Thread: Stewart Island advice?

Heading down over easter with a few mates, they have the 'Rollers' block booked. Looking forward to it, never been to the island before.

Any particular tips for finding deer down there? I've heard they like to hang around the beaches which is a good start

Eyes peeled and walk very very slowly.

the sandflys are killer there man bring bulk repellent . and chuck a rod and snorkel in and you wont go hungry !

*cough* Shotgun with Buckshot *cough*

Originally Posted by Mossie

*cough* Shotgun with Buckshot *cough*

For the sandflies?

You'll love it mate, everyone in Southland should go there as a right of passage! Haha. Most important bases have been covered, fishing gear, sandflies etc. Like any deer they like warmth, water and feed. If you can't find them on the bush edges, hit up and ridgelines, heads of creeks etc. Get on a trail and stay on it. If you find sign that's fresh, it often pays to find an open part of the bush and sit and wait for a while. I'm sure you find a deer or two, getting a shot away can be a challenge though. I hunt there with my 223, ample big enough. Take a compass, map and GPS in the bush with you, creeks can run inland on the island, and in flat country can be deceiving.

Originally Posted by JoshC

You'll love it mate, everyone in Southland should go there as a right of passage! Haha. Most important bases have been covered, fishing gear, sandflies etc. Like any deer they like warmth, water and feed. If you can't find them on the bush edges, hit up and ridgelines, heads of creeks etc. Get on a trail and stay on it. If you find sign that's fresh, it often pays to find an open part of the bush and sit and wait for a while. I'm sure you find a deer or two, getting a shot away can be a challenge though. I hunt there with my 223, ample big enough. Take a compass, map and GPS in the bush with you,

creeks can run inland on the island, and in flat country can be deceiving

.

Wow, hard case, something to remember for my first trip to the island in Feb 2015.

Originally Posted by GravelBen

For the sandflies?

Would need to be belt fed for them...........

Found the best way to deal with the sandflies was smoke them out. Keep a good fire going at all times at camp

Cheers fullas, good info. At this stage the water taxi guys reckon it might be too rough for the boat to drop us off, hoping for the best though!

Well we made it in Sat afternoon... water taxi had to drop us at the next beach over cos ours was too rough, which meant a nasty bash up and over a headland to get to the only decent campsite in the block... would have been a 200m stroll along the beach at low tide! We hadn't really packed with the intention of carrying everything too far, so the packs were pretty heavy! Still got an evening recce/hunt in too though.

Sat evening I came down with some kind of gastro bug and spent most of the night crapping what felt like stomach acid into the bush... maybe we shouldn't have had sausies and cheese rolls from the BBQ at the beach shindig the locals were having? Spent Sun morning feeling sorry for myself instead of hunting, but was back into it for the rest of the trip.

Didn't get any deer unfortunately, 2 of us didn't even see one. Just heard a couple spook right beside the main tramping track. 2 mates who hunted the other half of the block saw the back of one as it ran away, also on the track. Thats the only place any of us saw/heard animals, maybe they know people aren't allowed to hunt near the track? We weren't being at all quiet at the time, just plodding through as it was a quicker way to the bit we wanted to hunt. Fair bit of sign in patches here and there though, think we just weren't slow and sneaky enough at the right time! Not a lot of quiet bush in that block, heaps of tall crownfern etc but we did find some more open patches and even one half-decent clearing on the coast. Sat watching open bits for a long time with no luck that way either.

Ah well, some lessons learnt for next time anyway! Its an amazing place, can't wait to go back. 3 or 4 days isn't really long enough.

Enjoy the Stewart Island if MR Morgan has his way everything will be dead on the island shortly with the poison they are going to lay

Hi,
I have booked the big hellfire block on Stewart island for my partner and I next May, was wondering if anyone has hunted there before ? Any advise or comments on experiences people have had on the hunting block terrain animals etc would be much appreciated. Cheers

Hi,
I have booked the big hellfire block on Stewart island for my partner and I next May, was wondering if anyone has hunted there before ? Any advise or comments on experiences people have had on the hunting block terrain animals etc would be much appreciated. Cheers

Just thought that I would revise this thread. I saw this and thought that it might help for those going down that way.
Anyone else have any other good advice for here please do post

The following has been circulated by Real Journeys which will have implications for whitetail deer hunters.

From 1st June 2017 the following rules apply to the carriage of fuel and/or gas on Stewart Island Ferry.
Limits
• 4 x 20 litre certified fuel containers (80 litre maximum, petrol or diesel)
• 5 x 9 kg gas bottles (50 kg maximum, flammable gas incl. LPG)
As per the Dangerous Goods Act, if any flammable gas is carried, the maximum fuel allowance is reduced to 50 litres. Empty containers are treated the same as full containers, so all containers need to be booked.
1. All fuel and gas must be pre-booked and pre-paid. Price is $5 per full container. Please book direct at the Bluff Visitor Terminal.
2. All fuel must be accompanied by a ferry passenger. No fuel will be transported unaccompanied.
3. There are no storage facilities at either Bluff of Oban for dangerous goods.

NO FUEL OR GAS IS TO BE CARRIED IN FREIGHT BINS.

Luggage Limits
Two bags per person, both will be stored in freight bins plus one small bag ie handbag size,
which can be taken in the cabin.
Freight limits
Equivalent of two bags or five banana boxes.
Hunting and tramping parties.
The above limits apply to hunting and tramping groups. These limits include the carriage of fuel and inflammable gas. Hunting parties often require additional luggage and should be organised in advance. Please contact Bluff Visitor Terminal to arrange. Additional luggage/freight will be charged at $35 per bin or part thereof. We encourage all groups reconfirm their bookings with Bluff Visitor Terminal prior to day of departure.
All fuel etc needs to be booked in advance. Please call to avoid disappointment.

However, on the positive side:-
Pete Ross Automotive at 14 Ayr Street, Halfmoon Bay
(beside the Community Centre) has the following supplies:
Petrol
Diesel
LPG Gas Bottle refills (and gas bottles to hire on short term rental)
Coal
Wood (large fadges or small bags)
Kindling
Fuelite (White Spirits)
Fuel Containers
2-stroke Oils (General, Marine and Motorcycle)
CRC and WD40
Car and Boat batteries
9v Batteries and small batteries for watches etc
We have available for hire:
Gas rings, Tents.
Contact Pete Ross on 03 2191 266 or email peterossauto@xtra.co.nz They are quite happy to meet hunters off the ferry and deliver down anything they may require, or liaise in with the charter operators.

Fouveux Freight boat runs twice a week and can take a few things ie ferry doesn't anymore... Just needs a bit of planning before hand.

Those heading to the island can always send me a p.m. And I can see if I can help out with things (had a few people need a banana box or two of firewood, camping stuff forgotten, freezer space for a few days etc have even lent a rifle out when so,even forgot a bolt but you have to ask nicely and know what I drink

Have access to some private land and happy to take people for a walk in the evenings (no guarantees of course) if your in the village not heading straight out to a block