Queenstown area DOC

I did ask in my Introduction thread but everyone stick to the first post lol

So here my hunting questions
even if I didn't post a lot since I joined, I was active with all your GOUV support
the team of the Visitor Centre respond quick and clear!
those of the Firearm service where also awesome!
I now have my test done and firearm form fill

but where a still have question is more about the local details. (and more specific to hunting)
I now have my plane ticket, dates, area set

I'll go to south of Queenstown since there's huge and close DOC area.

I did remove the Remarkables - Wye Creek from my list.
Tell me if it's a mistake to presume that without forest covert red deer will not be likely present?

with in mind that anything touching to the fiordland will drastically increase the amount of rain I'll go trough... I stop my choice (but not limited) to the Eyre Mountain and the Snowdon and Mavora Park next to it.

After this area selected, my main goal was to not pissed of any local hunter, So I'll go end of March, just before rut, and won't be close by anyway of any Huts.
that lead me to target more the Snowdon forest and Mavora Park.
Is it a good option why or why not?

thanks

Hmmm, tell us a bit more about what you'd like to hunt here - what sort of trophy do you expect , and how long you have?

As an example, currently most tussock country holds good numbers of deer, the Nevis Valley behind the Remarkbles being no exception. But that doesn't make it easy to hunt!

Cheers

truth, this part was in the other thread lol

Red Deer
10 days
not looking for a world record, just the trip is the whole experience! (the antler is the souvenir of it)

and ordinary the next questions are about my shape and the weather.
I'm 41 ran 21km in 1h45min, make it in the top25% in the crossfit open for years and do a stairmaster drills with a 10kg vest every week since I know I want to go in NZ.
And winter here get some -20c in the day and -30c in the night
and my partner is in close shape

so really there is red deer in those Nevis valley! here it's all forest hunting. Whitetail sleep under dense tree cover and don't get often on open country

You will have a ball wherever you go.
Happy to go over some maps with you and answer questions

I would not discount the Tops for Red Deer hunting in the South Island. it's not the 1980s..