First time spotting in Wombat SF - Any better ideas?

[Tomek]

I'm looking to get into pest hunting and just took my first trip to Wombat SF last weekend with my girlfriend. Trekked round 3km through the forest, stopping frequently to look around into the distance but saw nothing except a wombat, a dead rat like Australian animal and a small leech on my finger Great challenging bush-walk, 7km in total with the return trip, however, a little disappointing that I didn't even see anything.

After coming back home and reading around, I wonder whether it was the time of day. Apparently, it's best to go out early morning like 5am (4am now), or as it's getting dark. We went at around 11am... I've also read that Wombat SF is relatively empty although others have said they often see some pest animals when going out in the early morning.

I have at least 2 such spotting trips left before I get my firearm so I was wondering if you guys could recommend me other state forests to go where there is more to spot. Grampians? Kinglake? Redcastle? Rushworth? As far Mt. beauty?

Please keep in mind that I have a Yaris. Wombat SF was limited enough as going any deeper than Nolan's Picnic Area would have been undoable lol.

Thanks

[Oldbloke]

I think morning is a little better than evenings. Not a lot around wombat these days but can be a nice stroll.
Forget the grampians almost completely no go zones. Perhaps better to head north east.

[Bosbefok]

To see skittish animals (hunted animals are skittish) you are best to wake before light and walk around early morning. Midday most animals bed down to rest. Also while hunting public land you are better off going where the least amount of people go.

[Tomek]

I'm probably going to go to Mt. Disappointment next and try walking both deep in the forest, as well as a section near farmland. After that, we'll go the Mt. Beauty area and see how that goes.Always upwind

[pete1]

I'm probably going to go to Mt. Disappointment next and try walking both deep in the forest, as well as a section near farmland. After that, we'll go the Mt. Beauty area and see how that goes.Always upwind

Mt. Disappointment can get very busy on weekends with hunters, motorbike riders, people camping and 4x4ing so I'd agree on having to walk deep into the bush.

[Sleepy_Hunter]

It is good to get out to Dissa during the week you feel like you have the forest to yourself. Problem is just finding animals.

[RealNick]

Not a lot around wombat these days but can be a nice stroll.

Yeah, seems all the hunting success stories are from the good old days.

Nothing much reported lately.

[happyhunter]

What? Nobody else seen the dead fallow doe on the side of ##### #### road just east of the ###### ####? I'd recommend having a scout close to the ######## catchment area on the south side of ###### ##### road.

[morgsj50]

I've been out there a few times now, haven't seen anything but Roos and 1 wombat, the low lying ferns give smaller animals too much cover so ya can't see them... Wouldn't mind having a look in there at night though.

[Berper]

Reading the other topic about VIC spotlighting laws I take it you can't at night though?