Thread: Te Matai Hut Private Hunting Block - Is it navigable

Hi folks this is my first post asking if anyone has stayed at the Te Matai private hut situated around 1200m between the Mohaka and Ripia River catchments. I have been disappointed with the last two private huts I paid for so keen to receive any feedback as I have booked this hut for mid April next year (that is now at considerable cost). I appreciate the block is quite steep but hoping the bush is open enough in many parts of the block to stalk through.

I am well aware of public land hunting, as my first 30 years were on foot mainly fly camping the Kaimanawas and Kawekas. Problem is my worn out knees and close calls with other hunters in recent years.

Yip stayed there before.Not a very big block.Pretty good track runs along ridge to far end of the block,bush is not to bad.bumped into guys that had come up from the ripia block and guys from next block west of te matai.We shot a couple of deer but definitely wouldn’t go back those blocks get hammered.

Thanks for your answer, it supports what I was told by another hunter.
It needs to justify the jump from $75 to $100 per night. But I have managed to book from 12th to 19th April.

Originally Posted by 1977 Starter

Thanks for your answer, it supports what I was told by another hunter.
It needs to justify the jump from $75 to $100 per night. But I have managed to book from 12th to 19th April.

Don't think they need to justify their increases, only stumbling point is lack of clientele, if they still get the bookings, no problem for continual increases when your the only player with plant and access. Would hop in their machines for $1 a night.

My good hunting mate is a shareholder in Roston, the big farm adjacent to Te Matai. There is clearly a lot of poaching goes on round there and we once caught two guys red-handed at night. Sorry Boss, got lost... The access track goes through the farm and the ridge track through to Te Matai hut is actually a public road though the locals try to deny this. Pretty thick scrub generally and a pretty small block as has been said.

What other private huts were you disappointed in? Was it the deer numbers or Hut condition you were disappointed in? To be honest, Sika hunting isn't for everyone. I've been with people who hunt reds normally, and though Sika numbers are good, the hunters lack the skill or fitness to target them in the bush.

I've been going back to one particular block every year for last 5 years and finally can put myself in areas that I know deer will be or not far off.

Thanks Rusky. It took me several years of stuff up stalks before adapting to the cunning Sika. I gave a nice and even 8 pointer on the wall and a couple of 8s in the shed with v tops but they all have a story ands that's half the fun with trusted buddies, last years private hut was Jacks Camp fhat had a fire through 20 odd years ago and the regenerating bush was shot to get through with one track that didn't even get to a ridge and no water from tank. Previous year at Mangamaire Hut and again the one track stopped short of the prime river flats ...and you guessed it, no water in the tank,

Jacks camp is a good block. Would of stuck with that

That time period should be right in the peak of the rut, would have thought with the height of the hut you could pinpoint the roaring. I'd be looking forward to it.
Bit off topic but what's happening to East Kaweka helicopter private blocks?

Still under lease at this stage

we enjoyed the fairly new hut and right on the river that held 3 large resident Rainbows. As i mentioned earlier there was no water in the tank but not far to get from river. Biggest problem was the regenerating bush hard to get through. {we did hear to 3 stags but couldn't get near them}.

we are looking forward for sure, just handy to get some info on the block before committing fully.

Originally Posted by 1977 Starter

we are looking forward for sure, just handy to get some info on the block before committing fully.

With the "private" blocks sometimes it's better not to hear that it's been "hammered" for the previous 9 months. Larger ones ie "North Arm" which have large areas of DOC surrounding it survive better, animals are always there, just better educated.