Thread: Best peaks/slips/flats parks for glassing? (keen to try this out over bush stalking)

Originally Posted by Bagheera

The main north is ranges with open country hunting are rimutakas tararuas ruahines and kawekas. Best time of year is spring and mid summer. From may onwards bad weather and fewer deer out make them less hood.

I think the Raukumara has a lot of maori land as well doesnt it? Is the easiest way to just stick to the Doc Maps to be assured not crossing private or Maori land?

Thank you on the open country, that is what Im looking for and am seeing on google earth. Which of those gets the least pressure? It would be nice if they published estimated numbers for each.

Just on summer hunting, couple of questions. Its fawning season isnt it? So shooting hinds, whats the thoughts around this period of time? Also I use to use a meat hanging bag, but even those in summer with the crazy amount of blow flies, is there any better way to keep the meat cool and aired?

Surprising how much you forget after a couple of decades living overseas.

A lot of it for me is just being out there hiking and seeing our big native trees and the occasional birds where there isnt a lot of predator pressure. Im lucky in Auck we get a lot of native birds now thanks to Tawharanui and Tiri etc. I see they are worried about the growing number of deer and pigs in the waitaks. I hope they employ some hunters and trappers. I thought must have been Fallow down from Woodhill, but apparently reds, which would suggest have swum over from the other side of the manukau (which would be an insane effort) or somebody has deliberately released them. Sure its a shame we dont have more deer in Auck, Northland, Coromandel, but I personally would rather have our native birds and flora. And its not like driving 5 hours for a long weekend hunt is that far to drive. The priority has to be on native NZ fauna and flora over hunting which I think most hunters appreciate. With DOC staff getting cut by Keys govt and the statement "ecology is everybodies right", which is a bit like sacking Drs in the hospitals and saying "health is the right of all NZ'rs", anyway I think its really important hunters and DOC work together now with the lowered numbers of staff available at DOC, luckily most councils also have their own staff. But I think hunters and trappers should be part of the DOC system, not seen as just "contractors" or recreational "hunters".