Thread: Mangatawhiri / Hunua access

Ok report on Mangatawhiri Forest recce mission today. I arrived walked up the DoC track for about 1km before leaving the track and heading up a spur toward the first main ridge. About half way up I spotted a young Totara which had been beaten up by either a young Red or Pricket Fallow. Surprising and encouraging so I kept at a fast tramp up to the top about 280m ASL, and counted about eight more trees similarly beaten up, like this.

All the notches and bark damage was very low to the ground, which I haven't encountered before while hunting Reds and Sika. So I can only predict that this was one small spiker making his way down the leading ridge, looking for somewhere to call home.
I only found two piles of very old deer pellets and absolutely no hoof prints, after spending 6hours medium paced tramping and covering about 6kms of country, walking back down Mangatawhiri River to the car park.


So, while I'm glad I've done it, I think the opportunity for success is pretty futile and time is much better served driving the two hours down to Kaimais where at least we know there are deer in numbers and there's always plenty of fresh sign to keep me keen.
If any of you guys have a go I'd be keen to hear how you get on.

Cheers.