Prospecting and hunting

[xxplosiv]

Does anyone go into state forests with detector in hand and rifle strapped on their back?

This might be the stupidest idea I've had, but hey, if at any point when you're detecting away a hapless bunny comes along, you can enjoy two of your favourite hobbies at once!

This begs another question - do you guys even bother detecting in state forests? It's one of the only public places you can hunt pests on public land in this country, so in your experience, is it just a lead bullet/brass casing landfill or is there actually good gold to be found?

 

[Wally69]

I like the concept of forcing hunters to pick up their lead after they have shot

I have rarely seen game in the state forests I go. Plenty of lead, cans, bottle tops and tin foil ( arrrrgggg )

Personally I like the idea of bagging some 'Gold & Goats'..... I think there might be a book by that or a similar name come to think of it.

 

[rocketaroo]

Remind me, to never detect a state forest! Seriously, bullets travel along way, you have no idea what lay hundreds of meters past your target

 

[Ramjet]

In NSW you need a permit to fossick in state forests.

 

[xxplosiv]

Remind me, to never detect a state forest! Seriously, bullets travel along way, you have no idea what lay hundreds of meters past your target

Don't worry mate, anyone that knows their basic gun safety rules knows how to avoid this happening. The rule of "never fire above the horizon" comes to mind. You need to be 100% sure of your bullets path before you fire.

In saying that, I'm very cautious and responsible. I can't speak for the yahoos out there.

And Ramjet, here in Vic you don't need a permit as such to hunt in state forests, but you do need a permit if that's the primary reason for you getting/renewing your firearms licence. Nice little bit of useless tax collecting

So any other hunter/prospectors here? Maybe I'll just leave the rifle in the car unless the ground is literally moving...

 

[xxplosiv]

In NSW you need a permit to fossil in state forests.

Oh sorry, did you mean "fossick"? I must've read "hunt" !!!!

 

[Ramjet]

In NSW you need a permit to fossil in state forests.

Oh sorry, did you mean "fossick"? I must've read "hunt" !!!!

Bloody auto correct. Sorry. Fossick is what I meant.

 

[rocketaroo]

Fair enough

 

[Ramjet]

I used to hunt. Sold my rifles when I moved to the city.

 

[Guest]

Does anyone go into state forests with detector in hand and rifle strapped on their back?

This might be the stupidest idea I've had, but hey, if at any point when you're detecting away a hapless bunny comes along, you can enjoy two of your favourite hobbies at once!

This begs another question - do you guys even bother detecting in state forests? It's one of the only public places you can hunt pests on public land in this country, so in your experience, is it just a lead bullet/brass casing landfill or is there actually good gold to be found?

Yep' I do, iv got a few hunting trips planned this year as soon as winter weather falls... These hunting trips take me straight into old goldfields that very limited people have had access too.

Iv just purchased my fold up 21speed mountain bike to get me the 5 km in' then it's on foot for at least 1hr before the hunt is on, mind you Last time I was in one of these spots I set the trail cam up and took some nice pictures of Bambi.

Not stupid at all' but in my case shooting bugs bunny with the 45/70 might be.

 

[backcreek]

Remind me, to never detect a state forest! Seriously, bullets travel along way, you have no idea what lay hundreds of meters past your target

Hay Rocktaroo,
It's true that some state forests are available to shooters for feral animal reduction however you will always be aware this is taking place because every entry road will be sign posted warning users of the forest when and where it is taking place.
Also any licensed hunters hunting in state forests has to pass a course in the safety aspects of such hunting.
Any hunter knows the range of their firearm and will make sure there is a backstop to prevent the projectile from travelling too far in case of a miss.
So you shouldn't have to worry about detecting in state forests.

 

[Guest]

Just be aware that most state forests in VIC are also Deer habitat and being caught in a Deer habitat area with a Rimfire rifle could come with its own penalties, as well as the pet dog not being of hound breed.

 

[MJB]

Zuke_Lynzy...sounds like your planning some High country hunting. My mate does it every year. He keeps telling me stories about how he had to ditch his bike last time as the river had risen that much and he could not carry it over whilst swimmin in freezing water with all his gear......its still there

 

[jamie]

when i went down to mogo state forrest (NSW) for a detect and saw the hunting permitted signage i thought to myself i wish i had my bow with me, but that trip went down hill and i hardly got to detect let alone hunt if i had my bow, but i do like the idea of combining both interests

 

[SCROUNGER]

Before moving to Canadian, i lived and fished (remote trout streams in the mountains) down in East Gippsland. The deer (sambar) hunting is spectacular down that way but i was always very aware of trying to make myself stand out as a human and not a deer by wearing blaze orange top and hat etc. Don't know this area that well yet but that might be a good insurance policy against being mis-identified in the forests up here.

 

[Guest]

Zuke_Lynzy...sounds like your planning some High country hunting. My mate does it every year. He keeps telling me stories about how he had to ditch his bike last time as the river had risen that much and he could not carry it over whilst swimmin in freezing water with all his gear......its still there

Yep! hence the fold up bike' worse case if I have to dump it and can't get back for it that weekend I'll grab it next round when I check on the trail cam, iv always enjoyed Deer stalking solo as they are very smart animals' but I could near bet if they turn up on the trail camera Twice I'll have the freezer on 3rd time round.
ill go through some photos from last year and put a few up.

 

[isolation]

I bumped into a guy in a state forest once, full ghillie suit and fluro orange hat. Can't remember his name, but he had an English accent. I was at least a 1hr scramble into some challenging scrub, not expecting to see anyone. Had the SDC out and was scratching around a dry creek bed. I pointed him in the direction of a group of goats i had seen earlier.

 

[KarlS]

Not stupid at all' but in my case shooting bugs bunny with the 45/70 might be.

Not really, used to shoot rabbits with 30/30. If you hit them right, you had just the back and hind legs, gutted almost skinned and ready for fry pan.
Karl

 

[noncents]

I like the concept of forcing hunters to pick up their lead after they have shot

I have rarely seen game in the state forests I go. Plenty of lead, cans, bottle tops and tin foil ( arrrrgggg )

Personally I like the idea of bagging some 'Gold & Goats'..... I think there might be a book by that or a similar name come to think of it.

I seem to find and see a lot goats , I wish gold was just as easy.
A private property I've been to last year has a few bunnies and couple foxes that I have come across, but because I don't get to do much detecting, I'd rather detect than shoot. Lately I've sucked at shooting and detecting I have to go out more but the bloody thing called work always gets in the way

 

[nuggetino]

Some of the places I go hiking around in SA I'll often see a dozen or so deer out in the forests. They're a real pest out here. Unfortunately I don't think it's legal to shoot them as they're roaming in forest reserves. Be too easy otherwise.