NZDA H&W 198 WEB

“A change of
tactics was called
for …”
deer to hide when they know you
are coming. I didn’t find the clearing
but also I didn’t get lost and made
it back to camp using my compass.
A GPS might have got me there by
using the map coordinates but I am
“old school” and still don’t feel that
I need one.
I realised I was probably not going
to get a deer by bush stalking so a
change of tactics was called for – but
what to do?
There are two methods of hunting
whitetail deer. First there is bush
stalking, which I’d already tried
without success. You move through
the bush as quietly as possible
looking out for deer. They usually
see you or hear you first, but they
may get curious and stick around
for a look. They sink down into the
ubiquitous crown fern, out of sight,
then when you have gone past they
jump up and run off, giving you
the “Stewart Island wave” – flashing
their long white tails. But sometimes
they stop to look back, thus offering
a shot.
The other method is still hunting.
You find a place where there is recent
sign, then collect a pile of fresh
broadleaf for the deer to feed on
and find a tree to sit in and wait …
and wait, and if necessary wait some
more for a deer to show up. I decided
to try this.
However, next day was another
check-in day so it started with a
two-hour armed tramp back to the
hut (a trip that took only 5 minutes
in the boat). On the way I found a
fresh set of tracks left by a mediumsized
deer, so I decided to shift camp
back to the hut and then stake out
the open area where I had seen them.
The others were happy for me to
camp on the jetty and so I moved
camp that afternoon, with the boat
for transport.
The others had seen some deer
but no one had fired any shots. The
boat had been used to catch some
trumpeter and blue cod, and to
gather some paua, so we ate well.
The next day I staked out my patch
Dale with his
8 pointer,
shot just a
short time
after setting
up in a tree
A close up
of Dale’s
whitetail
trophy
showing the
nice even
shape
“Whitetail deer give you the
‘Stewart Island wave’ – flashing their
long white tails.”
in the morning, then went back to
the hut for lunch and to wash some
clothes. Light rain was a fine excuse
to stay in the hut and talk with some
of the others. They were changing
tactics too and had tree stands
organised, so off they went.
I didn’t hear any shots and was
about to go fishing when Dale
turned up, dropped his pack, said
“Water please!” and promptly fell
face down on his pack. I thought
he was fooling and wondered what
was going on. Then after a minute
he sat up and announced he had
just shot an 8 point whitetail buck.
Yahoo! His first trip to Stewart
Island and his first whitetail – a
very nice mature trophy buck. He
had found a place with fresh sign,
selected a tree stand, then baited the
place with broadleaf. Within half
an hour of getting into his stand the
buck turned up and by being quiet
and careful he got a clear shot at it
for a clean kill. It was a lovely, even,
symmetrical head that any hunter
would be proud to have on his wall.
It was hard antler with no sign of
any velvet and with some very nice
NZ Hunting & Wildlife 198 - Spring 2017
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