Thread: First deer hunt. Ngaawapurua hut.

Hey all
Well went on me first deer hunt for 3 days last week. Myself and a mate flew into Ngaawapurua hut with Chris Crosse from East Kaweka Helicopters. The mate had shot a few reds before but had not hunted Sika. Was it was a couple of green Sika hunters walking the hills for a few days.
Man I loved it. This was to be a learning trip before doing 6 days with 3 others end of September back into another area of the Kawekas. I had read, watched and talked to guys but needed to get in there and find out for myself. Learnt heaps on what not to do and a bit on what to do. Like when climbing a ridge dead trees are shit for support. I kept getting caught up in this stupid vine that scrathed and would not let go. With me mate laughing saying, now you know what bush lawyer is. Learnt to walk around it if possible not charge through it. Anyway a brief outline of how things went down.

Day one
After driving down from Ruakaka the previous night and staying in a backpackers we woke to a chilly but beautiful Wednesday morning in Taupo. The plan was to have a feed and be at the hanger at 10am. Chris's instructions on how to get to the hanger were bang on so arrived on time. After introductions and Chris giving us tips on were to hunt and some great advice we loaded the chopper and on or way to the hut.

Chris did a fly around of the area for us then dropped us at the hut. Buzzing from the chopper ride we set about sort our stuff out and then off for a hunt. Off up the Harkness track past where Herbs creek branches off then we picked a ridge to walk up and sidled or way back to the hut for the rest of the day. Came across plenty of old and new sign in the way of deer crap a few prints. Nothing heard or seen. Getting close to dark we dropped down to the track and got back to the hut on dark. Light the fire cooked up a feed and planned for the next day.

Day two
The plan was to climb the ridge at back of the hut and sidle chasing the sun and walk the track back. The gps said the initial climb was 238m. Sidled along going slow and stopping often. Both old and new sign and one rubbing on a tree. Came to a real steep part so climbed to get around it. Walk the ridge for a bit had lunch then dropped down and sidled some more.


Day was getting on and our plan was to head up Herbs creek on our last day so we dropped back to the track and did a walk to suss things out for tomorrow. Nothing heard or seen. Got back before dark so got some fire wood and had a few beers.

Day Three
Headed off to Herbs creek with the plan to check a couple spots before we got to the main ridge we would spend most of the day on. Following a track up a ridge we came across a good rubbing on a tree. Stopped and wait for a while. Moved up the ridge and came across tow more rubbings further up. Hang around the area for about 45 minutes but was all quite so moved on.
We had just climbed a bank to get to a little plateau that lead to the ridge we want to check out when we got barked at from above. Then another animal barked at us from in front of us. We just froze and the heart started to beat a lot faster. Scanning the bush we could not see anything then got barked at again from the animal above us. After about 5 minutes we heard the top animal move off. Man it was cool to finally hear them. It gave us confidence we were doing something right. After waiting a bit move we moved off up and start to sidled. Stopped for a bite to eat and a drink then carried on.

As we weren't sure how long it would take to get back we made the call bout 3.30pm to head to the creek and follow that back. A bout half way back with me mate in front I see him shoulder his rifle. Hear him swear then 2 loud barks. He had seen a hind and 2 smaller deer(yearlings?) on the edge of a clearing but couldn't get a shot off in time. So we could cross of seeing deer. Got back just after dark. Deer heard and seen but none shot.
Chris was due to pick us up at 10am tomorrow so we had a few beers and a sleep in.

So that was our introduction into Sika hunting and deer hunting for me. I had a frikken ball. Pick up so much deer shit it wasn't funny. It has stoked the fire to back in the bush. Lucky only a few weeks to wait until I can get back and hunt these animals again. Did 10km the first day 16km the second and 19.9km the third. Walking in wet boots all day takes it toll. Body a bit sore but good sore.
Chris seems a good guy and was plenty helpful and his service was great. Also thanks to all on here as I have got heaps of info on gear and hunting tips. So hopefully next trip I can put an animal on the ground. Not holding me breath though.
Cheers

Brilliant SG, nice trip report too, the main thing was you got out there and done it.....i've yet to fire a shot at a Sika.....like you ive been barked and whistled at by the buggers! seen 3 but there too fast for me......(or clever )

good luck on your next trip, its a journey and not a destination mate!!!!!!

Nice report, sounds like your hooked

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Awesome report Speargun.

I sat on a clearing just like the one you posted in pic 2 not far from where you where.

The was plenty of old an fresh sign so decided it was worth staying put for awhile.

Two hours later a Sika yearling walked into the clearing and came home with me in Chris's chopper.

Patience, Observation and Perseverance will get you your Sika.

Looking forward to your next report.

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by P38

Awesome report Speargun.

I sat on a clearing just like the one you posted in pic 2 not far from where you where.

The was plenty of old an fresh sign so decided it was worth staying put for awhile.

Two hours later a Sika yearling walked into the clearing and came home with me in Chris's chopper.

Patience, Observation and Perseverance will get you your Sika.

Looking forward to your next report.

Cheers
Pete

Noted: Patience, Observation and Perseverance will get you your Sika. (For mid sept trip)

Nice one! Sika are good fun and a worthy challenge. If your seeing them (or vice versa) then your doing something right.

Enjoyed that read. Thanks Speargun.

Nice pics and great report,, Sika hunting can be frustrating but its only a matter of time before you pot one. Normally you don't have to
walk nearly as far as you have though.
Nice D or E model too !!!!!

Thanks for posting mate.

Great post and good luck on your next hunt

Thanks guys.
Stopping for longer periods is something that I will try next time. We would stop at a good looking area but only for about 15/20 minutes before slowly moving on. We stopped often but will try longer periods.
Cheers

Sitting and watching can be handy but the average punter is not patient enough to do it for long. For myself I only use ridges to get a bit of height and then I start sideling into the wind. The deer that you find on the ridge are, in the main, on tour from one place to another. If you are bush hunting then I would suggest that you will see more aniimals while sideling than walking the ridges.
When I first started hunting it was the blind leading the blind. I was the only one in the family that used a rifle of any sort and I used to walk the ridges looking for deer because, 1, it was easier and 2, I thought thats were the deer were and yes, you get the occassional one but you get a bloody lot more by sideling.