Is this years Roar late, or over?

hi all, although im new to hunting, and having just spent 3 days in the Kaimanawas 'looking' for Sika stags, do you all reckon the long drought summer has wiped out this years roar?

didnt see one, heard a few 'hee-hawing' but they did not reply or come to challenge, saw a couple of hinds i disturbed in their beds, but didnt even get the chance to shoulder my rifle.....

talked to about 5-6 other hunters and they all said more or less the same, one group of three had been 'bush' for a week and had only got one between them....

have any of you more experienced hunters had this in the past? will it all start soon?.......

The 'roar' is a time of year that brings out the best and worst of both man and animal...the stags are going to root those hinds no matter what...whether they will roar while doing it is another matter. The stags are a nocturnal animal [or are happy playing around in the dark] and roar while the man sleeps...where as man thinks they should roar when it suits him. To be successful during the roar the hunter must adapt to nature. Man also thinks he can communicate with a wild animal just by blowing into a piece of pipe...you have to learn to talk their language.

You won't get Japs coming in on you when they are hee-hawing, they need to be single calling. They may hee-haw right throughout the roar but only single call for a few days

If you are bumping hinds you are in the right spot, where there are hinds this time of year there are stags not far away. Stay back a bit and let out a single call see what comes in

Was that just this weekend, Scouser? You did alright to have spooked a couple. At least now you know where they are. I still haven't got to a point where I can consistently do that.

Big thanks guys, yes it was the weekend just gone, the two hinds i spooked startled me more than them........

Tried many single calls, and got a few back, but no stags came to join the party....

Pointer & Spook, i will deposit your wisdom and advice in my memory bank....cheers guys,

Scouser, I'll add a couple of things I've learned over many frustrating roar seasons:
Firstly, you probably know hinds 'cycle'. So, while April is 'the roar' month, it's not an exact science nor clockwork. So most hinds will come into heat in the first week of the rut and then again about a month later if not mated first time around. Naturally, there's a correlation for stag behaviour, meaning they may shut up for a bit during those weeks in between.
Secondly, the fact you got onto Sika means you were in a good area. Just because you didn't see the stags come in, doesn't mean they didn't. I've had Sika stags 3-5 metres from me and didn't know it, until they huffed and snorted as departing... Moving Silently and still unseen. I've roared occasionally for two hours where I knew a stag came out every day, then leaving only to walk around a bend in the creek to find him drinking 40metres from where he usually was...no reply to my roars :)
So what you need to hear, is you did good and with a but more trial and error, you'll be claiming trophies soon.
I wonder if, like me, you're choosing the hardest species to hunt first? Haha Go bowl a few reds first, then go back to those awesome Sika


Identify your target beyond all doubt! Sorry won't cut it later and no deer is worth the fall out. Safe and happy hunting :)

Good to hear you got onto them
Was that map any use?

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Originally Posted by Hunt4life

Scouser, I'll add a couple of things I've learned over many frustrating roar seasons:
Firstly, you probably know hinds 'cycle'. So, while April is 'the roar' month, it's not an exact science nor clockwork. So most hinds will come into heat in the first week of the rut and then again about a month later if not mated first time around. Naturally, there's a correlation for stag behaviour, meaning they may shut up for a bit during those weeks in between.
Secondly, the fact you got onto Sika means you were in a good area. Just because you didn't see the stags come in, doesn't mean they didn't. I've had Sika stags 3-5 metres from me and didn't know it, until they huffed and snorted as departing... Moving Silently and still unseen. I've roared occasionally for two hours where I knew a stag came out every day, then leaving only to walk around a bend in the creek to find him drinking 40metres from where he usually was...no reply to my roars :)
So what you need to hear, is you did good and with a but more trial and error, you'll be claiming trophies soon.
I wonder if, like me, you're choosing the hardest species to hunt first? Haha Go bowl a few reds first, then go back to those awesome Sika


Identify your target beyond all doubt! Sorry won't cut it later and no deer is worth the fall out. Safe and happy hunting :)

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Big thanks H4L, im going back in this weekend, same area, i more or or less picked the forest, not the quarry, will take you advice, cheers

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Originally Posted by sako75

Good to hear you got onto them
Was that map any use?

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Hi Sako75, that was my original w'end, will be using you maps this w'end, cant wait, love the Kaimanawas beech forest, even though its really thick and hard work......

Hi guys, 2 full days off Clements Mill rd, hunting the ridge tops, no result, rained all day on the saturday, i was probably too noisy if im honest, still learning the 'trade.............'

If you think you're going slow, slow down some more.

Time in the hills mate, you'll improve and develop your hunting skills on each hunt.

Another bit of advice which is not easy to take, is to take the pressure off yourself to succeed. I used to put deer on a pedestal of elite senses and cunning. They're smart and wary, but not as cunning as I had them pinned. What I'm getting at, is you'll stumble across deer when you stumble across deer. They may be where you think they'll be or maybe not. So always be ready to shoot, but relax and enjoy the bush. I used to get really wound up and disappointed after coming home from yet another trip empty handed, but realised how much I loved being out there doing it all anyway as an armed tramper, so learned to relax. Suddenly I start seeing deer before they see me and I'm successful 50% of hunts. Made all the difference for me and I realise now that those twenty odd hunting trips without success were my apprenticeship. Have fun out there mate


Identify your target beyond all doubt! Sorry won't cut it later and no deer is worth the fall out. Safe and happy hunting :)

Good advice on this thread. I'm cutting my teeth at the moment and as much as I love being out there, I do get tired reply "nothing" to that question "did you get anything?". I haven't got a deer on doc land yet in some 20 days hunting. In that time I saw 2 deer (hind + fawn together and I wasn't even hunting! Haha) and spooked who knows how many that I didn't lay eyes on. I've enjoyed every moment just like I did in my past life as an (unarmed) tramper, but hell, I won't lie, I'm going to enjoy it a lot more once I start getting them on the deck.

We'll get on to them eventually Scouser :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by phillipgr

We'll get on to them eventually Scouser :thumbsup:

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Good on you Phillip. Yes you will and so will Scouser

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Originally Posted by Rushy

Good on you Phillip. Yes you will and so will Scouser

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And good on you, Rushy, and everyone else on the forum who has been helping me along the way :-D

Sent from my MT27i using Tapatalk 2

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Originally Posted by phillipgr

Good advice on this thread. I'm cutting my teeth at the moment and as much as I love being out there, I do get tired reply "nothing" to that question "did you get anything?". I haven't got a deer on doc land yet in some 20 days hunting. In that time I saw 2 deer (hind + fawn together and I wasn't even hunting! Haha) and spooked who knows how many that I didn't lay eyes on. I've enjoyed every moment just like I did in my past life as an (unarmed) tramper, but hell, I won't lie, I'm going to enjoy it a lot more once I start getting them on the deck.

We'll get on to them eventually Scouser :thumbsup:

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Never give up hope mate, there may be a deer just over the next rise. I stumbled around the kaimanawa's for about a year with no success when I started out. Each time I would learn something new and get that little bit closer. Once I shot my first sika it was worth all of the effort that I had put in. If you spend the time out there then it will all fall into place. I believe you make your own luck, so get out there as much as possible! If you are ever down this way and I am not busy sing out and we'll organise something.

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Originally Posted by Luke.S

Never give up hope mate, there may be a deer just over the next rise. I stumbled around the kaimanawa's for about a year with no success when I started out. Each time I would learn something new and get that little bit closer. Once I shot my first sika it was worth all of the effort that I had put in. If you spend the time out there then it will all fall into place. I believe you make your own luck, so get out there as much as possible! If you are ever down this way and I am not busy sing out and we'll organise something.

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Cheers Luke, I think I may just take you up on that offer in the not too distant future :thumbsup:

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Slow down and be calm!!!!! The bush and the deer will be there tomorrow! Use all of your senses...smell is a big one...you can smell them...think like they do...where would I want to be at this time of the day if I was one of them...Japs are sneaky and they will play cat and mouse with you...learn their 'whistle' often more successful than trying to imitate their yikeing...

One of the most useful 'tools' in the bush is Turdus merula the Black bird...because he is such a loud mouth his call will alert you to anything going on...pigs, deer, humans. He will also alert the others of your presence!! And thankfully his voice carries a far way.

Listen for this...
London wildlife recording featuring blackbird alarm calls | The London Sound Survey

If you are set up away from a likely clearing also observe birds like the fantail...they follow animals (and you) through the bush to feed on the disturbed insects.

Huge thanks for all the advice, thats why i joined the forum in the first place....

Im getting out as much as poss, my mate has finally gotten his FAL, so will get out even more!

thanks EeeBees, i am already onto the Blackbirds 'alarm call'....both the good & bad (when 'your' the reason for it) and as Phillip says i love tramping around the bush anyway, now its with a rifle...

have to admit, ive 'kissed' my GPS more than once though....would NOT go into the Kaimanawas without it, even take 2 spare sets of batteries.....and a map & compass as back up!

I know, it is not all about whether you take an animal home or not...lowering the barrel on an animal in your sights just because it looks so beautiful...our senses are bombarded in everyday life...getting out there is like giving them all a spring clean!! Laughing out loud when you know that for the second time, that sassy Jap has done it again on you!

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Originally Posted by EeeBees

I know, it is not all about whether you take an animal home or not...lowering the barrel on an animal in your sights just because it looks so beautiful...our senses are bombarded in everyday life...getting out there is like giving them all a spring clean!! Laughing out loud when you know that for the second time, that sassy Jap has done it again on you!

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EeeBees... Are you the other half of my split personality? Haha! I've lowered my rifle on a jap hind at Middle Hill in the Kawekas, so know exactly what you're talking about. She was in such perfect condition with a beautiful smooth grey coat and such a pretty face I was mesmerised. And as she sprang from behind a shrub in full flight looking over her shoulder, my rifle just sank from shoulder and I watched her bound over the ridge, then, in a panic suddenly remembered what I was doing there! I chased her, but first real opportunity gone and I'll never forget it.
And the number of jap stags that I still haven't worked out who was stalking who!! Hilarious and priceless memories


Identify your target beyond all doubt! Sorry won't cut it later and no deer is worth the fall out. Safe and happy hunting :)

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Originally Posted by EeeBees

Laughing out loud when you know that for the second time, that sassy Jap has done it again on you!

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I may as well laugh because the little buggers sure as hell are laughing at me.