Thread: pigs, goats in Taranaki region

hi folks, i have been told that taranaki is a good place to find pigs and goats, any suggestion what spots and access have more chance to see them? thanks

Guaranteed to find what you're looking for here. Good place to start.

Stoney Oaks Wildlife Park - What we have to offer

Sorry couldn't resist that.

Goats are plentiful in the Taranaki region but it is really important to remember that they are a source of income for many farmers in the hill country. So it's really important to make sure that you know where you are and that you have permission to shoot. Having been through the region myself recently I have heard about the frustration with fellas coming into the area and shooting goats from the roads.

I'd say that probably 90% of goats I see from the road in that part of the world are on private land.

The absolute best way to open up good shooting opportunities in the Taranaki is to hop in your car and tour the region with a good map with the public hunting boundaries. Its a wonderful part of the country. Introduce yourself to local folk and assuming you're a GC pretty soon you'll find yourself being pointed towards good areas to shoot. There is plenty of public land and again it's a good idea to make sure you follow the rules to the T. On a recent trip, I did come across some local farmers at a trail head who were very unenthusiastic about people accessing DOC land adjacent to their farm due to the number of people shooting across the stream onto private land. It was the closest I've come to an outright threat for quite a long period of time... and I can only assume it is because they have been let down once too often.

The flipside to that is I went around to the next valley and met the precise opposite kind of bloke, and as per the trip write up spent the next several days in maximum goat attack mode. You meet all sorts.

The best way to attract the wrong kind of attention is to spotlight at night.

So hop in your car and get going!

Most Doc areas that have clearings will usually hold few google maps is your friend. As Flyblown has said you are spoilt for choice in that region plenty of opportunities. Ring Doc before you head into any block they are usually good to deal with and will let you know of any recent culling in the area. If you do decide to go door knocking, don't turn up to the door looking like a shower of shit, be polite even if the landowner isn't, only takes a phone call to the rest of the landowners in the valley from a disgruntled person and you're buggered. That region in general as stated before has a real problem with idiots shooting from the road and poaching so don't be surprised if you get a frosty reception at times.

from my understanding that the spotlight hunting is not allowed in public land

Was down Waitaanga,Mt Damper Moki track a few years back. Doc land and saw plenty of goats.

Originally Posted by windywelly

from my understanding that the spotlight hunting is not allowed in public land

Yes no spotlight on doc land

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Originally Posted by windywelly

from my understanding that the spotlight hunting is not allowed in public land

Sorry, I think you may have misunderstood. When I said "The best way to attract the wrong kind of attention is to spotlight at night" it means the best way to make people really angry and potentially come after you (wrong kind of attention), is to spotlight.

You are correct, spotlighting is illegal on public land. As is the use of night vision equipment, infra-red and heat detecting devices.

i have seen a few feral goats and pigs in semi-rural areas, mostly in private farms, and most of DOC lands are thick bush area, so i wondering how possible i can see them.

Look on the doc website. Identify a possible area and go look.
I've got plenty of deer hunting spots. (Not really interested in shooting goats) How did I find them?? By getting off my arse and having a look. Its a lot more satisfying doing it yourself rather than having it handed to you on a plate.

Originally Posted by windywelly

i have seen a few feral goats and pigs in semi-rural areas, mostly in private farms, and most of DOC lands are thick bush area, so i wondering how possible i can see them.

There is plenty of doc land with clear stuff have a look at Trains Hut track.

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Originally Posted by 25/08IMP

There is plenty of doc land with clear stuff have a look at Trains Hut track.

Ha ha! It was the blokes at Taumatatahi at the trailhead to Trains Hut that basically threatened me. I asked very nicely if I could park my truck with them for a couple of days, they said if I hunted on their land they would damage it. Interesting response, thankfully not one I hear very often. I did of course find a brilliant bloke the next valley over and ended up spending 4 days there. I asked about the Taumatatahi blokes and suffice to say you mustn't assume that everyone out there is welcoming... some have a reputation for never being so, just because.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Ha ha! It was the blokes at Taumatatahi at the trailhead to Trains Hut that basically threatened me. I asked very nicely if I could park my truck with them for a couple of days, they said if I hunted on their land they would damage it. Interesting response, thankfully not one I hear very often. I did of course find a brilliant bloke the next valley over and ended up spending 4 days there. I asked about the Taumatatahi blokes and suffice to say you mustn't assume that everyone out there is welcoming... some have a reputation for never being so, just because.

Lol. Far too many locals believe that doc land is their land. Eventually they'll do that sort of stuff to the wrong person.