Thread: Any advice for a new hunter?

As most have said, move even slower, or just SIT and watch and wait. You're doing well at getting out there, so just keep perservering. Sika ARE hard to fairly hunt at this time of year, as they're mostly bedded down.

Most importantly, GOOD ON YA for seeing the light and moving to NZ for the hunting and other lifestyle benefits! Your kids will be very grateful when they get older.

NZDA HUNTS course.

Not only will you get a good grounding in NZ hunting, you will also meet people who are happy to help in your area.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Kawekahunter,
I make no claims at being much of a hunter, quite the reverse in fact but I can share some of the mistakes I have made so that you don't need to repeat them. First get to know your area. The country accessed from the Lakes carpark is extensive so get to know it. Once you find an area you like keep on going back to it. Go as slowly as possible when hunting and as Micky Duck would say go slower still. Hunt the sign rich places. You might consider doing a multi day walk from Lakes Road to Kiwi Saddle Hut to Castle Camp to McIntosh Hut to Lakes Road. This would give you a good understanding of the area. Stopping and glassing frequently, even in the middle of the day, is always worthwhile. Lastly enjoy it. I've been trudging around the Kaweka's including the above area for close on 60 years and still enjoy my gentlemen's hours walks up there. Even take a rifle from time to time. Hunting in the winter is always hard. Regard your current trips as recce's for spring.
Regards Grandpamac.

Thanks mate great tip. Will aim to walk that loop in the next few weeks!

Originally Posted by Copelli

As most have said, move even slower, or just SIT and watch and wait. You're doing well at getting out there, so just keep perservering. Sika ARE hard to fairly hunt at this time of year, as they're mostly bedded down.

Most importantly, GOOD ON YA for seeing the light and moving to NZ for the hunting and other lifestyle benefits! Your kids will be very grateful when they get older.

Thanks mate! Yeah getting proficient enough so I can teach my son is a major motivation for me. After a few years in Sydney we definitely saw the light and realised theres no place like home.

Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Get a good GPS and topo50 app on your phone and get away from the tracks and huts. But like others have said, sika are a lot harder to hunt in the winter months, they don’t move around as much. Look for the north facing areas that get the sun. Cover lots of ground until you find fresh sign then slow right down. Keep at it, good luck ( you need a bit of that too)

Cheers! Love the Topo50 app combined with Google Earth. It's been a game changer for me

Originally Posted by mimms2

Go slower. Keep the wind in your face. Scent rises uphill in the AM and sinks at dusk.

Cheers that's a great tip

Join the sika foundation and contact them, asking if a party is short on one of their planned fly in trips that you could join in at short notice. Does cost a bit to fly in. You'll meet other hunters, get to fairly good spots and learn about hunting in NZ.

Sika are a bit different to reds. They are much more wary but also curious. The biggest thing is they squeal at you when alarmed. Surprising no one has warned you about this yet ! If you don't hear a couple of squeals each day you're hunting in a low population area and try somewhere else. 90% of sika hunting is in the bush, specially at this time of year. Sitting and glassing won't be very productive till the spring (November).

Do a few internet searches for sika hunting tips and techniques. I think Neil Philpott is the guru, if he has a book, get that. GThde Lentle and Saxton book you want for sika is "Stalking the Seasons Round".

Other entry points are the several road ends around Makahu saddle (Makahu Road) and Clements Mill Road.
You might also look at the Eastern Ruahines for Red Deer. Again, they won't be out in the open much till spring and summer.

In late Summer and Autumn, there is fire danger (I believe) in the Kawekas.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Join the sika foundation and contact them, asking if a party is short on one of their planned fly in trips that you could join in at short notice. Does cost a bit to fly in. You'll meet other hunters, get to fairly good spots and learn about hunting in NZ.

Sika are a bit different to reds. They are much more wary but also curious. The biggest thing is they squeal at you when alarmed. Surprising no one has warned you about this yet ! If you don't hear a couple of squeals each day you're hunting in a low population area and try somewhere else. 90% of sika hunting is in the bush, specially at this time of year. Sitting and glassing won't be very productive till the spring (November).

Do a few internet searches for sika hunting tips and techniques. I think Neil Philpott is the guru, if he has a book, get that. GThde Lentle and Saxton book you want for sika is "Stalking the Seasons Round".

Other entry points are the several road ends around Makahu saddle (Makahu Road) and Clements Mill Road.
You might also look at the Eastern Ruahines for Red Deer. Again, they won't be out in the open much till spring and summer.

In late Summer and Autumn, there is fire danger (I believe) in the Kawekas.

Thanks! That's great tips.
Will try to stalk the bush a bit more over the next few months until spring rolls around.

Originally Posted by kawekahunter

Cheers! Love the Topo50 app combined with Google Earth. It's been a game changer for me

One thing i learned pretty late with the topo phone apps is that i need to calibrate the compass regularly. I got a bit confused on one trip because the compass in the app was pointing in the completely wrong direction and I could not trust it. Turned out the phone just needed to be calibrated.