Advice For Hunting the Kaimai's

Hey everyone, I hope you're doing well. I just have a question regarding hunting the Kaimais.

I've been out there a few times now, and unfortunately, I haven't had much luck. Despite my best efforts, all I seem to come across are old signs most of the time. I understand hunting the Kaimai's is difficult but I'm starting to wonder if I'm missing something crucial.

I've tried two different areas, and even adjusted my approach, but still no success. I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm not looking in the right places or perhaps there's a specific technique I'm unaware of.

If you have any tips or insights on hunting in the Kaimais, I would greatly appreciate it. Whether it's about tracking, scouting, or just general strategies, any guidance would be incredibly helpful.

Thanks in advance for your help!

PS. I feel its worth mentioning that I try to keep my noise down to a minimum and stalk so the wind is in my favour.

Where abouts are you going in? If you're happy to disclose

Hey mate. I've been going around the Wairere fall's area

day hunts or overnighters?.....there are one or two on here that hunt kaimais successfully .....not me im afraid , ive had similar results to you in there but then i dont go often enuff to know the area well

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Originally Posted by scotty

day hunts or overnighters?.....there are one or two on here that hunt kaimais successfully .....not me im afraid , ive had similar results to you in there but then i dont go often enuff to know the area well

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Mostly day tbh

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Get further and deeper in there. Not sure how far you're walking in but away from the popular spots is always good. Wind can be a bit tricky up there on the flat. In your face one minute then up ya the next.

Kaimais bush is an emotional rollercoaster

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Originally Posted by charliehorse

Get further and deeper in there. Not sure how far you're walking in but away from the popular spots is always good. Wind can be a bit tricky up there on the flat. In your face one minute then up ya the next.

Kaimais bush is an emotional rollercoaster

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Cheers mate, I went in pretty deep in the weekend but saw less sign. Gotta keep trying I guess

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wairere falls is very busy. Try mangamuka hut, there were some nice bits near there maybe 6 years ago. Been a long time since I was last there.

It is good to learn in as the kaimai's are very narrow and very popular so as long as you can get to the north south track you will be found eventually.

@TakaRat I hope this provides you with some perspective. I met a really cool guy (hunter) on the way out the other day and we got to chatting as you do. He have moved up from Taupo. Said he'd figured out Sika and was averaging one per trip and talked about how. That's pretty impressive average bush hunting in my view. The Kaimais were his new "local". He'd completed 8 trips and put up 4 deer with none shot and had a strategy of learning an area at a time.

There are plenty of entry points in, try a few and figure out which one you enjoy the most. If you don't have days where you are literally physically fighting through supplejack and questioning your life choices.. your doing it wrong. Learn areas, learn where you can hunt and where you can't. Then, slow right down.

Enjoy the process. There is no rush. There is something pretty cool about finding your own spots, wearing your boots out trying, failing, putting up deer, then eventually winning. Then, one day, you'll realise your "local" is actually right up there in your favourite spots list. The Kaimai will give you that, if you earn it.

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Originally Posted by Russian 22.

wairere falls is very busy. Try mangamuka hut, there were some nice bits near there maybe 6 years ago. Been a long time since I was last there.

It is good to learn in as the kaimai's are very narrow and very popular so as long as you can get to the north south track you will be found eventually.

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That area is currently very busy with trap lines and bait stations being cut all the way through it for the last couple of years. Finishes south of the hut. I'm sure there will still be deer though

I bloody love hunting the Kaimais. I'm a bit far away these days, but I get in deep to setup camp, leave the boots behind and cruise around in dive booties with nothing but a small waist pack.

Well off the beaten path find a game trail and follow that around as far as you can. Taking note of bedding areas, scrapings, wallows etc. I try not to travel far off game trails otherwise you end up caught in thick shit.
If you can setup a game camera in the sign heavy areas you'll get an idea of when/why deer are coming around.

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Hopefully that big stag is in the same place this year...

Find a spot you like and keep on going back there over and over again. You will learn where the deer live and where to avoid. It takes patience but when you start bowling a kaimai bush deer every trip or 2 you feel like the man