Hakatere Conservation Park, Smite River

Planning on heading this way in the weekend. Anybody had any luck or been up there lately?

Any hot tips?

Use ur binos slim pickings last time we were up that way

Yup, you will need to spend a lot of time on your arse glassing, very slim pickings. Access from the road end is walking only cos the Toad wont let vehicles through. And dont hunt the western side of the lower end cos its private land and theres a few locals that try to look after it.

Just wanted to update the couple that responded (thank you). Got back yesterday. As soon as we hit the riverbed on Friday evening we saw 2 hinds Pushed up further on Saturday and split up a side creek into an open basin where we spotted couple deer feeding in the midday sun, it was bloody hot. Came back down and chilled for the afternoon then went further up the main river for the evning and sat in the riverbed and glassed the true left open faces. Four more hinds seen. Overall, not a lot of deer seen for the amount of country that was glassed.

I'd wondered about the area too. Did you park at road end of walk the route shown on WAMS? https://maps.herengaanuku.govt.nz/Vi...97.8649%2C2193
I see public access hunting is only eastern side of the valley

I believe a big chunk down the Stour end of the block has recently been poisoned.

We parked at Harrisons Bight and walked the 4wd track on topo maps until we almost hit the river then jumped accross the farmland and dropped down into the riverbed.

Be careful doing that, the 4wd track is not on public land. You could get an angry farmer in your face if you don't have permission to cross land.

Anyone know if this is an easement? Doesn't show on docmaps as a track.

FROM MEMORY..there used to be access along side of lake heron..BUT the 4WD hoons rooted it for everyone by not sticking to track and ripping up surrounding area..this is 25ish years ago so cant say if its still the case,but normally once access is gone it doesnt come back.

You raise a good point, bit lazy on my part. Next time, would head a bit further up the start of the TA track there and swing around the bottom of the hills.

Be a lot longer and shittier walk in along the face of the hills.