Thread: sika blocks

Just trying to plan another trip for next year, Do we head back down south for another trip or go chase sika for the first time,
So are the private blocks with heli sika any better then the public land. I spouse the question is the extra $250-$500 for 5 days pp worth it?

Starts getting bloody expensive when you pay those land fees on top of the helicopter. Good piece of mind knowing you have the place to yourself though

Originally Posted by bigbear

Just trying to plan another trip for next year, Do we head back down south for another trip or go chase sika for the first time,
So are the private blocks with heli sika any better then the public land. I spouse the question is the extra $250-$500 for 5 days pp worth it?

I've been to a few private blocks over the years...and yes some of them are bloody good, but they do get bloody expensive when you add them up. (I could have paid for a guided hunt on Ngamatea by now I'm sure!) I have decided that I probably won't go back to one. Not because of the price, but just because the most exciting and productive hunts I've had chasing sika have all been on public land.

Depending on where we go i was thinking of taking my son with me on this but it will be cheaper to take in down south

There is heaps on DOC land too @bigbear if you just want a sika and not bothered by the size of the head gear flying into DOC is pretty cheap. Also have shot stags within 45min walk from road ends in May once most people did they dash for the year. Front country gets really busy in April. Flick me a pm if you need info on Kawekas. I will spend a couple of weeks up that way next April-May yell out if you want to team up.

DOC Huts
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Mite help you with your decision

Also look up East Kaweka Helicopters they have private blocks and can fly you into some good DOC country. Their pricing for flights is very reasonable and Chris is a top bloke. I have not hunted any of their private blocks but have done a few trip to DOC land with them.

They are expensive and I think they have a restriction on the number you can shoot. I think you could do alright on the DOC blocks for a lot less dollars,

I will be going end feb/march works out not a bad time for couple of us to have a holiday

The Heli-sika fly in blocks with huts are "hammered" 9-10months each year. Very seldom they are without a party in residence.

Originally Posted by tetawa

The Heli-sika fly in blocks with huts are "hammered" 9-10months each year. Very seldom they are without a party in residence.

But they still hold good numbers. Was in one a few weeks back, Only 1 of the 3 of us saw sika and we had to come out early due to crap weather.
Was too early for grass on the river flats and the hebe's up top had only just started to come back after winter. Still plenty of sign about 40mtr up off the valley floor and again just inside the tree line up top. Saw hoof prints were they had been crossing the valley floor a couple of km up stream as well.
I'm sure a lazy hunter (like myself) could get a meat animal on the river flats in late spring or early summer just by doing sun rise and sun set hunts.
Z

Originally Posted by Kudu

I've been to a few private blocks over the years...and yes some of them are bloody good, but they do get bloody expensive when you add them up. (I could have paid for a guided hunt on Ngamatea by now I'm sure!) I have decided that I probably won't go back to one. Not because of the price, but just because the most exciting and productive hunts I've had chasing sika have all been on public land.

I'm in the same boat, you are basically paying for exclusivity and a chopper, yet the best hunting I have had has been on walk in hunts on public land.
Outside of the roar of you walk in a couple of hours and camp you will generally not see many people.

If you don't mind a bit of a walk I reckon public land is the way to go if you cover a bit of ground. Those blocks probably get more year round pressure anyway. I sure do miss Sika hunting since moving down south!

It seems like there's a little Truth in everything every one has said but no great advice. More pressure year round on many blocks. Some blocks see hardly anyone. One Sika block we were going to for the roar would only see one party other than us for the year. Hs have just lost that block. The reason. It was hard work to get around. Most animals would probably die of old age.

Popular blocks are booked out year round. In other words year round pressure however I believe less over the roar as large areas of ground on see a small group. We have a very popular block during the roar and still haven't really tapped half the block. In fact we haven't even covered much of the ground as we find ourselves drawn to old haunts.
I don't think hs blocks is just about the hunting either. You buy privacy. You buy access to great trout action and good hunting our even phenomenal ground that would be thick with hunters at certain times like the roar for stags. You get a comfy hut with no unwelcome visits or trampers.

I shot a stag last year in my hut slippers after wandering out to the the terrace edge and giving a roar or two which brought an animal out of poronui, down across the valley and over to me. Great way to start the day.
Public land is fantastic and in the back of beyond, very quiet. We even walked out of the needles block one year, to hunt the exclusion zone after doc started chopping pines in the areas around us with choppers and chainsaws. And then the army had an exercise including artillary, tanks and rifle fire.

For me public lands win for a lone trip or me and a mate on a walk in our chopper deep and fly camp adventure.

Otherwise I have no issue with the money as the value of a good hs block is excellent.

If it's about showing your boy an amazing experience then there's heaps of blocks that have it in spades. Also get this. As for pressure. I've already said that one of our blocks is top 3 for most used. Basically all year. Last year in early Apr I saw 16 animals on the first evening after the chopper left. All of these were with in 200.

Still under discussion on what we are going to do and if we are going to chase sika , Am happy to hunt doc land that doesn't worry me and still happy to be flown in and happy stay in a tent if need be.
One thing flying in is your trucks not sitting on the side of the road also hopefully getting dropped back 4hrs in there will be less people and pressure also a good pilot should know where a few animals are that time of year