Thread: Newbie!

Originally Posted by RichieRich

I've hunted Pureora a couple of time, bush and numbers of deer were good.
I spent a long weekend in the Waihaha Hut on the eastern side of the ranges, was a relatively easy walk and good easy bush to hunt thats hard to get lost in as theres always a track close by (never hunt with out a compass and map mind)
Never hunted the Kaimais but from my side (Hamilton) they're pretty rough from what i've heard, yet ppl still pull deer out.
You could also consider the Mamaku ranges west of rotovegas and i've heard there is plenty of hunting around the lakes (tawawera etc).....Plus Wallabys!
And for a stretch there are the Kaimanawas and have a go at some sika.

May advice is find somewhere close where you can do day trips, get a bit of stalking knowledge under your belt then venture out

Hope this helps
Rich

Awesome Rich, thanks. Have been in the Kaimais around Aongatete a few times. Just walking and listening to the bush. Seen a bit of sign each time, some really fresh, some not. Hoping to do a bit of the N/S trail this weekend, tramping again, and will look out for sign. It seems quite thick in there off the trails.
Trying to get my mate to venture into Pureora a bit more, but we are both quite relaxed if we get something or not, so haven't pushed too far in yet. But hope to get in further this summer. Def want to get up to a few of the huts areas.
Def only go off track with a compass and map. Although, would just a GPS, with some spare batteries be a good idea? Not keen on getting lost.
Also, is it ok to hunt along tracks? Dont want to get lost as above. But not too worried about it as have been a bit lost before and found our way out ok.
Just you know, not the plan of the game.

Cheers.

Firstly if your seeing sign..there's deers about.
There will never be much around tracks due to constant human scent lingering and technically you're not supposed to hunt on tracks as Doc thinks you will shoot someone but you might find the bush opens up off the track of the pressure of feeding from deer will increase.
Secondly, getting a little bit lost at the beginning of ones hunting adventures is healthy, give you respect for the bush.
I definitely recommend buying a GPS, I've only been hunting for about 3 years and had spent no time in the bush when starting out so i spent $100 and bought a Garmin Etrex H off trademe, most important purchase i've ever made in regards to hunting. When ever i go somewhere new i always GPS my start point (Car,Hut) and then through it in the bottom of my bag, if the shit hits the fan i can always pull it out and it will point and it will point me home.
Having said that its always a back up to a map and compass and last resort if i can't get myself out using them, never rely on one instead of a M&C as memories fade and batteries run out... but they are damn handy for saving scraps and wallows and markers. the map i use of my local has lots of random points like waterfalls clearing on it that i've gps, good for triangulating my position.
R