Thread: Black Birch 4x4 track Marlborough

Hi all
Hoping for any info about the above. Have told myself to start trying some new country rather than literally going to exactly the same dog friendly spot down Murchison way every trip.(it’s an easy trap to fall into as I know it well, an easy walk in and has never been 1080d in the 9yrs I’ve been going)
Guy at work mentioned Black Birch as a good spot but didn’t offer much specific info.
I’m keen to check it out, first trip would just be an explore mainly to suss it out on the way back from my usual spot but keen to give it a good crack in the next week or two.
Main questions are condition of track(from online it seems no landowner permission required when utilising that), any recent 1080 history for the pooch to worry about and of course if anyone wanted to give an idea of deer numbers that would be great also but to be honest as long as there’s one there that’s usually enough to fool myself into thinking I’m in with a chance and get me keen.
Re the track condition I should say I’ve just got a standard triton 4x4, road tyres, no recovery gear or bash plates etc and bugger all off road exp so needs to be reasonably tame.
As always not looking for or to plunder anyone’s spot X, just some general info would be much appreciated
Cheers
FP

Hey there. It's an easy as track usually. I was up there in Feb and it looks like the lower two thirds (the forestry block) been graded recently. Past that it's a bit rocky but if you go slow you should be okay. If there's snow on the ground you'll have to be careful not to run over any fallen warratahs on the side of the track but you can easily guess the sides because the warratahs are well spaced. I'll PM you a couple spots to check out as well.

Sorry, should have added that you only need to go slow when there's snow. The rest of the time you can see any rocks easy as and probably won't even need 4x4

Track is generally ok, over the years only ever needed 4WD after heavy rain or when snow is on the ground and deer are usually lower down then anyway. There’s been a couple of good stags taken up there in last month, one not far off track. Also the odd chamois, used to be a reasonable group until some arsehole airforce prick had a bomb-up a few years back. While AT’s give a bit more traction, my boy has been up there in his Ranger with street tyres on. Good luck if you go up there. Gets a few people up there.A walk south off Altimarloch repeater stn. along ridge can be worthwhile. Mt Harkness and towards Mt Horrible is usually productive. North-East toward peak 1082 can be good but gets a fair bit of pressure.

Great stuff, many thanks for your replies folks!!!
I’ll definitely give it a look see.
FP

Just go up with an open mind about seeing other hunters. I gets heavily used, deer are still there though. Track was in good condition a week or so ago. So should be good. You can get up there in 90% of conditions in an AWD vehicle.