Typical Woodhill country looking west towards sand dunes and the Tasman Sea. Sticks and other debris everywhere mean you need to tread very carefully to avoid alerting the deer.
“ First get lots of practice at the rifle range …”
currently being logged. There was a cold south-easterly wind blowing. My plan was to hunt along the coastal belt where the dunes meet the pines and hopefully there would still be something out feeding.
We discussed with Ian the area where he wanted to hunt and where Peter and Dylan would be hunting, and I reminded everyone about Rule 4:“ Identify your target beyond all doubt’. You never know who could be on your block, such as a lost hunter off another block, horse riders, 4WDs, motorbikes, people walking or collecting firewood, pig hunters and even poachers … or, of course, your hunting companions! The night was pitch black
Deer in the open in an area ready for planting( photo: Brian Witton)
with no moon. As we made our way along a sand track I decided to take a shortcut through some young pines. What should have been a 10-minute walk turned into 25 minutes. I must have done a large semi-circle in the pines without any visual reference. It would have been a simple task if I had only looked at my compass or GPS, but I didn’ t. This was all slightly embarrassing for me as a novice hunting guide as it delayed us by 10 minutes from trying to reach the best spot at the best time.
We climbed a sand dune to find a good vantage point to glass from, but after 45 minutes we hadn’ t seen anything. So much for my theory! The wind was very cold and maybe this
Hunting tips for Woodhill
• Be persistent. Despite seeing only one deer all morning we stuck to a plan and it paid off.
• Be persistent. Too often when patrolling at Woodhill I have met hunters who have walked all over their block by lunchtime( probably 10-15 km) then announce that there are no deer there, so they pack up and go home.
• Know your rifle – usually you only get one or two chances so you have to make the most of them. Practise, practise, practise!
• If you can’ t take a steady shot, try a different shooting position.
• Walking on the sand at Woodhill is thirsty work and there is no drinking water, so take plenty.
• Always carry your lunch – don’ t walk back to the car for it as on some blocks this can be quite a hike.
• Don’ t underestimate areas that have been cut over or sprayed for replanting. They may look sterile but sometimes the deer bed down there and you will see them start to move again towards dusk. One evening I picked up a hunter on a block that had been largely felled and sprayed in preparation for replanting. He said there were no deer there … but as we drove along I pointed out five bucks on his block, all walking in single file along a small ridge less than 75 metres away. Remember,“ deer are where you find them”.
• Fallow deer are creatures of habit. They will stick to a certain area and routine. If you want some advice on a good place to hunt in your block you can ask a question through the WFMC website( see box) or talk to one of the patrol guys on the day. They will be only too happy to help you.
• Woodhill Forest was originally planted to help stabilise the shifting sand dunes on the South Kaipara Peninsula. Because of all the sand it is a good idea to put some electrical tape over the end of your barrel and never put your rifle on the ground. The last thing you want is sand in your rifle’ s action.
NZ Hunting & Wildlife 196- Autumn 2017 9