping them, as you know they in the area. Try approaching from a new angle keeping wind in your face.

Persistence in finding a spot and getting to know it will pay off for many years to come. If you keep moving spots you may hit it lucky but I suggest you keep exploring the same spot and slowly expand the range you hunt into newer spots.

Also you can choose to move quicker when there is little sign or dead areas and slow right down in the good areas or where sign starts to increase.

It sounds like you are on the right track. There is no golden nugget unfortunately, if you stay at it you will start succeeding.

Getting good at sika hunting takes years. The key is to know the areas inside out, if you're moving and they're not they'll get the better of you 90% of the time. I reckon with sika hunting you need to do it regularly to almost keep your eye in as you do with shooting. I've moved down south the last couple of years and managed a hunt up there a few months ago, I found I was definitely rusty after not hunting them for 2 years.

I was told by very experienced sika hunters to go slow from the get go..and then slow down even more...best weekend I saw 21 sika and shot two..both of which were fully recovered....I miss being squealed at...these south island reds dont even bark very often... slow down,sit down,get binos out and scan the bush...move slowly and quietly and repeat...sooner of later it will just click into place...and as others have said...wind is vital...carry ciggy lighter in hip pocket,keep checking and move accordingly.

Greetings Shadowsol,
All the advice you need is in the last 4 posts. Sika are great animals to hunt as they are so vocal. The meat tastes great too. One thing keep an eye on your back trail as well. They can follow you around and sneak past you while you are looking the other way. Please don't ask how I know this.
Regards Grandpamac.

one fella I know well,used that to his advantage...he stalked thrrough a clearing and "dropped something" in middle of it then carried on to vantage point where he could overlook said clearing.......

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

I was told by very experienced sika hunters to go slow from the get go..and then slow down even more...best weekend I saw 21 sika and shot two..both of which were fully recovered....I miss being squealed at...these south island reds dont even bark very often... slow down,sit down,get binos out and scan the bush...move slowly and quietly and repeat...sooner of later it will just click into place...and as others have said...wind is vital...carry ciggy lighter in hip pocket,keep checking and move accordingly.

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Yeah I've mostly given up deer hunting since I've been down here, taken up pig hunting instead.

Like what everyone said. Slow down sit and wait over likely areas. I started using binos. They definitely helped. A) you can see into the darker areas and b) you have to be stopped to use them.
Keep at it.
You might want to consider walking in for an hour or so and fly camping.

Many years ago I met two guys who had hunted sika a lot. They told me if they got whistled at on their walk in, they dropped a pack and carried on walking around the next corner of the track. A few minutes later they would sneak back and often shoot a sika sniffing at the pack.
I didn't even get whistled at in the weekend, and the only deer I saw had been dead several weeks!

I’m still very new to hunting sika but I love it! They are such clever vocal animals. When we head out if we can find a nice big open area we will sit and glass for hours and hours at first light and last light.. I was told by some good people on here to move slowly and if you think your going slow go even slower, If I find a track with High traffic sign I’ll find somewhere to sit and again sit for hours. I also found sticking to the same area and getting to know it really well helps too. All of the above has seemed to worked pretty well for us so far.

I hunt them the same as I hunt in the kaimais. Slooooow as and quietly. Find the hot spots and stick to them. Dont waste time in dead areas

Get out straight after a couple of days of solid rain, that's the closest you get to finding an easy sika.

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Originally Posted by tetawa

Get out straight after a couple of days of solid rain, that's the closest you get to finding an easy sika.

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Good advice there,I try and time my hunts after a couple solid days of rain.they are crafty,I saw 3 in the weekend no more than a km from Clements mill rd and still didn’t get a shot away..I’ve only been hunting the area for 30yrs though..

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

one fella I know well,used that to his advantage...he stalked thrrough a clearing and "dropped something" in middle of it then carried on to vantage point where he could overlook said clearing.......

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Maybe something like a piece of fruit?

I've heard a phone with an alarm set to go off works well. Haven't tried it though.

Without doubt the hardest method of hunting is the Bush stalking method.... but it has its rewards!

You will see alot of the guys who have the need to shoot and kill will often sit on the other hill and shoot into another hill.... an say it wasa successful hunt.. thats cool for them

but being on the Ground, right in the Zone and sneaking along with the aim of becoming part of the furniture and getting the one up on a very elusive little deer , is quite rewarding.

Difficult it is!
many fundamentals have been covered here but dont be affraid to go back to some articles around "still hunting" animals like American whitetail for example... there is often tricks and tips which can help in sealing the deal in close.

its to be expressed- that still hunting or bush stalking can be very very frusterating............... though i feel its best for hands on, knowing ya animals and seeing the country.

enjoy

@Rees yeah ive learnt a fair few things from youtube videos by searching 'still hunting'. Lots of tips out there on even just how to place your foot on the ground. Moving slowly is surprisingly difficult on the muscles, so getting those quads hardened and losing some fat off the belly definitely helps (still working on that myself). Only been out bush stalking for deer about 4 times and failed every time but gotta keep trying!

you mention "we", how about hunting on your own a bit- that may help.If theyre whistling at you, they've either seen you- or smelt you-or heard you. Either way- slow down earlier. Every time I relax I bump them-usually going too fast.