Thread: 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.

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.

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

Originally Posted by Boaraxa

Sweed paddocks are good this time of year

Not many sweed paddocks on public land

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