Snow on the mountains...time to hunt

[North East]

Yep...it's finally arrived. Deer should be moving to lower altitudes now.

[bigfellascott]

Lovely, look forward to seem some pics of sambar on the decks!

[North East]

Lovely, look forward to seem some pics of sambar on the decks!

Confidence is high...early start to the season...but they're cunning buggers.

[KWhorenet]

Get amongst it!

One day I'd love to venture up to the high country but after my little excursion this evening, I best get some more fitness, a compass, a proper GPS and maps before I go anywhere near there

What should have been an easy 400m exit walk turned into me veering my angle back to the track by at least 25 degs. 15 mins later it's pitch black in the scrub and I'm lost with no moon as a guide and no bloody phone GPS signal. By the time the moon was visible I was swearing! An hour later back where I started. One big effing loop and a litre of blood donated to mozzies

[North East]

Take compass and maps...check.
Take GPS...check.
Take PLB...check.
Take spare batteries...check.
Take very warm clothing...check.

No guarantees but it is good fun.

[AusC]

Bring me back a souvenir.

Anything deer-shaped will do

[North East]

Bring me back a souvenir.

Anything deer-shaped will do

Easier said than done....but that's just the fun of it all.

[BBJ]

That's the infamous Mt Beauty?

Looks good

[North East]

That's the infamous Mt Beauty?

Looks good

Mt Bogong....the highest mountain in Victoria. That will soon be covered in snow. I can just lie in bed and take in the view.

[Berper]

Could be worse

[Oldbloke]

Take compass and maps...check.
Take GPS...check.
Take PLB...check.
Take spare batteries...check.
Take very warm clothing...check.

No guarantees but it is good fun.

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. Just a few matches and the clothes I was wearing in the middle of winter. It was chilly to say tbe least. Ice everywhere in the morning.
But I survived.

[North East]

Take compass and maps...check.
Take GPS...check.
Take PLB...check.
Take spare batteries...check.
Take very warm clothing...check.

No guarantees but it is good fun.

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. Just a few matches and the clothes I was wearing in the middle of winter. It was chilly to say tbe least. Ice everywhere in the morning.
But I survived.

I'll be sleeping in the back of my ute....nice and warm....if I can find my way back to it!!

It's definitely cold up here now, got the fire going every night.

[Oldbloke]

At the time my panelvan was just 2 km away along an old track, but the light beat me.

[Tonit]

Just a few matches and the clothes I was wearing in the middle of winter. It was chilly to say tbe least. Ice everywhere in the morning.
But I survived.

Did you bring home as many toes as you took?

[Gwion]

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. //chop//

Pass.

Still making me want to get back up that way sooner than later. Have to get my deer rifle sorted first.

[North East]

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. //chop//

Pass.

Still making me want to get back up that way sooner than later. Have to get my deer rifle sorted first.

Just get a cheap .30-06....very popular calibre around here.

[FuzzyM]

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. //chop//

Pass.

Still making me want to get back up that way sooner than later. Have to get my deer rifle sorted first.

Pick up a secondhand budget model rifle like a Savage Axis, Ruger American, Marlin X7 etc.
Or a sporterised milsurp.

Use it then put it back on the market when you have something better.

[Gwion]

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. //chop//

Pass.

Still making me want to get back up that way sooner than later. Have to get my deer rifle sorted first.

Just get a cheap .30-06....very popular calibre around here.

Just started proceedings to convert my Howa to 7mm08.
Should do me with the right load and disciplined shooting. Should be ready by mid/late winter, so maybe next year i'll be up there next winter. My brother and a bunch of mates have a nice spot over that hill in you photo!

[North East]

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. //chop//

Pass.

Still making me want to get back up that way sooner than later. Have to get my deer rifle sorted first.

Just get a cheap .30-06....very popular calibre around here.

Just started proceedings to convert my Howa to 7mm08.
Should do me with the right load and disciplined shooting. Should be ready by mid/late winter, so maybe next year i'll be up there next winter. My brother and a bunch of mates have a nice spot over that hill in you photo!

Generally shots are taken from about 50-100 yards around my place. Vegetation is to thick so don't over power the scope or use 1X. It's undisciplined shooting around here...shoot quickly from any position or the animal is gone.

[Gwion]

Only ever spent the night out unprepared in 100s of trips once. Everyone should do it just for the experience. //chop//

Pass.

Still making me want to get back up that way sooner than later. Have to get my deer rifle sorted first.

Just get a cheap .30-06....very popular calibre around here.

Just started proceedings to convert my Howa to 7mm08.
Should do me with the right load and disciplined shooting. Should be ready by mid/late winter, so maybe next year i'll be up there next winter. My brother and a bunch of mates have a nice spot over that hill in you photo!

Generally shots are taken from about 50-100 yards around my place. Vegetation is to thick so don't over power the scope or use 1X. It's undisciplined shooting around here...shoot quickly from any position or the animal is gone.

Scope will be min 4x and max what ever i can afford that starts with a 4x. Probably 16x max.

By disciplined, i mean aiming at the right spot; not taking half an hour to figure out the wind, altitude, temp..... Well placed shot with the 7mm should do the job.

[North East]

Just don't crank the scope up to 16X....it's not needed....leave it on 4X or less.

[Oldbloke]

Have tried open and peep sights, also scopes including very low mag stuff. would suggest you need, good light gathering so 40 mm to 50 mm objective and mag is determined by how u hunt and how dense the bush is where u hunt.
So I prefere fringe and open areas and do a bit of sit and wait, hence the 3 to 9 x40. For dense bush, open, or peep or scope up to 4x or 2 to 7 x 40, or aimpoint. Always walk around with variables set on a low setting, say 2 or 3 x. Problem with some scopes they lack field if view, but in the end it will be a compromise.

[Gwion]

Just don't crank the scope up to 16X....it's not needed....leave it on 4X or less.

Just ordered a 3-15x42, Nikon Monarch5. Should do the job alright.

[North East]

Just don't crank the scope up to 16X....it's not needed....leave it on 4X or less.

Just ordered a 3-15x42, Nikon Monarch5. Should do the job alright.

That should do the trick...keep it on 3X.

[Oldbloke]

+1keep it on 3x

[FuzzyM]

I got a Leupold VX1 2-3x33 for my 303 for deer, nice low mag at 2x for scrub work.
Just need to find some spare cash to get a game license

[North East]

I got a Leupold VX1 2-3x33 for my 303 for deer, nice low mag at 2x for scrub work.
Just need to find some spare cash to get a game license

Only about $50.00 for 1 year.

[FuzzyM]

Yeah, I know. Funds are pretty short at the moment.
Bought a house last year.
Lots of car repairs too

[North East]

Yeah, I know. Funds are pretty short at the moment.
Bought a house last year.
Lots of car repairs too

Deer numbers just keep increasing...they will be around for a long time. Plenty of time.

[FuzzyM]

Yeah, I know. Funds are pretty short at the moment.
Bought a house last year.
Lots of car repairs too

Deer numbers just keep increasing...they will be around for a long time. Plenty of time.

Can't believe how many fallow there are in the area around the farm I grew up on. (Macclesfield area)
Wish I knew some more people in the area with decent acreage, without 12 damn horses getting in the way!

Found a couple of fallow one night while I was spotlighting for foxes. Complete what the **** are those moment
Had a young fallow buck butting heads with the stallion through the fence. Wish we had it on camera.