best tool for aiding with bush bashing

Just wondering if anyone has any opinions on the best tool to have on hand for helping off track exploring. I'm specifically thinking back to last time i gave it a go and got tangled up in a nightmare of supple jack, but it really goes for all the typical things you'd run into. I guess the choices are the usual suspects of knife, axe, machete, and saw, but i saw somewhere some military guy mentioned taking a pair of secateurs with them and it got me thinking that maybe there's other options out there which work well (billhook? who knows). I'd actually be surprised if simple secateurs were up to getting through supplejack as its so hard, anyone tried it ?

secateurs are probably the most practical but a folding silky saw would be the most versatile

Welcome to the forum.

Swinging a machete or sawing all day is hard work and noisey. And destructive.

I've heard that lot of people use secateurs in tight spots but havnt tried it myself. I usually go around it or smash through it swearing, cursing and falling on my ass.

Quality Secateurs are certainly up to the job, it’s the operators that often aren’t. Another option is a Silky Comtaro pruning saw.

putting in possum monitoring lines on Mt Taranaki a pair of secateurs and a silky saw were standard equipment - the supple jack on that mountains lower reaches is horrendous - buy quality secateurs - but putting in monitoring lines at Kaitaia then it was always only a machete - just different kind of bush - for more permanent tracks a hook slasher is good - but ya just cant beat a 45cc stihl scrub bar and a steel triangular blade yeah ha

Yip siccateers are great. A machete is ok a hook slasher used the opposite to how you think works awesome on fern n small stuff.push it forwards n up and it cuts better as catches stem ncuts through but if you cut down it just bends it.big loppers great in slightly fatter branches n vines but pain to carry.loppets etc for track cutting days.siccateers when hunting.

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/kent-...teurs/p/268006

Silky saw pocket boy. When I used to pighunt id take a pair loppers and cutttacks through kiekie and supple jack and the likes, then once in while prune with a small a pair of hand secateurs. As a deer hunter now, the illy saw pocket boy goes everywhere with me

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Originally Posted by MB

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/kent-...teurs/p/268006

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Very good to have when a deer lands in ongaonga

Secateurs and battery mini electric chainsaw if you intend to reuse your trail

For supplejack (aka cu**vine - there are bush and shrub versions in stinging nettle and hookgrass) the secateurs are the go but you want the ones with mechanical advantage in them as they get a bit hard on the hands after a while. There's a technique for hunting with them, tuck your cutting arm over the vine holding it with your shoulder and other side of the cut with your free hand so the vine doesn't whip away after you cut the thing. That crack will put everything on notice, as it's not a normal bush sound.

Just walk around it. If you have to go through, don't fight it.
If you want to cut a track,just cut one.A route that you will follow on a hunt.
For cutting tracks a small set of Fiskars loppers is what you want. Trust me. I've cut a lot of tracks.
Silky saw for bigger logs.

++Secateurs and folding saw++

Secateurs and a folding silky

https://shop.farmlands.co.nz/secateu...1/5637172271.p
Don’t piss around with cheap secateurs, there’s a reason people in horticulture use these or felco.

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Originally Posted by Bushline

https://shop.farmlands.co.nz/secateu...1/5637172271.p
Don’t piss around with cheap secateurs, there’s a reason people in horticulture use these or felco.

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Haven't used the ones you linked but have killed many a cheap pair on supplejack

Elephant

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Originally Posted by caberslash

Elephant

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Yes. An Elephant would be able to clear a good path through the thick stuff for you.
Handy for packing out deer too.

I reckon you would want to make sure your Elephant is steady to the shot first.

Another one for secateurs, I use one that are not too big, no stab pointy end when closed in case of "arse overs" and are light with a good close latch as I keep them in short's pocket for constant pull out and cut. Expensive ones usually don't meet all of the above...go with what works. Anyway, by the time you turn around and head back the darn supply jack has regrown back, double density.

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Originally Posted by Slug

Another one for secateurs, I use one that are not too big, no stab pointy end when closed in case of "arse overs" and are light with a good close latch as I keep them in short's pocket for constant pull out and cut. Expensive ones usually don't meet all of the above...go with what works. Anyway, by the time you turn around and head back the darn supply jack has regrown back, double density.

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You can get a proper sheath for $20 so you don’t castrate yourself with them opening in your pocket.
https://shop.farmlands.co.nz/5637166...hoC-1gQAvD_BwE

Otherwise your roaring might go to shit…
Higher pitch Sika roar might get better though

Perseverance

Felco 2 Secateurs from Farmlands, at approx $136 they are probably one of the most expensive but will last decades. Leather belt sheaths usually available same place if babies are still required.

I found have the secateur on a wee loop of string line which os attached to a carabiner on my pack strap meant i always had it on hand and i would loose it, drop it or whatever. Just dangles behind me
I find stuff in my pockets gets lost.



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have secateurs the type that let you take a few squeezes before releasing, in the Kaimai would suggest these more useful than a rifle ��

If you’re going to look at a decent machete, the one svord make is a beauty. It’s smaller in size than the standard ones typically used in the islands. Can hang in a sheath on your belt as well. Because it’s such good steel, it stays sharp and I’ve never put any kind of chips or dents in mine even after cutting a shit load of hard manuka etc