Thread: The Nelson Alpine route

Anyone know if its worth carting a rifle up onto the tops around Starveal, Rintoul area out the back of Nelson way?

Its a big climb if there is no game and not having been up there before was wondering if its worth it.

There’s game up there.Deer & pigs in low to moderate numbers. Goats higher numbers in places. Just not easy picking farm fringe stuff that many hunters seem to prefer. You’ve hunted parts of Molesworth/St James if I recall correctly, you should be ok.

It's just a heavy pack and rifle. Get out there man.

I haven't been up there for quite a few years but there will always be goats, plus a few deer for good luck. The last trip I did was a loop from the Goulter up around Retoul, over Purple tops and back down to the Goulter via Tarn hut, I got fifteen goats on Purple tops and we saw a couple of hinds on the last leg. I think that route is now used as part of the New Zealand trail so I guess there will be lots of people, but if you look at anywhere off the main route there will be goats, they are quite happy poking around in the bush but usually not far from open tops. You'd be doing everyone a great favour by shooting a few.

Went to Slaty hut and Old Man hut about 10 years ago, spectacular scenery by NI standards so I would vote worth it just for that. But being from the area, you may find it all a bit same same.
As stated, it was 10 years ago, so my info may be out of date, but there was lots of goats from Slaty to Old man hut and all down the Old man hut route.


As an aside, the landslide area that created the dam for Lake Chalice was an interesting spot.

Sounds like a go for next week then. Now have to decide what calibre 22-250 or 308. Yep I know it's now part of the TA but around here a fair bit is.

There is a steady stream of TA hikers this time of years. I would think you’d have to get well off the main TA route to see much.

If you venture down the Lake Chalice side of range the hunting is reasonable, bit of a walk back with pack full of meat to Nelson side entry points. If just after goats there’s plenty in the area, certainly around lake area. Did a quick hunt there early December ? 36 goats for a bit over 3 hours effort.

One of my favorite deer spots in the North Island was a very popular and well used tramping track. As the trampers disappeared and the light faded the deer would come out.
I was up Starveall way a couple of months ago and saw plenty of goats.

Just looking at an overnight trip this time out, weather mid week is not looking flash

I did a job off the grass flats in the upper Goulter maybe in November, they were mown down like a putting green and heaps of deer sign.

@Happy Jack You just know if you leave it behind your gunna see something

Take one of them for sure

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

@Happy Jack You just know if you leave it behind your gunna see something

Take one of them for sure

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I've always planned to take a rifle, probably the 22-250 if there's lots of goats as its a bit cheaper to feed.

There is(or was....been a few years since I last dragged my fat gut up there) low numbers of both Fallow and Red in the area and lots of goats.
If you're determined to "alpine hunt" and are after a deer and don't want to bush stalk the higher terraces and creek heads I would suggest a few spots a little away from starval itself as it is pretty bony hard country....depends how long you going for how far you want to go.
If I was to go up there tomorrow I would spend at least a night and hunt this according to the wind at first and last light.
But only cos I'm fat and lazy.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

There is(or was....been a few years since I last dragged my fat gut up there) low numbers of both Fallow and Red in the area and lots of goats.
If you're determined to "alpine hunt" and are after a deer and don't want to bush stalk the higher terraces and creek heads I would suggest a few spots a little away from starval itself as it is pretty bony hard country....depends how long you going for how far you want to go.
If I was to go up there tomorrow I would spend at least a night and hunt this according to the wind at first and last light.
But only cos I'm fat and lazy.

Attachment 266295

Thanks Cam, planning on Monday and back Tuesday at the moment, Wednesday is meant to piss down and I don't want to get caught out by the river. I know what that one can do from a search a few years ago.