Queenstown / Wanaka and Central Otago Hunting Locations

I'm new to Queenstown and am keen on making the most of the location to get out hunting more often, but am lacking some local knowledge. The local DOC office seem to be there primarily to help tourists wanting to find Fergburger or the road to Glenorchy...
Working Monday - Friday I'd be really keen on finding some places that aren't too time consuming to get to and are accessible for overnighters (or a couple nights once the daylight starts to return making a Friday night slog after work possible). I spend plenty of time in Wanaka as well, so would be keen on any places in that area too.

Over Queens Birthday weekend I went up the Dart river with some mates and saw NOTHING. Some old sign in the riverbeds and that was it. We figured the late winter 1080 drop in August 2014 killed off the majority up there. Spent a night in the Daley's flat hut and another under the rock bivvy. An FYI for anybody heading that way - The track is destroyed (technically, it's closed) between Sandy Bluff and the Daley's Flat hut. A lot of it by smaller slips and the big slip which created the lake and the big detour around it (which is bloody impressive and worth a look). It probably adds 2+ hours on to the trek. We're all fit and like to move along fairly rapidly but it still took us over 6 hours to Daley's Flat with a lunch break.


I'm not overly picky on the animal so any deer, thar or chamois locations would be welcomed!


Cheers in advance

Join their local deerstalkers club, they're pretty active and will get you into some handy areas. They have some good buggers in their club, some are members on the forums. I've always found the Qtown and Wanaka Doc offices to be pretty helpful, go in and ask to speak to someone who does animal control work or such. No point ringing, you'll just talk to a filler-inner, most likely from Europe.

As far as hunting the region goes, you're right in the thick of it. Some of the best hunting in NZ is on your doorstep. Look on topomap, WAMS and Doc websites for info/idea, it's all there and pretty easy to make plans for weekends hunting. Almost all spots on the Doc website hold moderate numbers of animals, and I'd be very surprised if you don't see animals if you hunt properly in any of the spots suggested. The key to that big country is spending plenty of time behind binos, and not just charging up a valley hoping to bang into something.

I'm all for helping someone out --- if you ask me on specific creeks or areas. Almost all of the spots I have hunted in the region, I've made the effort to suss out on my own, therefore am not going to just say, "go here". If you look at the resources I've suggested, then ask me again, it will show me you've made a bit of an effort to identify certain potential spots. Do some more research, and feel free to PM me any questions.

Headed towards Skippers the other weekend. Could not get there, a bit too tricky for a 2 wheel drive. Saw goats on the way, confident you would find them at Skippers --- if you have a 4 x4 to get in.

It will be a wee while before I have a free weekend, but perhaps go for a spring wander.

PS, Josh's advice is pretty bang on.

H

pm sent

And not even a thanks in reply

You sound surprised mate.
All he needs to do is pick ANY open hunting doc block in his district and walk away from the vehicle ( which around there is generally up) and go far enough to pass out of the idiot zone. Not too hard really.

I saw goats pretty much on the road in the gorge today. So i'm thinking, line it up in the ute, and hope said beast lands in the tray. You would not even have to step a foot in front of you. Yeah, either that or go for a wee walk and see what you run into

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Originally Posted by possum_shooter

And not even a thanks in reply

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Maybe his name should change to Wonderer?

Couple of years ago literally on the outskirts of Queenstown thought I saw something so did a U turn, got out of the car and we sat watching a couple of Fallow until we got a bit close for their comfort. Less than 5min from town centre

Yip, there's fallow all over the place in the hills within view from town, and goats. Problem only is there's no hunting as its all private. Goats have caused accidents on the road thru from Cromwell to at near the Meg. I saw one lady rolled her car a few months back from the goats on the road.

There is a hunting area up the Meg isn't there? Or is it only right up the top.

Saw a mob of goats running along the side of the Glenrochy road once too.

I think it may be up the top only with walking access only but not a hundy percent sure

When you give the guy the name of a couple of spots where there are whitetail and cham and a farmers name to contact and I get no response yep I think hes a rude c##t.

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Originally Posted by possum_shooter

When you give the guy the name of a couple of spots where there are whitetail and cham and a farmers name to contact and I get no response yep I think hes a rude c##t.

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Fark id give my eye teeth for info like that mate! You must be a real good bastard. And not even a how's your father back to ya? Some people eh!

Could be he just hasn't got the message yet?

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Originally Posted by possum_shooter

When you give the guy the name of a couple of spots where there are whitetail and cham and a farmers name to contact and I get no response yep I think hes a rude c##t.

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You'll learn one day that it's not worth it --- and rarely does it benefit you in return! Let them do the hard work and ask you after that.

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Originally Posted by JoshC

You'll learn one day that it's not worth it --- and rarely does it benefit you in return! Let them do the hard work and ask you after that.

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Yeah mate I know what you mean. I just like helping people out and when its not going to affect me, all I really want is a "cheers mate" or "good on ya" in return.
I've learnt a lot of the NZ forums from some top blokes and good bastards so like to help out others when I can.

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Originally Posted by possum_shooter

Yeah mate I know what you mean. I just like helping people out and when its not going to affect me, all I really want is a "cheers mate" or "good on ya" in return.
I've learnt a lot of the NZ forums from some top blokes and good bastards so like to help out others when I can.

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Top bloke!

Good on ya

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Originally Posted by puku

Top bloke!

Good on ya

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+1:thumbsup:

First up, sincere apologies for the delayed response - I haven't even made it back on to read anything since my initial post last Friday and have had my reply to JoshC 'auto-saved' in here since. Never intended on getting any backs up, nor being away from my post for a whole week!

Thanks @JoshC for the advice. I definitely plan on doing my own grunt work and want to stress that I'm not looking for an easy ride - more trying to avoid heading into an area for 2-3 days to find out that she's bone dry! I'll take you up on the private message after some preliminary planning on my next outing :)

@Duck - I had skimmed over that area on the web not so long ago and have a 4x4 so that could work. I'd be keen to go for a walk one weekend in spring when things have thawed out a little.

@possum_shooter - I've replied (I think) to your message, let me know if it hasn't shown up.

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Originally Posted by Wanderer

First up, sincere apologies for the delayed response - I haven't even made it back on to read anything since my initial post last Friday and have had my reply to JoshC 'auto-saved' in here since. Never intended on getting any backs up, nor being away from my post for a whole week!

Thanks @JoshC for the advice. I definitely plan on doing my own grunt work and want to stress that I'm not looking for an easy ride - more trying to avoid heading into an area for 2-3 days to find out that she's bone dry! I'll take you up on the private message after some preliminary planning on my next outing :)

@Duck - I had skimmed over that area on the web not so long ago and have a 4x4 so that could work. I'd be keen to go for a walk one weekend in spring when things have thawed out a little.

@possum_shooter - I've replied (I think) to your message, let me know if it hasn't shown up.

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Had a feeling you may have just been away for a bit. In my experience, no DOC blocks in the Queenstown area will be bone dry, most hold pretty good animal numbers if you hunt them logically and properly.

Think about where the animals would prefer to be at this time of year, ie north facing slopes where there's less snow (at the moment) and then choose your hunting area from there.

Down here, further in is also not always better for animal numbers. I have a couple of spots within an hours drive of Queenstown where most hunters continue right past on their way into 'better' country.

If you are heading further south at anytime, let me know, might be able to catch up and have a yarn about potential spots and such.

P.S and what I have essentially written back to @possum_shooter, I'll be keeping anyone updated on anything that I stumble across and am more than happy spend an afternoon having a walk around somewhere if anybody is keen.... to spend an afternoon with a c##t that is ;)

Good onya mate. I should bite my tongue off sometimes and now is one of those times.
If I'm over your way I'll flick you a pm

Cheers guys, I appreciate the tips. Haha no worries @kidmac42 - seeing your comment got my ass into gear to make sure I got something off before lunch! Look'n forward to seeing a pm one day.
And @JoshC I may just take you up on that. I have a lot of family around Invercargill so am in the area plenty.

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Originally Posted by Wanderer

Cheers guys, I appreciate the tips. Haha no worries @kidmac42 - seeing your comment got my ass into gear to make sure I got something off before lunch! Look'n forward to seeing a pm one day.
And @JoshC I may just take you up on that. I have a lot of family around Invercarrrrrrrgill so am in the area plenty.

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Fixed it for ya ;)

Good on ya Wanderer

Went for a walk up the top of the Old Woman Range a few weekends ago. One goat seen @ 1200y + some relatively new hoof prints. Easy access in a 4x4 off the Nevis road. Heaps of feed and not a lot of sign so those animals leaving prints must be few and far between. Some good guts in there for animals to hide in... if you had the time to wait them out.

I'm planning to be in Wanaka for a few days on early September. Would love to be able to do a eady hunt for hares in a valley or rabbits, goats or fallow.

I cannot do hard hunts anymore.