Advice for a new hunter - Tararuas

Looking for some advice as I’m planning my first hunt for Red Deer, I live 10mins outside the Tararuas and my current plan is a day hunt, walking in from the Waihoine gorge car park making my way up to Cone Hut, then head across the saddle and up top and across the Cone ridge and down to Totaroa Flats Hut, before heading back down the river to the car park again. Figure this gets me both up on the tops and across the flats and hopefully in sight of some deer, would love some advice on the likely spots to keep an eye out for and wether this would even be feasible for a day trip (from what I’ve read it’d be 7-8hrs at least but planning to make a full day of it). If there’s any other suggestions from the same entry point I’d love to hear about those too. Excited to get up in the hills and get amongst it.

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.

Gidday - welcome to the forum.

Its been 40 years at least since I hunted in the Tararuas, and in those days the deer were spread mighty thin, so I can't be at all specific.

From my limited knowledge and worse memory of the area your proposed trip looks more like an "armed tramp" rather than a hunt. I've been an "armed tramper" all my life and I can tell you that its a wonderful thing, BUT it won't get you many deer, unless you are usually disciplined (to stay out in the hill at the right times in the right places) and/or lucky.

Best to have a bloody good look at a map, pick out some good feed areas and climb to them. Watch till dark (or success) with the wind in your favour then return to base the same way. Make sure you take enough gear so an unplanned night out on the hill won't end in tragedy.

All the best

never been there...BUT you planning 7-8hr walk....minimum....could be far more productive to walk for hour or two to good vantage point,stay UNSKYLINED and sit and let binoculars do the walking.....far better to walk couple of hours,look for another hour or two,move along a little more,look some more,hopefully find and shoot/recover animal and walk the 2 hours back....if you shoot animal 4 hours in,either way its a 4 hr carry back out....
take water,make a cuppa when you get bored looking,then look again..sooner or later animal will pop out.hopefully you can then plan how to get into range without being winded by animal....
good luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tentman

Gidday - welcome to the forum.

Its been 40 years at least since I hunted in the Tararuas, and in those days the deer were spread mighty thin, so I can't be at all specific.

From my limited knowledge and worse memory of the area your proposed trip looks more like an "armed tramp" rather than a hunt. I've been an "armed tramper" all my life and I can tell you that its a wonderful thing, BUT it won't get you many deer, unless you are usually disciplined (to stay out in the hill at the right times in the right places) and/or lucky.

Best to have a bloody good look at a map, pick out some good feed areas and climb to them. Watch till dark (or success) with the wind in your favour then return to base the same way. Make sure you take enough gear so an unplanned night out on the hill won't end in tragedy.

All the best

---

Love the “armed tramper” term haha! Indeed I think from what’s been posted I’ll be overdoing the walking with my plan. Will look to do either the flats or ridge only and save bigger trip for an overnighter when it cools down. Thanks for the advice, so glad there’s a forum like this!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by oneshot

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.

---

Thanks so much for that advice! So good to have experienced hunters share their knowledge on here, I thought I might be overdoing it with my plan so glad to have it confirmed ��
I’ll look to head up the river to the flats and back as my first trip and then have a look at the ridge on a second trip. Will save the big trip as an overnighter when it cools down Glad to hear there’s a good chance of seeing some deer! I’ll aim to start before dawn so I can be at the flats by first light.

Thanks again !

I'm with Dusty Fog in that theres good hunting in the Haurangis and would be your best bet.
Further around the coast past the stone wall is good but steep.
Another area is from the end of Ruakokoputuna road - alot of people go in here but theres quite a lot of scope.
Good luck!

Clems creek was a good spot years ago when deer were as scarce as rocking horse shit, a bit of a boulder hop in places but there were slips there that were always good for a bit of venison. You can sidle out on the cone side back to walls whare or cone hut or the other way towards makaka and further up river.

My 10cents worth.Blast straight up to Totara Flats from Walls Whare.Ford the lower flats to the T.L. and stay @ Sayers Hut approx opposite DOC Totara Flats Hut.Probably not officially marked on current topo maps.Then just stalk the valley floor on that side in the last 1 hour shootable light in evening either up or down stream depending on catabatic movement on dusk.Ditto for a morning shot.Once suns up sidle thru the damp supplejack guts say 3-500 mtr contour where they are chewing their cud til noon.Spend the rest of the day fishing/sun bathing.Good luck from an ex NZFS hunter who shot that block a while ago.Regardless a good spot is always a good spot

I tend to head up to the flats in summer hunt the evening and stay in sayers or totara flats hut then hunt the morning and wander home. Saw a big pig up there just before Christmas too. Missed him though. Need to get better st shooting. Looks as though they’ve been ripping the place up a bit round there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bluebaiter222

My 10cents worth.Blast straight up to Totara Flats from Walls Whare.Ford the lower flats to the T.L. and stay @ Sayers Hut approx opposite DOC Totara Flats Hut.Probably not officially marked on current topo maps.Then just stalk the valley floor on that side in the last 1 hour shootable light in evening either up or down stream depending on catabatic movement on dusk.Ditto for a morning shot.Once suns up sidle thru the damp supplejack guts say 3-500 mtr contour where they are chewing their cud til noon.Spend the rest of the day fishing/sun bathing.Good luck from an ex NZFS hunter who shot that block a while ago.Regardless a good spot is always a good spot

---

Thanks mate, Sayers hut is listed on Topo50 app I’ve got so know where you mean! The flats area at Totaroa looked bigger so that was the only reason I’d picked that first, good to know that side has done well for you will head there

Hunting till last light and then finding your way out in the dark can be a bit nerve racking if you dont know the country. I would take a fly and sleeping bag and sleep where I finished hunting in the evening. Johnny on the spot for a morning hunt too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Hunting till last light and then finding your way out in the dark can be a bit nerve racking if you dont know the country. I would take a fly and sleeping bag and sleep where I finished hunting in the evening. Johnny on the spot for a morning hunt too

---

Thanks mate in reality I was likely only going to get there for first light and stay until late afternoon before heading back as a first trip out, exactly as you said so I wouldn’t be walking out in the dark until I at least knew the route well. Plus with a 1 year old at home the wife would be blowing up if I spent all day/night out having fun haha 😂

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sharps no 1

Clems creek was a good spot years ago when deer were as scarce as rocking horse shit, a bit of a boulder hop in places but there were slips there that were always good for a bit of venison. You can sidle out on the cone side back to walls whare or cone hut or the other way towards makaka and further up river.

---

Awesome thanks for that mate really appreciate it, will give it a look when I head out, it’s a lot closer to my walk in spot so may a good option for me

Walking the tracks is a good way to start in an area. Set your phone or gps to record your route in daylight and it will be handy when youre crashing through after dark on another trip. Your original idea to do the full cone ridge totara flats and out on the sidle track is a good one if youre quite fit and have some experience of tramping or mountain running. Im not sure what the route from cone saddle through the head of clem ck to makaka ck is like. To get to the flats from the road by first light you will need to leave by 4 AM. A waste of nice bush walking. A gentle walk up to totara flats and sayers hut and back to familiarise yourself with the area would be nice. Expect to see other people up there specially at dawn and dusk. Can you get someone to drop you off and do a through trip from holdsworth lodge to waiohine (walls whare). It would be the same length and extra interesting.

Some good advice here. I have shot the odd deer in there over the years;) I agree. Totara Flats is a great place for a keen young hunter. First light on the flats opposite Sayers can be good value. Also good spots up any of the side creeks around the flats learning and checking slips etc. Just make sure your ability matches your hunting area and style. Small steps mate. Hunt the flats and slips at daylight and plan to be bush hunting from an hour or so after daylight for the rest of the morning. Late morning they are often up and feeding in the bush too. The Tarries are never that good on day hunts. Getting three hours in and staying overnight is always more profitable. Aorangis are also really good. Cheers

Google a couple of clearings close to each other off the beatn track.Get the wind right and sit and watch especilly the 1st and last hour of day light.Three hours walking at most all day.Six hours of watching and learning.Less walking and more watching.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sharps no 1

Clems creek was a good spot years ago when deer were as scarce as rocking horse shit, a bit of a boulder hop in places but there were slips there that were always good for a bit of venison. You can sidle out on the cone side back to walls whare or cone hut or the other way towards makaka and further up river.

---

I have pulled deer out of Coal and Clem Streams many years ago. You don't have to walk for miles. Good luck!

Here's a tip for a good keen man and now l can't do it any more l don't mind passing it on. Don't underestimate the true left from walls whare to totara flats. There was a track we cut back in the 60's and used till the 90's, pretty rough in places but every time we got the meat, pigs and deer. Every one hares off to the flats but sometimes the best place is right under yer nose. For those who don't know the true left is sposed to be looking downstream.

Good thread this. Applicable to other areas

We probably need to get a few things straight

- if you are new to hunting, then the likes of the river flats of totara and tutwai cone would be the best places to start. a few km's of country can be covered and you will learn the most through the seasons about what the deer are up to. Navigationally not too hard.
- its not easy hunting, anywhere, the deer just arent standing there by the bushes ready to be shot. sometimes you get the odd easy one but for the most part it will be hard work, but you will feel great when you get back to the carpark with your 20kg load of meat, wet boots and sore shoulders and legs and you can say 'f-k yeah i actually did it!'

in terms of the hunting:
if you get terribly lost you can use the river to get back to the track/hut. stalk the flats for the first hour or 2 after daybreak, head in either direction so long as the wind is at your face. as others stated, the first 2-300 metres above the rivers are worth bush hunting.

what i usually do is go in for a scoping out mission which is just a tramp, walk along the tracks and put face to what the map shows. find where some sign is and whether the deer are there or not. then when i spot my favoured weather/wind pattern i will go back. its important to know your area, because say you shoot a deer late in the afternoon ( or after lunch in winter and you are far in) you could be walking out in the dark, having this prior knowledge you will feel more comfortable getting back to your camp or back to the carpark.

another good tactic would be after your early morning flats stalk would be to climb a ridge above said bush terraces, sidle across to another side spur and stalk back down. again, you can note which heights/bush types the sign is, food source, warmth etc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

never been there...BUT you planning 7-8hr walk....minimum....could be far more productive to walk for hour or two to good vantage point,stay UNSKYLINED and sit and let binoculars do the walking.....far better to walk couple of hours,look for another hour or two,move along a little more,look some more,hopefully find and shoot/recover animal and walk the 2 hours back....if you shoot animal 4 hours in,either way its a 4 hr carry back out....
take water,make a cuppa when you get bored looking,then look again..sooner or later animal will pop out.hopefully you can then plan how to get into range without being winded by animal....
good luck.

---

classic, you dont know the area, but are offering advice. :x_x:

Really appreciate all the advice guys, I would say I’m fit but just not experienced in the hills so will take it easy with some shorter day trips initially to get an understanding of the area and what are some suitable spots. Awesome to get some specific areas to look into, will be sure report back here when I’m successful!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hg1990

Really appreciate all the advice guys, I would say I’m fit but just not experienced in the hills so will take it easy with some shorter day trips initially to get an understanding of the area and what are some suitable spots. Awesome to get some specific areas to look into, will be sure report back here when I’m successful!

---

I think we would like to hear how your trips went regardless!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scoped

I think we would like to hear how your trips went regardless!

---

Haha of course!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scoped

classic, you dont know the area, but are offering advice. :x_x:

---

really???????????? I dont drive a VW Beetle either but pretty sure could talk you through it...... my comment/advice was intended to make OP think about logistics and HOPEFULLY make them think about how to hunt area better than just ANOTHER armed tramp.....
maybe I should just stop offering advice fullstop???????????????? and leave it to you perhaps???????
and people wonder why folks dont bother posting anything anymore......maybe go watch utube clip of pissheads using thermal gear on public land is your idea of good advice.....its not mine......

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scoped

We probably need to get a few things straight

- if you are new to hunting, then the likes of the river flats of totara and tutwai cone would be the best places to start. a few km's of country can be covered and you

what i usually do is go in for a scoping out mission which is just a tramp, walk along the tracks and put face to what the map shows. find where some sign is and whether the deer are there or not. then when i spot my favoured weather/wind pattern i will go back. its important to know your area, because say you shoot a deer late in the afternoon ( or after lunch in winter and you are far in) you could be walking out in the dark, having this prior knowledge you will feel more comfortable getting back to your camp or back to the carpark.

another good tactic would be after your early morning flats stalk would be to climb a ridge above said bush terraces, sidle across to another side spur and stalk back down. again, you can note which heights/bush types the sign is, food source, warmth etc

---

so you KNOW THE AREA...IDONT and said so...now do us both a favour and read what I typed...and compare it to what Ive left of what you have........and then laugh...cause its the SAME ADVICE.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scoped

classic, you dont know the area, but are offering advice. :x_x:

---

As it turns out this area has little opportunity for skylineing and you wont need to carry any water. ( maybe a small bot ifyou walk the full length of cone ridge. ) It good general advice MD butnotso applicable to the lower waiohine. I think when people ask about a particular area we should try and focus on that.