The biggest takeaway of the night came from a question about a specific shot in the film that looked "low and forward." James and Ayden leaned on their veterinary background to bust a common myth regarding Australian game anatomy.

The Anatomy Reality: Unlike Whitetail deer often seen on YouTube, Australian game (like Reds) have lung fields that don't extend as far back. Aiming behind the leg often leads to a liver hit rather than the quick, clean kill every hunter strives for.

The Advice: Aim further forward than you think. They aim for the heart, which sits protected right behind the humerus. As James put it: "People often shoot them behind that front leg... but you're actually center punching the liver right there... The lung fields actually don't go all the way that far back."

A massive topic for every hunter in the room was the age-old question: How do you get permission? While James and Ayden admitted that being veterinarians helps open doors regarding cattle work, their advice for the average hunter was grounded in hard work and respect.

The "Dinner Party" Mindset: James framed it perfectly: asking to hunt is like asking a stranger if you can come over for dinner. You wouldn't just expect a "yes" without a relationship or offering something in return. Whether you are a plumber, a fencer, or just willing to help, you need to offer value to the landowner.

The "Research Loop": Aidan shared his specific tactic for new areas. He maps out a "loop" of properties, finds names on mailboxes or cattle company signs, and cold calls them before driving out. He uses a disarming line: "Look, I know it's probably a no at the moment, but I'm coming to do a loop out there in two weeks. If you're around, I'd love to just chat to you and introduce myself."

The Golden Rule: "I'll never open a closed gate." James emphasized that he has door-knocked 50–100 places and never opened a gate to drive up to a house uninvited; he waits for the farmer at the boundary. When meeting a farmer, he is honest about the problem illegal hunters cause, distinguishing himself as a respectful hunter who values their privacy.

Handling Rejection: Aidan noted that 90% of calls are a "no," but if you are polite and respectful, you leave the door open. Sometimes that "no" turns into a tip about a neighbour who needs foxes shot or deer removed from their garden.

When asked about choosing between a Stag Roar or a Hind Call, the answer was multifaceted. While the simple answer is "Whatever is working", the boys broke down the nuance of "reading the room" just like you would when walking into a pub.

The "Silent Majority" Rule: Aidan noted that for 90% of the animals they hunt, they don't call at all. They prefer to keep their presence unknown, creeping in undetected to get as close as possible before engaging.

The Pub Analogy: Aidan gave a brilliant analogy for understanding stag behaviour. He compared young stags to "18-year-olds at a pub" who are eager and will come running at any suggestion of a female. Conversely, an older, dominant stag with a harem is like a "guy with a partner"—he's satisfied and unlikely to leave his girls just because he hears a noise.

The "Jealousy" Tactic: However, you can use that dominance against him. If a mature stag thinks a satellite stag is trying to steal one of his hinds, he might commit to coming over just to kick the intruder out.

Species Specifics: For Fallow Deer, pre-rut rattling is deadly because bucks assume any fighting is over a scarce doe. For Red Deer, the standard operating procedure is to use a Roar to locate the animal from a distance, close the gap to 100–150 metres, and then switch to a Hind Call to bring him the rest of the way in.

Arriving at a massive new property (sometimes 20,000 acres) can be daunting. James's favorite question to ask a property owner is simple: "If you had to go and shoot a deer or a pig right now, where would you go?". He then verifies it immediately.

James uses apps like OnX or Garmin to pin locations while driving with the farmer, but then puts on an "ultra light pack" and walks the entire property to learn the land intimately. Aidan added a Top End trick: Ask where the cattle are. Deer often move with the cattle to follow the good feed or water. Marking every dam and watercourse on GPS is also a high-percentage play for finding wallowing stags in the midday heat.