when do the stags head up on tops

so last year around the 11th when we flew out of one of the valleys wer were in, we spotted heaps of wallows freshly used up on the tussock tops.

my Question,

when do stags start wallowing up on the open tops ? Mainly reds, but additionally when do sika stags start doing this also obviously with scraps pads though.

Were due to fly into the tararuas on the 7-th 11th, but this may be thwarted due to weather, so im looking at second options into the kawekas also.

ive only ever hunted stags into the bush during the roar, but the option for reds is up on the open tussock tops / bushline, and the options for the kawekas are down in the basin with tussock, or up in the actual tussock tops.

Is it better to stay bush as im mainly a long range hunter, or does it not really matter ?

They wander all over the shop if undisturbed. Seems to be related to hunting pressure and where the hinds are hanging out.

nice, thanks tahr. sounds good. Im hoping for tararuas, and the long range forecast this morning compared to yesteday looks amazing.

They follow the feed while growing antlers, so tend to go higher as summer progresses, then the fun starts & follow the girls when they start cycling, then when that’s over they go back to being mates & chase the feed to put on condition for winter. This summer has been very dry so they may have dropped lower looking for water.

Theyl go back to the tops once the roar is over,stick to the bush if roar hunting.they usually disappear from there usual areas around mid march and hole up in their roar pads for a month or so.