Thread: Block 5

Day 4.

So after shooting that spiker last night i realized that my pack was gunna be pretty heavy.

While walking down the clearing in the dark i had cunning plan...I know, ill call those guys on the ridge at 7pm and get them to radio the hut and see if some one wants to come up with an empty pack in the morning.

However......the radio silence that followed told me they were in already in the hut and that was the end of that idea

Woke early to a beautiful full moon morning.



Not wanting to muck about with all this meat the tent was packed up - still frozen. Gear loaded in to the old trusty NZ made macpac pack. The well chilled meat was added making for a solid load.

Out with the walking poles and off !!

I was truly greatful for the recent work done on the windfall, literally thousands of cuts. There is no way I would have got this heavy pack thru here without it.



I can tell you Bob's hut was a welcome and happy sight



Gear was unloaded and spread out to dry. Meat tucked away in the meat safe we had left at the hut on the first day. Then lunch was eaten in anticipation awaiting the others return.


@stingray and @ROKTOY were first to arrive and we enjoyed sitting in the sun swapping yarns with plenty of laughter (very common when joe is around)

They were in radio contact with @Munsey and Kev who were back up on the tops and had seen some deer and just secured a chamois.

This was the icing on the cake for Kev as they were the first animals he had seen all trip. It was also just reward for munsey who had put in a huge effort. It was a delightful afternoon, we sat there watching them descend the ridge and enter the bush. The banter on the radio was priceless !!!!



Although none of the animals shot on this trip were of trophy standard, it wasn't the reason we came in here. We came in here to help reduce numbers and harvest wild game.

I'm pretty sure most of you on here will agree that sometimes the true trophy is spending time in environments like this with a bunch of like minded mates. So cheers guys

Kev and munsey arrived out of the bush just before dark with more meat to add to the meat safe.

The old fireplace was lit. Then with rifles safely stowed away we demolished the 4 packets of chips and dozen cans of beer we had left in the hut on day one. 2.5 cans each and boy were they good







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Day three for Kev and I was a trip up into a fantastic head basin. Minimal sign in the bush heading up. An old wallow and old sign heading back out in the evening.
Back at the hut on dark to met up with Munsey and Stingray.


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Day 4 while Kukuwai was doing it tough on his walk out, Munsey and Kev struck out for the tops on the west side of the block.
Stingray set off up Mt Maling stream in a bid to gain access to clearings he and Munsey had spotted animals on a few days earlier.
I caught up with him eventually, rounding a bend in the riverbed to find him digging furiously at a bank up the side of a narrow gorged pass. Footholds dug we both scrambled up and over. Carrying on to a tributary we hoped to use to access the head valley. Unfortunately a waterfall and high walls stopped our progress.
A late lunch was had, radio contact made with the two keen lads up on the hill.
Deer had been seen and an attempt made, Chamois were currently being stalked.
Later radio contact as we walked out of the stream back towards the hut confirmed an animal down and a recovery was underway.
Back at the hut mid afternoon to find a wornout Kukuwai had arrived.
The next few hours were spent watching the last two explorers make their way down off the hills.
Teasing comments of empty beer cans passing over the radios surely helped the boys hasten their return.



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Awesome thread and some great photos. Nothing in the world can compare to spending time with friends in the great wilderness.

The forum has a new member fellas. Kev has joined (@axeman) he cant post photos so has just txt some to me to post for him. Said he has been loving the yarn

The bow makes it to the tops.



Munsey's cham.



Bobs hut clearing as seen from mt burn.





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Last day, and the weather gave in. Initially expecting our metal bird at 10am, but low fog had us in regular contact with our pilot via the InReach.
Floors swept, benches cleaned and firewood sorted for the hut.
Coffees and cup of soups slurped down while we waited, and waited.
Around 2.30pm the fog started to lift and a window of opportunity showed. Message sent and 20 min later our ride arrived. A quick trip back to base, where we were thrown out, the chopper refuelled and was off again for the next pick up.


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best thread I have read in absolutely ages!!

We primarily decided to do it like this for our mate at sea @mikee as he specifically requested not one big photo bomb !!

However its great to see others have enjoyed it too

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Something to add.
Rob and his team at Murchison Heli Tours.
On our last day, Rob had one of his pilots stationed up the Matakitaki river in their Cabri helicopter keeping an eye on the weather as they had several hunting groups in the area that they wanted to retrieve before the weather bomb hit. Rob had informed us earlier in the day that if we weren't out that day he didn't think he would be able to get in to us until Friday.
Excellent service from a great outfit.
Thanks Rob and team.

Awesome photo from Mt Burn. Taken from the spot I saw two stags from the hut with the spotting scope in spring .

100% I endorse ROKTOYS comment above.

If any of you guys are looking for a top notch heli operation in the murchison area, look no further.

Expecting a pickup at 10am, the first contact with Rob was exactly then. The inreach said, "just tried to fly in, weather to crap to get to you"

Second contact was at 12 " I have a helicopter parked down river from you guys waiting for a gap in the valley cloud" Seriously how many operators would do that !!!

Then when ROKTOY messaged him at 2.30 saying "this is the best its looked all day". The reply was instant "ok I'm lifting now".

We were all pretty anxious all day as it certainly didn't look promising, none more so than me tho as it was my 6year olds birthday the next day and I would have been really sad to miss that.

Cheers Rob you are a top, top man !!



Oh and the best thing......the young lad got a set of hooks for his birthday !! Much to his mums delight.



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@kukuwai, those hooks look great, I bet the young fella was rapt. Good to hear Mum "liked" them too.

Originally Posted by mikee

best thread I have read in absolutely ages!!

Me too!
Gutted I couldnt make it but there will be other trips.

Yip, no doubt the best thread ive read for like ever on the forum.

Cheers guys really glad you all have enjoyed the yarns.

As you can see we had a great time in there.

Can't wait for the next one

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