Thread: Advice for a new hunter - Tararuas

I have been hunting those areas for 20 years plus. This time of year bush hunting in there will be very difficult, the leaf litter on the ground is crunchy and stalking will be very noisy. During the heat of the day they will be up high to get a cool breeze or hold up in a wet shaded gut in the bush. Deer still like the open areas though throughout the night, late evening and morning, anywhere on the rivers edge with grass flats or sandy spots they will come out to play/feed.
You wont need to go that far though to see deer, that is a hell of a walk in this heat, especially to carry something out from mid way. I would either stay in one valley or up on the tops, either will have deer. I have shot a shit ton of deer in there over the years around Tutuwai and Totara flats. Save the big missions for when the weather cools down. Go up to Cone from Smiths or Totora flats from Waiohine and work all the bush edges/flats evening and first light, you will see deer.