Thread: Oxford Bush Mission

Afternoon !



I'm heading out into oxford bush on Monday night for an overnighter because Waitangi day Tuesday! (day off work such a blessing haha). Going to take the dog for her first bush mission too hoping to find a deer.
Thinking ill head in from the Wharfedale track and let the wind guide me in. Haven't been before , wondering if anyone has recently ? any shared experiences good and bad ?
Is the carpark fairly safe around there ?

Ill try send an update of the trip for anyone in the area who's also interested.

Also new to forum , made a quick intro in the introductions thread. There's so much knowledge on here , look forward to having a yarn to some of you.

cheers

Haven’t been on that track for a long time but last time I walked it you had to be very careful of mountain bikers as the track was quite narrow in places and they won’t stop for you or your dog.

If its a nice day on Tuesday,youl met 50 trampers and 50 mountain bikers.Not a good place on a public holiday,good luck.

How about the Blowhard Track, been nearly 40 years since I knocked round in that neck of the woods but the tops there were always very productive . . .

Most probably be ship loads of wasps in there as well this time of year..

The problem with the Blowhard area at the moment is that the Wallis boys have been culling on the eastern side of Lees Valley Station during last year - culling the deer coming off the public land onto the station to feed, and they shot a lot. In the two trips that I was told of they shot in the order of 500 deer, although some were up the Townsend.

But the other thing about what you asked is smack bang on point.....is it safe to leave your vehicle parked there?!. Sadly there is zero respect these days and it's in doubt if any of us can park a car up and come back to it safe and sound.

Yrs ago i walked up Blow hard track 5am,came down Richmond track 9am.Must have came across 25 trampser,walking,joggers coming up the track.Couple asked me want i was doing with a rifle on the track.I said iv been hunting 4hrs befor you got here,im on doc hunting grounds.They walked away in discussed.I didnt tell them theres a deer carcus on the edge of the track 100yds further up,somebody left there the day befor.
This was on a standard weekend,2 days.

Originally Posted by Sauer

The problem with the Blowhard area at the moment is that the Wallis boys have been culling on the eastern side of Lees Valley Station during last year - culling the deer coming off the public land onto the station to feed, and they shot a lot. In the two trips that I was told of they shot in the order of 500 deer, although some were up the Townsend.

There was a heli working hard up near tarn hill hut this week too

Originally Posted by dannyb

There was a heli working hard up near tarn hill hut this week too

That’s a shame if it was doing WARO, there’s a Very good stag wandering around up there.

Roy, no problems leaving your car up at View Hill car park. Take some antihistamines with you (applies pretty much everywhere in Canterbury)

Fair , i guess i dont really know what the foot traffic is like there. is it pretty busy area ??

Any suggestions then if you had an over nighter planned for monday ?

Originally Posted by Roy Canty

Fair , i guess i dont really know what the foot traffic is like there. is it pretty busy area ??

Any suggestions then if you had an over nighter planned for monday ?

Just go,but first.Find a sunny face clearing about 90 minuts walk from the top track on yr map.Bash bash if you have to.Sit and watch yr clearing with the wind blowing in yr face.Enjoy the evening and early morning.Good luck.

take the oldest/cheapest car you can...leave nothing in it and leave glovebox and centre console open so lowlives can see there is nothing in it...hatchback,leave parcel shelf out so can see boot is empty too...... it was the only way to have car untouched in places many years ago.

The foot traffic will be busy on the track, but once you get off the track you won’t see anyone. Your not hunting the track, but you will see way more deer by getting to the tops and glassing.

I’ve been parking overnight at the local Oxford carparks, but not the wharfdale, for years and never had a problem.