Bush hunting can be some of the most exhilarating and up-close hunting you can do – you never know what’s just ahead or around the next corner. Yet it can also be incredibly frustrating – with swirling winds, snapping sticks and flashes of deer disappearing into the bush.

Everyone has their own approach to bush hunting, and there’s no single ‘right’ way to do it. However, there are always ways to improve your skills. Here are some tips that may help you next time you’re out in the bush, getting right amongst it.

• Do your research – Start by finding a suitable place to hunt that offers safe parking, good access and healthy deer numbers. Use the DOC website, Google Earth, and Topo maps to properly study the area you plan to hunt before heading out.
• Use Topo maps to find good hunting areas – Study Topo maps to identify key features like main ridges, saddles, benches and gullies. I generally find deer tend to hang out just off the side of ridges, so it’s often worth sidling 10-20 metres below the crest rather than walking the top. Saddles can be prime spots, as deer commonly move through them when travelling between areas or sheltering out of the weather. Benches and gullies are also worth focusing on, as deer like to feed and hold up around these features.
• Let someone know where you’re going – Always tell someone your planned hunting area, when you’re heading in and when you expect to be out. It’s a simple step, but you can never be too safe.
• Go scouting – Scouting helps you become familiar with the area you plan to hunt. It teaches you where you can and can’t go, where the deer like to hang out and where their feeding areas are. This is a great way to become more successful in the bush.
• Give yourself time – If you avoid rushing, this’ll help give you time to take in your surroundings and become more in tune with the bush. Staying alert at all times is important, and taking your time also helps you stay quiet and make good decisions.
• Watch the wind – Always try to hunt into the wind. If the wind shifts ahead of you, move quickly and quietly through the disturbed area, and get it back in your face.
• Push through thick stuff – If you find yourself in dense, noisy bush, move through it as quietly as possible. Don’t waste time trying to stalk unless you’re certain there’s an animal in the area.
• Find the food – Look for the deer’s food and signs of their activity. With time, you’ll locate them. Do your research on the area you’re hunting and learn what the deer like to eat, such as broadleaf plants. Once you find their food, the deer won’t be far away.
• Find the bedding areas to hunt during the day – In summer, look for cool spots with a good outlook and side creeks. In winter, seek sheltered, sunny areas, often near the heads of broadleaf gullies. Look for deer beds and spots that keep them dry and protected from the weather.
• Slow down and look frequently – Once you’re in an area with good sign, slow right down. I work in 5- to 10-step intervals, then pause and look around. Focus on anything horizontal, as most trees are vertical – this helps you see past obstacles and take in more of your surroundings. Slowing down also improves your ability to hear any potential movement nearby.
• Getting tired or frustrated – Take this time to sit down, have a drink and a snack, and refocus.
• Keep your scope on a low magnification – This helps you locate the animal quickly when you raise your rifle, as the field of view is much larger. In the bush, shots are generally between 5m and 60m, so low magnification isn’t a problem. It’s also easier to zoom in, if needed, on deer that are farther away.
• Use your senses – With the wind in your favour, you may be able to smell deer, especially rutting stags. If you hear or smell anything, stop and take your time to scan your surroundings – this is often where you’ll spot movement.
• Always identify your target – This is essential. I always identify three key points on an animal before taking a shot, which helps me double-check what I’m aiming at. If in doubt, don’t shoot.
• Always know where you are – It’s a good idea to carry a tracking device, whether that’s a GPS, your phone, or a compass and map. During your hunt, take time to double-check your location every hour or so to make finding your way home much easier.
• Carry a PLB at all times – It’s wise to have a PLB with you, as you never know what challenges nature may throw your way.

Roar Tips

• Cover ground and roar into every fold to help increase your chances of running into a stag. Keep moving and roaring until you get a reply, allowing 5-10 minutes after each roar in case of a delayed response.
• Watch out for satellite stags – these are usually younger animals trying to pick up a loose hind from a more mature stag. They can quietly sneak in between you and the main stag while you’re roaring, so always stay alert and be aware of what’s around you.
• If a stag is already roaring well, there’s no need to roar back. Sometimes it’s better to stay quiet, avoid giving away your position, and take your time to quietly sneak in.
• Use a hind call – sometimes a roar can have the opposite effect to what you expect. A hind call often sounds less threatening to a stag and more like an opportunity, making it a great call to use in the right situation.
• Big stags don’t usually come to you – you need to get into their zone. If you’re hunting with a mate, this is a great opportunity to have them sit back and roar or use a hind call while you quietly sneak in.
• Be patient – it can take a stag some time to respond to your roars. If it goes quiet, stay ready and alert, as they can appear out of nowhere when you least expect it.
• If you find hinds, a stag won’t be far away. Make sure your wind is right, then watch and wait before giving any call.
• Treat every roar you hear as if it’s from another hunter. Even if you think you’re miles from anyone, you never know – always identify your target before taking any action.
• Early in the season, roar often – many stags may not have hinds yet and are more likely to respond and come in.
• Mid-Roar, many stags will already have their hinds. Locate the stag first, then get into their zone – about 100m away – before giving another roar. This helps avoid pushing the stag away and encourages it to come closer and investigate.

Get out there and get amongst our native bush. Explore new country, make lifelong memories, and enjoy the rugged beauty New Zealand has to offer.