Winter hunting?

Hey folks,

Just looking for a bit of advice for a first time going after deer.... in winter.
I've been bow hunting for about 6 months, been on a few goat hunts to build up the stalking and butchery skills. Sitting on 5 goats from the last 4 hunts.... now I'm looking for something bigger/tastier/more challanging.

So my questions are:
will it be harder find deer in winter?
what areas are better to look than others, valleys, tops, valley heads etc?
best time of day?
weather, i'm guessing similar to what goats like ..... not windy or rainy?

I'm in the Welly region so i'm guessing Tararua's, Aorangi's?
looking for stuff that not too dense, maybe a few open spaces to stalk in close 20-30m.


lots of questions but I like to have at least half a clue before heading out.

Look for the sun, that's where the deer will be. About 2/3 of the way up the hillsides, out of the wind. They won't be moving much so keep going until you hit fresh sign, then slow down.

Plus 1 for what Stug just said.

Plus 2 for what stug said

Find the feed, find the sun, find the deer... :-)

Use binoculars a lot. Keep glassing untill you see something.

Works for me!

cool, thanks guys.... should be enough to work off there ;)

Buy two books

'Red Deer in New Zealand' & 'Stalking the Seasons Round'

Both by Lentle & Saxton

Tons of knowledge and advice , mine have been well thumbed through

hope this helps

rr

Have a half day pass for next weekend - up there by 7 (not ideal but 14week old boy and new to me centerfire etc) I have a few spots in Arthurs I would like to check out. Not looking for a "where to go" more of where to look - this time of year. Flats and clearings have been my spring ticket, does it take too long for the sun to get to valleys? Is the bush line not growing? Any and all pointers appreciated - alternately what height to look for chammy? New guns going for a walk anyway.

i find hunting deer in the winter alot easier then the rest of the year, mind you in spring the buggers are everywhere. if youre looking at the aorangis give me a pm ill point you in a few good directions i used to hunt there alot with alot of sucess all year round and now iv moved to canterbury i no longer get to use those spots and my mates are too lazy to go where i used to. then again 2 days before i moved last week a mate and me shot 2 out of a group of 6 up in one of my hotspots.

Im in to the kaimanawas (cascade) on wednesday morning for 5 days. Will be the begginning of the cold snap. Think they will be moving towards winter spots or still feeding up sfter the rut? some good north facing guts up by the Kaipo saddle so was thinking I would start there.

Winter hunting in Kaimanawas...brrrrrrr. Need to be careful with gear selection and the weather especially if one of those southerly blasts comes through. I've hunted the Kaipo saddle in winter snow, beautiful conditions but uncomfortable in a tent. Stick to what stug said and stay around the sunny faces with good cover nearby. Good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sika stalker

Winter hunting in Kaimanawas...brrrrrrr. Need to be careful with gear selection and the weather especially if one of those southerly blasts comes through. I've hunted the Kaipo saddle in winter snow, beautiful conditions but uncomfortable in a tent. Stick to what stug said and stay around the sunny faces with good cover nearby. Good luck.

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haha yeah man, will be staying in a hut for that very reason, and will just be doing a bit of early morning track bashing to spots I would just usually fly camp in. Forcast is clear but looks fairly nippy. Hopefully itl keep em in the clearings and sunny spots

Sweed paddocks are good this time of year

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boaraxa

Sweed paddocks are good this time of year

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Not many sweed paddocks on public land[emoji1]

I am very proud of many of you guys in this forum, pretty much of all of you guys in this thread, giving great and a lot advise without give our "friend" a "hard time", even sharing some "secrets" for success.
Keep the good job guys, i wish i could help but as i already read in this thread i just learn a bit more.

Mac

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

Im in to the kaimanawas (cascade) on wednesday morning for 5 days. Will be the begginning of the cold snap. Think they will be moving towards winter spots or still feeding up sfter the rut? some good north facing guts up by the Kaipo saddle so was thinking I would start there.

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Ha Ha I are going in the 30/05/15 for 6 days and as the ten day forecast rolls in I have scored 6 days of rain .
Ah well better than sitting here at work in Africa

Good luck Zamkiwi and Nick-D. I might try get in there myself in a few weekends time for my first winter fly camp (are you nuts they say?).

Ill prob have to postpone mate, Got the feckin flu and its moved to my lungs, Can barely walk downstairs without getting puffed, sound like a 90 year old chain smoker. Not ideal. Where you thinking about heading?
Id be keen for a mad winter mission, might have to get a thermal bag liner though. haha.

Good luck Zam, shoot enough for the both of us.

So are these things to be looking for.... if I'm looking for deer.... or will I be chasing something else?

Attachment 36936Attachment 36937Attachment 36938

were they still warm and did they taste faintly of venison?if so target species has been in the area and you aren't to far behind.
hot barrels.....or in you're case tight string?dunno.....either way good luck bro

Not warm, didn't taste them :sick:
I don't think they were fresh, some had little white mold spores on them. also found nibbled grass in a clearing about 100m away... So I'm guess they were in the area and I'll be back with the bow and not the dog.

Don't listen to @madmaori I've seen this ploy before...
He's trying to Quirky Turkey you!


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From one of my daughter's fav story books: Ba Ba Smart Sheep by Mark and Rowan Sommerset.

hahaha that's awesome!!!

Something else to look out for for some reason this time of the year iv found quite big areas of five finger trees hammered if you can sus out where these trees areAttachment 36953Attachment 36954 deer mite not be far away

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

Ill prob have to postpone mate, Got the feckin flu and its moved to my lungs, Can barely walk downstairs without getting puffed, sound like a 90 year old chain smoker. Not ideal. Where you thinking about heading?
Id be keen for a mad winter mission, might have to get a thermal bag liner though. haha.

Good luck Zam, shoot enough for the both of us.

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going to North Arm but going for a bit of a wander out of there for a couple of days if weather plays the game.
sorry for the flu nothing worse.

We saw our stags out in -1 degree on friday nite at 11pm feeding quite contentedly. No hinds.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichieRich

Buy two books

'Red Deer in New Zealand' & 'Stalking the Seasons Round'

Both by Lentle & Saxton

Tons of knowledge and advice , mine have been well thumbed through

hope this helps

rr

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I have a copy of red deer in NZ you can borrow. Pm me your address and I'll courier it to you. You just need to courier it back once you're done.

just bought them, really good stuff..... guess its just more dirt time needed now

Find a area you want to get to know and go there as often as possible......learn the area inside and out and you'll produce venison eventually. This is my favorite time of year to hunt

Find the feed, find the sun, find the deer... :-)

Use binoculars a lot. Keep glassing untill you see something.

Works for me!