Well, where do I start! Maybe a good place is where I was taught to hunt deer.
I was lucky to start hunting deer with two very experienced Sika hunters that are my Uncles. Bob and Gary Ramsay have a long history of hunting dating back 70+ years when they used to chase pigs around the Tokoroa area when they were young fellas.
Learning to hunt Sika or in fact any deer , the basics of hunting a goat and rabbit hunting came into play. Keeping the wind in your face and profile low where possible while also practicing firearms safety at all times were some of the main components, learning how to navigate the bush on your own was a little bit harder.
I have found these basic fundamentals were very transferable to deer stalking. Being lucky enough to be invited Sika hunting on day trips to Clements road in the Kaimanawa's RHA when I was a teenager, I absorbed all the information I could. The car rides down would have me picking my Uncles brains to bits about deer and hunting , rifles, big stags etc etc and atr the same time listening to the storys of their hunts and how much fun theyt had even if they didnt shoot a deer.
One key bit of advise I can tell you after 27 years Sika hunting is there is no rush to try and learn it all. Take your time learning these awesome animals, they will keep teaching you till the very end and that what keeps me coming back!
Right lets start with knowledge of where you are heading, pouring over maps and finding boundaries on your public land or private block is a good start. Once you know where you can and can't go, you change your focus on where in your area to hunt. If you know someone who hunts the area you can ask them for advise on the area but remember asking them where they go is an unwritten rule and will find yourself being told to mind your own business. This is because most people have put in the hard yards over the years with hundreds of hours walking areas, looking for sign and understanding the area they hunt, this all takes time and is called experience.
All hunters have their own ethics and this is where I suggest that everyone has a good think about how you will apply them to your hunting career. Here is a few that will be 100% beneficial to your hunting experiences :
1.) Take out what you take in, don't leave litter.
2.) If someone takes you Sika hunting in public land or private land to their spot, respect it and don't return to it on your own or with others. Also don't tell others where you went.
3.) If you use the wood at a hut or camp, replace it for the next person, they will appreciate it greatly.
4.) If you turn up at the car park and there are other people there, chat to them and ask where they are going and this will keep everyone safe on the hill and you might meet some good people doing this. It is also respectful to our fellow hunters who were there first.
Right back to the wily Sika. Sika are very sharp. Bush stalking is art work, you get what you pay for meaning the more time you invest at the start of your career keeping yourself quiet and not seen, the more it will be worth to you in the long run. It becomes a habit, practice makes perfect right?
Keeping your feet quiet is must and picking your line to walk is key. Try not to walk on any sticks what so ever and while you are doing that don't put your arms out to grab every tree. The less movement you make the less the deer are likely to see movement you make. If you crack a stick, don't get frustrated, keep yourself focused, quiet and just carry on as there could be a deer just up ahead that has not heard you.
Work out why you are being noisy and try to adapt by wearing smaller boots or removing them all together. Maybe you are tired and need a rest, or simply just need to slow down a bit? I mostly stalk with my toes / outer edge of my foot touching the ground first, this helps me control my weight distribution better.
*I often hunt in socks especially in the dryer months to reduce noise.
Remember you are in the Sika's natural environment, this is their home and noise that is not natural to the bush will have them on edge very quickly. The more time you have in the environment the more aware you will be to the areas surroundings and this also helps with your navigation. Being able to walk around a few square kilometers over a day without looking at a GPS every 5 minutes will let you focus on the stalking at hand. (to be continued)
More hints and tips will be added here weekly. Don't forget to support us by heading to our shop and checking our our S.H.N.Z gear.
Cheers Jamie Fairbairn.