Thread: First South Island Hunt (Easter) - What do I need?

Good morning hunters,

My Wife and I are about a month away from heading down south for our first 'Big' Hunting Trip.
We are heading to the Lake Tekapo area (private land), and while most likely be staying in a Hut at cloud level.

I have 0 experience with Mid-Late April weather in the South Island.
What sort of temperatures / wind should we expect to encounter, and what sort of gear / clothing have you found helps?

Thanks in advance!

this is a gear list i copied off here for a trip i just got back from. I found a walking pole real handy down south also it all depends weather you can drive or are flying to the hut.
Main stuff
Pack - Macpac Cascade 50 (far too small, probably need a 75)
Tent - Macpac Olympus 2
Sleeping bag - Macpac Latitude 500 + silk liner
Inflatable mattress - Xped UL7
Fly - twin-needle 3x4m + ground sheet (if we decide to roam overnight from base camp)

Cooking gear
Cooker - FireMaple
Gas - 1x 100g and 1x 230g
Stainless cup, collapsible cup, collapsible bowl, plastic bowl, knife and spork
Sharp folding knife
lighters (x3 in separate places)

Safety gear
GPS
Inreach (satellite txt thingy)
Med kit (bandage, painkillers and anti-inflammatory)
Cramp-stop
Fire kit (lighter, flint, toilet paper, cotton balls with vaseline, rubber)
Compass
Electrical tape
Paracord (about 5m)
Rape whistle
Spare batteries (2 sets of spares for GPS and torch)
Emergency bivvy
PLB
Headlamp
Wet wipes
Lip balm

cable ties

Hunting specific
Rifle, ammo (10 rounds), bolt, suppressor, bipod, sling
Knife and lap steel
Meat bag
Binos
Rangefinder

Clothes
2x thermals (top and bottom)
3x wool socks
2x shorts
2x long pants (would cut this to one if needed)
1x waterproof overtrou (Goretex)
2x t-shirt
2x mid layer fleece/merino
1x down jacket (RAB)
1x waterproof jacket (swazi tahr)
Fleece beanie
Fleece neck buff/gaiter/balaclava
2x pairs of gloves
Boots (Lowa Z6)
Gaiters (swazi hush putties)
Spare set of thermals, socks and beanie (in a drybag in case of emergency)
Hiking pole (macpac C3)

Food (7 days worth)
14x Porridge sachets
15x Coffee sachets
10x Museli bars
1kg scroggin/trail mix
2x block of chocolate
Cheese, salami and crackers
Sausages/steak for three nights
Insta-mash and freeze dried peas
3x Brown onion gravy sachets (makes the insta-mash delicious)
4x Back Country dinners
8x Cup-a-soup sachets
3x Replace sachets (700ml electrolyte replacement)

bore snake

camp chair

Expect temps from 5-7 below zero to 20 above. Likely to be not much wind at that time of year, pretty settled weather leading into winter.

A decent sleeping bag is recommended.

Decent base layers - I prefer merino/merino blend, other normal clothing, light weight wet weather gear and at least a min 600 loft puffer vest or better a jacket for colder times.

Good winter hat, but also a summer hat. And good gloves for glassing. I use lightweight merino gloves, and carry a pair of good waterproof ski/boarding mittens that I can slip on when glassing.

If you're at cloud level, you'll be taking clothing for all conditions. Rain, snow, howling wind.
Decent base/mid layer, synthetic or merino.
Lightweight down or synthetic jacket ( I like synthetic, still works when it's wet)
Waterproof jacket, over trou
Beanie, gloves etc.
Probably plenty of threads on here that go into more detail.
Good luck. It's a beautiful part of the country

Hey that's a great @bigbear Just starting off and needed a list. Sadly need to buy almost all the things on there but will hopefully have it sorted for next. Have a starting point now Ta for also adding sizes and quantity, as well as as recommended brands.

Originally Posted by bigbear

this is a gear list i copied off here for a trip i just got back from. I found a walking pole real handy down south also it all depends weather you can drive or are flying to the hut...

This is an incredible list! Thank you very much!

Originally Posted by JoshC

Expect temps from 5-7 below zero to 20 above. Likely to be not much wind at that time of year, pretty settled weather leading into winter...

Thanks @JoshC, Glassing?

Originally Posted by McNotty

If you're at cloud level, you'll be taking clothing for all conditions. Rain, snow, howling wind...

Thanks @McNotty

Originally Posted by kiwi-adam

Thanks @JoshC, Glassing?

Glassing? Using binos to find game.

If you're taking a GPS make sure you enter the hut location. Sounds silly, but when that cloud rolls in and you're out on the hill, finding that hut is going to be impossible. If you don't have a GPS then take a small flashing red Bike Light - those ones you see on the seat post of bikes at night. Place it on top of something - a rock, the hut, a prominent pinnacle, anywhere it can be seen over a wide area and turn it on before you go hunting. You might feel like a dick walking away from a little red light on top of a big rock but believe me, you will thank yourself if the cloud comes in.

This is especially handy if you're hunting those rolling tussock tops where navigation is a piece of cake - until dark or the cloud comes.

The red light has saved my ass once already and I wish I'd had it on a few other occasions when hunting in the clouds.


Photo: Now which rock was I camped under again???

Quad bike is located where the deer was dropped but camp was under the rock on the far horizon at top left, about 3 km away. The walk home to camp after shooting the stag the night before was assisted by the red light...

Originally Posted by planenutz

If you're taking a GPS make sure you enter the hut location. Sounds silly, but when that cloud rolls in and you're out on the hill, finding that hut is going to be impossible. If you don't have a GPS then take a small flashing red Bike Light - those ones you see on the seat post of bikes at night. Place it on top of something - a rock, the hut, a prominent pinnacle, anywhere it can be seen over a wide area and turn it on before you go hunting. You might feel like a dick walking away from a little red light on top of a big rock but believe me, you will thank yourself if the cloud comes in.

This is especially handy if you're hunting those rolling tussock tops where navigation is a piece of cake - until dark or the cloud comes.

The red light has saved my ass once already and I wish I'd had it on a few other occasions when hunting in the clouds.


Photo: Now which rock was I camped under again???

Quad bike is located where the deer was dropped but camp was under the rock on the far horizon at top left, about 3 km away. The walk home to camp after shooting the stag the night before was assisted by the red light...

Attachment 107057

Especially in that country up there where every rock looks the same at last light

@kiwi-adam if you search gear list and have a read through them its worth while. I know the one above was written by another member but others posted other items to add in or more food etc.