Rotorua based hunting

Printable View

15-04-2020, 01:02 PM
Hunty1

Rotorua based hunting

So having lived in the South all my life looks like I will be relocating to Rotorua in a few months....

As a Mainlander born and bred I am slightly clueless as to the hunting opportunities in the area. I obviously have heard about chasing Sika in the Kaweka and that's about it! A bit of time on google has shown me that there appears to be a reasonable amount of DOC land within a few hours of Rotorua and also a fair bit of private Maori land that can be accessed (helisika, Te Urewera etc).

So my my question is, what general areas would you recommend to start poking about when I get up there? I'm happy bush stalking (cut my teeth chasing fallow around the Blue Mountains and bush stalking Fiordland valleys) but do enjoy hunting the open tops and broken country as well. Are there many options for day hunts or do most areas involve at least a weekend away?

My online reading seems to suggest every man and his dog head to Clements Mill rd or jump in a heli, guessing there's a bit more to it than that! ;-)

Not asking for anyone's spot X, just a few recommendations to get an idea of the lay of the land. Nothing like getting the boots on and exploring a new bit of country!

Many thanks!
15-04-2020, 01:05 PM
HNTMAD

Kaimanawa is also a good sika haunt. Do you belong to deer stalkers by chance?

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
15-04-2020, 01:05 PM
Mohawk660

Whats bringing u to roto vegas? Id suggest Spot x book.Failing that pick one of the many doc blocks and go explore.
15-04-2020, 01:12 PM
Hunty1

Quote:

Originally Posted by HNTMAD

Kaimanawa is also a good sika haunt. Do you belong to deer stalkers by chance?

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Yeah @HNTMAD I do, why's that?

Had heard of sika in the kaimanawa's as well. Looking forward to a few new species to chase around the hills!
15-04-2020, 01:13 PM
Hunty1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mohawk660

Whats bringing u to roto vegas? Id suggest Spot x book.Failing that pick one of the many doc blocks and go explore.

Normal story, work!

Might have to track one of those Spot X books down, had forgotten about them!
15-04-2020, 01:18 PM
Gibo

PM me when you get here mate, will show you around a few areas no drama
15-04-2020, 01:19 PM
Hayden C

Plenty of options within an hour of Rotorua for day trips (Lived there for 25 years there before moving south)

General areas:

Reds – Urawera’s
Sika – Napier Taupo road area (Clements is bloody busy but still produces good numbers of animals)
Rusa – Galatea
Sambar – Matahina and surrounds

Lots of spots even closer to home than these…..where you can get a hunt in after work during the summer months.

You’ll figure it out….
15-04-2020, 01:23 PM
HNTMAD

Get along to the rotorua branch....there is a forum member on here that i have met twice in the kaimanawa on a club trip.....ruger270 or roger 260 k think is his handle

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
15-04-2020, 01:30 PM
Hunty1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibo

PM me when you get here mate, will show you around a few areas no drama

Cheers @Gibo! Very generous offer! I will flick you a PM once settled in.
15-04-2020, 01:31 PM
Hunty1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayden C

Plenty of options within an hour of Rotorua for day trips (Lived there for 25 years there before moving south)

General areas:

Reds – Urawera’s
Sika – Napier Taupo road area (Clements is bloody busy but still produces good numbers of animals)
Rusa – Galatea
Sambar – Matahina and surrounds

Lots of spots even closer to home than these…..where you can get a hunt in after work during the summer months.

You’ll figure it out….

Cheers @Hayden C that's actually pretty handy info for someone who doesn't have a clue!
15-04-2020, 01:49 PM
Rushy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibo

PM me when you get here mate, will show you around a few areas no drama

You are a good man Gibo. Hunty1, Gibo is part Apache. His Indian name is “walks circles at night”
15-04-2020, 02:09 PM
Gibo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rushy

You are a good man Gibo. Hunty1, Gibo is part Apache. His Indian name is “walks circles at night”

Nup, its werawhakaui
15-04-2020, 02:13 PM
Gibo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunty1

Cheers @Gibo! Very generous offer! I will flick you a PM once settled in.

I hope you are a good hunter so you can find us some deer ;)
15-04-2020, 02:27 PM
HNTMAD

Just watch that @Gibo fella

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
15-04-2020, 02:30 PM
Hunty1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibo

I hope you are a good hunter so you can find us some deer ;)

I'll try, at least I won't have to worry about finding the truck.... Sounds like you'll lead us back round to it at least! :thumbsup:
15-04-2020, 02:49 PM
Hayden C

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunty1

Cheers @Gibo! Very generous offer! I will flick you a PM once settled in.

Give us the hot oil on where to find decent Otago stags and ill PM you all of Gibo's best spots!
15-04-2020, 02:50 PM
Gibo

Get!!
15-04-2020, 02:53 PM
Nick-D

Heaps of good hunting close to rotorua. In terms of variety it's one of the best spots in the country. Got like 5 varieties of deer within an hours drive.

Not a huge amount of open tops stuff until you hit the Kawekas kiamanwas. Some very productive slip hunting through the urewera and towards the Cape though.

Speaking of rotorua hunting, anyone know what Tarwera is like? Have recently acquired aquatic transport and was thinking or going for a mission over those ways. Boat safe ish to park up somwhere and go for a wander?
15-04-2020, 02:54 PM
Hunty1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayden C

Give us the hot oil on where to find decent Otago stags and ill PM you all of Gibo's best spots!

Now we're talking! GPX file okay? :thumbsup:
15-04-2020, 02:57 PM
Rushy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Heaps of good hunting close to rotorua. In terms of variety it's one of the best spots in the country. Got like varieties of deer within an hours drive.

Not a huge amount of open tops stuff until you hit the Kawekas kiamanwas. Some very productive slip hunting through the urewera and towards the Cape though.

Speaking of rotorua hunting, anyone know what Tarwera is like? Have recently acquired aquatic transport and was thinking or going for a mission over those ways. Boat safe ish to park up somwhere and go for a wander?

@Gapped axe is the man in the know down there. Send him a PM.
15-04-2020, 05:35 PM
chindit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Heaps of good hunting close to rotorua. In terms of variety it's one of the best spots in the country. Got like 5 varieties of deer within an hours drive.

Not a huge amount of open tops stuff until you hit the Kawekas kiamanwas. Some very productive slip hunting through the urewera and towards the Cape though.

Speaking of rotorua hunting, anyone know what Tarwera is like? Have recently acquired aquatic transport and was thinking or going for a mission over those ways. Boat safe ish to park up somwhere and go for a wander?

There is/was a full time person at hot water beach campsite, from there you can hunt between Tarawera and Rotomahana lakes
15-04-2020, 05:40 PM
superdiver

I hunted a block in the mamakus post roar 3 years ago. Supposedly fallow and reds in the area. Found a big scrape and let out some roars but nothing. Only had a short window so didn't get that far in but I think with some time you would find animals.
15-04-2020, 08:09 PM
ocean-hunter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunty1

So having lived in the South all my life looks like I will be relocating to Rotorua in a few months....

As a Mainlander born and bred I am slightly clueless as to the hunting opportunities in the area. I obviously have heard about chasing Sika in the Kaweka and that's about it! A bit of time on google has shown me that there appears to be a reasonable amount of DOC land within a few hours of Rotorua and also a fair bit of private Maori land that can be accessed (helisika, Te Urewera etc).

So my my question is, what general areas would you recommend to start poking about when I get up there? I'm happy bush stalking (cut my teeth chasing fallow around the Blue Mountains and bush stalking Fiordland valleys) but do enjoy hunting the open tops and broken country as well. Are there many options for day hunts or do most areas involve at least a weekend away?

My online reading seems to suggest every man and his dog head to Clements Mill rd or jump in a heli, guessing there's a bit more to it than that! ;-)

Not asking for anyone's spot X, just a few recommendations to get an idea of the lay of the land. Nothing like getting the boots on and exploring a new bit of country!

Many thanks!

Hey mate,

I'm fairly new to rotorua also, it's always good to meet like minded people, if your interested once your up here, and want to t up a hunt or something, even head out for a beer, just let me know.

Cheers Bevan
15-04-2020, 08:18 PM
Synthetic

Welcome to the North mate.
As a former South Otago resident, I can assure you the hunting opportunities up here are plentiful!