My Hog Deer Hunt

Game hunting and large prey. Deer stalking, hunting with hounds. Boar, pigs etc., large prey, culling, hunting large feral animals.

My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 31 Mar 2024, 9:56 am

Well,I'm going to attempt to do a thread based on my first hog deer hunt.
I'm already behind the 8 ball a bit,I was originally going to leave yesterday morning from Goolwa SA and arrive in Gippsland today around lunchtime ready to hunt first thing tomorrow morning for 2 weeks.
Unfortunately plans have had to change if I want my offsider to come along,so now I'm leaving 1pm this arvo and I need to be back by next Sunday night.
I've got everything as sorted as I can considering I've never hunted them before. Taking my Howa superlite 308 with handloaded 165gn SGKs topped with a leupold vx1 2-7x32. I have a decent quality folding chair backpack and some shooting sticks,and a good quality hammock bought at the advice of a very successful public land hog deer hunter. For once I'll actually be wearing camo including a blaze orange cap. Tags and licenses are in the pack.
Have been told the mosquitoes are insane so have a solar powered bug zapper for camp and 2 tubes of tropical strength Bushman's, as well as an oztent rv4 waiting over there for me to pick up.
Beach fishing rods and tackle are packed ready to go in case we decide to go fishing.
Camera and bird watching equipment is packed.

First day I'm going to try to get to Green Hill Lake campground before dark. Not likely it'll happen though. Already started the day pretty crappy,been crook all night plus the offsider hasn't got her s**t sorted ( clothes for the trip are on the line drying instead of packed,fishing rod has no tackle,food for the week is a bunch of grapes and half a dozen small tins ). So right at this very moment I'm pretty pissed off. But it'll come good once we're moving
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by Blr243 » 31 Mar 2024, 1:41 pm

I take forever to get my act together for a hunt Frustrating but we get there in the end. Good luck with the weather
Blr243
Major General
Major General
 
Posts: 4673
Queensland

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by mchughcb » 31 Mar 2024, 3:28 pm

Good luck. I'm heading out in 2 weeks. The plan is duck hunt , fox hunt and then 2 days waiting for a hog deer. My pack is always on standby so I'm ready in 30 min.
User avatar
mchughcb
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
 
Posts: 1870
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by deye243 » 31 Mar 2024, 6:31 pm

G'day Pete I don't want exact spot but what part of Gippsland are you heading for.
User avatar
deye243
Captain
Captain
 
Posts: 2519
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by Oldbloke » 31 Mar 2024, 6:43 pm

Blr243 wrote:I take forever to get my act together for a hunt Frustrating but we get there in the end. Good luck with the weather


:D

I even take the kitchen sink, so, takes me about 3 or 4 hours. :lol:

Watching with interest.
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: Now I'm a member. :unknown:
Hunt safe. A bit more bang is better.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12309
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 31 Mar 2024, 7:09 pm

Well, arrived at Green Hill lake campground just on dark. Place is packed. Spewing a bit as we passed a few nice quiet spots but was determined to reach this joint.
Deye243 I'll be somewhere around Paradise beach. Don't know exactly till I get there
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bladeracer » 31 Mar 2024, 7:15 pm

I'm looking forward to following your adventure, Pete!

I did the Hog ballot once when I first moved to Vic. I don't recall the details now but it was something along the lines of successful recipients will be given a date and they go in with four of five other ballot winners? That's not my sort of hunting so I never bothered again. Are they still doing it that way?


bigpete wrote:Well,I'm going to attempt to do a thread based on my first hog deer hunt.
I'm already behind the 8 ball a bit,I was originally going to leave yesterday morning from Goolwa SA and arrive in Gippsland today around lunchtime ready to hunt first thing tomorrow morning for 2 weeks.
Unfortunately plans have had to change if I want my offsider to come along,so now I'm leaving 1pm this arvo and I need to be back by next Sunday night.
I've got everything as sorted as I can considering I've never hunted them before. Taking my Howa superlite 308 with handloaded 165gn SGKs topped with a leupold vx1 2-7x32. I have a decent quality folding chair backpack and some shooting sticks,and a good quality hammock bought at the advice of a very successful public land hog deer hunter. For once I'll actually be wearing camo including a blaze orange cap. Tags and licenses are in the pack.
Have been told the mosquitoes are insane so have a solar powered bug zapper for camp and 2 tubes of tropical strength Bushman's, as well as an oztent rv4 waiting over there for me to pick up.
Beach fishing rods and tackle are packed ready to go in case we decide to go fishing.
Camera and bird watching equipment is packed.

First day I'm going to try to get to Green Hill Lake campground before dark. Not likely it'll happen though. Already started the day pretty crappy,been crook all night plus the offsider hasn't got her s**t sorted ( clothes for the trip are on the line drying instead of packed,fishing rod has no tackle,food for the week is a bunch of grapes and half a dozen small tins ). So right at this very moment I'm pretty pissed off. But it'll come good once we're moving
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 13169
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by GQshayne » 31 Mar 2024, 7:42 pm

Blr243 wrote:I take forever to get my act together for a hunt Frustrating but we get there in the end. Good luck with the weather


My best effort was an Easter trip actually.

It had been decided that we (me and my dad) were not going that year, as it was a long way to travel, and the cost too, for only four days. So we were not going. Definately. So about 6.30pm on Thursday night Dad says "Normally we would be all packed and heading off soon".

We left at 8.30pm. :lol:
GQshayne
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 881
Queensland

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by Flyonline » 01 Apr 2024, 1:42 pm

Go Pete go!

Best of luck and looking forward to reading the rest - good and bad, it’s all part of the experience.
Flyonline
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 187
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 01 Apr 2024, 4:01 pm

Well,finally arrived at my destination. No idea if I've chosen a good spot or not,and I'm pretty tired,only had 15 hours sleep in the last 3 days. But there's plenty of sign,both sambar and hog deer. Looking at getting a fair bit of rain in the next 24 hours so that will be a dampener lol
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by mchughcb » 01 Apr 2024, 5:00 pm

Get ready to get smashed. I gave up stalking this arvo.
User avatar
mchughcb
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
 
Posts: 1870
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by on_one_wheel » 01 Apr 2024, 5:36 pm

Good luck BP !

Hope ya keeping your powder dry :thumbsup:
Gun control requires concentration and a steady hand
User avatar
on_one_wheel
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3716
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 01 Apr 2024, 5:38 pm

mchughcb wrote:Get ready to get smashed. I gave up stalking this arvo.


Pissing with rain your way then ?
I'm not sure if we're going to get heaps here by the forecast, maybe 10mm tops
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 01 Apr 2024, 5:38 pm

on_one_wheel wrote:Good luck BP !

Hope ya keeping your powder dry :thumbsup:


Cheers mate,using my superlite this hunt
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 01 Apr 2024, 5:45 pm

20240401_184127.jpg
On the road north of the Grampians
20240401_184127.jpg (108.45 KiB) Viewed 2590 times
20240401_184146.jpg
First camp
20240401_184146.jpg (94.74 KiB) Viewed 2590 times
20240401_184205.jpg
Sambar vs hog deer prints
20240401_184205.jpg (364.23 KiB) Viewed 2590 times
20240401_184228.jpg
Hog deer camp
20240401_184228.jpg (166.27 KiB) Viewed 2590 times
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bladeracer » 01 Apr 2024, 5:47 pm

bigpete wrote:
mchughcb wrote:Get ready to get smashed. I gave up stalking this arvo.


Pissing with rain your way then ?
I'm not sure if we're going to get heaps here by the forecast, maybe 10mm tops


I'm ten minutes from Morwell/Traralgon and it's been raining most of the afternoon, not heavy and not cold so pretty nice to be out in it really.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 13169
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 01 Apr 2024, 5:52 pm

bladeracer wrote:
bigpete wrote:
mchughcb wrote:Get ready to get smashed. I gave up stalking this arvo.


Pissing with rain your way then ?
I'm not sure if we're going to get heaps here by the forecast, maybe 10mm tops


I'm ten minutes from Morwell/Traralgon and it's been raining most of the afternoon, not heavy and not cold so pretty nice to be out in it really.


Bugger me ! Nothing at all here !
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 01 Apr 2024, 6:34 pm

]
Screenshot_20240401-193044_Gallery.jpg
On the road near Yarra Junction
Screenshot_20240401-193044_Gallery.jpg (381.94 KiB) Viewed 2580 times
Screenshot_20240401-193058_Gallery.jpg
Hog deer prints
Screenshot_20240401-193058_Gallery.jpg (729.74 KiB) Viewed 2580 times
Screenshot_20240401-193109_Gallery.jpg
Glassing for deer
Screenshot_20240401-193109_Gallery.jpg (268.64 KiB) Viewed 2580 times
Screenshot_20240401-193120_Gallery.jpg
Our camp
Screenshot_20240401-193120_Gallery.jpg (312.13 KiB) Viewed 2580 times
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by GQshayne » 01 Apr 2024, 7:36 pm

Pics look good mate. Hope the huting goes alright.

Now we know how you got your login name too! :mrgreen:
GQshayne
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 881
Queensland

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 01 Apr 2024, 7:51 pm

GQshayne wrote:Pics look good mate. Hope the huting goes alright.

Now we know how you got your login name too! :mrgreen:


Yeah I'm a solid unit. Unfortunately getting too overweight but pretty darn strong still
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 02 Apr 2024, 4:32 am

Well,rain has arrived,or should I say light but persistent showers. Very glad of the new oztent RV4 tent I bought a month ago and picked up from my mate yesterday. Not entirely sure if I'll get out this morning,its pretty miserable but well see
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 03 Apr 2024, 12:03 pm

Well I hunted yesterday afternoon for a few hours with no luck whatsoever. Heard a goat though in the thick stuff.
4am this morning I was hit by the sudden call of nature that cannot be ignored,once that was taken care of and the paper burnt I was crawling back in bed and putting my cpap on when we heard a hoggie barking right by camp,obviously alarmed by my activities prior and the scent of smoke. We listened to it move away and finally go quiet.
Was up before the sun,grabbed my stuff and stalked the lake edge. Saw some roos so remembering some advice I carefully stalked in on them,looking intently at the edge of the scrub for deer. Ended up setting my seat up within 100m of the roos just in case a hoggie came out to feed. Was there an hour before the roos hopped off so I headed back and checked the vehicle track into camp. Seen 2 fresh hoof prints and zero else.
Just been over to the eel farm,country there looks a lot better for hunting and I've been told there's loads more deer there. So will probably move camp tomorrow once this godforsaken rain stops.
Currently in at Golden Beach smashing down a serving of loaded chips from the general store,prior to heading back along the muddy tracks back to camp
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 03 Apr 2024, 12:06 pm

Screenshot_20240402-183010_Gallery.jpg
Hog deer sign
Screenshot_20240402-183010_Gallery.jpg (739.67 KiB) Viewed 2484 times
Screenshot_20240402-183022_Gallery.jpg
Lakes edge
Screenshot_20240402-183022_Gallery.jpg (594.9 KiB) Viewed 2484 times
Screenshot_20240402-183033_Gallery.jpg
Waiting
Screenshot_20240402-183033_Gallery.jpg (530.83 KiB) Viewed 2484 times
Screenshot_20240402-183048_Gallery.jpg
White lipped snake
Screenshot_20240402-183048_Gallery.jpg (694.67 KiB) Viewed 2484 times
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by deye243 » 03 Apr 2024, 12:46 pm

Good read Pete and best of luck .
I'm about 50k east of you and plenty of trees so just about all hoggys are shot from tree stands .
User avatar
deye243
Captain
Captain
 
Posts: 2519
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 03 Apr 2024, 1:06 pm

Yeah, I bought my hammock as a make shift tree stand but I've not found a place to set it up yet. Its all low coastal scrub and big banksias where I am.
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by Oldbloke » 03 Apr 2024, 3:08 pm

Never seen one of those snakes before. Great find
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: Now I'm a member. :unknown:
Hunt safe. A bit more bang is better.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12309
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by mchughcb » 03 Apr 2024, 5:44 pm

That looks like hoggie country alright.
User avatar
mchughcb
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
 
Posts: 1870
Victoria

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 03 Apr 2024, 6:11 pm

mchughcb wrote:That looks like hoggie country alright.


Yeah there's plenty of older sign but nothing super fresh
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by bigpete » 04 Apr 2024, 7:06 am

Screenshot_20240404-080041_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20240404-080041_Gallery.jpg (301.69 KiB) Viewed 2427 times

Changed tactics this morning due to lack of wind and sat looking over this lovely little Glen from before sunrise till I left. Watched some roos for a while hoping a hoggy might be with them. Unfortunately not,and I didn't realise how close I still was to camp so when the offsider woke up and started moving about the subtle noises did end up spooking them,not full alert but enough that they meandered off into the scrub with no hog deer in tow lol.
Might be moving camp today,a bloke has given me a bit of a hot tip.
bigpete
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3975
South Australia

Re: My Hog Deer Hunt

Post by Wm.Traynor » 04 Apr 2024, 9:32 am

Good luck with those "hogs" bigpete :thumbsup:
Wm.Traynor
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1705
Queensland

Next

Back to top
 
Return to Hunting - Game hunting and large prey