LEARNING FROM MISTAKES

HOUNDS Chris Eaton

I’ve been thinking about the mistakes that newcomers to hound hunting make and realised its not just new hunters that make some of these mistakes. It’s seasoned hunters as well.

I’m going to start with “I am a hound hunter”. Well, actually, I’m not. I’m a deer hunter. Sure I use hounds to hunt with but I don’t actually hunt hounds. Hunting hounds would be easy they run around with a GPS collar on and hopefully bark a lot. Hunting sambar is significantly harder.

Hound crews aren’t successful by luck. Success comes from knowledge built up over lots of years and hound seasons and you’re not going to find all of the answers on your phone or the GPS. However, those two devices will give you maps and satellite pictures that will give you clues that will help you out. When you find out where you are hunting next trip, study the maps and pictures and look for areas that you think a deer might travel through. Look for saddles that lead from one gully into the next, wide spaced-out contour lines mean its flatter going while ones that are really close together are the opposite. Ask yourself where would you walk? Deer really aren’t that much different in the way they travel. Don’t just wait for the crew leader to tell you where he wants you, try and work out why he wants you there.

Look for sunny faces. Anything that faces east or northeast will have morning sun and will be warming up quicker than the shady south faces. Although, if the weather is a bit wild, look for areas that might get them out of the wind. The wind in East Gippsland is predominantly from a westerly direction so if it’s been blowing the dog off the chain, look for a sunny face or gully out of the wind. Don’t forget about how the wind swirls around high points and around gullies. You don’t need to find the deer, just the marks where they have been.

Learn the compass directions. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west and if its ever in the southern sky then we are most likely in a lot of trouble. If you have hunted the area before, think where the deer ran and try and anticipate what might happen. If they have crossed through a saddle on a previous hunt and are heading that way it’s a pretty fair chance they are aiming to do it again. Deer know their patch, it’s the hunters who can think for themselves that are the most successful. The crew leader or more experienced members of the crew aren’t always there to ask for advice or to tell you what to do.

If you are using the GPS to keep track of the hunt (and who doesn’t) make sure you have the maps oriented the correct way or set so that you know which way is which. We have all made the mistake of going the wrong way. Try and anticipate what might happen. Some things are obvious but if the main spots are covered think about where the deer might sneak out, such as that nice little saddle across into the next system. Get it covered before it’s too late.

An obvious one is to make sure your rifle is loaded and, if you’re using a red dot scope, that it’s turned on. Theres been lots of ‘clicks’ over the years, which has meant missed deer and a long afternoon either looking for hounds or a long walk into a gully that you didn’t really want to be in. If you end up having to do the long walk then make sure you have a decent head torch and spare batteries or a backup plan for when it goes flat. Your phone torch isn’t a backup plan either but GPS collars can be. While I’m on phones if you have a newer model iPhone then Telstra have introduced satellite messaging that allows you to message when you have no phone service. I’m not sure that it works everywhere but I’m sure it says if you can see the sky it will work. The downside of that is that you can’t escape.

I know it’s well into the season now and some of you are finding out that your boots just don’t cut it. Boots are a personal choice and what suits one person will not suit everyone. I’ve been wearing Scarpas hunting for lots of years and have never been let down by them. They will be on their way to Africa in September on safari, along with a pair of Ariats and the old elastic-sided Mongrels. A good pair of socks is just as important as good boots. When you manage to find a good pair of boots and socks keep them for hunting only, look after them and they will look after you. Don’t be tempted to dry your boots by the fire. It’s not good for them and there are lots of stories about melted and burnt boots.

Get yourself a good sleeping bag or whatever you decide to use to go in your swag, and make an effort to keep it clean and dry. If you find it’s not quite enough to keep you warm, go and visit your parents or grandparents and beg for an old woollen blanket to put in your swag as well. You will be amazed at how much difference it makes. Just because the real men sleep under the stars and on the ground don’t be shy about putting up some type of shelter such as a tarp or awning to keep the rain and frost off and a good fold up stretcher to keep you off the ground and don’t be tempted to sit up all night talking sh1t around the fire. My crew has a limit on the number of beers they can consume on a Friday night and if they don’t like it they can find someone else to hunt with. I’m there to hunt deer, not listen to someone who should know better complain about how crook they are.

We have been wandering along reasonably well this year and have picked up a few new crew members and a couple more hounds. Colin’s pups Merv and Mavis are going pretty well and have been in the mix on quite a few occasions. The biggest surprise is Nigel. His siblings never made it very far as they couldn’t be caught and I don’t put up with that. Nigel only got to stay around as he is a good companion and very easy going. He has made it to almost two and has been on deer the last three hunts. I know he wouldn’t have made the cut with most crews but I figured he wasn’t hard to put up with so would give him an extended chance. Maybe he might turn out to be a legend after all.

Highlights so far for the season include Meg shooting a 24 or 5; bigger than the one Colin shot the same day. We haven’t broken any cars yet and have hunted quite a few different areas to what we would normally hunt. I bought the SXR2 Winchester review rifle so the guaranteed deer slayer has been loaned to another crew member to help them out. I probably should take out an add in the magazine but I will throw this in here; Annette and I have purchased Bairnsdale Stockfeeds and Firewood. We took over in December last year and things have been a bit hectic…that’s why there was no article last edition. If you are in Bairnsdale call in and say G’day. If you’re after dog food let us know you’re a hound hunter and you will get 5% off.

Anyhow that enough for now enjoy the rest of the season.

Field Marshall