Luke
19-07-07, 03:06 PM
The following is an excerpt from an article by Mr Geoff Baker, Darling Downs ADA member and red deer hunter of some 22 yrs experience. Geoff uses a rifle to hunt reds, but has hunted goats and pigs with a bow, as well as regularly accompanying bowhunting mates on weekend outings. The following contains some great tips and insights from a lot of bush time chasing the mighty red stags... Thanks Geoff.
:D
The wild stags are roaring from approx 4pm till about 9 am the next morning before bedding down in the area they roar in.
They typically stay and roar in their area (gully, spur on a hill, or hillside).
But they will move over an area while roaring, moving up to 400 to 500m at a time.
They move about more in the early mornings.
If they are quiet for extended periods during early morning or afternoon roar time then it likely they are moving to a new spot to roar.
When they move they move quite quickly, almost like a run. I witnessed them do this on 5 separate occasions.
They will grunt and roar every 1/2 to an hour after the peak roar times till approx 11am and then remain quiet till about 3.30pm-4pm in the afternoon.
They all bed down at the top of the mountain or gully within its top 20 percent with a good view of the surrounding area.
Some stags (usually younger ones) will bed in the open patches of the side of a hill while there does roam about within 50 or 60 meters of them.
Other older stags will bed in the thickest parts of the gully or hillside near the top. (I glassed one stag a nice 5 X 4 for nearly an hour with 10 moves on my behalf before I found a hole in the thick scrub where I eventually got to see his rump and hind leg. Another 1/2 half hour later and two more very slow moves I got a look at his head. Only his collection of does gave his position away).
The wind was always switching direction in the mountains. But do not ignore its original direction. Being higher than the stag is always better. Strategy and Techniques:
I found the best strategy in approaching a roaring stag is to try and get above them by traversing up the opposite side of the hill from them with the wind in your favour.
Stopping periodically to poke your head over the top to hear and glass his position (and catch your breath) from their roar. Take your gun from your shoulder when you do this, it's like an Arial on a car sitting above your head.
Move your head over the rise to view the other side slowly; don’t stand up to view over the rise. Crouch down and then lift your head. You can control the speed of your head better this way.
Position yourself where you have a bit of cover to shoot from (this is hard as there is not much cover up the mountains at the moment due to the drought) so you can see through the canopy on your side to the area the stag is approximately.
Sitting straddling a small tree worked for me (find one without ants) as it provides a bit of cover and enables you to shoot and glass with support.
Use your binoculars they are your best friend for finding your game.
I use 8 X 40's binos but 10 X 42 are slightly better for trophy judgment at distance.
Try to avoid compact bino's (7 X 20) these give you eye strain after short periods of time.
Wear cammo clothing and a cammo hat. Even though they are in the rut they still have incredible eye sight.
I also use cammo gloves made of mesh ($8 from most gun shops), these help in covering your white hands that stick out from the sleeves of your long sleeve cammo shirt.
Keep all hand and body movements slow. It's often the does and their keen eye sight that give the game away not so much the stag.
I pop a live round in the chamber of my gun and leave the bolt handle up just before I come over the ridge to approach my sitting position. This saves time if you suddenly see your 10 pointer walk through an opening and time is short.
It also saves noise with you trying to load your gun.
Place a piece of black electrical tape over the end of your barrel. Stops the ants and dirt from entering the end of your barrel while you are glassing for hours.
Adjust your power setting on your scope if you are using a variable to suit the distance you may take a shot at. I had my 3-10X set on 6X. The ultra dry and dusty conditions of the hills make stalking through the dried leaves and sticks quietly almost impossible.
Most of the spots I got to were within 150 yds of the animal. Trying to get closer where I could. But by sitting in the area over time most of the deer moved closer especially if you call them up.
Try grunting and roaring like a deer. I am not very good at it myself but I find if you position your hands like a funnel and turn away from the deer's direction it seems to keep them interested.
I use quality climbing boots with Vibram soles with treads that stick out the edges of the boot. My hunting partner had heaps of foot problems with his soft sided trail boots trying to get grip on the bare slippery hill sides. There is a lack of ground cover on the mountains sides at the moment. The grass that usually holds your footing is non existent so be careful. It's rocky and the dirt gives way easily.
I also carry a hydration pack filled with water and a couple of muesli bars as a 1/2 hour look at a roaring stag can turn into a 3 hour stalk many kms from camp.
Most importantly don’t be in a hurry but have patience.
Sit it out till you find your deer and then take your shot or move to a better position or walk away and leave him for someone else or another time.
While I was sitting glassing deer on the other side of the gully I had three occasions where a stags that I did not know were their walk past me close by or pass in front of my within 60 yards. Only once in the three did he see me straight away (from 30 yds) and turn and run.
Most of all have fun and enjoy.
Cheers,
Geoff
:D
The wild stags are roaring from approx 4pm till about 9 am the next morning before bedding down in the area they roar in.
They typically stay and roar in their area (gully, spur on a hill, or hillside).
But they will move over an area while roaring, moving up to 400 to 500m at a time.
They move about more in the early mornings.
If they are quiet for extended periods during early morning or afternoon roar time then it likely they are moving to a new spot to roar.
When they move they move quite quickly, almost like a run. I witnessed them do this on 5 separate occasions.
They will grunt and roar every 1/2 to an hour after the peak roar times till approx 11am and then remain quiet till about 3.30pm-4pm in the afternoon.
They all bed down at the top of the mountain or gully within its top 20 percent with a good view of the surrounding area.
Some stags (usually younger ones) will bed in the open patches of the side of a hill while there does roam about within 50 or 60 meters of them.
Other older stags will bed in the thickest parts of the gully or hillside near the top. (I glassed one stag a nice 5 X 4 for nearly an hour with 10 moves on my behalf before I found a hole in the thick scrub where I eventually got to see his rump and hind leg. Another 1/2 half hour later and two more very slow moves I got a look at his head. Only his collection of does gave his position away).
The wind was always switching direction in the mountains. But do not ignore its original direction. Being higher than the stag is always better. Strategy and Techniques:
I found the best strategy in approaching a roaring stag is to try and get above them by traversing up the opposite side of the hill from them with the wind in your favour.
Stopping periodically to poke your head over the top to hear and glass his position (and catch your breath) from their roar. Take your gun from your shoulder when you do this, it's like an Arial on a car sitting above your head.
Move your head over the rise to view the other side slowly; don’t stand up to view over the rise. Crouch down and then lift your head. You can control the speed of your head better this way.
Position yourself where you have a bit of cover to shoot from (this is hard as there is not much cover up the mountains at the moment due to the drought) so you can see through the canopy on your side to the area the stag is approximately.
Sitting straddling a small tree worked for me (find one without ants) as it provides a bit of cover and enables you to shoot and glass with support.
Use your binoculars they are your best friend for finding your game.
I use 8 X 40's binos but 10 X 42 are slightly better for trophy judgment at distance.
Try to avoid compact bino's (7 X 20) these give you eye strain after short periods of time.
Wear cammo clothing and a cammo hat. Even though they are in the rut they still have incredible eye sight.
I also use cammo gloves made of mesh ($8 from most gun shops), these help in covering your white hands that stick out from the sleeves of your long sleeve cammo shirt.
Keep all hand and body movements slow. It's often the does and their keen eye sight that give the game away not so much the stag.
I pop a live round in the chamber of my gun and leave the bolt handle up just before I come over the ridge to approach my sitting position. This saves time if you suddenly see your 10 pointer walk through an opening and time is short.
It also saves noise with you trying to load your gun.
Place a piece of black electrical tape over the end of your barrel. Stops the ants and dirt from entering the end of your barrel while you are glassing for hours.
Adjust your power setting on your scope if you are using a variable to suit the distance you may take a shot at. I had my 3-10X set on 6X. The ultra dry and dusty conditions of the hills make stalking through the dried leaves and sticks quietly almost impossible.
Most of the spots I got to were within 150 yds of the animal. Trying to get closer where I could. But by sitting in the area over time most of the deer moved closer especially if you call them up.
Try grunting and roaring like a deer. I am not very good at it myself but I find if you position your hands like a funnel and turn away from the deer's direction it seems to keep them interested.
I use quality climbing boots with Vibram soles with treads that stick out the edges of the boot. My hunting partner had heaps of foot problems with his soft sided trail boots trying to get grip on the bare slippery hill sides. There is a lack of ground cover on the mountains sides at the moment. The grass that usually holds your footing is non existent so be careful. It's rocky and the dirt gives way easily.
I also carry a hydration pack filled with water and a couple of muesli bars as a 1/2 hour look at a roaring stag can turn into a 3 hour stalk many kms from camp.
Most importantly don’t be in a hurry but have patience.
Sit it out till you find your deer and then take your shot or move to a better position or walk away and leave him for someone else or another time.
While I was sitting glassing deer on the other side of the gully I had three occasions where a stags that I did not know were their walk past me close by or pass in front of my within 60 yards. Only once in the three did he see me straight away (from 30 yds) and turn and run.
Most of all have fun and enjoy.
Cheers,
Geoff