East coast backup plan

Looking at doing a 2 week walk in and out hunt on the West coast for tahr/chamois in late April to mid May.

Any suggestions for an East coast hunt as a backup in the event that the west side is a washout with weather?

One year this happened and my mate and I walked into Whale and Bush streams in the Ben Ohau.

Somewhere that would be suitable for a 2 week backpack trip. No 4x4 since the rental car will be a little car.

Hopefully the weather gods allow access to the west but if they don't it will be good to have a plan B.

Check out JE Wilds latest vid on YouTube, he has a heli operator in Methven he uses for that very reason

Cheers, but I don't want to use a chopper. Going solo is already expensive enough without sharing costs like hire car. Usually hunt with a mate but he can't make it.

the options are endless if prepared to walk and arent overecpecting to drop multiple whoppers at every bend in the creek.

Round Hill Ski field Road DOC land?????

My favourites are Sth Branch of the Ashburton (Haukarere) and the Hopkins (above Lake Ohau) The Haukauere country does seem to get a beating from the pet food chopper guys, last time we were there 3 years ago animals were a bit scarce and I see from @Bagheera 's recent report on the Cameron that the same situation might apply just now.

Cheers and enjoy. For fucks sake dont cross any dogy rivers just to catch a plane home - you might eventually get home but its likely to be in a box

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bos

Round Hill Ski field Road DOC land?????

---

Not without a key to the gate.

Expectations are low. No one who chooses to hunt that country with a trad bow expects to kill something every trip. I just want some time in the mountains and see some animals with a chance of a close encounter.

The Hopkins sounds cool. Any chamois in that area or mainly tahr?

You could head up the Rangitata to Mesopotamia. Walk in from there

You could do worse than heading up the upper Godley area, few huts etc if you need a bolt hole and I have it on good authority there is a few critters about at the moment

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Not without a key to the gate.

---

I just hoofed it from around about the locked gate. Stuck to the DOC land. Couple of years ago. 2 of us saw a few and got a bull each for a day trip.

Attachment 217773

That is some open country right there.

How far can I expect to be able to drive up the Hopkins with the little rental car?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MtnMan

How far can I expect to be able to drive up the Hopkins with the little rental car?

---

Not that far, be better of in the temple north branch. Chamois and deer there and tahr as well but she can be rugged. South temple has hut.

ok, so if I had to go there it would be best to park at the 'Lodge' which appears to be the sealed road end on the Topo50 map?

No you go to end of the road, car park there.

Awesome info guys. Really appreciate it.

I had thought of the Cameron valley too (under Mt Arrowsmith) but the area round there would be a bit limited for 2 weeks . We wnt up the T A trail from Glenrock and the country is quite easy but a bit open and smooth for good bowhunting.

The Hopkins would be good as there are several interesting side valleys to visit and bridges. Huxley, Elcho, Dodger fan and there is a bit if cover if you’re bowhunting. Bad weather can easily spill over from the West of course.

If the weather was really bad you might find its best further north like molesworth and spend a few days upthere till it blows over. The road can be a bit corrugated for a small rental car. lewis pass like the Nina valley has chamois and is fairly well vegtated for bow stalking. I would go there for a 4 day trip.

We did see nanny tahr on slips below the scrub line in valley X last week so there is good possibility still on the East Coast. Sorry I couldnt tell you just where it was …

Again, cheers

Well a year has past and last year I didn't do a trip.
Anything changed?

Any more suggestions?

Surely your memory is not that rusty! Too much orange dust and XXXX.

Always wanted to hunt the hunter river above Lake Hāwea, backs on to the Landsborough and Huxley to the east. Not sure on Tahr numbers but imagine there might be the odd old one in there. Probably a good spot for a chamois and stag.

That would swallow a couple of weeks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MtnMan

ok, so if I had to go there it would be best to park at the 'Lodge' which appears to be the sealed road end on the Topo50 map?

---

Nah bro you will get your car to the temple car park no dramas . It’s a decent walk to temple hut and last time I went in the track hadn’t been maintained and was a right prick to navigate .

I went into temple north about a year ago. Saw some deer up high at the end of the valley in the snow plus mate saw a chamois. Could see tahr up to the true right real high up including a very big bodied bull but out of doc land. Didnt even get a shot away also my garmin rhino went missing from camp there too...