Thread: Big Pig Marks - Riverhead Forest and other urban animals

Took the family dog for a decent walk today and came across some decent pig marks including a real big one. I used to manage this forest many years ago and the pigs were very shy with so much pressure but good to see a decent one is still around.



Woodhill nearby was a TB free zone and we used to hit any pigs hard and you never saw a possum due to intense control but recently there seems to be way more along the the explosion of deer as the nearby lifestyle blocks provide protection. I’ve been seeing a few deer in the middle of the day just waking the dog also near the common public access points.

Also saw two Canada geese this week feeding on the grass near the Esmonde Road on ramp to SH1 - one of NZs busiest intersections. Some good Flounder in the harbour also…..you don’t always need to travel far.

anything not zoned rurally is not worth the effort and risk. Hence why you will get bold deer and pigs since no one can sort them out legally.

how long ago did you manage it? i'm a woodhill forest kid but later lived in riverhead rd

Animals adapting to what New Zealand will become in the next 20 years, 100% pinetrees and (overpriced) housing developments

sure they arent reds? Am in there every second day packwalking and regularly see BIG red prints at northern end. Have only seen 1 small bit of pig sign, where they took apart an old pine stump, in 2 years.

Originally Posted by Huntnfish4vr

sure they arent reds? Am in there every second day packwalking and regularly see BIG red prints at northern end. Have only seen 1 small bit of pig sign, where they took apart an old pine stump, in 2 years.

Could be Reds

Originally Posted by gonetropo

how long ago did you manage it? i'm a woodhill forest kid but later lived in riverhead rd

About 20 years ago

There was a time when you could knock one of and discuss it in the pub,now knock one of and the armed offenders discuss it.

have seen them, wallows, browsed coprosma, and trail cam photos from Coatesville side dont lie.
Go have a wander off end of Escotts Rd or along forestry roads and skid tracks (Rahanui, Spinlay, Houston) - you'll be surprised what you see.

There were over 1000 Fallow taken out of one private pine forest between Woodhill and SH1 over a one week period last year.
Definitely the odd red around, not many in Woodhill, but some in Riverhead and surrounds as already mentioned.

One of the main council/Doc contractors has pulled the pin, compliance is too expensive and too hard. Kauri dieback, H&S, Police regs, Iwi, and the general population’s anti hunting stance.
Numbers are going up very fast.

I used to pig hunt riverhead a bit.
Pigs were very shy and would seldom be found near a road. Always hung out in bottom of gorse filled gullies or around toitoi.
They were runners too. Was quite normal for them to run for hours if a dog was tracking them.
Hunters used to release pigs in there a lot. Duroc, saddleback X etc.
They’re well used to humans.
Was no need to be quiet when hunting them. More we sounded like townies walking their dogs the more pigs we got onto.

Was talking to locals couple of times and they told me stories of what they’ve seen. Big ginger boar that was huge. Big black boar standing in middle of road late at night refusing to move even when honked at.
When they’ve been hunted hard they often hang out just over the back fence of lifestyle blocks.

Last time I went there my old main dog refused to even go down into the gorse. I’m feeling a bit the same way about the place too lol.

Was always plenty of red deer sign in western end and behind rifle range.

@Forestry S.D...? Still have that autographed copy of your book mate, and I'm still in the same spot!

Cheers, Ray.

Originally Posted by Maddoghunter

Was always plenty of red deer sign in western end and behind rifle range.

HAHA I wondered about that area.

The lifestyle blocks will be a great reserve for both game animals and pests.

Originally Posted by Huntnfish4vr

sure they arent reds? Am in there every second day packwalking and regularly see BIG red prints at northern end. Have only seen 1 small bit of pig sign, where they took apart an old pine stump, in 2 years.

That’s a pig mark

Beg to differ. In there yesterday going crosscountry and found beds (with deer hair) and identical big prints in them. A number of other similar prints through various other parts of the forest. All very "pointy". Must say they are BIG.