How to Hunt State Forests

Some 101 hints and tips for beginners who want to hunt NSWs state forests. This video focuses mainly on native forests and finding deer. Good luck to all those starting out in public land hunting.
/ aussiebushharvest
/ aussiebushharvest
Title music by Jason Shaw @ audionautix.com

[@jimmyjones2426]

Your positivity is infectious mate, thanks for taking the time to share it with us

[@99KTRAN]

Absolute legend! Frome someone who is seriously interested in getting into hunting I just came across this video and it was amazing. Thank you so much for your time and effort doing these vids. Will definitely support your channel brother

[@juliandean8787]

Awesome achievement mate iv recently got my shooters ticket and a 22-250 i live in central victoria and would love to get out in nature and harvest my own meat and you show honour and respect to both your surrounds and the deer herself which is exactly what i love to see not the guys who target that huge buck to behead it and leave everything else behind to hang up in their mancave! you sir are a true hunters' role model keep up the excellent work cheers bloke 👍

[@heathhayzwegg425]

Hey mate, watched this video about a year ago now and I was hooked on the idea of deer hunting. My 12yr old and I got a game licence this year and we go out every other weekend. We've taken at least 10 deer this year and my son had his first trigger pull at a sambar a couple of weeks back now, just missing a 200m shot. So proud of his efforts and now the whole family treat every bush walk as a stalk to see what's in the area and how recent. No more tracks for us! Game trails always. Good times are natural!

[@AussieBushHarvest]

So stoked to hear than man, so good you and your young fella can share that journey together!

[@rawfishing4494]

Good on you man. This is exactly what people who are time poor need. Someone explaining the fundamentals. Thank you!

[@hankbraff1135]

Great vid mate, when the winds blowing that hard, the zones of silence are where they bed and feel safe, enjoy the fruits of your labour, thanks for sharing.

[@mauserman1613]

You're spot on about time and effort, three P's, Patience, Perseverance and what you have heaps of Passion! Great video cheers.

[@MrWhitey222]

Some good info there and I love the respect you have for the bush and for the animal. Looking forward to more of your vids.

[@HeyItsBink]

Gezz mate wish i had a way to come learn bit daunting for someone whos never been out, or has anyone to go with! Great stuff!

[@jordanfalcioni4745]

Love your energy mate! I’ve learnt so much from your vids already

[@darcyturbin7224]

It's Oliver from camp u were seriously the best camp instructor ever and a really nice bloke. Keep up the good work

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Oli your a dead set legend bro, it was great camping with you. I really hope you and your dad can find the time to get into hunting, families that hunt together stay together!

[@vickyemmanouilidis9653]

absolutely love your videos. watched all of them countless times especially your winter stags one, and they get better and better. cant wait for the next one.

[@surveybear1862]

Watching this again as refresher

[@Thewhiterabbit395]

This is awesome. Glad I’m not the only one sport’n a hatch back.

[@GoldRatEngineering]

Great video mate. I feel ya 100% time in the bush is time well spent and today you were rewarded well done

[@AustralianShootingChannel]

Good video mate! I agree with you. Some of the best hunting trips I've been on have been State Forest hunts. Keep up the good work and good luck with future hunts! Cheers, ASC.

[@salim.g804]

Top Work. Quality entertainment and knowledge.

[@gordonpeden6234]

Onya mate! Love your attitude, I shot it. (The easy bit) Now I've got to put the work in. (the hard bit skinning, butchering, carting it out. Keep it up mate.

[@vichunter7014]

Hey bud very helpful and well presented video... keep the good work up...happy hunting

[@Juganort81]

haha love the excitement. good video's mate I always enjoy them

[@ThreeEyeGypsy30]

Fantastic video, I love your respect for the animal. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@MRxr400]

great way to get some fresh air and keep fit. I love hunting solo. i'm mainly after ferals, though hoping to get into the deer a bit soon. I've a g licence, though may look into the r once my sons ready to start hunting with me.

[@bashirk]

Cant thank you enough mate. Renewed my vigor for next season!

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Respect Bashir, hope you fill those freezers and then some bro

[@trinescape]

G'day mate that was a great vid ,well put together good advice cheers Andy

[@danwillis7315]

Great vid mate, I'm just starting out so this is gold!!!!! Thanks

[@deanno7067]

Mate this video was so inspirational!!! Thanks for the tips and for uploading, I love hunting and have a keen interest in firearms but sometimes the thought of where do you start for a state forest hunt can seem daunting but this has helped me so much. AND to top it off you don't even have a big penis extension of a 4wd just a very humble 2 door lol mate i'm stoked i can't wait thanks!

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Im stoked that your stoked! cheers man

[@brendantosin9611]

Dean no q

[@amtamarind]

"I am not an expert at anything" modesty, love it mate. Subscribed.

[@MOOSEDOWNUNDER]

Great effort matey, nice prize. Cheers Moose in Vic. 🐗🐗🐗🐗

[@truthsayer81]

Awesome video

[@ruggedaustralia7136]

Very good informative Great hunt put the effort get the rewards

[@jakeerdos8908]

Thanks mate, love your channel!

[@chrismak5273]

What a hunter, keep it up matey.

[@toddyrightonit]

another great video cant wait to see more !

[@davedreds5905]

Hi. Great and helpful video. Im about to start my journey as a hunter to harvest meat. I dont own a gun or license yet, and have started research. Im really happy to have come across your channel (yes Ive subbed ☺). You have a lot of great info for a beginner and you have a fantastic attitude to the outdoors and harvesting meat. Thanks for the info, and keep em coming.

[@cockroachman27]

How's it going for you, have you got into hunting yet I'm thinking of doing the same after discovering deer signs where I live

[@thesydneymilitia8668]

Great video mate. really enjoyed it

[@MagicandStars497]

Great video thanks for posting

[@adrianjones571]

thanks for the great vid mate. very helpfull knowledge.

[@jacksonobrien9635]

Here’s thinking of you whilst in the vic high country, I’ve got a lot of wallows and sign I just need the patience

[@edstar81]

Great video. Keep em coming 👍

[@simdantra]

Love your passion

[@Danger3512]

Profty ! ! , good tutorial and then practical stage, you should be a professional trainer, (without the swearing of course, thats unprofessional in a training environment ! !) Anyways my buddies, Bro, son and I hunt the Vic State forests for sambar, your fav too I see. What you show in your vids is pretty much what we do, searching those Gully heads leading away from the fringe country early in the morning or late in the evening, Last hour before dark is "Sambar Hour" its good if you can get to the deer before they bed down, then they have too much of an advantage. Cold mornings look for where the sun rise hits the sides of the hills and gullies first, we use Google earth and the sun time line for this. Sambar hate noise, so o a windy day look for where the hills protect from the wind, Quiet zones: this is so they can use their big Radar ears ! ! Map recce and planning is essential before you go out but as you say you will have to tweak your plan once on the ground as weather, wind direction and sign will dictate you to adopt your plan B or C, but always have a plan ..... oh and an emergency plan too, in case "Joe Blake" gets ya ! ! I like your vids and your enthusiasm for the bush, I think thats what it is all about, getting out and being in nature and our fantastic forests, even if you don't bowl anything over its still a good day above ground ! ! Happy hunting keep the vids running, maybe one day we will post something and start our own channel. I run a Browning BLR Take down Pistol Grip, .308 WIN, 3-9x 42mm Meopta Meopro Scope, Bushnell Red dot mounted on top of Scope for fast movers and quick reaction shots up to 100m. Barnes tripleX 150-165 gn are good, not a fan of 180gn lead jacket, jam in the magazine as projectiles are too long,

[@andrewporter7280]

Great video mate love the car

[@ciroromano7691]

hey mate good on ya bud love your work keep it up!!!!!

[@bergerbroer1]

Great video mate. thanks for sharing your hunting experience with us, I will try to do what you showed us. Hard work though,,,,

[@johnmckinley2619]

Awesome, Super helpful !!

[@CutUpDiabeticWeasel]

Good on you mate.

[@DoyleHargraves]

I thought they took all your guns away down there.... I'm glad to see that you can still hunt.

[@HuffDuff101]

Great video dude :)

[@Gavin_McGregor]

Great vid, plenty of deer in state forests. Never seem to see the stags though!!

[@vicegrypp]

great video mate

[@havingagooutdoors4133]

Fucking wicked stuff Profty. love your videos man, always keen to see the next hunt/cooking lesson. cheers bro

[@TaralgaBushAdventure]

Nice work. Can you talk about the the process to get permits etc to hunt those state forests and crown land, if there are any?

[@bastardsprey8077]

great channel great vid

[@markastin001]

G'day what calibre you reckon is way to go for NSW state forests? Love your video and the fact you hunt alone. Show guts. Cheers mate

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Thanks heaps Mark! Mate id get a 7mm08, I reckon its the perfect forest gun. Failing that get a 270

[@aussiehunterandgatherer8954]

glad to see your posting more videos man, we're abouts in nsw are you? I live in tumbarumba about 20 minutes or less from maragle state forest

[@AussieBushHarvest]

I'm in the Blue Mountains but i've spent many weekends down your way. Your in paradise mate!

[@aussiehunterandgatherer8954]

Yeah I love it down here we might have to organise a hunt sometime I'll show you a few of my favourite spots to get some sambar

[@AussieBushHarvest]

blue mountains? do you mean the central west?

[@Paul-wj1zg]

Fantastic video man. I subscribed 10 seconds in. Your passion and description got me so stoked man. Ive just started the process of applying for a firearms licence and a hunting permit I live in nsw as well would you consider at all once I'm certified and confident shooting taking me hunting all good if you don't but if you do that would be sick cheers mate

[@roamy7]

awesome vid

[@vman4220]

epic bro

[@baileyvanzanten7391]

Hi love your work your a great hunter how do you tell the difference between red and other deer scat thanks for you time keep up the good times

[@animalspirit77]

Great video, than a tonne

[@thetoday-v-showdavedaily5601]

Thank you

[@bilistavrakis3568]

Once a year they like to root. 😂😂 caught me off guard

[@christoots3427]

G'day mate, I'm chris and I live in the blue mountains in western Sydney I've been pigging a lot and to tell you the truth I'm really over it. My brother and I love everything about deer hunting but have never been so we are planning a trip to Maragle State Forrest to get our very first deer and since discharging from the Army this will be my first camp in the bush for a while so im really keen. So with out coming across like a tool I was wondering if you could join us you know what your doing and I know it would mean the world to my brother to fill up our freezer with some beautiful meat I guess I just don't want this trip to go to waste. Get back to me when ever your free next cheers mate.

[@getawayz1]

Great video's mate, Ive just started on your channel. Is there any Aussie game that you wont eat (other than feral cats/dogs etc)? Thanks.

[@johnosandra]

Hey mate, how do you manage getting into state forests without a 4wd? Can you give me your insights? To what degree is it manageable/practicable? How far into the forests do you get with a normal car? How far do you typically need to walk in a day to get to some good hunting when you can only access roads suitable for a normal sedan? Thanks legend!

[@123zarafa]

Another quality video

[@Jimmy-ng4wy]

G'day mate I just got my r's and are going hunting soon. I am a minor licence holder and new to hunting. Im going to red hill have you been there?

[@phenomenalobservations992]

"once here they wanna root" omg , LOL!!

[@lesliegrayson1722]

For those of you who want to know how to cart the sucker back, I found a 40 litre solar shower at granville on gumtree and as I was just glancing around the shop they had a $20 hand winch.. that and a carubina to your death/Quad/bike and it seems like an easy ride back to camp with it on the back.. where your wife/you can cut it up.. oh your wife isn't a knife hand.. damn/ yeah my wife is one and she knows I can do 6 turkey legs in 1 min.. (my own fault for boasting when I met her..) So there's a magazine called Small farms at your local newsagent, they sell books from the magazine about butchering of game and farm animals if you haven't had any professional training. LOL there's KZbin too.. but you can't just go back and open a page when you want to with that.. :D

[@quadmoose]

Hey mate been loving your videos! I recently started working for snowy hydro at Cabramurra, so seems like I'm in your vicinity. Have been trying to find someone I could learn to hunt deer from. Would love to catch up and tag along on one of your hunts sometime. Get back to me if you reckon you'd be willing, Cheers!

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Hey Ryan! Nah man I'm nowhere near the Snowies but I wish I was, Cabramurra is an incredible spot to call home. Check out Maragle and Bago forests. Mannus and Greenhills go ok as well. Theres more and more Sambar round there than ever before too. Best of luck!

[@quadmoose]

Yeah it's magical place man especially this time of year. Will definitely check those options out, thanks for the ever valuable videos you're throwing out there mate, keep it up!

[@mathewemery3330]

5 Years later, would you add or subtract anything you've learned in that time ?

[@AussieBushHarvest]

I would add lots and lots. Probably a full videos worth when I have the chance 🤙🏽

[@mathewemery3330]

@@AussieBushHarvest I look forward to it when you get the time and inclination, was re watching some of your older stuff to get into planning mode for next weekend

[@kristianbursell2546]

legend

[@jyeprice9382]

How do you get permission to do this. I'm having trouble finding information how the legality is here in qld.

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Hey Jye, unfortunately QLD doesn’t have public land hunting opportunities. You’ll have ways to get property access if you join the ADA, apply for the ridge group ballot or join SSAA farmer assist. If your in southern QLD though, you’ll still be able to hunt NSW state forests with an RLicence. Check out the NSW DPI website for how to get licenced

[@jyeprice9382]

@@AussieBushHarvest thank you. I'm lucky I have access to 3 properties in my area. But they all back onto state forrest and national parks and I like to camp in there but feel better to stay alone multiple nights with my firearm lol. Guess I'll just have to leave it In the safe and just de escalate any potential yowies with good calm reasoning hahaha jokes. Hopefully we get hunting permits on crown land soon our country around here realy needs it. These pigs are doing some major damage. They are smart enough to just run into the no go zones like they know the legislation ahaha 😆

[@aaronh6783]

hey mate how do you go about navigating in unknown forests, and getting the kill back to the car?

[@Sjadow75]

Aaron Hingerty Toppo Map/ compass Map / gps -marking waypoints of car, kill, signs and scrapes etc Its the way i hunt especially if your unfamiliar with the area (if u hunt in state forrests nsw u must have a gps with the forrest downloaded into it so you can find boundries, no hunt zones etc in it) 👍👍

[@c2k911]

hi i have a question just like to ask how far would you walk away from your car while its parked

[@AussieBushHarvest]

could be a few hundred metres could be over 10km. Nothing is guaranteed

[@joecrofton3917]

what map is he using?

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Do you mean me? I’m using the Avenza maps provided to R licence hunters by the DPI in NSW

[@venraxhd3463]

hey mate where do u think a really good place in vic is to hunt samber

[@marung9967]

send a dart at the map of vic and where she lands will be sambar.... lol. any chance you could narrow down which part of vic you are from/ prefer to hunt?

[@vickyemmanouilidis9653]

do you recommend scouting a forest pre season during the summer months?

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Yes Big Time. The past 2 years i've had trail cameras up for the whole summer and it has lead to success in March.

[@vickyemmanouilidis9653]

thanks for that ill sure put some effort into a forest this summer, and hopefully it pays off in march. And also roughly what time of the year is the rut for red deer?thanks

[@AussieBushHarvest]

last week of march, first week of April

[@vickyemmanouilidis9653]

thanks a lot! looking forward to your next video

[@Falcon6Barra]

How did you get your rifle?

[@AussieBushHarvest]

I got a gun license, then I bought it from a gun shop

[@Falcon6Barra]

Aussie Bush Harvest ok

[@ExtremeWog]

Also wat maps were u using for the forest

[@AussieBushHarvest]

The maps are the ones that come with the written permission from DPI. They also send you a digital copy to load onto your GPS which is compulsory now

[@Danger3512]

OK NSW DPI are ahead of Vic , we just get Jpg maps. I am busy getting them geo-calibrated and loaded onto my Hema HN7 using oziexplorer, slow process especially with 95 maps ! ! I have already loaded most of the Vic Highcountry maps as layers in Google earth, that took some hours but well worth it for the planning stage, Happy Days ! !

[@henningradasewski509]

Very entertaining vid bro, you just got a new subscriber. If you ever want to hunt in NZ, hit me up mate.

[@wildmindtv8049]

Where do you park for this hunt?

[@AussieBushHarvest]

Hey man, The blue Asterix on the map is where I would park if the tracks permit. Glad you liked the video mate!

[@dbphotography7020]

Am I the only one that thought Shiloh

[@ratcat7668]

Pain in the butt deer and kangaroo. they deserve to die. and deer are vicious

[@AussieBushHarvest]

That’s a strange thing to say, but thanks for watching man

[@ratcat7668]

@@AussieBushHarvest In Victorian state forest deer are destroying habitat and kangaroo are a pest on the road that mangle cars - thats what I meant

[@joewharper]

love your ethos man. It's all about time in the bush. nothing like hunting state forests!

[@AussieBushHarvest]

absolutely man, big cheers

[@jordos_moodsta9915]

Wish I could relate, only can hunt private property with permission in QLD. Keen to do something about it though.

[@SuperRiverRat1]

I went on my first hunt alone in Vulcan State Forest last week and saw a few deer but unable to take a shot. Alot of walking with very little idea really. I wish I had seen this video before I headed out. Would love to go on a hunt with you for deer. Thank you very much for your time and effort in making this video.

[@sda6795]

I don’t feel so bad now going hunting in my Mazda 6!

[@BLAKEBMX96]

makes me feel better about bush bashing my 3 series bmw haha

[@jamesrotunno6911]

Woodo as long as your a hunter it doesn’t matter

[@Sjadow75]

Great vid mate … a true hunter. Great to see you put the word out on putting the time in ... Another one i say is: 'If you dont carry a knife on you your not truely hunting'👍👍

[@AussieBushHarvest]

thank you kindly mate, I'd have to agree

[@danielvanoosterhout2249]

Just found your channel. Awesome work! I like your comment of "If I put the bullet in, I'll put the time in (to pack out the meat)". Great mentality. Also like your wheels at the end; just goes to show you don't need a big fancy 4WD to put meat in the freezer!

[@ncgrof]

Hey Profty, thanks for all your videos. I have been using the advice you give in this and your other vids. When I’m out in state forests I only ever see kangaroos, tonnes of them. Any tips on what I can do different to find ferals? Thanks

[@splodge157]

Great tutorial. I am a bow hunter, about to go out for my second time and i don't want to sit in one place for the day. I'm not expecting to get anything however your tutorial has given me some great insight in to how to go about my hunting. Cheers Profty

[@plzlogmein]

How do you manage to get back to your car? Gps?

[@queeniele8295]

In NSW to book a public state forest for hunting you have to have a GPS haha

[@TheBeaker59]

If you understand terrain and are observant then you don't need GPS often they can lead you astray even as they give the wrong people confidence to go allot further than they can manage. I have one but am not a huge fan and mainly only use it to make easy routes home.

[@queeniele8295]

@@TheBeaker59 not sure where you're from, but in NSW where he's hunting, it's a legal requirement to have a GPS. But yeah, I think it's better to understand terrain like you said cos my GPS has fucked me over a couple times

[@TheBeaker59]

In NZ @@queeniele8295Terrain is steeper than Aussie as a generalisation but also better defined rolling country like Profty hunts can be difficult to navigate at times. I grew up with map and compass actually think I prefer it as it slows you down which usually is in a hunters favour.

[@lesliegrayson1722]

City boy leo? Go with a group, gun club, learn from guys who have done scouts, venturers, rovers, been in the army, hung around locals, hung around our indigenous brothers, or simply frown up on farm. You need to be able to identify where you have come from and where to go back to by the trees, rocks, ground colour, tracks, view of a hill, or gully. a good GPS should work out in the bush as it acquires Satellites, not cell towers.. you'd think.. of course with a 3 hour limit on the battery you will need to turn it off and on. or plug it into your bike or potential roll over killing device Quad bike.. (get a roll over bar, muffle your muffler even more than it is..)

[@toddstewart4404]

Good hunting tips. Thanks

[@richom23]

Profty, I love your passion man, I get the same way whenever I'm up in the tops of the Victorian Alps, keep em coming man, great work.

[@Kearnesy]

About to move south in nsw just got my R licence for bows keen to get into it

[@MalcolmBerkeley]

Thank you that was awesome . A real insight into deer hunting on public land.

[@CraigHenryTgm]

Great stuff. Thx mate. Please, keep doing them.

[@blackandsilky]

Great videos . Thanks for the info ;)

[@garyspokes5217]

Thanks for a really good video. Watching this just before I set off (61/2 hr drive) to start doing my research pre deer season. Having never spent a season hunting deer (taken the odd one by chance), you have given me a starting point.

[@AussieBushHarvest]

I'm glad you found it helpful Gary, really hope it kick starts a successful season for you

[@victoriapschen]

That forest looks great to hunt in. Not as thick and crappy as some New Zealand public land.