Thread: Stewart island advice

Right here goes, my first post so be gentle
Am off down to Stewart island first week in may long harry/east rugedy blocks, after just watching red stag hunters, they seemed to be successful on the beach as well as inland . Any of you guys been there and able to give me some tips/information 🙏

There are usually heaps of tracks on the beach in the mornings, watch from a lookout first and last light

ok...take pair of overalls,gloves and consider a hair net..the sandflies are brutal....
flyspray for tent at night...some light loads/cheap loads and a good torch for camp possum or cat around the show/on beach
the seafood is unreal..
the place is flat,nacvigation is different to most places....I simply did the hunt west,then north then home to east till hit coast thing,Im told most folks who get cocked up end up completely headed in wrong direction,some even on wrong coast.... be aware of it and its not such a big thing.
lots of deer within 100 yards of beach.
go slowly and look often..

When I walked the track, a couple of trampers said they were watching a seal playing in the surf at Ruggedy. There was a big splash, and a couple of minutes later the seal’s head rolled up the beach. They canceled their plans for a paua dive that evening

Hunted in that area many years ago. Cool blocks, rough coastline. And a bit nasty in bad weather. Lots of good hunting between the track and the coast. Need a good day for fishing but plenty of fish to be had in the right places. Plenty of sign on what beaches are there. And not too difficult to bush stalk approx straight south, and then do a 180 and hunt back to the hut when the westerly blows in the afternoon. We found either game trails or hunters tracks to most of the good beach hunting areas, Google earth should help. Then find the tracks and keep going back to the same place, especially if there is good broadleaf around. We also found some decent big trees that we could climb and sit patiently without falling out, take a book. Saw plenty of sharks, so not a popular swimming area. Have fun, and we look forward to a write up when you get back.

Cheers Micky��

Originally Posted by Cigar

When I walked the track, a couple of trampers said they were watching a seal playing in the surf at Ruggedy. There was a big splash, and a couple of minutes later the seal’s head rolled up the beach. They canceled their plans for a paua dive that evening

Well if I was going for a paddle you’ve just talked me out of it ����

Originally Posted by Husky1600#2

Hunted in that area many years ago. Cool blocks, rough coastline. And a bit nasty in bad weather. Lots of good hunting between the track and the coast. Need a good day for fishing but plenty of fish to be had in the right places. Plenty of sign on what beaches are there. And not too difficult to bush stalk approx straight south, and then do a 180 and hunt back to the hut when the westerly blows in the afternoon. We found either game trails or hunters tracks to most of the good beach hunting areas, Google earth should help. Then find the tracks and keep going back to the same place, especially if there is good broadleaf around. We also found some decent big trees that we could climb and sit patiently without falling out, take a book. Saw plenty of sharks, so not a popular swimming area. Have fun, and we look forward to a write up when you get back.

Thanks husky good idea about the book ��

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Long Harry isn't flat like a lot of the southern blocks. And it's not hard to navigate. There's a DOC track running right through it so it's easy to walk the track to an area you want to hunt. Then just reverse your bearings and get back on the track for the return trip back to camp. Following the coast is hard work there. It's quite broken.
Long Harry has a big DOC hut. Be prepared for visitors as its on the northern circuit and the Te araoa trail so you'll get a lot of tourists. You'll probably have some really interesting evenings yarning with people from all around the world.
Last time I was there (about 2010) paua were quite easy to get at low tide without getting wet. But I presume we had big tides.
Fishing was OK off the rocks. Caught cod, trumpeter and Monk fish, plus a heap of wrasse and other less desire ables.
Deer were everywhere but in better numbers between the track and the coast.
I haven't hunted Ruggedy but have walked part way around there. It's a different place on a bad day. Long Harry is quite sheltered from the south but Ruggedy cops weather straight from the southern ocean and it appears Antarctica going by the wind chill.
Take weather reports from Met Service Foveaux for Long Harry and Puysegur for Ruggedy (marine forecast).
If walking between blocks be aware of seals on the rocky beaches. It's easy to not notice them sleeping among the rocks and get chased if you surprise them.
How are you getting to your blocks?
I went by boat first trip in 1986 (with Herbie) but have helicoptered every other time to the open water blocks. It can be treacherous getting ashore in a dingy on a bad day. And the thought of spending the trip with everything drenched with salt water doesn't do much for me.
Shop around for helicopter prices if you go that way.
Theres quite a variation.
Good luck.
PM me if you have any specific questions I might be able to help with.

So much info, really appreciate your help
I’ll pm you soon
��

I've only hunted Stewart Island twice so am no expert on whitetail but I'm not as fit now and a lot smarter.

If I found a place with a lot of tracks of deer moving I'd just sit and watch with rifle ready to go and make sure you are comfortable as you may be there for hours.

Be sure to bug spray up if they are a problem and no white skin movement so camo up.

Sitting can be some of the hardest hunting you'll do, but it has it's place.

Originally Posted by kingscoatkiwi

Right here goes, my first post so be gentle
Am off down to Stewart island first week in may long harry/east rugedy blocks, after just watching red stag hunters, they seemed to be successful on the beach as well as inland . Any of you guys been there and able to give me some tips/information ��

Serious question, why two blocks. I learned a long ago that you don’t need to cover a lot of country to hunt whitetails. They are creatures of habit and do not have a big home range. Especially as May will be right time of the rut. Hunt with your eyes and not your feet. Find the sign and hammer it. Only real access at Long Harry is by chopper. No sandy beach either.

Originally Posted by Gamehunter

I've only hunted Stewart Island twice so am no expert on whitetail but I'm not as fit now and a lot smarter.

If I found a place with a lot of tracks of deer moving I'd just sit and watch with rifle ready to go and make sure you are comfortable as you may be there for hours.

Be sure to bug spray up if they are a problem and no white skin movement so camo up.

Sitting can be some of the hardest hunting you'll do, but it has it's place.

thanks mate

Originally Posted by wtd

Serious question, why two blocks. I learned a long ago that you don’t need to cover a lot of country to hunt whitetails. They are creatures of habit and do not have a big home range. Especially as May will be right time of the rut. Hunt with your eyes and not your feet. Find the sign and hammer it. Only real access at Long Harry is by chopper. No sandy beach either.

I’m going along with a mate who got the block so not sure how she got two, I’m thinking a friend of hers got the other one and decided between themselves to split them
Thanks for the advice much appreciated

Originally Posted by kingscoatkiwi

I’m going along with a mate who got the block so not sure how she got two, I’m thinking a friend of hers got the other one and decided between themselves to split them
Thanks for the advice much appreciated

She maybe hopes to run into "Long Harry"

Originally Posted by Gamehunter

She maybe hopes to run into "Long Harry"