Although state forest hunting was never meant to be easy and I can understand why so many blokes just give up, thinking they are like lifeless deserts and some forests are a bit that way, others, as mentioned can be like "deer central"
I hunt in some of the highest hunting pressured forests in the Sydney west region but only midweek morning day hunts when no one else is around unless I am unlucky. I am just happy to see one or a few maybe one in 4 hunts but the stars aligned last rut and I fluked the timing.
Heard a red deer roar the first morning, next morning I shot a tender young doe taking a 130m offhand shot opportunity as you have to take what you get and it's a 1 sighting or shot per day as they are then gone unless you go walk another area.
I returned the next week and parked closer to where I could access the red roaring spot and was lucky enough to hear a strong constant croaking buck. Stalked in and got sight of the does, then the antlers and hid behind a log to take a chest shot when it presented after a few short minutes.
It was the highlight in my 7-8 year forest hunting journey and the most exciting stalk I have ever had.
This year I didn't even see a buck and in about 6 hunts, I seen one great doe but missed the offhand shot and no tree support without crawling through blackberries. Then last week I sighted 2 does and a possible yearling but all running as they my have long-ranged winded me or busted me me from slight movement. When they see you first, you are unlikely to shoot one.
Only ever heard a pig and seen a couple running across the road before first light and I think I seen a gots head at long range once.
Deer have been increasing in numbers despite fires and 3 years of rain.
They are also culling the crap out of them from choppers with Sydney hit pre-rut each year to make it even harder for the hunters.
Local Land Services were using the excess bushfire funds to do the extensive chopper shooting pretty much state-wide.
The funds may have been spent as they are now pushing for funding with all this new invasive feral pest control stuff you will see on Facebook and news reports.
They are pushing false information plucked from the internet and stating that rec hunters are inefficient and have no part to play despite the truth, we kill more deer than they ever will.
They are not talking much about their plans to use 1080 poison and new unknown poisons that they claim are so effective.
Their plan has a disclaimer at the end taking no responsibility if they are wrong LOL
I feel the plan is hunters first as they won't fight and are already keeping their heads down and labeled as rednecks with guns.
Next is fishos but they now know they will fight after the "Stop the Lockouts" defeat. NSW Liberal Party.
Labor will submit to the greens and animal justice party demands by re-defining lands as national parks and reserves, then just close the tracks and lock access.
It's not until after a huge bushfire that it comes out as all the tracks are overgrown.
A piece of hidden treasure with significant natural historic value in the Hunter area is awaiting the next big bushfire to be destroyed, but hey, it's not our fault, the previous govt locked it up, we just went along with it and no one much knows as it's been locked up for years.
I don't see the greenies yelling to protect that hidden stand of 1,000yo trees that will burn.
I moved to he Blue Mountains a long time ago and we could ride our trail bikes all over the area.
Could even drive 4x4s down into the gulley area between the river, Blaxland, and Springwood legally.
Could ride the river powerlines track.
Now a walker and a pushbike is about all that can get over the barriers.
Anyway, that's my rant for this week LOL
