Spring Hunting for Red Deer
For more information e-mail Steuart of NZ Hunting Info Ltd
game hunting mates spring weather chamois hunt
To date I have been on four memorable hunting trips over the spring period, all on public land.
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The first was in early November when the first shoots of new grass were starting to appear in clearings at the forest margins. Black beech is the dominant tree species in the Canterbury foothills and the leaf buds on these beech trees were starting to move. At lower altitudes the leaf buds had already burst open spreading a flush of light yellow green over the forest.
The Hunting Routine
I leave Christchurch after work at about 4.00 pm, and drive to the foothills. After a couple of hours walk my
companion and I will firstly set up a crude camp in the forest and then leave for an evening stalk along the bush edge.
The deer come out when the sun has gone down and if you are lucky you can pot one. The return to camp may have to be
in the dark because the last few minutes of daylight are often the time when a deer is spotted and shot.
(The new lightweight head lamps have been of the best additions to outdoor gear in my lifetime. They enable you
to carry your rifle and a pair of back legs over your shoulder while the headlamp shows the way.)
By last light the keen hunter probably has worked up a good appetite.
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On returning to the campsite I knock up a brew
on my white spirits burner, start a fire and cook up a meal. Then after another brew and some hunting yarns, it is
time to catch a spot of sleep.
Before crawling into the sleeping bag I set up my burner so that
I can start it while still in bed.
The first bell birds will chime at around 5.15 am. After a shot of Bell Tea with condensed milk, it’s on with the boots,
the day pack, and importantly a brimmed hat. The contrast between sky and land at first light
means you really need a brimmed hat. Time yet again for a hunting adventure.
The Game
At the moment there are enough deer out there for a hunter with a few clues to score, especially while these animals are ravenously seeking out the new growth on the forest margins.
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Most of the deer I have seen this year are yearlings or two year olds. That is what is to be expected. By now,
in December these animals will have been driven away by mature hinds who will have dropped their fawns. Only once
this year have I seen a mature stag. It looked big and strong compared to the younger animals and exciting with
its big head of soft velvet.
The deer can be quite hard to see in poor light. But if the sun falls on them they look strikingly red and
conspicuous against the various shades of backcountry green.
I received an e-mail from a mate in the North Island who had been having success with his son, picking up
those young deer in the spring. So while the South Island is tops you can also pick up the odd deer in the North Island.
Hunting Mates
My companions on these spring hunts have been as follows:
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a colleague who was able to shoot a spiker with his first deer rifle, a Canadian who has taken up hunting since he moved to New Zealand, a nephew who is now an experienced hunter and a friend of my age who had never hunted or even seen a wild red deer. We have shot four young deer and a pig and consequently there has been some prime venison taken off the Canterbury foothills.
Weather
This spring the weather has been unpredictable and often cold.
Two weeks ago we were walking in four inches of snow as evening approached. Camping in the forest
was less than ideal with wet conditions and the sky clearing to a heavy frost over night.
It was December and officially summer. Building a fire taxed my bush skills but we got one going
amid huge clouds of smoke.
In addition to a couple of snow falls there have been a series of strong westerly winds.
Between trips, a large tree fell over the place I had been sleeping. It was a reminder that care
should be taken in forests during gale force winds. Probably you shouldn’t be in the forest when
there is a risk of trees falling.
So good luck with your spring hunting.
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What about the current chamois situation?
On the longest day I wanted to go for a hunt with my son, but the weather looked wet yet again.
A wet cold New Zealand spring is turning into a wet cold summer.
The West Coast however looked as if it would be fine on Friday 22nd December
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Late on the Thursday night we traveled an hour and a half from Christchurch and slept in friend’s house.
Early next day we drove west, away from the cloud and drizzle and found a beautiful morning.
Setting off from the car at 6.30 am, we arrived back at 5.30 pm. That is an eleven hour day.
I have included some of the photos of the trip.
It was a physically challenging trip using a track that I helped maintain more than thirty years ago. To enjoy this county you would need above average fitness but the photos show that there is game around.
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So good luck with your summer hunting if you can find some fine weather.
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For more information e-mail Steuart of NZ Hunting Info Ltd