Mangamaire Saddle Block

Last week myself and three others spent four nights at the Mangamaire Hut. The weather was perfect and the block is mostly easy but we found the bush thick dirty and dry so spent most time glassing the open tops. Only 7 Sika seen and 2 hinds shot for meat. Two 6 point stags seen one at over 1km and too late in the day to go after and the other, a shot was taken at 20 meters. The Tikka T3 in 300 Win Mag failed to fire with only a shallow indent of the primer was he pissed it would have been his first Sika stag.The round failed to fire a second time but went off in another rifle later.Not much fresh sign seen by anyone of us and no Red deer sign in contrast to Helisika's promise of good numbers of Red and Sika. The comments in the hut book were similar to our experience and it's a place I'm glad I've been to but not likely to visit again.

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The stag seen late in the day. Photo taken from 1km.
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Cheers for that. Looks like beautiful country.

What a bugger. A group of us have had the Makokomiko and Mangamingi blocks the last few years, supposed to go in again this year. Hope the animal numbers aren't indicative!

Great photo of that stag

Awesome looking country.

Thanks for sharing John, at least you got something....buggar about the misfire.....

Heading into the Makorako block next month , I hope animal numbers are better there , Thanks

Hi john , me and a couple mates have booked in with helisika in October to fly into mangamarie saddle for 4 nights. Any pointers ? Cheers mate

Once they start moving again in the spring you will wonder where they all came from.

Yeah am really looking forward to it. Looks like pretty nice country .

Another good reason not to own a tikka

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Originally Posted by Spook

Another good reason to maintain your tikka

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:D

Did the man from Helisika smile when he "promised" heaps of deer...I thought you did well seeing 7, failed on two and shot two, although if everyone keeps shooting hinds there wont be a herd for the future.

The Helisika blocks probably get hunted harder than most of the DOC land round there.

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Originally Posted by Spook

Did the man from Helisika smile when he "promised" heaps of deer...I thought you did well seeing 7, failed on two and shot two, although if everyone keeps shooting hinds there wont be a herd for the future.

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What makes you say that , Have you hunted mangamarie saddle before ?

I hoping that 4 days in spring weather permitted will be enough time to see something surely !!

Mean photos[emoji106]

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Originally Posted by Rahul

What makes you say that , Have you hunted mangamarie saddle before ?

I hoping that 4 days in spring weather permitted will be enough time to see something surely !!

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Yes, I have hunted the Mangamaire....great place...as many deer there as anywhere. 4 days in the spring is ample time, stay out of the hut, there are no deer in it. Take plenty of batteries for your torch and hunt till days end. Just hope you are not the next group after a spot lighter team have gone through.

Hunted that block in January. Easy open country, stay out of the bush, real thick and shitty and not worth the energy. Get on the tops, head south west along the main ridge and glass heaps.We saw 3 on our trip,very tasty. Ours were shot at 6am,10.30am and 11am on consecutive days so crawl out of your sleeping bag early and climb.Nice hut and cracker meatsafe.Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Spook

Yes, I have hunted the Mangamaire....great place...as many deer there as anywhere. 4 days in the spring is ample time, stay out of the hut, there are no deer in it. Take plenty of batteries for your torch and hunt till days end. Just hope you are not the next group after a spot lighter team have gone through.

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You are so wise mate :D

Good piks john pity about the wanker with the tikka


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What's access like to the river? Fishing is good in there.

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Originally Posted by Spook

Yes, I have hunted the Mangamaire....great place...as many deer there as anywhere. 4 days in the spring is ample time, stay out of the hut, there are no deer in it. Take plenty of batteries for your torch and hunt till days end. Just hope you are not the next group after a spot lighter team have gone through.

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legend mate, cheers.

cool man thanks heaps .

We have the Mangamaire Saddle booked for 2016 roar, has anyone been there during the roar and if yes any success?

Had a quick read before I headed in. Helpful, a few comments. In second week of March. Short trip, only 2 full days thanks to Covid. North west from hut, over top of airstrip spur, great country up to and through the saddle. Easy, so probably gets hammered. Due west of hut, cross creek and climb easy spur onto top of ridge. Small saddle on ridge definately holds animals. 50 or so metres north west of hut a marked track sidles down into the bush. Didn't get time but would be worth a look. South west, big guts. Hunted the first to no avail but they looked great. Had been very dry. Neighbouring block at lower altitude did quite well. There's a little bit of venizon in the freezer, no complaints. Like to go back again for a longer look, late spring, early summer though.
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Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Heli sika blocks cop a flogging. They supposedly close some blocks before the roar. We were supposed to be the first hunters into the lower Ripa after being closed only to find a fresh carcass not far from the hut. Their block fees are pretty bloody expensive these days too.
I can get on to a lot more deer and definitely better quality stags an hours walk form the car on public DoC land. Which is where I’m heading this evening for 4 or 5 days :thumbsup:

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Block fees are pretty steep alright, I think it was $850 for 3 person (2 rifle) for 4 full days...someone had had a bomb up on spikers (not allowed) previous to us being there...I never bother listening to pilots about deer numbers because I know if I was one I would be the biggest bullshitter that had ever flown.

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Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Heli sika blocks cop a flogging. They supposedly close some blocks before the roar. We were supposed to be the first hunters into the lower Ripa after being closed only to find a fresh carcass not far from the hut. Their block fees are pretty bloody expensive these days too.
I can get on to a lot more deer and definitely better quality stags an hours walk form the car on public DoC land. Which is where I’m heading this evening for 4 or 5 days :thumbsup:

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Did you raise the issue of evidence of others having been in the block before you, when you were 'sposed to be first? Interested in what their explanation might have been.......

Thanks for your story and photos.Maybe next time veni on the table.