Thread: Where to hunt when wanting to consistently fill a LARGE Meat locker/freeza from Auck?

Have you had dogs before?
It's a big commitment (as I found out once I got one). Yes they definitely require daily exercise and attention, a bit like having kids.
Training then up to indicate requires a lot of time in the bush. With my bitch I followed the deer dog blue print for the first 6 months, but to be honest most of it is common sense if you have trained dogs before. Once she hit 8 months I have had her in the bush almost every weekend for the last two years and extended trips of 4-10 days as often as I can get away from work.

I have a Viszla crossed with Heading Dog and she is great at indicating deer, but very high energy and requires a lot of work.
A lot of other people I have met run a Viszla as well but the pure breds can be a bit 'soft' in the bush.

As for scopes, for bush hunting I use a shortened .308 with a 2-7 Leupold on it. Does the job and has done me out to 150m with clean kills with good shot placement. Scope light and compact enough not to get in the way when pushing through real dense bush.

I'm not sure about finding hunting partners to be honest, I tried attending a few local NZDA meetings but it seemed very cliquey to me and I had trouble meeting anyone who I thought was like minded and would be keen to get out and go hunting (could be the club, could be me?). Doesn't seem to have much in the way of club hunts etc going on either. I am going to try my luck at a new branch this year and see how it pans out.