Thread: Southern Ruahine

New to the forum and just moved to the Manawatu area. Can anyone point me toward a spot that doesn't require too much bush hunting?
Happy to travel up to 1 hour, currently living in Ashhurst. Tried a couple of spots (Number 2 Line and Coppermine but animals were few and far between) any info would be much appreciated.

Send me a pm

They are in there, just have to keep looking

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Like Hamish said, they are there. Slow down, sit and watch for a bit. You will be surprised just whats there that you may have just walked past.
So many deer are missed by guys walking to a spot that "Has deer" that just mission past deer along the way.

Slow down a take 5 have a good look. heaps of options in Ruahines;

Takapari Road is a four-wheel drive only road that reaches approximately 10km into the Ruahine Forest Park. To get there, head towards Pohangina from Ashhurst and turn right onto Pohangina Valley East Road. Follow this past Komako, then turn right onto Takapari Road. Diggers hut can be accessed from a track approximately 6 km up Takapari Rd.

Access Mid-Pohangina and Ngamoko huts from the Pohangina River at Piripiri Bridge (where Pohangina Valley East Road crosses the Pohangina River). This is about 1.5km north of Takapari Road. Note the river bed section of this walk is not passable when water levels are high. The outlying land parcels may also be accessed from Piripiri Bridge.

Ruahine Forest (West) Conservation Area (part) is one of the outlying parcels, which may be accessed from the Kahikatea walk. This is located on the left approximately 1 km past Arbon's Road.

Agreed access poled routes

Opawe Road provides access to the Maharahara High Point track, but is closed from 15 August to 15 November for lambing. From Ashhurst, head north up the Pohangina Valley and turn onto Pohangina Valley East Road. The Opawe Road turn-off is just before the Highland Home Youth Camp. The track to Maharahara crosses farm land from the carpark sign-posted off this road.
No. 1 Line provides access to the No. 1 line track. Head towards Pohangina from Ashhurst and turn right onto Pohangina Valley East Road. Follow this past Awahou School. Turn right onto No.1 Line Road and continue along this gravel road to the carpark at the end.
No. 2 Line provides access to the Ruahine Forest Park. Head towards Pohangina from Ashhurst and turn right onto Pohangina Valley East Road. Follow this through Awahou then turn right onto No.2 Line Road and continue to the carpark at the end. Note there are no tracks at the bush edge.

Access by prior arrangement

Visitors must phone the landowners to make arrangements for access beforehand.

To access Te Ekaou and Forks huts (from Pohangina Valley East Road), you must cross private farmland. Prior permission must be obtained from the relevant landowner.
An alternative route to Mid-Pohangina hut that avoids walking the river is to cross private farmland. To get there, head north up the Pohangina Valley from Ashhurst and turn onto the Pohangina Valley East Road. Continue up the valley for approximately 28 km from Raumai Junction. A sign on the farm gate on the side of the road indicates the start of the track. No dogs are allowed on this land, and the access is closed during lambing. Prior permission must be obtained from the landowner.

You will have as a good a chance up the Coppermine as anywhere. But sorry, you will have to bush bash a bit. Effort equals reward.

@Graywhale

Bush hunting is where it's at mate.

This is the purest form of Deer Stalking available to us.

Open Tops Hunting is really just shooting.

However both methods can be very productive once you've acquired the necessary skills, although taking a Roaring Stag in the bush at 10m or less will have you buzzing for days.

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by Tahr

You will have as a good a chance up the Coppermine as anywhere. But sorry, you will have to bush bash a bit. Effort equals reward.

Heading up there today with the mrs to do the loop walk. Not allowed to carry the rifle though

Bro head up lovedays
Head up the river for a few hours then cut up any ridge on your left.
Heaps of slips just start working over them

A lot of hunters in Ashurst. Put the word out and you should be able to hook up with what you want

Originally Posted by 199p

Bro head up lovedays
Head up the river for a few hours then cut up any ridge on your left.
Heaps of slips just start working over them

Yep. Theres not normally easy deer any where, but you may fluke one from time to time.

Most of us would love to have deer one hours drive away... :-)

Living in Ashhurst you have HEAPS of deer within far less than an hours drive. No 1 line, Opawe road, Takapari road, Whariti road, Coppermine road (as you have already suggested), Fairbrother road, Loveday road. Take your pick. Any of those and you can't go wrong, albeit most of it bush hunting. If you want open stuff then head into mid Pohangina hut, heaps of slips and clearings there. However you might have access issues at the moment as I understand the land owner has recently passed away so it is in limbo at the moment. Or head to the tops.

When for a walk last night and saw 4. There may or may not be a big TV aerial where I went

Originally Posted by Shootm

When for a walk last night and saw 4. There may or may not be a big TV aerial where I went

Snee road??

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Originally Posted by Shootm

When for a walk last night and saw 4. There may or may not be a big TV aerial where I went

Thanks a million Shootm. That's my secret hunting spot at Avalon ruined then.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Thanks a million Shootm. That's my secret hunting spot at Avalon ruined then.

As long as we don't plaster it all over the Internet we should be fine