Thursday night, 170 eager hunters, and the roar just around the corner at our Springwood store - you couldn't ask for a better lead-up to the season. It was a packed house as we welcomed James and Ayden Doumtsis from Twin Elements..

For those who don’t know, these boys aren't just content creators; they are veterinarians and die-hard bowhunters who have successfully hunted everything from Top End buffalo to Montana Elk. The goal for the night was simple: cut through the noise and get everyone "Rut Ready" for the upcoming Red and Fallow seasons.

The Q&A session was an absolute masterclass, with James and Ayden fielding questions on everything from Red Deer anatomy to land access. Here is the full breakdown of the topics covered so you can apply them to your 2026 season.

When asked about the setup used to punch through bone on that stag, the boys didn't shy away from heavy specs.

• Arrow Weight: They are running heavy arrows—approx 575–580 grains tipped with a 150-grain OzCut broadhead.

• Draw Weight: Aidan was shooting 70lbs in the film but has since upgraded to 80lbs, noting that modern cam technology makes drawing 80lbs feel easier than older bows.

A great question was asked about how to handle big stags that have "gone quiet"—they won't respond to a roar because they are wary, and they won't respond to a hind call because they already have girls. Both the boys and Dustyn (Venture's Bow Technician) weighed in with a strategy that goes against the grain of the typical "first light" rush.

• The "Sketchy" First Light: Dustyn pointed out that animals are actually the hardest to hunt right at first light. When the sun breaks, they are hyper-alert, looking for predators, and "sketchy as". Rushing in at 6:00 AM often leads to blown stalks because the deer are on high alert.

• The "Morning Tea" Theory: Dustyn calls the window between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM "Kill Time".

  "They have a little bit of a sit down, a little bit of a nap, get up and have a little bit of a feed... their nerves start to settle down a bit." — Dustyn

• Experience Backs It Up: James backed this up with experience from their successful hunts. He noted that Aidan's big Southeast Queensland stag was shot at 11:00 AM, James's was at 1:00 PM, and another massive New South Wales stag was taken at 2:30 PM.

• The Mid-Day Strategy: James explained that if a stag is giving a lazy "croak" every 20 minutes from a gully, he hasn't moved. Instead of blindly calling back, use that mid-morning time to your advantage. By 10:00 AM, the thermals usually switch to sucking up the hill. This allows you to loop around, drop in from above with the wind in your face, and sneak in on a bedded stag that thinks he is safe.

• The Verdict: Don't burn yourself out in the first hour. Mark the stags at dawn, wait for them to settle for "morning tea," and then make your move when the thermals are consistent and the deer are calm.

A common challenge is arriving at a massive new property (sometimes 20,000 acres) and not knowing where to start. James and Ayden shared their protocol for breaking down new country efficiently.

• The Million-Dollar Question: James doesn't guess. His favorite question to ask a property owner upon arrival is simple: "If you had to go and shoot a deer or a pig or a goat or whatever right now, where would you go?". He then asks them to drive him there immediately so he can verify it.

• Tech Meets Boots: James uses apps like OnX or Garmin to pin locations while driving with the farmer—marking dams, gullies, or wallow areas. However, technology only gets you so far. He then puts on an "ultra light pack" and walks the entire property to learn the land intimately, looking for fresh ruts or sign that might be missed from a vehicle.

• Follow the Cattle (Top End Trick): Aidan added a specific tip for hunting Chital or deer in the Top End: Ask where the cattle are.

  • "I've had times where the deer are smashing an area... you walk through it you're like 'Where is everything?' And the property owner will say 'Yeah we took 600 head of cattle in there' and they've literally just gone across the fence." — Aidan

• Often, the deer will move with the cattle to follow the good feed or water, so knowing the stock movements is a massive shortcut.
  

• Water Sources: Especially in summer or leading into the rut, Aidan marks every dam and watercourse on his GPS. Checking these water sources in the middle of the day is often the highest percentage play for finding wallowing pigs or stags.

You can’t have a room full of hunters without a good feed. A massive shout-out to the Australian Deer Association (ADA) crew who manned the BBQ all night. The spread was fantastic, keeping everyone fueled for the massive three-hour session.

As one attendee put it between mouthfuls, "That’s honestly the best venison sausage I've had in a long time." It’s hard to beat game meat cooked by people who respect the hunt just as much as you do.

The vibe last night proved that Venture Hunting is aiming to be more than just a shop; we are building the premier hunting community in the Southern Hemisphere.

Did you miss out? Make sure you're subscribed to our emails so you can grab one of the 150 spots next time. We are already planning our next event for March—a Butchering Demonstration that you won't want to miss.

In the meantime, come into the store to chat with our team about your 2026 Rut setup. Let's get it done.