Thread: First Solo Hunt Coming Up

I'm planning a day trip in the Kaimais this weekend. I'm thinking of parking at Ngamuwahine Lodge, heading up track to a place i'm comfortable getting off the beaten path.

This is my first mission on public land; i've got a toppo app, power bank and compass to help me from getting lost.

Any tips or info anyone can pass on to help prevent me from making a balls up of it?

Take a PLB


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Hey @Louie have a search on the engine here try Kaimais hunting.

It’s bush your hunting, then if your sweating your going to fast. Into the wind and hunt where the sign is.
Don't look for the whole animal look for something that's not right i.e. Ear flick, back, foot and shape. Then identify.
If you can go out with someone who has more experience then so much the better as they can show you the finer points that you would miss by reading about it so like the above posts keep at it get out there.
As a side note it took me three years to shoot my first one in the Kiamais but once I got my first then it all seemed to click and I was averaging 1 for every 2.5 days. That was back in the early 90's when deer numbers where a lot lower than they are today.
Good luck

Not wanting to put you off but I went around this time last year and saw no sign on the tracks of the ngamuwahine loop track.

I usually base my initial judgement of the area on that.

You may be better off with wairere falls. Get up early to beat the tourists and if you walk towards the North South track you can't miss the clearings.

Very flat so easy to get lost but remember to slowly walk West and you'll find the North South track.

Be prepared to get tangled up a bit and don't get frustrated. There will be some shitty bush and some nice bush too. Kaimais is thick and nasty

If you find yourself walking and not hunting/looking then take 10 have a sit down and somthing to eat.

Focus on areas where you see fresh prints, there is shit everywhere in there, it's not a great indicator. This time of year fringe and creek hunting can be productive.

Take a good torch or headlamp and spare batteries, even if you are sure you'll be home by lunchtime!

If you lose your phone you could be fucked so also always take a paper map. Go to the topomaps website and print out the area your heading to. Printing out the satellite imagery can be helpful to.

Get a good pair of secators to make way through supple jacks.
Look for flatish areas even if it is on top of wairere falls or Te tui track.
Move slowly and quietly, stop often and listen.
Good luck

Originally Posted by Louie

I'm planning a day trip in the Kaimais this weekend. I'm thinking of parking at Ngamuwahine Lodge, heading up track to a place i'm comfortable getting off the beaten path.

This is my first mission on public land; i've got a toppo app, power bank and compass to help me from getting lost.

Any tips or info anyone can pass on to help prevent me from making a balls up of it?

I have a suggestion for your "topo app" and power bank.............. laminated NZ50 topo and compass will never fail or give wrong information, as long as you learn how to use them. GPS is useful to get grids and mark waypoints, actual GPS unit, not some phone thing ( that seems great until one day......). Useful training tip, take a notebook and pencil, write notes on your surroundings as you move through, comparing to your map and using your compass as you go, try backtracking yourself based on your notes - teaches you to observe and reduces your chances of getting lost.
NOTE: every one who has spent any time in deep bush has been lost at some point, I have been guilty of arguing with my compass because I didn't believe it, but they are never wrong.

If you get lost, your first priority is to sit down and get a brew on!

Originally Posted by Friwi

Get a good pair of secators to make way through supple jacks.
Look for flatish areas even if it is on top of wairere falls or Te tui track.
Move slowly and quietly, stop often and listen.
Good luck

Please don’t do this! If you aim for the base of the plant you will find you can get through most Jack with out sniping away!
Really you should be leaving only footprints and with luck a gut bag! If it’s that thick your in the wrong spot!

Originally Posted by Sideshow

Please don’t do this! If you aim for the base of the plant you will find you can get through most Jack with out sniping away!
Really you should be leaving only footprints and with luck a gut bag! If it’s that thick your in the wrong spot!

Agree


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I second the PLB. Absolutely essential in my view.

When hunting have a round chambered and be ready to snap shoot,you’ll almost need to every time as a beginner as you’ll be spooking them 9/10 times.however as a beginner this advice is also dangerous so only do this if your brain is clear and your not pumped up!

ive given this advice countless times but if you go up te tuhi to just about the creek and bushedge then follow the open tongue up onto the flat top,,then hunt south sticking close to the dropoff or zigzag 200 mtrs thru,,at some stage youll run into the hut,,youve gone too far and not payed att enough,,just walk out north along track and do a loop to come out at the point that youve left the track that morning,,the wairere falls is a good area too,,seen a few deer on the north south track so go slow

Phone and power bank are all good. I don't take my Garmin gps any more. Phone with gps AND Flonase is far superior.
Definitely take a compass and laminated map though.