Thread: Ruahine Tops in October. Advice please.

Good morning Gentlemen. I've decided to spend a few days in the Ruahines in the 2nd week of October. Thinking about Renfrews road or Mania road as access points.
Would there be Deer up on the tops this time of year or would I be better off staying lower and bush hunting? I've never been there before so the plan is for a 3 to 4 day scouting mission with a view to come back in the New Year for a longer trip with my boy.
Any advice from those in the know will be welcomed.

Chur

Both good access points, Renfrew being the most popular via Rangiwahia hut.
Good campsite is on the saddle just south of Maungamahua & there is a freshwater spring there off the western side of it.

Always deer up there, if you get the good weather its magic up there especially if you get it to yourself.

Originally Posted by Sika 8

Both good access points, Renfrew being the most popular via Rangiwahia hut.
Good campsite is on the saddle just south of Maungamahua & there is a freshwater spring there off the western side of it.

Always deer up there, if you get the good weather its magic up there especially if you get it to yourself.

Exactly. The Maungahuia end of the sub range is lower for early spring and I used to hunt it quite a bit late winter. Go up Deadman's track and hunt through the Maungahuia saddle and follow the scrub edge looking into the Orua. There is another good route up there that follows the Mangoira stream off the end of Bowling Rd. We cut tracks up there for meat hunting but it takes a bit of explaining.

Thanks men.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Exactly. The Maungahuia end of the sub range is lower for early spring and I used to hunt it quite a bit late winter. Go up Deadman's track and hunt through the Maungahuia saddle and follow the scrub edge looking into the Orua. There is another good route up there that follows the Mangoira stream off the end of Bowling Rd. We cut tracks up there for meat hunting but it takes a bit of explaining.

im planning a return trip myself up here

yes as above go up deadmans hunt ya way along to Maungamahue area, camp sites along the way, plenty of area to make a few days worth.go bak down past rangi hut for a change on the way back?
Hopefully you get a nice weather window.id advise not to go if the weather forecast looks average.it will more than likely be savage up there if forecast says"may be ok"

Did the Rangi dead man loop last 2 weekends, first one was nice weather and warm saw a few boy shot one, next one was more like the weather should be at this time of year and couldn't see a thing! So you will be good by then.

I've had some brilliant hunts up there in Oct-Nov. Ive also been challenged beyond belief and needed all my reserves in the young guy learning what his limits are and then finding new skills and limits kind of way. It can snow out of nowhere and the wind can be hard to stand up and walk. In the days before GPS the fog was a nightmare. The great thing is if you plan it right, you are less than 2 hours in bad conditions from Rangi hut.

Well worth a look along any of the spurs off that main ridge.

Good luck! Its a special place when you get too know it.

Yep. Great spot. Once you get to Rangi hut a whole lot of hunting area opens up to you. Have been to all three Rangi huts, including when we used to ski up there in the early 70's!

The country holds an awful lot of hidey holes for deer along that ridge leading to the main range. November is the golden month in there. They are still nice and hungry so not so wedded to first and last light like they are later in Dec and Jan.

I hope he filled that pack up Rangidan

It's not a bad place on a nice day with no wind

Cheers for the info fullas. Im getting keen.
Hopefully get a decent weather windows.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

I've had some brilliant hunts up there in Oct-Nov. Ive also been challenged beyond belief and needed all my reserves in the young guy learning what his limits are and then finding new skills and limits kind of way. It can snow out of nowhere and the wind can be hard to stand up and walk. In the days before GPS the fog was a nightmare. The great thing is if you plan it right, you are less than 2 hours in bad conditions from Rangi hut.

Well worth a look along any of the spurs off that main ridge.

Good luck! Its a special place when you get too know it.

We cut a track into the Maungawairiki (sp?) off the track about 20 mins or so past the Rangi hut (on the left). It starts under the high rock pile and gives access to the slips and open area on the other side of the creek. I wonder if it is still there? 40 years ago. Anything to get a deer.

Originally Posted by 199p

im planning a return trip myself up here

Under the old rain gauge is a good area.

Originally Posted by Tahr

We cut a track into the Maungawairiki (sp?) off the track about 20 mins or so past the Rangi hut (on the left). It starts under the high rock pile and gives access to the slips and open area on the other side of the creek. I wonder if it is still there? 40 years ago. Anything to get a deer.

Its a hard case small world aye. I believe it was probably you who met two of my best hunting mates up there on one of the few trips where me and my brother weren't with them.
You or whoever it was told them of that track and they used the route a few moths later in the roar to sneak in and bag a decent stag across there.

Biggest bit of advice i can give for success up there is....

Get off the main ridge. Hunt the spurs and sidle through the head gully's, the country rolls away from you, drop over the edge by 100 meters and then glass.