Tim Buma

I live in New Zealand. (Southern Hemisphere.) Down here we have a couple of areas where we can hunt Whitetail. Unlike USA we can hunt them anytime of the year and take as many as we want, and all free of charge. Last week I did a 7 day hiking trip around Stewart Island, one of the Whitetail locations. I noted a lot of sign. (Footprints and Browse.) and over the 7 days saw 4 animals. All I got was a flash of a big white arse as the animal lit off into the thick cover. The forest is real thick down there. A lot of the animals feed on the beachs and mainly at night. Hunting pressure is quite heavy, but the population seems quite good.
What I'm looking for is advice on how to hunt these babies.
I spent a lot of time hunting other Deer species: Red, Wapiti, Sika, Fallow, Rusa, Samber and have shot over 400 deer to date.
Have yet to shoot a Whitetail.
Need to know:
What happens after the Whitetail bolts i.e. is he worth pursuing.
Tricks for bringing them in close. Any irrisistable attractants.
What is the time of day they are most active.
Best time of the year to hunt Bucks for antler. i.e. With some species hunting is better before the rutting season.
any other advice that will assit me in securing a nice big tropy buck.
PS: I hunt with rifle. (7mm08)

SOUTHERN MAN.
"GO HARD OR STAY HOME"

smokepoledoug

The best advice I could give anyone that is new to whitetail hunting is to subscribe to a few deer publication magazines and read everything in them. There are so many video tapes and Direct TV and cable shows that a greenhorn won't be green long.

James Vee

Yeah, it's tough to give you all of the information all at once. There so much to know. Some of the guys on this forum have been hunting for over 35 years, and are still learning. I would suggest subscribing to magazines, and watching some shows. Look for a book on whitetail hunting strategies.


I can answer your question on what whether a deer is worth pursuing when you see that "white flag":

more often that not, don't follow. On occasion, the deer will stop within sight to see what spooked it, but most of the time it wont' stop until it has found thick cover.

Sooner_Hunter

why don't you start with one question at a time? also do a search for whitetail, whitetail deer, etc. on google? Or better yet, click on the one I did for you.

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...whitetail+deer

Split-toe

Like was said..thats alot of info to give at one time. Try this link..... http://www.kerrlake.com/deer/INDEX.htm

Tim Buma

O.K. Here's a question just to narrow it down a bit.
On the above species I have always had best sucess through stalking in thick cover. (Slow stealth.) Most of the shots have been close range. (Less than 100 yards. or 80% less than 50 yards.)

1/. I notice you guys in the States use tree stands etc. Which doesn't suit me as I don't like sitting around. However if it brings in the trophy then I'm willing to give it a try.
In what circumstance do you opt to use a tree stand.

2/. Also my earlier question, are chances of sucess better just before the rut? i.e. less hunting pressure, and animals feeding vigourously pre-rut i.e. more active?
Welcome your thoughts on these two questions.


SOUTHERN MAN.
"GO HARD OR STAY HOME"

Deerhugger11

OK, I haven't used a tree stand beforebut they use them along travel routes and along feeding areas. That way they can get a close shot at a relaxed deer and not a runnignshot. Although it can go very wrong with a wind shift or if you leave your scent amoung the bushes and on ther ground on your way to a treestand, and you only get totake a shot at the bucks that come by, you can't go looking for them....
<a href='http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/bookbucks/NonTypicalWhitetails'>
Record Book Bucks!</a>

amosgreg

Still hunting works very well. Just make sure you spot them first(as you well know) If they spook and run they might just go 100 or so yards if they don't hear something chasing them. LEt the woods settle down a bit and continue the slow stalk.

If you have the animals patterned the pre-rut works well but Whitetails go absolutly nuts during the rut but the bucks travel a fair distance to find a hot doe. They are call-able at this time by rattling and grunt calls.

If you can find the bedding area and set a position between there and the beaches where they are feeding, early and late works real well.

Let us know if you have any more questions and remember EVERYONE has their own way of doing things and if we take deer they all work <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


Greg

&quot;Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus.&quot;

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

Deerhugger11

Yes, that is probably the best, if you can find where they feed and snooze and then set up on a trail in between, that way they will go by in legal shooting light and you should see deer everyday. BUT and this is a VERY BIG but, to find out where they feed sleep AND travel in between is going to be very difficult. It will take many hours in the fied and a lot of HARD WORK and effort. But it will pay off in the end when you put your tag on a big buck and you can say &quot;That buck is a payoff from my effort.&quot; But however you hunt, good luck!
<a href='http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/bookbucks/NonTypicalWhitetails'>
Record Book Bucks!</a>