Thread: South Island bush tucker (photo heavy)

I did this trip up the Poulter Valley about 3 years ago and was thinking about it after reading the thread about bush survival. I went for 6 nights and 7 days for the purpose of exploring an area I hadn’t had a lot of experience with, I was on my own and planned on doing a bit of hunting and just having a good look around.
I walked right up to Lake Minchin and also had a good nosey up Thompson stream, it was late spring but still extremely cold, it was snowing at night in the river valley so the animals were still hunkered down in the bush.
I met a group of DOC blokes in there on my way in, they asked if I didn’t mind using my ammo if I would shoot a heap of Canada Geese, not knowing a great deal about Geese I said “yeah no worries”
I stayed 2 nights in the new Poulter Hut and the rest of the time fly camping up Thompson stream. Walking up Thompson stream I was amazed at the amount of Geese in the river bed, I didn’t see any deer or Chamois so decided to shoot some Geese to eat, I could only get within shooting range by hiding in the bush edge and waiting for them to land within range, what amazed me is how tough they are, when I shot one it would take off into the air and fly about 100 yards before crashing back down, and here I was thinking I was missing. For those who have eaten Canada geese you will know just how good they are, right up there with Venison if not better!!
I found a few nests in the river as well so ate some eggs boiled up, they are seriously big eggs and really made a huge meal, so to get to the point I didn’t end up eating any of my own food at all as I ate eggs and goose breast meat each day, I took all my food and buried it in a spare pack liner, ( a month later when I went back I didn’t have to carry any food in )
If this was mid winter then it would be a totally different story, there would still be Geese around, but it just goes to show if you’re in the right part of the country, at the right time of year, then there is more food than you would know what to do with. Shelter was no problem, firewood everywhere. Just another fantastic time out in God’s country.

Brilliant oneshot, how was your.......erm.....'system' after a week of eggs and goose?

I was craving sweet food like you wouldnt believe. Everything else was working as it was supposed to.

That rifle had a magazine...
It's a nice area up there, we were on there mid winter 1992 and ran out of food. 'Had' to shoot a trout.

Hahaha yes that was one of the many cannons I have had over the years. are you allowed to shoot trout ?

Nice going. Did you have any milk powder for scrambled or a omelette?

unfortunately not, it was boiled, boiled and boiled.

Brilliant oneshot. That is certainly a trip to remember.

You're allowed to shoot trout when you are a hungry Lincoln University student! It was 1992 anyway...

Lake Minchin is a cool spot eh, did you carry on up to Michin Biv?

Went for a long weekend walk up there a few years ago, did Andrews Shelter to Lake Minchin the first day with the intention of doing a loop over Penny Pass and back down the Thompson. From Minchin Biv onwards was nasty slow going though and was gonna take too long, so we turned around and went back down to Caseys Hut for a night then over Binser Saddle on the way out. Feet were getting sore by the end of it!

Originally Posted by oneshot

Hahaha yes that was one of the many cannons I have had over the years. are you allowed to shoot trout ?

No, however , there's nothing in the book about shooting the water just above the trout

It stuns them apparently - according to my uncle - I've never tried this myself

T

Originally Posted by GravelBen

Lake Minchin is a cool spot eh, did you carry on up to Michin Biv?

Went for a long weekend walk up there a few years ago, did Andrews Shelter to Lake Minchin the first day with the intention of doing a loop over Penny Pass and back down the Thompson. From Minchin Biv onwards was nasty slow going though and was gonna take too long, so we turned around and went back down to Caseys Hut for a night then over Binser Saddle on the way out. Feet were getting sore by the end of it!

That is a very long haul, great spot though isn't it, absolutely beautiful country and I miss it so much, it was just about on my doorstep when I lived down that way for 5 years.

I shot a Canada one day on the way back over river flat from gorilla stream...... I'll never forget how cold the ice melt was crossing the Tasman glacier outflow..... Shot this goose with my cannon and it turned it inside out...bird was just a shell ....found breast bone about 5 or 6 metres from the body.... Wish I'd taken a few pics now.....7mm Rem mag is the calibre.....

haha yep that will do it, that's a seriously big calibre.

Me and a mate walked up to bull creek hut thru the gorge. Lucky it didn't rain. Pretty hard going and long walk. Bloody sandflys we thick and hungry. Good trip saw a few and a couple of stags. Got nothing but great to be there, and checking out new country.