Thread: hunting harkness hut

hey team ,

at this stage depending on the cyclone im flying into harkness hut next week.

anyon have any good possies for a person whos comign with me to sit and watch morning and night who has a bad back/neck?

additionally any good other spots you recommend to check out here ? I have a few little clearings on my maps ready to go, but just after a lil more homework of real life hunting experiences.

thanks

Lars

Send me a pm

Was thinking these spots worth a good Crack.

Originally Posted by Larskramer

Was thinking these spots worth a good Crack.

You staying at harkness or Tussock? All of what you have circled is a bit of a hike from harkness, and is up by Tussock. Harkness is the next hut down. Bottom of the Tussock valley is the easiest open country to access from harkness and is a good spot. All other open country is a climb.

They could go for a cruise along the ngawapura sidle track as well, fairly easy going and holds animals

Originally Posted by Larskramer

Was thinking these spots worth a good Crack.

A few years since last at Tussock hut. I've found Sika in all those circles except the top one. Good sign through there though so they are there but I couldn't get a sighting. The bush creeks to the right of the Tussock Hut main clearing were also good. Slow going as a bit choked up with windfall but that probably helped getting onto the animals. I've sat a glassed mornings into that bottom circle and seen deer on the edges or in small openings. A bit of a long shot across depending on where you're positioned.

sorry, your right! harkness is down river a bit. Will upload a new pic

These spots I've pin pointed look pretty good to perch up on a rock for a few hours, looks to be open sporadic small shrub with bigger green trees around them with some long views.

Additionally, is the valley towards tussock a good hunt ?

Originally Posted by 30.06king

A few years since last at Tussock hut. I've found Sika in all those circles except the top one. Good sign through there though so they are there but I couldn't get a sighting. The bush creeks to the right of the Tussock Hut main clearing were also good. Slow going as a bit choked up with windfall but that probably helped getting onto the animals. I've sat a glassed mornings into that bottom circle and seen deer on the edges or in small openings. A bit of a long shot across depending on where you're positioned.

I can happily shoot out to 870m, ( hitting a 12" gong almost dead centre at that distance), all wind dependant, havent had much windy shots and would prob not pull the trigger in more than 10km of wind.

Originally Posted by Larskramer

I can happily shoot out to 870m, ( hitting a 12" gong almost dead centre at that distance), all wind dependant, havent had much windy shots and would prob not pull the trigger in more than 10km of wind.

Impressive. I certainly can't shoot that far. I wasn't ranging any animals that far away and can't remember how far but probably no further than 400 yds. So you should be good to go.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Impressive. I certainly can't shoot that far. I wasn't ranging any animals that far away and can't remember how far but probably no further than 400 yds. So you should be good to go.

awesome, thanks mate. appreciate it.

if anyone else has any spots theree to check out please feel free to flick me a message or post on here! cheers guys! stay safe in this cyclone!

Don't be afraid to go up the valley towards Tussock. A few nice little open fingers that come down to the track/river.

Hopefully the rivers would have subsided by the time of your trip. Regardless of river level, you will get wet feet/boots crossing and weaving tracks just so you know. Let us know how you go.

Purple area there's a big sika living but you need to climb behind hut if you go the other way around the valley the stag will find you.The red and yellow lines are ok but i would head up the tussock valley and come down the red or yellow areas .The wind is always an issue up there

There is another party at Tussock while you are in there.... its your call but pretty poor etiquette to hunt essentially 360 degrees around them as like you they aren't flying in to catch butterflys.
The other thing you could do is push your trip back 2 days from Tuesday to Thursday and just go to Tussock?

Anyway from Harkness i would definitely consider heading up the Te Rua tops maybe even for a fly camp in the bush edge so you are Johnny on the spot at dawn, i've always found it to be pretty productive.
Head North up valley & then cut up petshop ridge to the west, if you didn't pick an easy one going up you will hit the top & then head South stalking through the saddles & eventually you'll break out onto the northern end of the Te Rua tops, there is a good campsite just inside the bush.

Or spend the day stalking up the creek& stay at the Harkness saddle biv, dropping into Herbs creek from the Te Puke track, the options are endless really....... You probably won't even need to go that far to pick one up if the weather plays the game.

Good luck, its a pretty special area of the park

Originally Posted by Larskramer

These spots I've pin pointed look pretty good to perch up on a rock for a few hours, looks to be open sporadic small shrub with bigger green trees around them with some long views.

Additionally, is the valley towards tussock a good hunt ?

Bottom of Tussock Valley is an awesome spot. Shot my first 8 there. Easy access for your mate too.

@Sika 8, That's a harsh comment when your saying one hunting party to not venture too far in one direction, where the other party will probably push down as far as Harkness valley. Its a big valley! Tussock hut has access to great areas north so they should focus their intentions that direction if there was to be any etiquette. The new booking system is great for allowing transparency on where other hunters may be, but being public land its all fair game.