Clements Mill Road Today

Having just returned from Clements Mill Road a few minutes ago, (wife into botanising) I offer the following in case someone is contemplating a hunt there.
About 20 cars in several campsites.
The road is good now large trees have been chainsawed out of the way but…
Past the main camping area (rhs) there is still a zigzag round two large trunks, so a caravan/tandem trailer might have difficulty.
The bush is insanely dry. I tried tiptoeing off track but found the cornflakes were crunchier than normal. Air temp 20 degrees.
Hinemaiaia river is running lower than last time.
There was some deer poo off the track about 200m from end of road.
No one I spoke to had got an animal.

I hope hunters who venture there in the near future manage a successful safe outing.

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Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

The bush is insanely dry.

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in the kaimai yesterday and it too was drier than an old hags ladybits

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Originally Posted by scotty

in the kaimai yesterday and it too was drier than an old hags ladybits

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Sounds like there may be a back story here :D

Lol pretty standard for in there. Only 20 cars? I guess people are waiting another week. There will be 20 cars just at the mill

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Originally Posted by Freezer

Lol pretty standard for in there. Only 20 cars? I guess people are waiting another week. There will be 20 cars just at the mill

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I think you may be right about that. Was in there years ago and counted 53 vehicles parked up along the road.

Sounds horrendous! I'll stick to goats and pigs in the north.

With that many hunters, they may as organise a driven hunt, they would be more successful.

Dangerous place this time of year. Two of my mates shot in there so I dont go near for past 20 years at this time of year. Only consider going several hours walk away from the road.

One year I came out to 25 cars at the te iringa carpark shots were going off everywhere at the swing bridge. One year I walked way up into jap creek to get away from people but still ran into people 9-10 hours away from any carpark. Another year I roared in 3 hunters in the tiki tiki. Dangerous place!

Go in there around June/July and you have the place virtually to yourself.

this time last year 10 cars at the road end carpark and i shot a 8 pointer 1.2km as the crow flies from the carpark, talked to a guy as i was gearing up who just walked out, in for 2 days shot 2 stags so they are still in there
just abit more pressure

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Originally Posted by Carbine

this time last year 10 cars at the road end carpark and i shot a 8 pointer 1.2km as the crow flies from the carpark, talked to a guy as i was gearing up who just walked out, in for 2 days shot 2 stags so they are still in there
just abit more pressure

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Yeah. We’ve seen a stag then a hind on the road on previous trips. I’m too old and seen enough to want to be part of any large groups filtering through the bush.

I've turned up at the Te Iringa carpark in the past to 12 vehicles already there. Walked into the Tikitiki and not see a soul for four days

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Originally Posted by Rusky

Go in there around June/July and you have the place virtually to yourself.

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we had 30+ people at the mill campsite last july, + NZDA group of 12 + people parked at the end of the rd.

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Originally Posted by Woody

Dangerous place this time of year. Two of my mates shot in there so I dont go near for past 20 years at this time of year. Only consider going several hours walk away from the road.

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I cannot like that.
my older brother shot in that area for years,his Mrs knitted him a NOGETSHOT jersey,flouro pink and yellow strips and long like old school swannie...it was before blaze was common place,must have worked as he still out there hunting.
I got shits yesterday with 5 vechilles...they were all gone today and had place to myself....

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Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

Yeah. We’ve seen a stag then a hind on the road on previous trips. I’m too old and seen enough to want to be part of any large groups filtering through the bush.

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Ive done over 20 trips into Clements over 10 years and never seen an animal off the road, luck of the draw i suppose. Its in the perfect spot to get ALOT of pressure afew hours drive for 2 million + people so have to expect
people

I was up there a week ago for a mid week overnighter. A few cars in the carpark at Quarry and Te Iringa but I assume there would have been alot more ahead. People tend to travel further in as they think there will be less pressure but that isn't the case IMO.

Stopped off at Te Iringa, and walked in a good 1 1/2hrs and not a soul in sight the entire trip.

It's a big bit of bush with plenty of area to cover.
Very rarely do I come across anyone else in the bush while hunting, different story on the tracks

Anyone heard any roaring?