Pureora / Piropiro first time

Hi there guys,

Finally got around to having my first little exploration in pureora last night / this morning with my newly obtained FAL (always relied on mates / brother).

Had zero intentions on actually coming home with anything, I have spent a lot of time spearfishing and am reasonably talented after growing up in and around the ocean in Northland. I am now stuck in Hamilton for work / living and funds make heading home once a month just no longer practical or economical. Realised I needed to seek something else to do. Today is my 1 day off for the week and with the forecast figured going for a walk would be a good learning curb.

Finished work Sunday 4pm. (took bloodt ages for 4pm to roll around) Had everything required spread out on my bed, and in the gun safe, packed the ute up. Managed to convince my brother to tag along happy days. The firearms we decided to take are my fathers relics (he hasnt used them since we were born, im now 27, we sighted them in saturday after work which was a blast) has a Winchester model 1892, lever. 44 and just your typical. 243.

Arrived at Piropiro campsite around 7pm ish, continue on to the start of the northern road that leads to Ketemaringi track. Parked up in the first little grass campsite area bit and headed off for a walk to have a look. Did a quick loop (maybe 1.5km in total) and didnt see any fresh sign and was back at the ute at 8.30pm. Decided to head furtber down the road, there was a few patches that required the diff lock on in 2wd and two sections of the road that required 4wd. Nothing major, but certainly not for your stock standard vehicle.

Got to the end of the road, parked the ute up folded out the roof top tent and called it a night.
Woke up at gentleman's hours around 5.15am. Packed up the ute and headed off along the track. Came across a section that seemed to be a little more open so decided to zip off the track and start our homework / learning experiment.

Came across every 20-30m a lot of relatively green deer poo and some darker patches /tracks. There was the odd areas with pigs rooting and plenty of footprints. Given the recent rain, is it safe to assume foot prints through the creeks / streams are relatively fresh?

Managed to make 2 animals bolt and head for the hills, unsure what they were which brings me to my question. Do you guys have any tips or tricks for a newbie to be quieter on foot? I typically try move 10-15m then pause and listen out / watch for movement however I feel like im about as stealthy as a kenworth rolling down a bank.

Ended up heading out of the bush at 9.15am (earlier than I wanted but have lawns to mow and only today off work) , fairly satisfied with what had been seen and marked a few points for future reference (in particular where the animals bolted and where the steaming poo was)

Came across a hilux stuck on the first uphill section of the road / track with the keys in it, found the young owners (younger than me) at the main campsite so drove them back and winched them out. My good deed done for the day.

Any wisdom or guideance would be welcomed, next year intend to pop into the Hamilton NZDA and try sponge some knowledge whenever I can.

Move more slowly, like a deer. 3 steps, stop look.

If you spooked some deer then you are on the right track, as above move slow once you are into fresh sign, its better to be stationary when looking and listening as you will then have the advantage.

im assuming you were hunting the bush to the right of the kete road? plenty of guys have and still do take deer in there the 500 -700m range is relatively productive at this time of year) so keep hammering the same area and get familiar with it. it will pay off .
the deer in there are sneaky little huas if you spooked a couple chances are you also walked past some while they sat there snickering at you.
was it busy down there has the summer tent city sprouted at the main campsite yet? probably heading down early jan but will camp and hunt away from the cyclists,kids and quads

You spooked deer,go back and be more sneaky and quiet with the wind in your face.First or last hour of day light.Thanks for your report.Good luck.

Thanks for the replies guys, really appreciate it. Was around the 740-840m.

Wasnt too many groups in the main carpark, 3 groups from what I saw driving past.

I reckon this morning had to have been near perfect conditions for a walk. Absolutely no wind but muggy as, I had a good sweat on by the time I got back to the comfort of the AC in the ute.

Its a great place to get to know. Produces some good heads in there.

Hunting during heavy rain (admittedly not super fun) or just after heavy rain when everything is softer underfoot can give you superhuman stealthiness.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dave-m

Its a great place to get to know. Produces some good heads in there.

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Maybe if you get some time away from up north can show me how to stomp in the rain MB. Always a free bed in Hamilton for ya mate ��

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JustAnotherSpearo

Maybe if you get some time away from up north can show me how to stomp in the rain MB. Always a free bed in Hamilton for ya mate ��

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Thanks, that would be awesome. Likewise for the north if you want to shoot a fish. I have a boat now.

about as stealthy as a kenworth rolling down a bank.

Good to know it's not just me

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MB

Hunting during heavy rain (admittedly not super fun) or just after heavy rain when everything is softer underfoot can give you superhuman stealthiness.

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and when the skies open up it can really rain it (guess thats why its a sub-alpine rainforest )kinda has its own little micro climate going on , it can be fine out in waimiha but bucketing down on the piropiro flats or vice versa.
i prefer hunting in the drizzle with next to no wind in there........
the green rain hasnt fallen in there for a long time (7 years?) i hear kiwi at night and even seen kokako (the breeding colony isnt that far so they are venturing out i guess) as mentioned by someone in another thread TA Deerstalkers run traplines successfully down there. while some good hunting areas (e.g angels rest) have been bulldozed for the cycle track it has made access to waione easier (you dont have to shimmy across the maramataha on a steel cable anymore)