Anybody come across sika in Uruwera's.
Anybody come across sika in Uruwera's.
Not really Uraweras, but I know of one 8 point Sika Stag shot inland from East cape, Private land but free range, only one they have seen there,
Whirinaki edges is or was the odd spattering...I’ve seen the little Kehua
Dan M
Not heard of any. It is a large area so not unlikely.
I would speculate that it'd be a disaster for hunters and the environment.
The various anti groups would probably try an claim that they were released.
And it'd upset the red's and rusa population and might have a less than satisfactory outcome.
Especially when there's no shortage of them in their traditional habitat.
Did you personally see one?
I hunt a fair bit in that area and I've never heard or seen one. It's not far as the crow flies from SH5 so it wouldn't surprise me though.
There were always rumour of sika around Hautapu hut area back in the 1960s and occaisionally since. Personslly I nevet saw or shot one there. I did watch a rusa stag neat Mt Tauhara around 1980, but never any more in that area. There were also Sambar south of taupo in the 1970's -80's in a small area. One sambar stag was captured swimming in the lake and killed and recovered by two fishermen whom I knew.
Summer grass
Of stalwart warriors splendid dreams
the aftermath.
Matsuo Basho.
Used to be a colony of them behind the old Hautapu Hut, haven't been there for years but would never believe that someone has shot the last one. @Danny still patrols this area so he might be able to update.
I stay up there often March - May a few nights to see if I could hear anything but only the odd Red...I’ve done it a bit as I have always been fascinated by them. I have heard one up behind the Waipunga South hut 20 years back.
Both my father and poppa have shot them behind the Hautapu hut up towards the Plateau.
The only one I have actually seen was South road- north of the Pukeroa as it squealed at me and bolted (old man up and missed it). I was about 11 at the time.
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Dan M
I was 50/50 last year if i heard one but a cuzzie confirmed it this year.
Back in the 70's through to now we new about the Hautapu Sika population ( Whirinaki), I have shot several and one that was a definite hybrid ( sika face, body size, light spots but lacked the white arse more like a red).
In recent years the population has taken heavy hits from 1080 as they are more susceptible to it than reds. Seen a nice sika stag with half grown velvet about 3-4 years back so there would be the odd one still about.
The morning this photo was taken he with the dog took a big Sika up behind the hut.
Dan M
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