New to deer stalking, advice needed !

[Caffinatedmoose]

Hey all, first post here came across the forum and looks like a good place to ask questions !

I'm new to deer stalking I have a history of clay shoting with ducks and quail in season, as well as pests like rabbits and foxes
I would like to do some backpack hunts and am based in Victoria specifically south east Melbourne

I would appreciate anyone's advice about things to look for and avoid when it comes to choosing an area to hike into to hunt as well as any other wisdom related, also would be happy to welcome any old fellas along that woukd be happy to share knowledge as I dont have any immediate friends interested in this side of the spot.

Cheers !

[bladeracer]

Hey all, first post here came across the forum and looks like a good place to ask questions !

I'm new to deer stalking I have a history of clay shoting with ducks and quail in season, as well as pests like rabbits and foxes
I would like to do some backpack hunts and am based in Victoria specifically south east Melbourne

I would appreciate anyone's advice about things to look for and avoid when it comes to choosing an area to hike into to hunt as well as any other wisdom related, also would be happy to welcome any old fellas along that would be happy to share knowledge as I don't have any immediate friends interested in this side of the spot.

Cheers !

Are you in ADA or Deerstalker's Club?
https://www.deerstalkers.com.au/

[mchughcb]

Join ADA Melbourne branch.

[LuvMyDatto]

Hi,

I'm interested to hear how your stalking has gone.

I've started doing what can best be described as armed bush walking the last few months in Victorian state forests I've noticed gullies in while 4wding.

I seem the be able to find the scat, but not the animal.

I think I'll join the ADA, and keep hunting with my mate who has shown me a few tips and tricks and try to be patient as it seems like there is no substitute for time on the ground.


But yeah I'd love to hear from other newish hunters and what is and isn't working / eye opening for them.

[Wapiti]

Does anyone really believe that the protection racket the ADA has for themselves will just relax for a minute, and you'll get a tip where all the deer are?
But I'll bet they'll take your money and pretend to.
At the end of the day, you'll still have to work it out for yourself anyway.
Before that p*sses the denialists off, tell me that this isn't true.
Victorians and NSW (apart from your juvenile anti-gun Premier) have it bloody good AFAIAC when it comes to deer hunting opportunities, I would snoop around looking for rumours myself from gunshops, search online for people silly enough to give hints where they hunt successfully, etc.

Even up here in SEQ, info flows my way about areas holding deer when I just go about my business in town. And the people telling me this info have no idea I breed 3 species of deer personally.
But up here, it's also a protection racket and inferior young lopsided animals are greedily "sold" by online hero pretenders for what I consider insulting money. At least down there, you can still hunt them on public land.

[bladeracer]

I think most deer hunters down here have zero interest in eating antlers, they hunt for the meat, or simply to remove them from the bush.

But I agree, you do need to get into a bit of a "network" of deer hunters and that information will trickle past you. It's like if you weren't involved in shooting, how rarely non-shooters hear about somebody with firearms when they're insulated from our world.

Does anyone really believe that the protection racket the ADA has for themselves will just relax for a minute, and you'll get a tip where all the deer are?
But I'll bet they'll take your money and pretend to.
At the end of the day, you'll still have to work it out for yourself anyway.
Before that p*sses the denialists off, tell me that this isn't true.
Victorians and NSW (apart from your juvenile anti-gun Premier) have it bloody good AFAIAC when it comes to deer hunting opportunities, I would snoop around looking for rumours myself from gunshops, search online for people silly enough to give hints where they hunt successfully, etc.

Even up here in SEQ, info flows my way about areas holding deer when I just go about my business in town. And the people telling me this info have no idea I breed 3 species of deer personally.
But up here, it's also a protection racket and inferior young lopsided animals are greedily "sold" by online hero pretenders for what I consider insulting money. At least down there, you can still hunt them on public land.

[Border_Bloke]

I joined ADA to get my NSW R license and they were really helpful.
They hold talks and courses on both deer hunting and shooting and have regular hunting camps, they share a lot of knowledge for new hunters.
Unless you have access to private land get your Victorian game license for Deer Hunting if you haven’t already.

[Fester]

I just did the journey, self-taught and solo.
Did it in the most hunted forests that are accessed by Sydney hunters.
Never really hiked into the backcountry as my body is too old.

I found a productive area and shot a Fallow in my 2nd season.
Seen and heard Reds.
Shot a mature croaking buck a few years back.
Now just look for young ones as they are the prime meat.

My tips would be avoid weekends and give as many days for the deer to relax. Hunt on Wed-Thursday.
When you think you are stalking slow enough, slow down.
To see them before they see, hear, smell you, a height advantage is often the key.
More time in the bush = more chance of shooting one.
When you do, watch and listen to get an idea if the deer ran, rather than drop.
Try to pinpoint exactly where he was when shot, then slowly predeed to that exact tree or landmark to find your deer, blood or whatever signs you can.

Unless you find a small club, and lucky enough to befriend the right people, you may well get nothing.
I tried a big club and then did the hunter ed course, their properties were an inner circle boys club thing, and they seemed more interested in getting info from me than offering any.
Full of infighting, and it seemed you just had the newbs sucking up to the heros type thing.
I paid for years, but not anymore.
I joined the ADA to help fight the greens trying to close public land hunting, but will decide, and see if thier property ballot seems any better.
If they seem much the same, I will dump that membership as well.

Hunters often tell me to just drive down to Vic as it's easier hunting, so you should do OK and start seeing them when you work out a good area and put in the hard yards.

[Damo300]

I did my R license a few years back.
Never had the spare time for the ADA.
I could barely find time to hunt, let alone catch up nights / weekends.

I'm pretty much self taught.
I walked, and walked, and walked, and walked through the stupidest of terrain.

You can watch YouTube to get an ideer (haha) but you've mostly got to be out there and in the circumstance.

All the rumors and wives tales you hear are just that. Don't let someone tell you deer only move in the morning or middle of the night, or that they hate cars, or that if you squeeze off a round that they'll all be gone.
It's all circumstance imo.
All those circumstances above, I have personally seen put to rest.

Get out there is all I can suggest.
I'm not gonna give up my big secrets, although they're not secrets, rather understanding the animal you're chasing and it's behavioural patterns and how it functions.
That's the biggest help in chasing deer afaiac.

[MG5150]

Hey Mate

I could totally relate to the 'armed bushwalking' early on!

If you're finding sign that's a good start, have you been getting honked?

Maybe you're making too much noise in your approach, or maybe you're just not there at the right time.

I put togeter two videos, maybe you'll find them helpful

My 3 Step System For Finding The Perfect Hunting Spot
https://youtu.be/_hC141Az3pE?si=ZRS0U22rvT8v9Ds2

How to 4x How Many Deer You See
https://youtu.be/TnjhTKCZhak?si=K_CSzsl0hWOcmLLZ

[mchughcb]

Does anyone really believe that the protection racket the ADA has for themselves will just relax for a minute, and you'll get a tip where all the deer are?
But I'll bet they'll take your money and pretend to.
At the end of the day, you'll still have to work it out for yourself anyway.
Before that p*sses the denialists off, tell me that this isn't true.
Victorians and NSW (apart from your juvenile anti-gun Premier) have it bloody good AFAIAC when it comes to deer hunting opportunities, I would snoop around looking for rumours myself from gunshops, search online for people silly enough to give hints where they hunt successfully, etc.

Even up here in SEQ, info flows my way about areas holding deer when I just go about my business in town. And the people telling me this info have no idea I breed 3 species of deer personally.
But up here, it's also a protection racket and inferior young lopsided animals are greedily "sold" by online hero pretenders for what I consider insulting money. At least down there, you can still hunt them on public land.

I was in the Executive of the VIC ADA. You are quite free to bag ADA, i couldn't give a poop. The ADA runs education courses and when you join the local branch, they have a few branch hunts in good areas per year for stalking where the hound crews aren't allowed so the deer aren't as spooked. Normally we get the noobies to partner up with more experienced stalkers to give them some insights. Generally a couple of deer are bagged on the camps so you can also learn abit whent the branch supplied dinner is up and going while the guys show you how to field dress or let you have a go.

[fussy]

Find a property and walk all over it. Over time, you will find:
1. Where animals have been (wallows, scat, tracks)
2. Where they might want to be (food, shelter, water), and where they travel between them.

Armed bushwalk: if you come home without a shot fired, it's nothing to clean and you had a great walk.
Every time, you learn more about the hunting ground.
On one place, bagged several deer in a few years, because one spot was a thoroughfare for them.
On another, I found nothing, because most of the place was not where they wanted to be.

Slow down.
Don't try to cycle a bolt in a hurry. If you're not already chambered, it's too late, so look, see what it does, and don't spook it.; It might be back the next day at the same time (or 12h later coming the opposite direction)

[LuvMyDatto]

Thanks for the tips and thoughts, it's insoired ne to just keep being a beginner becausethat'swhat I am in this caper.

I aim to stay out of the politics of associations etc, but I get the boys club thing. I notice it most at the local gun shop tbh haha

We scoped out a local forest on a gully with a 1 in 4 gradient a few days ago. I'm nearly 50 and hadn't noticed how unfit I'd become, so I'm happy to be addressing that in such beautiful country. You guys are really onto something with this hunting business!

[wrenchman]

don't give up and do lots of scouting even in the off season.
if you can find some one that would be willing to go with you that has been hunting a while it would be good.
when you find what works for you work with it persistence does go far.