Thread: Young hunter keen to learn

Gday everyone, young fulla from north Taranaki here. I’m pretty keen on all things outdoors especially hunting and tramping and I have hunted fallow on private land. My favourite backcountry areas are the western king country coast and the central north island. I have a 243 and ive gone on some missions into public land after deer which have been more learning than shooting. Im keen to get a fallow on Taranaki/whanganui doc land so after some information about behaviour. Not after any locations I’ll happily explore heaps of new backcountry to find spots. I was more wondering if it’s worth just bush stalking for fallow, or should I be targeting clearings and scrubby stuff? I was thinking areas with grass under Manuka would be good as the deer can eat their favourite food while hiding. Any advice welcome cheers

Your a thinker....you will do fine. Binoculars are your best friend in open country,you have right idea.fallow do live in the bush too but really seem to love sunlight so grassy open stuff is more suited. Heaps of good books to give you pointers too. Keep going back to same block over n over again.you learn how to get around it easier and work out where animals like to be.then you only have to work out when they like to be there and how to get close enough to see them without wind up your bum.

Welcome aboard yip just spend the time and enjoy

Welcome aboard. Fallow a creatures of habit so if you see them doing something at dawn there is a very high possibility that they will be in the same area doing it again at dusk.

Cheers everyone for the advice, I’m hoping to head out sometime in the next few weeks, hopefully I’ll be able to put your advice to good use

Let us know how you get on. What rifle are you using?? Always good to chat about "stuff" .helps us other folk get a handle on you and where your at,helps when passing on advice not to be "grandma how to suck eggs" sort of thing. Hunting goats is good way to learn your craft and the absolute best way to learn field dressing and carrying.

Bush duck my son and I are new as well keen to hook up, we were out today, in South taranaki heaps of goats no deer yet

Originally Posted by Romandog

Bush duck my son and I are new as well keen to hook up, we were out today, in South taranaki heaps of goats no deer yet

Welcome aboard

Welcome. See if you can get your hands on a book called sons of the mist.