Thread: To the Hill

After reading about other forum member's and there first deer I thought i'd start a thread on my journey to getting my first.
I don't no when that will be or if it will ever happen ...... I am a newbie to deer stalking and am loving every bit of it so far !
I have done 2 trip's down to the Pureora's and 6 trip's into the Kaimai's over the last 4 month's.
I am very unfit and have next to no bush experience but am working my gut's out to fix both those issue's

The Kaimai's is my home bush you could say as it's not far from where I live so I will make the most of it. Out of the 6 trip's ive only taken the rifle twice, The other 4 were just for getting out and being in the bush. It's an awesome place up there ! I have been in from wairere fall's, Te tuhi track and from the top of s/h29.

Best luck so far was last weekend, Up at 5.30am, Picked my mate up and headed to the Kaimai's and into the bush. By 7.15am I had found fresh sign, and spooked my first deer ! it was on a main track and wasn't even ready for it ! Finally we got to where I wanted to go then went off track. Started going slow and by 8.15am I was onto my 2nd deer ! It was a bit of laugh really as I could hear something but couldn't make out what it was, Out of the corner of my mate's eye he seen it's ass over the side of a small drop .... We waited for a bit then next thing this small tree started swaying side to side, stop for a bit then carried on, We watched it do this for almost 2mins ! Boot's off and I walked round and over top of it to get a better look and hopfully a shot ! But sadly no it must of winded me and it crashed off through the bushes. Bugger haha.

Over the past week I have talked to a couple of good mate's and got some more advice. Anyone else on here that want's to throw in there 2c is more than welcome Time for a quick snooze then up at 5am and back to the hill .........................

Go slow and keep ya wits. Good luck

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My mate Stagslayer missed one at 260yrd sitting down so go get em deersies

You're off to a good start bro! Look forward to seeing you post up the photo of your first kill!

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Good on ya BushHunter.

Advice given to me by my old man when I was starting was

Once you find the sign Move Slowly and Stop Often.

Once you think your moving slowly enough Slow Down Some More.

Use your Ears Twice As Much as your eyes.

Keep the Wind in Your Face

Every deer spooked is an opportunity to learn.

And don't give up.

Only time in the bush will teach you these things.

Have Fun .... It wont take long to get your first one.

Cheers
Pete

Cheer's guy's

Yesterdays trip : Up at 5, Waited for my ride, Got to te tuhi car park, Meet 2 other hunter's from Auckland, Had a bit of a yarn with them, They had left Auckland at 3am ! They got up the hill before us.
We got to the top and headed off to a stream I wanted to look at. Didn't see any deer today, Just a lot of sign and even some fresh print's found on the way back over a area that we had gone slow on that morning. Still it was very good day out !

Found a old trap along our travel's to.



Good view.

If you are finding fresh sign you're in the right place. Keep that wind in ya face

Originally Posted by BushHunter

Cheer's guy's

Yesterdays trip : Up at 5, Waited for my ride, Got to te tuhi car park, Meet 2 other hunter's from Auckland, Had a bit of a yarn with them, They had left Auckland at 3am ! They got up the hill before us.
We got to the top and headed off to a stream I wanted to look at. Didn't see any deer today, Just a lot of sign and even some fresh print's found on the way back over a area that we had gone slow on that morning. Still it was very good day out !

Found a old trap along our travel's to.



Good view.

Good stuff Bushhunter.

If you picked up fresh sign then you only just missed them.

Time to head back to where that sign was and sit and wait for an hour or three and watch and listen.

I'm sure you will get onto something soon.

Be patient and it will happen.

Cheers
Pete

just keep going out....don't give up.. every trip is worth the effort. u will get one, one day for sure.

Cheer's guy's
I will be heading back out this weekend for another look but on the other side this time. Then probably back to that spot the weekend after that.
Wind in face, Go slow, Look, Sit tight, Listen ...... So keeeen.

All good BH, be patient, i know its not easy, im after my first too.......

Up at 4am, Pissing down with rain but had a quick feed then headed to the hill anyway. (Off old Kaimai road this time).
Turned out not to bad, Rained for the first part of the morning then fined up by lunch.
Seen nothing today but a lot of sign, And came across a nice clearing or two.
Oh an someone gutted a deer in the car park !

Looks like a mint spot

Originally Posted by Dundee

Looks like a mint spot

Wait till you step inside the bush... damn thick!

Originally Posted by Dundee

Looks like a mint spot

Yeah that's what we thought too, Good place for a trail cam ....

Originally Posted by phillipgr

Wait till you step inside the bush... damn thick!

Oh yes, It defiantly was in most of it, Some places opened up a little, Pretty cool in there.